Beneath spectacular rainbows, overlooking craggy cliffs, and lying under swaying palm trees is some of the most prime real estate in the world, that on the island of Kauai.

Many of Kauai’s vacationers come to partake in the true ethnic feel of Hawaii on this still pristine island and it is also for that reason that so many decide to have Kauai be their second-home of choice.

Over 20 percent of homes on Kauai are bought by second-home buyers who come to love the island life and want to have a piece of this sanctuary for themselves.

It was just last week that a tiger shark bit a man while he was vacationing in Hawaii off of Bellows beach on Oahu. It was the first time such a shark has bitten someone in the area since 1958 almost a full half a century before.

There have been two other tiger shark incidents this year in the islands of Hawaii. January 5th a 24 year-old Waimea man was surfing off Waiokapua Bay, Kauai when a tiger shark decided his surfboard was food. He missed the man sitting on the board however and no one was injured and on May 7th a California women had her right foot and calf bitten as she was snorkeling off Maui’s Keawakapu Beach and on June 24 a surfer bit the side of a surfer’s board as the surfer paddled out of Silver channel in Mokuleia, Oahu.

Kauai has many vacation rentals and hotels but it is not often that workers from the hotels rally. In fact it was the first time in 17 years that workers had rallied when they held a demonstration in front of the Sheraton hotel last week.

The workers rallied to set a tone for the contract negotiations which will begin tomorrow August 1st.

The workers at the Kauai Sheraton want the same benefits and pay that other Sheraton hotels in Hawaii have. There are six Sheraton hotels in Hawaii. All are owned by the same parent company Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Kiteboarding/kitesurfing either way you say it, it involves the same thing - soaring through the air, sometimes as high as 40 feet! (you don’t get closer to flying that that!) Over water of course, so you have a safety net so to speak, and there is no place better than to try the sport for your first time than while on a Kauai vacation.

Now, don’t worry, since the sport first began in 2001 they have put in a ton of safety features and different styles have evolved such as wake style, wave riding, freestyle, jumping and cruising some of which are more conducive for beginners than others.

Shopping in Kauai while on vacation? You may not typically think of Wal-Mart as the place to shop since you can shop at Wal-Mart on the mainland but Wal-mart is slashing prices by 50% all over the store throughout Hawaii, including Kauai perhaps partially in a bid to create news and press for their Superstore they wish to put on Kauai.

Wal-Mart is fighting for their superstore which although previously approved was stopped due to ban on big box stores recently put in on Kauai. The sale will be run this coming week and Wal-Mart will be putting on lots of ads to advertise the event.

On August 4th there is a section of Kauai that will have excitement, fast cars, rapidly beating hearts and pure adrenaline. If you like “Fast and Furious” it may be something you wish to see of you’re on a Kauai vacation - amateur and professional drag racing live.

A few time each summer the fast cars of Hawaii come out on the island of Kauai to compete in the acceleration race.

The GIRA (Garden Isle Racing Association) puts on the show with adults and kids as young as 8 competing. The GIRA first started in 1999 and is a non-profit organization created to promote safe Motorsports and responsible street driving.

There is a beach on the beautiful island of Kauai that seems to stretch forever. On this beach is a striking cliff. The cliff stands tall with grand imposition over the majestic ocean below and it is from here that numerous weddings take place.

The beach is locally known as Shipwreck Beach aptly called for an old wooden shipwreck lost on it’s shores a number of years ago. The ship has long since disappeared but the name has remained.

Since Kauai Open Space first began in 2002 it has been dedicated to preserving the land, retaining its beauty for the locals and anyone who is has the opportunity to visit Kauai.

The Goals of Kauai open space are this:

1. Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains. 2. Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites. 3. Protection of significant habitats or ecosystems, including buffer zones. 4. Preserving forests, beaches, coastal areas, and agricultural lands. 5. Protecting watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply. 6. Conserving land in order to reduce erosion, floods, landslides, and runoff. 7. Improving disabled and public access to, and enjoyment of, public land and open space. 8. Acquiring disabled and public access to public land and open space.

Just imagine - You have just had the most beautiful wedding you could ever have hoped for - maybe not perfect in every detail, but the lack of perfection made for wonderful laughs and it was perfect in love because you just married, the one, your soulmate and now you are headed to Kauai to enjoy a honeymoon in paradise.

Imagine the plane circling the island and you get your first glimpses of emerald green mountains rising up into a white mist of clouds. Golden sand beaches seeming to circle the outer ring of the island in an endless wave, and lush greenery can be seen everywhere. The sun is sparkling off the deep blue of the water, welcoming you.

Many of the signature items that you look for while vacationing in Kauai will be showcased at the Made in Hawaii Festival next month. The festival is a very big deal with retail outlets selling 1.6 to 2 million dollars worth of products during the three day event last year. An additional 10 million was estimated to have sold in residual sales during the 12 months following the event.

This year the festival is expected to be bigger than ever with over 35,000 expected to attend.

The island of Kauai will have a special spot in the festival with 21 Kauai vendors making there products known to the world.