Kauai News & Information

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reaching out to local businesses that suffered flood damage, to make sure owners know about loan opportunities.
Businesses on Kauai or Oahu that suffered rain or flood damage from Feb. 20 through April 2 qualify for Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
FEMA said federal and state representatives would canvass the flood areas Wednesday to spread the word.
Loans up to $1.5 million are available to provide relief from economic injury caused directly by the disaster and to permit a business to maintain reasonable working capital during a recovery period.
Some of the loans are available regardless of whether there was property damage, provided that harm to a business can be clearly traced to the heavy rains and floods.
More than 40 days of rain hit Kauai, collapsing a dam and causing other damage. On March 31, heavy rains on Oahu flooded Kahala Mall. Two stores never reopened and the Kahala movie theaters are still being repaired.

By Pama Mitchell
For travelers used to filling each vacation day with as many activities as possible, a tropical resort in Kauai can stop you in your tracks.
You could choose to explore as much as possible of the island’s 533 square miles of sheer coastal cliffs, pristine white-sand beaches, verdant river valleys and mist-shrouded volcanic craters.
Or you could flop down poolside and watch the ocean, listen to the wind in the coconut palm trees and sip a Mai Tai.
Let’s explore.
Kauai (pronounced “kuh-WAH-ee”) was the first of the Hawaii’s eight main islands to be populated. It is 33 miles wide and 25 miles long, with cliffs rising 2,700 feet and more than 40 white sand beaches.
Sometimes called “The Garden Island,” it has such a variety of microclimates and terrain that you have to go at it by air, sea and on foot to get the full effect. Since well over half the island is not accessible by road, “doing” Kauai definitely requires alternative means of transportation.

Kauai by air
A helicopter can be a scary thing to find oneself inside. Seven of us, including the pilot, are tightly packed into what seems to be a terribly fragile encasement of metal. We’re “risking it all” for a birds’-eye views of rugged Kauai.
The chopper hovers over jagged peaks and wild, arid canyons with few apparent level patches of ground upon which an emergency landing could occur. It might take a novice rider a little while to relax. Just trust in the experience of the pilot.
If you’re like most, you’ll forget your fears and become mesmerized by the almost overwhelming sensory experience of seeing these remarkable landscapes.
Our Air Kauai flight — operated by one of several reputable companies on the island — took off from the Lihue airport on the southeast of Kauai and headed west.
First, we glimpsed the southern beaches where our resort was located, on the section of the island that gets the least rainfall. Within a few minutes, the dramatic red and orange hues of Waimea Canyon came into view. Mark Twain called the 3,000-foot canyon “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” and we were amazed at its vast scale, which includes more than 1,800 acres of state park land that can be explored on foot.
Since most of Kauai receives at least some rain year-round, the Waimea landscape — and many other areas visible only from the air — is enhanced by dozens of long, thin waterfalls, some of which fall hundreds of feet into mist-shrouded pools.
The pilot next headed for the northwestside of the island and the famed Napali Coast, where some of the world’s sheerest seaside cliffs frame pristine beaches.
After hovering alongside some of the 3,000-foot cliffs for photo ops, the ride culminated in a visit to Kauai’s volcanic crater, Mount Wai Ale Ale, known as the wettest place on Earth, with an average annual rainfall of more than 500 inches. Flying inside the crater brings you to an almost mystical environment, as the copter snakes between the steep, amazingly green crater walls for a peek at hidden waterfalls and misty valleys deep below before lifting out and heading back to base.

By sea
We got another good look at the Napali Coast the next day on a five-hour boat tour out of Port Allen, just west of our Poipu Beach area resort. The catamaran cruised up the island’s west coast as schools of dolphins occasionally swam beside us, thrilling the 45 tourists on board with their graceful beauty.
After a couple of excursions under natural bridges in the Napali cliffs, we anchored in a calm, shallow, crystal clear water lagoon for snorkeling and scuba diving among turtle and tropical fish, followed by a hearty lunch with Mai Tais before we motored back to port.

By foot
At least two world-class hiking opportunities await you on Kauai, one of which is in the Waimea Canyon area. In addition to the dramatic scenery throughout Waimea Canyon State Park, nearby Koke’e State Park encompasses more than 4,000 acres of heavily wooded, upland wilderness where trails vary from a quarter-mile to more than 10 miles. You can also drive to Kalalau Lookout and marvel at the view over cliffs and gorges to the ocean 4,000 feet below.
The second great hike is on the island’s lush north shore. From the southern beach resorts, drive northeast along Kauai’s only highway, which hugs the coastline from about 12 o’clock to 7 o’clock on the roughly circular island. (There are no roads along the northwest coast.) When the road ends, west of Princeville, you’ll find the trailhead for one of the world’s most challenging and rewarding hiking experiences, the 11-mile Kalalau Trail.
It starts with a quarter-mile of rocky, steep climbing and takes several hours to reach the secluded Hanakapi’ai beach. The entire trek is a three-day experience that requires camping along the way. We had time and energy to take on only a small part of the trail, but it was enough to get our hearts pumping and afford us dizzying looks at the beaches we had left behind.

