Claire Vial is an Associate Enrolment Service Professional with Student Support and Advising. In her role, she supports current and prospective students by providing advice and information on topics such as loans, registration, admission, and financial planning. She particularly enjoys working with prospective students and helping them through their options and admission requirements. She believes that it is such an exciting time for these students as they move forward with their studies!
What was your favourite destination from your most recent travels?
Kauai, Hawaii. Also known as the Garden Island, Kauai is known for their beautiful beaches, scenic drives, and breathtaking waterfalls.
What were your must-sees and must-dos?
Go to all the beaches! There are lots of great spots but my favourite for snorkeling was Poipu Beach Park. If you want to avoid the crowds, Secrets Beach is a beautiful place to relax.
You can also go on kayaking or boat trips if you don’t want to hike.
Go to Waimea Canyon. It’s like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon and almost as impressive. There are also some great hikes in this area.
Eat poke – a traditional Hawaiian sea food dish. While the restaurant dining options in Kauai are generally not great, the take-out poke is amazing! Kiluauea fish market has the best poke.
Explore the Napali coast. This coast has some of the most amazing views I have ever seen! We did a great day hike to Hanakapiai Falls. The trail follows the cliffs along the coast for part of the way, goes up into the jungle, and crosses over a few small rivers. Make sure you leave in the morning so you have time to get back before dark. Its 6 -8 hours round trip and steep in some parts. It took me an extra 30 minutes to build the courage to cross the first (very small) river but it was definitely worth it. Next time I would rent camping gear and hike for a few days because there are some nice spots on the coast that are difficult to access otherwise.
What is one piece of advice for people heading to Kauai?
Rent a car. Public transportation is limited and you will want to have the freedom to explore the whole island. It’s small enough that you can see most of the island in a week if you have a car (although you will definitely want to stay longer). The island has lots of micro-climates so if it’s raining where you are, you can usually drive somewhere within an hour or two and find sun.
Finally, what was your most memorable moment during your trip?
Snorkeling with a sea turtle. I can’t believe how big they get!
Jordan is an Enrolment Services Coordinator with Student Support and Advising. He loves to travel and to hear about people’s adventures. If you would like to be featured in “Jet-setting with Jordan” please comment below or contact him at Jordan.lee@ubc.ca.