There Are  no known written records of the first settlers to Kauai, although its is believed that the first inhabitants of Hawaii may have reached the islands as early as 400 AD from the Marquesas.  Contact with and settlement by Tahitians began about 1000 AD.  Why they sailed into unfamiliar seas is not known, but among the possible reasons might be war or religious freedom. E.S. Craighill Handy, an authority on life in the Marquesas during ancient times, wrote that "the density of the population in the Marquesas was equal to the maximum that could be supported by agricultural and fishing industries of the primitive order practiced by the natives". Traveling nearly 2,600 miles from their homeland and fighting the cruel seas of the Pacific, these Polynesian sailors had none of the navigational equipment common today, yet they made long voyages over open seas, well before spanish and portuguese sailors were willing to sail beyond the sight of land.  They sailed by the stars, by the currents, and by the winds.  Their ability as sailors was phenomenal.

In Ancient  times, Kauai was often thought to be the most sacred island in the Pacific.  One reason Kauai was considered sacred was that the Wailua, which means "Spirit", is the largest freshwater river in all of Polynesia and the longest navigable river in Hawaii.   Access to fresh water was important to sustain life, and thought to be a gift from the gods.  The Wailua Bay area, where the river and the ocean meet, is steeped in Hawaiian culture and Kauai history.  Called Hauola or Dew of life, it is a fertile area, prolific in sea life, fresh fish, coconuts and vegetation.  The Hikina A Ka La (Rising of the Sun) heiau (Hawaiian temple) is located here.  It is here that the sun was first visible on the horizon each day, and it is said that Hawaiian royalty prayed and chanted the sun up every morning.  The ruling chiefs favored this shoreline for its surf sites, safe canoe landings and abundance of marine resources.  Evidence of the earliest inhabitants of this area can still be seen adjacent to the Aloha Beach Resort.  Ancient petroglyphs can be found on the rocks at the river mouth to the left of the Kauai resort.  The meaning of these petroglyphs remains a mystery.  A City of Refuge (pu'uhonua) is also located in this same area.  It was known that if you had broken a law or kapu you could come to the City of Refuge and receive rites of immunity administered by  the Kahuna there.

Slightly Upstream  from the ocean on the Kapaa side of the river is the Holoholoku heiau and Birthing Stones (pohaku ho' ohanau).  It was here that the ali'i mothers would give birth to their children, the future royalty of the island.  Oral tradition says that if the child was to be a truly great chief, the heavens would burst forth with thunder and lightning and a downpour of rain.  Later, a rainbow would arch over the area with one end over the birthplace of the child.

This Island  is relatively small, but there is much to experience here.  Since ancient times, the Hanalei Valley  has served as an agricultural community.  Hawaii's first settlers brought taro wrapped in ti leaves to their new homeland.  They planted it as their main crop and, even today, at the back of Hanalei Valley, you can see the terraces they built to grow it.  Nearly all the poi that is eaten in Hawaii is grown in the Hanalei Valley.  One of the oldest cultivated foods in the world, taro is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.  Still today, poi is a staple in the Hawaiian diet and fixture at every luau.

Polihale Beach  pictured here is the westernmost point in the United States.  It  is a vast and isolated stretch of land miles away from the tourist track, and only accessible by a long and bumpy sugar cane road.  Polihale Beach is often overlooked by visitors and residents alike.  Empty, unspoiled, unrestrained in every way, the beaches and sand dunes of Polihale offer miles of beauty, tranquility, and spiritual solitude.  The towering cliffs of the rugged Na Pali coast offer contrast against this awesome beach.  The road stops at Polihale, and the serious adventurer can only access the pristine beauty there by foot, helicopter tour or boat.  Another photo at beach level can be found here.