LIHUE — The Garden Isle is basking in international glory once again.
Travel + Leisure magazine announced its World’s Best Awards for 2014, which include everything from best islands and cities to hotels, airlines, cruises and more. When it comes to best islands on the planet, Kauai ranks No. 3 — a welcome jump over last year’s seventh place finish.
On Thursday afternoon, visitors Nancy and Steve Glidden could be spotted taking in the scenery at Lydgate Beach Park, on Kauai’s Eastside. Little did they know they had chosen to vacation on one of the world’s premiere islands.
However, the news didn’t come as much of a surprise to the couple, who arrived Wednesday from their home on Vancouver Island, accompanied by their two daughters.
“It’s been so beautiful,” said Steve, just two days into his trip. “I’m looking forward to seeing the North (Shore) beaches.”
Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau, said it is always an honor when Travel + Leisure recognizes Kauai for what it is.
“I think it’s great news to have three of the top five islands overall in the world be from Hawaii,” she said.
The small island of Santorini, Greece topped the list, followed by Maui in second. Other Hawaiian islands in the Top 10 are Big Island (No. 4) and Oahu (No. 6).
While a bronze medal is certainly noteworthy, it is not Kauai’s highest honor. In 2010, Travel + Leisure ranked the island second in the world and first in the state.
Kanoho recognized that the awards are a result of a reader’s choice poll, and that Kauai has no say in the matter.
“I think it has to do with people’s experience and perspective while on Kauai, or what they heard from family and friends,” she said. “I know we had a lot of construction going on during the (2013) poll and that may have impacted the experience.”
Nancy said she and her husband have also traveled to Oahu. She imagines Kauai much like Oahu would have been decades ago.
“It’s great news for tourism,” she said of the island’s recent recognition. “Great for the economy.”
Like the Gliddens, 17-year-old Winton Term knows a thing or two about island life, having moved to Kauai from the Marshall Islands in 2005. While he has a hard time pinpointing which place he likes best, he said there is one major difference — Kauai has mountains.
When asked how it feels to live on the world’s third best island, Term said, “I’m blessed to live here. Lucky to live here.”
Several Kauai hotels were also acknowledged in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. The Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa in Poipu placed ninth on a list of top hotels and resorts in the state, up from the 19th spot a year before. Also on that list are the St. Regis Princeville Resort, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort and the Kauai Marriott Resort.
Hawaiian Airlines ranked No. 3 in the domestic airlines category.
Info: www.travelandleisure.com.
