Welcome to the Summer 2025 issue of Kauai Magazine, where we take you behind the scenes on Kauai with our expert and in-depth knowledge of the island. In this issue we interview Dr. David Burney of the recently-closed Makauwahi Cave Reserve, brave the bumpy road to powerful Polihale Beach, talk with the Kauai Mermaid Tara Coyote, hike up the Okolehao Trail for a birds-eye view of Hanalei, meander through Smith’s Tropical Paradise with the peacocks in Wailua, try one of Hawaii’s most iconic foods at The Musubi Truck, sit down with artist Kimberly Kirk, and much more!
DIGITAL EDITION
Available in electronic (PDF) format for immediate download.
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Size: 25.6 MB
Price: $9.95
Order: Kauai Magazine Summer 2025 (PDF)
PRINT EDITION
Coming soon!
Format: Print (via USPS Ground Advantage)
Size: 8.3 by 11.7 inches (A4 size), 82 pages
Price: $12.95
Order: Kauai Magazine Summer 2025 (Print)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6 / The Makauwahi Cave Reserve: Why it Matters
With its recent closure, Hawaii’s richest fossil site faces an uncertain future.
12 / Digging Deeper with Dr. David Burney
For more than three decades, paleoecologist Dr. David Burney has been peeling back the layers of Kauai’s deep history at the Makauwahi Cave Reserve.
18 / Kauai’s Ancient Mega-Tsunami
A massive tsunami that struck Kauai more than 400 years ago serves as a warning for the future.
20 / The Beaches of Kauai
From the lush North Shore to the breezy East Side, and from the sunny South Shore to the wide-open West Side, each stretch of shoreline tells a different tale.
26 / Polihale Beach
When the pavement runs out on Kauai’s West Side, a different kind of journey begins.
30 / Diving Deeper with Tara Coyote, the Kauai Mermaid
In this Q&A, we dive into Tara’s journey, passions, and what it truly means to live a life of grace, courage, and aloha.
42 / Above it All: Kauai’s Okolehao Trail
It’s not just a hike. It’s a rite of passage for anyone who wants to see Kauai’s North Shore from the kind of angle normally reserved for birds and helicopters.
46 / The Musubi Truck
A sleek black-and-white food truck is quietly redefining one of Hawaii’s most iconic foods.
52 / Smith’s Tropical Paradise
More than a garden, Smith’s is an immersive experience that offers a peaceful retreat from the everyday.
56 / The Kauai Museum
Your perfect first or last stop on the island.
60 / The Shops at Kukui’ula
Welcome to island style.
66 / Q&A with Artist Kimberly Kirk
Kimberly uses the island’s own elements, such as Kauai’s red dirt and indigo found on the side of the road, to create her artwork.
78 / The Price of Paradise: Kauai’s Worker Housing Crisis
Low wages, soaring home prices, and inadequate infrastructure are driving Kauai’s workforce out of the communities they serve. By Allison Frascatore
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