Best Things to do in Kauai
All pictures are my own unless otherwise noted/sourced; do not use without permission.
When we think of Hawaii, we generally think of islands, rainbows, beaches, palm trees, coconuts, pineapples, coral fish, and turtles!
First things first. I have to admit that before I started going to Hawaii, I always thought the beaches just look like the ones in Southern California, why go? It didn’t appeal to me. I have heard people talk about how wonderful Hawaii is, or how they would visit every year. I always displayed a confused face. Having been to the tropical beaches in Southeast Asia, I didn’t buy that. Nothing could be more beautiful than the tropical beaches in SE Asia, with the limestone cliffs and all, I thought. I didn’t understand what the hype was about Hawaii.
We had been waiting for the big news, when Southwest would start flying to Hawaii. There and then, was my first-time visiting Hawaii. We went to Oahu first, and I wasn’t impressed. Waikiki was like the Vegas Strip but on the beach. I loved the beautiful beaches though, and the food was delicious. We did a ridge hike, and everything was so lush and beautiful too. I thought, Hawaii isn’t so bad.
It wasn’t until a few trips in (to all the islands) that Hawaii stole my heart and left it there. Within a few years’ time, I had already visited all the major islands and kept going back because I love it so much. My favorite island of course is the Garden Island of Hawaii: Kauai! My favorites in order following Kauai: Big Island, Maui, Oahu. What’s your favorite?
There’s so much to love in Kauai, from the amazing serene sunrises, the incredible ocean breezes, the abundance of palm trees, the local food (poke and laulau yum!), the honus, chickens, and truly island feel, I just love everything about it! I think the other islands are too big and touristy, but with Kauai being extremely lush and smaller, it feels somewhat intimate. It feels like my third home, or fourth. I don’t know, I have many places that feel like second homes to me, hehe.
I hope this helps you plan your trip to Kauai, or give you ideas on some new things to do!
These are the BEST Things to do in Kauai:
• Allerton & McBryde Botanical Gardens
• Kilauea Lighthouse & Wildlife Refuge
Sunrise at Lyndgate Beach
This has been our favorite place to watch the sunrise in Kauai. It’s a short walk from the Hilton Garden Inn Wailua Bay. You can also drive and park in front of the beach, and you’re literally there!
If you stay still, you will spot the invisible sneaky crabs! It’s a lot of fun watching them.
Cost: Free
Bathrooms: Available
Hike Kalaulau Trail
The Kalaulau Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Kauai, and for good reason! It has one of the most beautiful views of all: the napali coast. The views all the way are absolutely breathtaking! It is not an easy hike however. There is a lot of inclines, rocks, and could get slippery and even dangerous after recent rain.
Hiking the Kalaulau trail also requires reservation. There are actually a few options to hike this trail. You can hike the first two miles, or backpack with overnight camping. If you plan to go past the two miles, you will need a camping permit, which is $35 per person, per day. If you’re a resident of Hawaii, you get a $10 discount.
More information about hiking the first two miles, click HERE.
More information about camping permits can be found HERE.
Hike Kuilau Ridge Trail
Another lush and serene trail with beautiful views is the Kuilau Ridge trail. It is only 3.6 miles roundtrip, and is rated as easy to moderate. It will feel like you’re hiking in the Hawaiian rainforest.
There is only a small parking lot, which fit probably four cars at most, so I would recommend getting there early. We hiked this around 8am in the morning, and we were the only ones there.
Note: It can get very muddy after recent rain. Also, bring bug spray!
Limahuli Garden & Preserve
Going to Kauai is not complete without a visit to their botanical gardens! One of my favorites is the Limahuli Garden & Preserve in North Shore Kauai. Limahuli is actually a place of refuge, so here you’ll see what Kauai looks like before anyone stepped foot here.
The loop trail is 3/4 mile long and goes up 200ft in elevation with many steps, so be prepared. Please note that this place is not ADA friendly.
What’s interesting here is that the Limahui Garden demonstrates an ancient irrigation method for taro. You’ll see a lot of taro crops here; they’re so pretty!
There are signs for plants and trees, so you will be educated on all of them by the end of your guided or self-guided tour. Once you get to the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the oceans and mountains.
Online reservations are strongly encouraged. Guided tours require advanced reservations. Reservations can be made HERE.
Note: PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR HOURS, so you can plan accordingly!
Hours:
Tues-Sat, 8:30am–4pm
Allerton & McBryde Botanical Gardens
Another beautiful botanical garden in Kauai is the Allerton & McBryde Botanical Garden. Located on Kauai’s South Shore, this lush botanical garden showcases exotic flowers and plants, huge fig trees, and many other interesting plants! It is like going into another tropical world!
This is strictly a guided botanical garden, so you can book a tour HERE.
Explore North Shore Beaches
Anini Beach – one of the safer beaches on the North Shore in the summer, this beach has the longest fringing reefs in Hawaii so it’s perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
When we went, however, we didn’t see anything. Maybe we didn’t swim out far enough, but most of the reefs were unfortunately dead. It’s still a beautiful place to play in the water, or sit at the beach though.
Tunnels Beach – easily one of my favorite beaches in Kauai! This beach is actually a crescent-shaped bay with the lush Kauai jungle and mountains, specifically peaks of Mount Makana, in the background. People say it’s great for shelling, snorkeling, and scuba diving in the summer. We didn’t see any sea shells while there on multiple trips, but didn’t snorkel or scuba dive so I couldn’t speak to that. It is great for relaxing, strolling down the beautiful white sand beach, and playing in the shallow water though! Parking is challenging unless you visit early or park at Haena Beach Park.
Hanalei Bay / Beach – arguably one of my favorites in Kauai, this beach has a breathtaking backdrop of Bali Hai, and it feels unreal when you’re sitting on the sand looking at everything. After recent rain, you can see waterfalls in the mountains too. The historic pier adds to the beauty of this place! This beach is family friendly and has a lot of shallow areas. Therefore, it can get extremely crowded, so I would go super early and avoid weekends.
Hanalei Valley Lookout
When driving to the North Shore in Kauai, you won’t miss this vista!
Along the Kuhio Highway across from Foodland, there is a pull-out with a parking area.
This Hanalei Valley Lookout offers incredible panoramic views of Kauai’s natural beauty: Hanalei Valley and the surrounding mountains (with multiple waterfalls after recent rain). The Hanalei Valley you see below is a patchwork of taro fields. The views can change depending on time of day. We’ve been here multiple times and each time was different.
Tip: not too far from this spot is another lookout with incredible views of the mountains and ocean! You can't miss it!
Below was taken during sunrise - it was breathtaking!
Hanalei Town
On the North Shore, you won’t miss the cute charming Hanalei Town, which is surrounded by the emerald mountains. It’s perfect for a lunch stop. However, it gets very crowded with tourists, especially during lunch time. If you must, you can stop here for a bathroom break too.
There is also a farmer’s market with lots of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and delicious food and juices!
While here, you can’t miss the Waiʻoli Huiʻia Church, which was founded in 1834 but looks like new! The church’s green shingles and stained-glass windows are very beautiful and picturesque.
Hanalei Taro Fields
You can find the taro fields throughout most of Kauai, but one spot that’s easily accessible is the taro fields right after the bridge, coming from Princeville. It’s like a closeup view of Hanalei Valley.
Note: you’ll only see taros during the right season!
Secret Falls
Breathtaking falls, but not easy to get to as this requires kayaking, crossing a river, and hiking. I actually haven’t done this yet, since last time we were supposed to do it, it was on a weekend and all kayak companies were closed. So plan accordingly!
It takes 45 minutes kayaking one way, crossing a river (water can get up to hips) which can be potentially dangerous, and hiking to get to the falls. They have installed a boardwalk so it’s less muddy now. Once you get to the waterfall, you can swim under it.
Napali Coast
People come to Kauai for this. For the majestic Napali Coast. However, to view it fully, there’s really only two ways. One is by helicopter. The other is by boat. I actually haven’t done it because I’m scared of both. Too many reviews say the boat can get extremely choppy and dangerous, even in the morning when it’s supposed to be calmer. But if you’re up for it, the views are out of this world!
Waimea Canyon
A mini version of the Grand Canyon, but smaller and more lush, is the Waimea Canyon. Also nicknamed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon is located on the southwest side of Kauai. Waimea Canyon State Park consists of a scenic drive through the mountains, canyon lookouts and viewpoints, trails, seasonal trout fishing, and pig/goat hunting.
Here, you can’t miss the main Waimea Canyon Overlook, which offers stunning views of Waimea Canyon’s interior and a waterfall. This stop has bathrooms, and costs $10 for parking and $5 per person to go to the overlook.
There are multiple stops along the drive, and ample of opportunities to see the canyon without going to Waimea Overlook. However, the Overlook does have one of the better views of Waimea Canyon in my opinion.
IMPORTANT: check weather and cloud coverage before going! A few times we’ve gone and can’t see a thing due to fog / cloud cover.
If you have some time, you can do the short 0.3 mile Iliau Nature Loop at Waimea. It’s very easy but there are a few inclines. The views of the canyon are breathtaking! It’s a popular trail so you’ll likely encounter other people.
On the drive to Waimea and back, you will cannot miss Waipoo Falls (or Waipo'o Falls)! It’s such a gorgeous sight! It can get pretty dry during the summer, but during the spring on a clear day, you’ll see the majestic falls!
Be careful not to get too close to the edge because it gets quite windy sometimes!
There are a lot of pull-outs for views of the canyon! Below is one of the main or bigger pull-outs that we saw.
There is a beautiful view on the way back down from Waimea; you can't miss it! It's literally a gorgeous view of the ocean! You can just pull out on the side of the road and soak in the views!
Kalaulau Lookout
One of the best views of Kauai hands-down! You cannot go to Kauai and not see this. You have no excuses too because the lookout is literally some steps from the parking lot, haha!
Kalaulau lookout is located in Kokee State Park on the west side of Kauai. It’s actually north of Waimea Canyon, so after you visit Waimea, just keep following the main road and you will end up here!
Kalaulau Lookout offers phenomenal views of the vast Kalalau Valley and Na Pali coast.
It costs $10 per car, and $5 per person to visit, but it is SO worth it!
If you want better views, it comes with a bit of work. There’s also the Pu’u O Kila Lookout, but you have to hike to get there. It looks easy, but gets steeper and more difficult. It’s even harder after recent rain.
IMPORTANT: check weather and cloud coverage before going! A few times we’ve gone and can’t see a thing due to fog / cloud cover.
Kilauea Lighthouse & Wildlife Refuge
This beautiful Kilauea Lighthouse was built in the early 1900s and is located on the north shore of Kauai, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by Kauai’s natural beauty, including the rocky coastline, steep cliffs, verdure, and panoramic ocean views.
This place is also a wildlife refuge, making it a great spot for Hawaiian Nene, birds, and whale watching (during the winter).
Reservations are required for all visitors 16 years old and over. It costs $10 per person, and $1 reservation fee.
Note: Some passes are accepted: America the Beautiful (Senior, Annual, Military, 4th Grade, and Access), Kamaʻāina, Federal Duck Stamp, and Golden Age. Passes will admit the cardholder and three adult guests. YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO MAKE A RESERVATION and pay the $1 online booking fee. The steps for booking using your pass, per kauairefuges.org, is: “visit the reservation site, select Kīlauea Point Ticketed Entry, select your date, under Quantity select “Interagency Pass Holder Entry” and enter the number of adults in your party.”
Please note that their hours are Wednesday - Saturday, from 10am-4pm, except for Federal holidays. Plan your visit accordingly.
More information / make reservations HERE.
Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is a lovely, double waterfall not too far from the city, just north of Lihue. This waterfall is beautiful and best of all is that it’s easily accessible and free! The parking situation is not the best, so it’s better to come in the morning when there’s less traffic.
It is basically a lookout, so it’ll be a quick stop, but will be worth it!
Sometimes whenever the sun hits the right angle, you’ll be blessed with an amazing rainbow stretching from the base of the falls and into the mist. We’ve seen this multiple times, and it’s such a beautiful sight.
Tree Tunnel
I have a thing for beautiful tunnels. When I saw this mesmerizing tree tunnel in Kauai, I couldn’t get enough of it!
