Kauai activities, beaches, surfing, sailing, hiking, fishing, scuba, snorkelling 
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Things to do nearby on the Island of Kauai

boating		surfing
beaches		horses
snorkeling		hiking
golf		sailing
tennis		polo

waterskiing

fishing

windsurfing

helicopters

kayaking

scuba

shopping

There are 6 world class golf courses on Kauai. Princeville, former home of The Kemper Open, has 76 holes, and is rated " #1 in Hawaii" by Golf Digest. The Prince Course is approximately a 60 minutes drive from Messenger Recording Studios. Wailua is the home of our public 18 hole golf course, and is 30 minutes away. A 20 minute drive will take you to Lihue, where the Kauai Lagoons  sports a 36 hole, Jack Nicklaus designed, championship course. Kukiolono Golf Course is only a 5 minute drive, and is a delightful 9 hole municipal course that is a favorite with local players. On the nearby south coast of Poipu Beach, 15 minutes away, we have the Kiahuna 18 hole course, and the Poipu Bay Resort 36 hole course, home of the PGA Grand Slam.  top

Several exciting boat tours will help you explore Kauai's off shore waters and the magical Napali Coast. Zodiac tours, catamaran cruises, whale watching tours, and scuba and snorkeling tours, leave from Hanalei (60 minutes drive), Lihue (20 minutes drive), Poipu ( 15 minutes drive) and Hanapepe and Port Allen (15 minutes drive). top

The North Shore of Kauai is a winter surfing mecca, but in the summer, nearby Poipu Beach produces the best waves. Surfing lessons are available at Kiahuna in Poipu (15 minutes drive). Among the many surf spots in Poipu, perhaps the most famous is Brennecke's Beach known as a world class boogie boarding spot and the body surfing capital of Hawaii. Kalapaki Beach at The Marriot (20 minutes drive) offers gentle waves for beginners, while the North Shore's Kalihiwai Bay and Hanalei Bay is for the Pros. On Kauai, there are nearly as many surf spots as there are beaches, and you'll be happy to find that some of the finest are very close to The Messenger Recording Studios. top

Deciding which beach to visit might be your most challenging daily task. There are swimming beaches, shelling beaches, sunset beaches, beaches with lots of activity, and beaches where you can be totally alone. Poipu Beach, perhaps the area's most popular spot, offers safe swimming, good snorkelling, picnic tables, and outdoor showers. You can be assured that as a guest at Messenger Recording Studios, you are very near to some of the finest white sand beaches in the world. top

There are 3 excellent riding stables on Kauai. CJM Stables in nearby Poipu, offers daily trail rides along the shores of the remote Mahalepu coastline. A 60 minute drive will take you to Princeville, where both Silver Falls Ranch and Princeville Stables offer 3 hour trail rides through Kauai's back country to a private waterfall, for a picnic and a swim. top

Several dive shops operate out of nearby Koloa Town and offer a variety of equipment rentals, shoreline and open water boat snorkeling tours. Virtually every beach in Poipu has at least one excellent snorkelling spot. Further North, Anini Beach, 55 minutes away, offers very good diving along a 3 mile coastline enclosed by a long outer reef. Inside the reef, you will encounter a myriad of colorful tropical fish and several species of coral. At the road's end you will find Ke'e Beach, and Tunnels Beach, both known for their good water clarity.  For the more adventurous, several boat tour companies offer snorkeling trips to the offshore reef areas of Poipu and the Napali Coast. top

The trail head gateway to the Napali Coast is a scenic 90 minute drive from Messenger Recording Studios. A day of hiking into remote Hanakapiai Valley has been the highlight of many vacations. From the beach, you can hike to the magnificent Hanakapiai Falls. Short hikes can be enjoyed from trails beginning above Opaekaa Falls lookout in Wailua ( 30 minutes). From Koke'e Lodge, a 45 minute drive, you can hike several trails that meander throughout Kauai's ethereal mountain country, where you will encounter plant and bird species found no where else on earth. top

