[Photo - Hideaway Beach in Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii]

Kauai, or the Garden Isle as it is known to many, is  one of the main islands in spectacular Hawaii.  The oldest, Kauai was once inhibited by the mysterious tribe known to be connected to the Central Polynesia called the Menehune.   This tribe is only known to have lived only in Kauai.  This strengthens the belief that Kauai has always been an independent kingdom.

During King Kamahameha I’s reign , Kauai  was left as the only island to unconquered by him.  Kauai’s ruler, King Kaumualii, resisted him for years.  King Kamahameha I has twice  geared up to take the island by force through his ships and canoes.  Twice he also failed.    But to stop the bloodshed and uproar that was slowly destroying the beautiful island, the King of Kauai, King Kaumualii, decided to offer it to King Kamahameha I as a peace offering.   Kauai joined King Kamehameha I’s kingdoms as one of his vassals in 1810  but giving back the beautiful island to the Kingdom of Hawaii when he died.

Hundreds of years later at  1778, the island of  Kauai was discovered by a British Captain with the name of James Cook.  He  really intends to sail to Alaska but found himself docking at the  Waimea Bay instead.  The Captain thinks that Kauai was a nice place to stop over.

The natives of the island first considered Captain Cook as someone “sent from the gods”  and was treated like royalty and almost godlike.  The natives waited on him hand and foot and gave in to whatever demands and wishes he has.  But when his boats finally set sail and has encountered problems prompting them to return to the island,  the villagers treatment on him changed to the negative.  They were very angry and they doubt his abilities.  The natives also feels that they have been deceived for if Cook really was a “god” surely he and his crew would not have problems such as the one he was having with their boats.    This anger soon resulted to violence and soon he was murdered.  Captain James Cook now has a monument of bronze that can be found at the Waimea Canyon at the West Side region of Kauai.

One of the main sources of food and employment in Kauai are sugar cane plantations.  Soon, Kauai has become very popular for its sugar cane plantations and has been known as the island wherein the industry of sugar can was born.    Kauai has been known to be Hawaii’s sugar capital up until the collapse of the sugar industry when the tariffs were removed and  they have to compete with cheaper sugar from other countries.  At present, the former farms are now into agritourism wherein they offer educational tours to tourists for a fun learning experience.

To know more about Kauai’s intriguing and mesmerizing history and culture, you may go and visit the island’s Museum located in Lihue.  It’s beautiful displays of artifacts and also photos will give visitors insights about the Garden Isle’s history.  The Gove Farm Homestead Museum  is also a good place to go when one wants to learn about Kauai’s great history.  This architecture was once the home of George Wilcox, the child of the founders and owners of one of Kauai’s  biggest sugar plantations.  These two museums will surely enrich the visitors knowledge about the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii.