The Garden Island! Filled with gorgeous beaches, amazing hiking trails, waterfalls, mountains, and other unbelievable landscapes – this is the best island of them all in Hawaii (in my opinion). These reasons are exactly why we chose to visit Kauai out of the other Hawaiin islands. It is a very small island (25 miles long and 33 miles wide). 90% of the island actually isn’t even accessible by car, including the whole West side of the island due to the terrain of the famous, Na Pali Coast. You have to see it by boat, helicopter, or by foot, and it is a MUST SEE if you are visiting Kauai. Kauai really does have it all, while still managing to maintain that 35 MPH speed limit around most of the island. You will have no other choice but to relax, take in the views, and make the most out of your trip here! I hope this helps when planning and figuring out the best things to do in Kauai!
Getting to & Around Kauai
Flights
I always use Google flights and stay flexible on the date when looking for flights. Google flights lets you either explore destinations and look for cheap flight deals, if you don’t know where you want to go; or, if you know where you want to go and are flexible on when, it will show you a chart of the best (cheapest) time to fly. If you don’t use google flights, you’re missing out! I found these tickets from Detroit for $500 per person round trip.
Car Rental
You definitely need a car rental if you are visiting Kauai! I always try to rent cars now on Turo – It’s like Airbnb for your car. People rent out their cars for your vacation. I think they have the best deals compared to the car rental companies and you don’t have to wait in any lines at the airport to pick up the car. Just make sure you watch out for the location of the car. Most times we have to take a short uber ride or walk to get to where the car is parked but they do offer drop off to your location at the airport as well – for a fee. Our Turo rental for 7 days for this trip was around $500 total and that was unlimited miles.
Be respectful of the speed limits and other drivers. Keep in mind, a lot of the other drivers are locals, and they don’t want to deal with tourists being assholes and disrespecting the speed limits or road signs. 🙂 Make sure you also always check the forecast, so you don’t get stuck in a rainstorm with mudslides and overflowing rivers.
Where we Stayed
We stayed at this Airbnb! It was a condo with a full kitchen, located in the Makai Club in the beautiful city of Princeville. It was important for us to book a place with a kitchen so we could save money by cooking most of our own meals instead of going out to eat! We also wanted a washer and dryer.
Princeville is in the north tip if the island, in the North Shore area of Kauai, about a 45-minute drive from the Lihue airport. I picked this area over the southern or eastern cities of the island because of the landscapes! It’s a bit pricier than if you were to stay in the other areas of the island but in my opinion, it is the best place to be in terms of scenery, seclusion and things to do. The North Shore is known for surfing, beaches, Hanalei Bay, hiking, and most importantly, the Na Pali coast. If you’re not familiar with what the Na Pali cost is, please google it. I think Kauai is less commercialized compared to the other islands. A lot of places close early so if you’re looking for a party town, this might not be the island for you.
Hiking the Na Pali Coast
Park Reservations
If you are interested in doing any of the hikes along the Na Pali coast (we did Hanakapi’ai falls trail) or even if you are interested in visiting the area, chances are you will need a pass and a reservation. We went in the “off season” and were able to purchase tickets the day before. I can’t speak to the busy season – you may need to book at least a few days in advance. Book your ticket and time slot reservation here. We chose the park and shuttle option. You’ll drive to the parking lot that they tell you after booking your slot and leave your car in the lot to ride the shuttle into the park. This was super easy to figure out and very convenient, just make sure you’re there a little early so you don’t miss your shuttle!
If you don’t feel like hiking, there are beaches and other beautiful spots to see inside the park. The famous Ke’e beach is located here and the only way to see it is with a pass and reservation. They will not let you purchase this at the gate when you arrive- you must purchase in advance!
Hiking Trails
If you are brave enough, you can hike the Na Pali coast 22 mile out and back trail. We did not do this for a few reasons. Chances are, you will not be able to hike this entire 22 miles in one day. You would need a camping permit and to stay the night to finish your hike the next morning. However, I do know people who have done this trail in one day, so it is possible, depending on your ability.
We opted for the hike to Hanakapi’a falls instead, which was still a strenuous 8-mile hike. The beginning of the hike is all along the edge of the Na Pali coast and the views are incredible (picture above). It’s an out and back trail and about halfway through the first half, you come across the beautiful Hanakapiʻai Beach, where you can rest and take in the views! The hike cuts inland and there are stream crossings, lots of muddy rocks to hike on, lots of mosquitos and bamboo forests. It was tough mainly because of the muddy rocks, but we are so glad we did it! If you want a shorter hike, do the 4-mile hike to Hanakapiʻai Beach instead!
Na Pali Coast Boat Tour
There are a few different options for boat tours. You can opt for a more adventurous journey where you ride on a smaller inflatable motorized boat, bring your swimsuit and snorkel; or you can opt for the dinner cruise. We did the Na Pali dinner sunset sail with Captain Andy’s. It departs from the south side of the island and was a 4-hour adventure of a lifetime with great food! I’ll let their website describe the tour, but I will say – just book it!! It was INCREDIBLE and ends with a beautiful view of the sunset. We even saw whales! Overall, the boat was beautiful, the drinks and food were great, and the staff was extremely nice & fun to be around. 10/10
Kauai Beaches
There are so many to choose from! Kauai has a total of 70 public beaches. Here’s where we went:
- Kauapea (Secret) Beach (top two pictures, our favorite beach by far): Harder to get to! You have to walk down a trail for maybe 10 minutes before you get to the beach. There are no public bathrooms here and the waves can get dangerous, so keep that in mind. I can’t recommend this beach more if you’re looking for something off the beaten path.