The resort life
After a day of exploration and exertion, it was always comforting to return to the 602-room Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, where we decided to spend our final day on Kauai. The open-air lobby looks through a grand archway at the sun-drenched Pacific a couple of hundred yards down a gentle hill. Built on 50 acres overlooking Keoneloa Bay, the four-story low-rise architecture conforms to the section of Kauai’s building code that says, “No buildings can be higher than the tallest coconut tree.”
The beautiful landscaping surrounds a private, beachfront saltwater lagoon and the most intricate series of pools — some connected by slides or waterfalls — that we had ever seen.
Coupled with a choice of five restaurants and five lounges, most with spectacular ocean views, the resort exerts a powerful force on weary travelers who make it out to Hawaii’s westernmost island.
The resort’s ANARA (A New Age Restorative Approach) spa offers hotel guests not only a well-equipped workout facility but also guided fitness walks and group classes that range from pilates to yoga and strength training. An hour at the spa in the morning can justify spending the rest of the day lounging under a cabana while consuming tropical drinks.
The adjacent Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course with its oceanfront links has hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf since 1994 and gives guests another delightful way to spend time. The resort sits on scenic Shipwreck Beach, too rough for most swimmers, but a great place to watch skillful local surfers ride the waves.
The resort also has plenty for kids to do. Parents can enroll children in the half- and full-day activities of Camp Hyatt Kauai or just turn them loose around the many swimming pools, where youngsters particularly enjoy the 150-foot water slide. We chatted with Cassie and Tom Nevins of San Francisco, who brought their 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter back for the family’s second vacation at the resort. They said they love both the kid-friendly amenities and the range of options for adults.
We also ran into the Nevinses on nearby Poipu Beach at the Beach House restaurant, reputed to have some of the most beautiful sunsets on the island as well as very romantic seaside dining.
It was a knockout setting for dinner, truly a must-see location on the tip of a small peninsula with stunning views of two surfing beaches and tables not more than 30 feet from the water. The reservation book fills up quickly, so book in advance if possible, or settle for watching the sunset over drinks in the Beach House’s crowded bar.
On Kauai, even Plan B usually turns out to be fabulous.

LIHUE » Roger Martin-Corman, the son of Hollywood “B-movie” king Roger Corman, is scheduled to shoot a movie on Kauai for the Sci-Fi Channel.
The movie, with a working title of “Primeval,” is about a genetic experiment gone awry, and is set to star Brad Johnson, Bianca Lawson and Kelly McGillis, of “Top Gun” fame, Kauai officials said yesterday.
It’s scheduled to start shooting May 27, with production likely to take five weeks. And they’re looking for local talent.
Up to 20 speaking parts, including a significant role for a male graduate student and work for about 75 extras will be available, Kauai officials said.
“We’re looking for people with some acting experience, but it’s not absolutely necessary,” said Amanda Nugent, production manager for the movie.
They’re looking for women, ages 18 to 30, with a flair for the dramatic who don’t mind being eaten by an alligator, and eccentric men with lots of energy are ideal candidates, she said.
Those interested in applying for a part can send an e-mail to Nugent at amanda.nugent@ yahoo.com.
The last film shot on Kauai, another sci-fi thriller partially filmed on Kauai last year, “Komodo vs. Cobra,” is scheduled to have its premiere on the Sci-Fi Channel on May 23.

The inter-island airfare wars are heating up again. Beginning June 9, Go! Airlines will launch its new inter-island service.

The airline is advertising $59 roundtrip weekday flights to the Big Island, Kauai and Maui. Both Hawaiian and Aloha quickly matched that deal.

But all tickets must be purchased by May 22 and are good from June 9 to September 30.

Back in March, Go! announced one-way fares of $39, which was also matched by Hawaiian and Aloha.

