Hitting the trail, chilling at the beach in Kauai

A first-timer’s guide to adventure and relaxation on Kauai, Hawaii

As I hurtled through the sky above a sprawling valley, in view of sapphire waves and verdant mountain slopes, the wind was whipping past me and my eyes were streaming tears.

My lips were peeled back, I was yelling incomprehensibly and my brain was blaring, “This could be the end.”

But let me begin at the beginning, before I zoomed down a ¾-mile zipline on Kauai, the westernmost of the well-populated Hawaiian Islands.

I had never been to the so-called Garden Island, but I knew it by reputation. Less built up than Maui and Oahu, Kauai is blessed with spectacular hiking trails, secluded beaches and dramatic vistas.

That made it an ideal warm-weather destination to rev up and unwind, while talking to residents opened my eyes to Kauai’s history and the consequences of more mainlanders visiting the island.

Through the air and up the coast

My midair moment came courtesy of the Flyline, a special zipline operated by Outfitters Kauai, which also offers kayak, bike and stand-up paddleboard tours.

The company has several zipline packages. Looking for thrills, we chose the so-called Adrenaline excursion. It began with a pair of conventional ziplines, which allowed us to soar over the trees.

Then some of us stripped into our swimsuits and jumped off a mini zipline into a wa-

Photos by Daniel Beekman, The Seattle Times Above, the Kalalau Trail has steep sections and stretches with thick, red mud. But the work pays off with incredible views of Kauai’s Napali Coast. Below, fresh fruit makes Hanalei’s Saturday Farmers Market a visit worth savoring. Besides pineapples...