- Hanalei Bay Beach (bottom picture): A must see in my opinion! There are public restrooms available here. The beach is in the heart of the town so there are many food and drink options that are easily accessible here. It’s definitely a good way to spend the day. Don’t forget to walk out on the pier and take in the views of the beach surrounded by mountains!
- Anahola Beach Park (not pictured): Nice, low-key beach with public restrooms.
- Anini Beach: We actually didn’t make it here, but it was on my list!
- Tunnels Beach: Unfortunately, we didn’t make it here either, but it’s supposed to be one of the prettiest!
- Ke’e Beach: A must! Mentioned in the Na Pali hiking section above, you must have a reservation and pass to see this beach!
- Kealia Beach: We went here before the airport to fly back home. Nice public beach with pavilions, grassy areas and bathrooms.
Where to Eat
I still can’t stop thinking about the food here. Everything we had was so fresh, so healthy, and surprisingly not that expensive. Here are some of our absolute favorites:
- Nourish Hanalei: This is a healthy food stand with incredible views that is within walking distance from our Airbnb. Parking is limited, and it can get pretty busy but it’s worth it.
- Kalalea Juice Hale (pictured below): Listen, if you come to Kauai without trying an acai bowl from here, you are 10000% missing out. The first time we went, Paul liked his first bowl so much, he ordered a second one right after. Not only are the bowls amazing but look at the view. Surrounded by more mountains, it’s such a great spot to enjoy a nice little healthy treat.
- Kilauea Fish Market: This place serves up fresh poke. I haven’t found any other places that compare. They have a lot of other options on the menu, and you can’t go wrong!
- Kauai Juice Co Kilauea: After you visit the fish market, pop over for a fresh juice! You must try!
- Hanalei Bread Company: We actually didn’t get a chance to go here, it was pretty packed, but it was on our list for breakfast and coffee in Hanalei Bay! If you go, let me know how it is!!
- Happy Talk Bar and Restaurant: This place has great live music, incredible food and views, good company and good drinks! It gets pretty busy, they don’t take reservations, so be patient and walk around while you wait!
- Aloha Liege Waffles & Espresso: Another place we sadly didn’t get to try but was on my list! When we arrived, they were closed for maintenance. Stop here before the helicopter tour, since it’s close by!
- Japanese Grandma’s Cafe: This place was recommended to us on our Rum tour by the local tour guide. They have savory Japanese pancakes on Thursday nights and serve some of the best sushi!!
Na Pali Coast Helicopter Tour
We booked the “doors off” helicopter tour with Jack Harter. Book in advance – it fills up! We booked about a week in advance. We got extremely lucky that the weather was ok, and we were able to go up and see the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. I truly don’t even know how to describe this experience. This was a once in a lifetime experience. Yes, it’s expensive. If you have to pick between this or the boat tour, pick this. Helicopter is also the only way to see the famous Jurassic Park waterfall. Remember, 90% of Kauai is not accessible by car so this is truly the only way to see a lot the inland beauty of the island! If you are able, just book it!!
Before you head up in the sky, you are briefed on what to expect and also sit through a quick safety demonstration. Depending on what tour you pick (doors off for us), you are split into groups. The doors off is also better because the group is smaller. There were four of us in the helicopter tour, and then the pilot. I have to say, I’m afraid of heights. I was pretty nervous for a legit DOORS OFF helicopter ride. It’s such an immersive experience and you get way better views and photos because there’s nothing between you and the island! Bring a jacket, it got a little windy at times.
Affordable / Free Things to do
- Book a Rum tour!!
Learn all about the history of Kauai and sample their famous Rum on a two-hour guided tour on the Kilohana Plantation.
More than the rum, you’ll get to taste fresh fruit, feed the donkeys, and meet amazing people. We usually don’t do “tours” on vacation but this one was so worth it, and I highly recommend! A lot of people in our tour were doing this as their last activity before leaving, because this is so close to the airport. It’s a great way to spend the day and learn about some of the history.
- Visit the Kilauea Lighthouse!
We actually couldn’t go close up for a tour because it was closed that day – so we enjoyed the views from above. It’s $10 per person and I wish we would’ve gotten a chance to do this.
- Visit the Waimea Canyon State Park!
It’s known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. There are many hikes you can do inside, or you can choose to just do the scenic drive!
- Anaina Hou Farmers Market:
A sweet, small, obviously local, farmers market close to Hanalei Bay. Check the schedule and make sure you check it out if you have time!
- Visit the Kauai Humane Society
We didn’t do this, because I would’ve cried and taken all the dogs back home with me, but you can take a dog out for the day and take it to the beach to play!! Such a great cause and activity to do if you can handle it.
Looks like an absolutely incredible experience. Wow!
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