THE FIRST WESTERNER. It is generally believed that Captain James Cook was the first westerner to visit Kauai during his voyage to Alaska in 1778. Waimea, on the southwest side of the island, is where he came ashore.

THE CHICKENS. There is considerable debate as to how Kauai's thousands of wild roosters and hens came to roam free. Some say sugar cane laborers in the late 1800s raised chickens to eat and to use in cockfights and many subsequently escaped. Others claim that Hurricane Iniki in 1992 destroyed a chicken farm and the freed birds quickly multiplied. Regardless, not a day or night goes by without them making their presence known.

KAUAI IN THE MEDIA. Stunning, sometimes otherworldly scenery has caused Kauai to be a highly sought after movie location. South Pacific. Donovan's Reef. Blue Hawaii. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Jurassic Park. All these movies were filmed here. Kauai has even served as the setting for the animated TV film and television series, Lilo & Stitch.

ORIGIN. The island of Kauai was formed by volcanoes erupting on the ocean floor and building up over time. Eventually, the island was formed, with its highest peak, Kawaikini topping out at 5, 243 feet.

THE FIRST PEOPLE. The first people to settle Kauai were the Marquesans who came here from Polynesia around 400 A.D. They brought their food staples with them, including taro, used to make poi. The Tahitians followed later and supplanted the Marquesans to become the dominant people on the island.

LEGENDS. There is no more popular or enduing legend on Kauai than that of the Menehune. This mythical race of tiny, industrious people, were believed to have been responsible for many building projects, including aqueducts and fishponds, some accomplished in a single night.

CLIMATE AND FEATURES. Known as The Garden Isle for good reason, the lushness of Kauai is due to high amounts of rainfall in some areas. In fact, one of the wettest spots on earth, located on the east side of Mount Wai’ale’ale has an average rainfall of 460 inches annually. Over time, this rainfall has eroded deep valleys and canyons on the island, including Waimea Canyon, “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”