It is a gorgeous one-mile stretch of tree tunnel. Not just any trees, but eucalyptus trees! The history is that it was a gift (of 500 eucalyptus trees) from Pineapple Baron Walter McBryde to the Koloa Community, which was planted on this highway (Highway 520). Over the years, these eucalyptus trees thrived and formed a canopy, thus creating the beautiful tree tunnel.
You’ll pass through this tree tunnel on your drive south to Poipu and Koloa Town.
Tip: there is a small pullover on the right side, going south towards Poipu / Koloa, close to the entrance of the tree tunnel. Careful or you might just drive pass it. We always stop here for pictures, hehe.
Spouting Horn
Another of Kauai’s nature creations is the Spouting Horn, an area with a few blowholes formed by the ocean waves hitting Kauai’s rocky coast. The main blowhole’s fountain can reach up to 50 feet in height depending on the weather and ocean conditions, which is pretty spectacular. If you’re lucky, there might be Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles swimming around the area, or even rainbows.
It’s best to visit during high tide and stay behind the railing.
There is plenty of parking in the area, but be prepared to share the viewpoint in close proximity with others.
Kauai Coffee Company
When in Kauai, you have to stop at the Kauai Coffee Company, the largest coffee farm in the United States!
Go for a stroll through their coffee orchard, or attend a free-guided tour to learn about how their coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted.
Then, sample their exclusive estate-grown Hawaiian coffees, and possibly take home some coffee gifts! Certain times of the year, you’ll be able to see the coffee plants flowering and fruit ripening. I think we have seen both!
Spot chickens
When in Kauai, the first thing you will notice is the abundance of chickens. I know what you’re thinking, but nope you can’t catch them as it is illegal. They are well protected, and I think they love it.
In fact, due to this, there is a growth issue of feral chickens in Kauai.
Kauai have just passed a new law on July 1, 2024 to address this problem and to control it. It also include harsher penalties for feeding them.
Makauwahi Cave Reserve
A beautiful limestone cave, leading to a beach access and tortoise sanctuary, the Makauwahi Cave Reserve is a beautiful place to explore for the whole family!
Getting there requires an easy and short hike. It’s very suitable for kids. However, going into the cave requires crawling! There is also a wonderful a free guide/tour at the cave.
Tip: park on the side of the road right before the cut off to the ranch and walk a few minutes. Otherwise, you could potentially damage your car due to the bad road conditions.
Hours: 10am-3:45pm
Sunset at Poipu Beach + Turtles
Poipu Beach, located on the sunny shoes of Kauai, is famous for swimming, bodyboarding, surfing, and snorkeling.
However, one of the most popular things to do in Kauai is this: watching turtles during sunset at Poipu Beach. They say sometimes you’ll spot monk seals, but having gone so many times I’ve never seen one unfortunately.
The Hawaiian green sea turtles, also called “honus”, come out to bask, every evening, right before sunset. When there, you’ll see them coming out from the water, one by one. It’s a fun experience! Beware, there are A LOT of people! There is usually a volunteer or two to help guard the turtles because sometimes people are just oblivious and don’t see them, or they’ll try to get too close or even touch them!
Keep in mind:
· It is illegal to touch a turtle (this can result in heavy fines)
· Stay at least 10ft away from them
· Do not approach, touch, or chase them
· Do not feed them
· Do not pour water on them
· Always give them a clear path to land and sea
· Avoid making loud noises or sudden movements, which will startle them
They say that during the pandemic, when the beaches were all closed, the turtles starting taking over and coming out to bask, more than ever. So, on a typical night here, there could be up to 70 or more turtles. They all leave and go back into the ocean at dawn.
Red Dirt Waterfall
Kauai is known for its lush landscapes and abundance of waterfalls. Most waterfalls you see are amongst Kauai’s lush vegetations. However, when you see this Red Dirt Waterfall, you’ll be amazed and feel like you’re in another world. It’s a unique waterfall as it cuts through the canyon’s red-hued soil to create this amazing out-worldly sight!
Park on the side of the road, cross the fence, and you won’t miss this waterfall!
Note: the falls is best during rainy season from November through April!