Sunset hour on Kauai’s north shore is a magical moment for anyone who knows how to get to the remote location. That used to be mostly locals, but these days it’s mostly tourists, and lots of them.
“Dramatically increased on a Saturday and Sunday,” said resident Ben Halpren. “There used to be parking all the way up the street.”
The once-secret spot in Princeville is called Queen’s Bath. The man who actually brags about giving away the secret is author Andrew Doughty.
He agreed to talk with KGMB9 only if we didn’t show his face so he can continue to do his undercover restaurant and tour reviews.
Doughty moved to Kauai in 1993.
“I first came to Hawaii as a tourist and fell in love with the place,” Doughty said.
A year later, he published “The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook – Kauai Revealed.” Since then, he’s put out books on all four major islands.
They are wildly popular, winning fantastic reviews for their color pictures, detailed maps and straight-forward advice. Doughty says he’s gotten more than 80,000 fan letters from tourists.
“It’s been great,” said Karen Mitchell, a tourist from Colorado. “There’s a lot of information in it that I wouldn’t have known.”
But what about locals?
“To be honest I really haven’t had negative responses,” Doughty said.
“I disagree with that,” said Lulani Arquette with the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association. “There is a negative response, but I don’t think people know what to do about it.”
Arquette says across the state her members feel betrayed, specifically by Doughty’s books.
“There is that sense of pain and then outrage accompanied by a lot anger, because you feel out of control,” she said. “There’s nothing you can do about it. This publication is out there already.”
“I don’t understand it,” Doughty said. “This information is everywhere. This information is in all the guidebooks. It’s in the free stuff you pick up.”
Doughty’s right about that, but also at least partly responsible. He admits he’s personally revealed about a dozen spots that hadn’t been published.
His books are also the number-one selling Hawaii series in the world. He wouldn’t tell us how many he’s sold, but the books are so influential, Doughty once got a seven-page scolding from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Tesoro Corp. has agreed to purchase Kauai Petroleum Co. Ltd., a privately held company based in the Garden Isle.
As part of the agreement, Tesoro (NYSE: TSO) will acquire the company’s four retail locations, its trucking assets and a product terminal at Nawiliwili.
“This acquisition reflects our continued interest in expanding our operations where we have market synergies,” said Bruce A. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Tesoro Corp. “Since the island of Kauai is the fourth-largest fuel market in Hawaii and has the fastest growing jet fuel demand, we believe this acquisition will provide another strategic outlet for our gasoline and jet fuel production from our Kapolei refinery on Oahu.”
The San Antonio, Texas-based Tesoro expects to close the purchase by the end of June, following its due diligence and approval by shareholders.
It plans to keep current employees, pending the successful completion of background screening and pre-employment checks.

Hawaii hotels, the fullest in the nation during the first quarter, saw room revenues climb 8 percent from year-before levels to more than $832 million.
“Despite the heavy rain and tragic floods that hit Kauai and the state overall, Hawaii nonetheless continued to be a strong destination,” Hospitality Advisors LLC President Joe Toy said.
Hospitality Advisors surveyed 143 properties representing more than 47,000 rooms, roughly four-fifths of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the state. It released its findings Monday:
ADR — average daily rates — rose more than 12 percent.
Revpar — revenue per available room — rose by about the same percentage to more than $154 per day.
“Not only did Hawaii lead the nation in hotel occupancy, but it also was second only to New York City in achieving the highest ADR and revpar,” Toy said.
This happened despite visitor arrivals down 0.5 percent from the same quarter last year.
The state’s four operating counties generally showed little change in occupancy levels. The biggest change was on Kauai, where occupancy fell about 4 percent but room rates rose more than 4 percent.
Parsing hotel demand by market tier, Hospitality Advisors found that luxury hotels captured most of the increase in room demand while other tiers eased slightly.
Hospitality Advisors also issued specific figures for March that showed slipping demand, including a 7.8 point decline in occupancy on Kauai, which it attributed to rain fallout. But it also should be noted that the Easter travel weekend moved from March to April this year.

(KHNL) – Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers opened Tuesday on both Oahu and Kauai. It’s the latest efforts to provide assistance in the wake of the March floods. But so far only a trickle of flood victims have come in looking for help from the government.
Damage from flooding in February, March and early April could exceed $50 million dollars. As a result, Governor Linda Lingle requested the disaster declaration last month. Kerry Smith is among the dozens who have applied for federal assistance.
“I’m here to see what they can offer. Basically the roof was tore up. It was the roof that sustained all the damage. Living here and seeing the end result of 45 days of rain it was, you know I’m in the military, it was pretty upsetting to see homes and areas a lot more damaged than mine,” says flood victim Smith.
“Anyone who sustained damage in these counties, in these areas, are able to apply,” says Ken Higginbotham of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
During the period between February 20th and April 23rd, severe storms caused flooding, landslides and mud slides across the state. Oahu and Kauai were the hardest hit.
“The rain was definitely something threw everyone off.”
Picking up the pieces may take awhile.
“Hopefully not to long because I have a lot of stuff to take care of,” says Smith.
If you were affected by the floods, you can call toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) from 5am to 6pm.

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) _ The husband of a woman who tried to save her two sons from the rough waters off the island of Kauai says she momentarily gained consciousness before she died.
Jennifer White of Gunnison died yesterday.
On Saturday, the 32-year-old pulled her eight-year-old son, Aaron White, out of the ocean when a strong current swept him away.
She was injured and had to be rescued herself when she went back in the water after her nine-year-old son, Tyler White. He’s still missing.
Chris White says his wife awoke long enough to know two of her children had survived.
He says maybe she went to be with Tyler so he wouldn’t be alone.
Rescuers stopped actively searching for Tyler yesterday. They were also looking for a 17-year-old boy who also went missing on the same day in a separate incident.