Tennis courts abound on Kauai. In Poipu (15 minutes drive) at The Kiahuna Racquet Club, Poipu Kai, and The Poipu Hyatt, there are daily clinics, round robbins, and excellent Pro Shops. A 60 minute drive to Princeville Resort will bring you to two fine tennis Clubs. The Hanalei Bay Resort has  7 courts overlooking Hanalei Bay, and The Princeville Tennis Club has 6 courts. Both clubs are open to the public, and have on site tennis pros, a racquet shop, and equipment rentals. Other very good facilities are found  in Lihue (20 minutes drive) at The Kauai Lagoons, near the Marriot. top

You can enjoy miles of tropical water skiing along the Wailua River, a 20 minute drive away. This is the only truly navigable river in the State of Hawaii. Equipment rentals, boats for towing skiiers, and ski instruction instruction is available. top

Deep sea fishing charter boats are close by and within a 15 minute drive. Half and full day charters, with all fishing gear included, are available at Kukiula Harbor in nearby Poipu, Port Allen (15 minutes drive), and further North in Hanalei Town (65 minutes). All companies offer private and group charters to offshore areas that are teeming with exciting game fish such sailfish, marlin, and yellow fin tuna. top

Kauai's polo team is world class, and The Kauai Polo Club is only 55 minutes from Messenger Recording Studios. The Polo field is located across from Anini Beach Park, and matches are held each Sunday during the season. Enjoying a tropical polo match on a sunny Sunday afternoon, while looking out on the blue Pacific Ocean, is an experience you will not want to miss. top

Windsurfing at its best is found at Shipwreck Beach in Poipu, 15 minutes away, and is strictly for very experienced windsurfers. Many other spots are found in Poipu that are more suitable for the uninitiated. The Poipu area has several outfitters offering equipment rentals and lessons. Tunnels Beach and Anini Beach, to the North offer excellent wind surfing also.   top

Good kayaking is the rule in the Kalihiwai River, 55 minutes away, Menehune Fish Pond, 20 minutes away, and in the shoreline waters of Poipu, 15 minutes away. Both ocean and fresh water kayaks can be rented in several nearby locations in Koloa Town and Poipu, and can be easily strapped to the roof of your car for transport anywhere on the island. top

Kauai's clean, clear offshore waters attract  scuba divers from all over the world. There is a dive shop in almost every town on the island, so gear rental, air, and instruction can be easily found. Scuba lessons and certification for beginners is available in Koloa Town (15 minutes away). From Poipu, you may take a number of onshore and offshore scuba tours. The scuba tour companies in the area all offer equipment rental, lessons, and certification as well. top

Several boat companies host a variety of sailing tours in large, seaworthy, ocean catamarans. Sunset cruises complete with cocktails, as well as leisurely sailing tours down the Napali Coast can be booked from many companies around the island. In Poipu and in nearby Port Allen, sailing tours are offered several times daily. top

A helicopter tour is the only way most people can see the magnificent beauty of Kauai's remote interior. Tours leave from Hanapepe (15 minutes drive), and Lihue (20 minutes drive). There are few experiences that can match a helicopter flight over the most beautiful island in the world. top

Kauai's largest shopping center is found in Lihue (20 minutes away). Yet only 5 minutes away in Kalaheo you will find several good restaurants, a grocery market, and a medical clinic. Koloa Town (15 minutes drive) has a large, modern grocery market, several good restaurants, art galleries, clothing stores, and a pharmacy. The Poipu Resort area (15 minutes) has several world class restaurants and unique gift shops. The island has an abundance of small shops that sell items which are crafted by local artists. There are many roadside stands with exotic tropical fruits, organic produce, and flower leis. In Poipu also, at the Spouting Horn Park, you will find an outdoor flea market where you can buy shell jewelry and all sorts of tourist items at good prices. top

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