Epic Kauai Travel Guide: What to Do + Where to Stay
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First time to Kauai and have no idea how to approach your trip? We have you covered here in this all-encompassing Kauai adventure guide: what to do, where to stay, and everything else you’ll need to know about this heavenly island.
Heralded as “The Garden Island”, Kauai is one of the quieter gems of the Hawaiian islands. It is a stunning, versatile paradise that offers all the outdoor adventures you could conjure up out of your Hawaiian dreams. You step back in time and realize only one thing is missing from this immaculate, Jurassic-era island: dinosaurs.
Kauai’s landscape is lush, dramatic, and peaceful. You swim in pure turquoise waters, peer up at towering mountain scapes, and marvel at the lush countryside, rich with deep green ferns and palm trees that grow fabulously to the edge of the sand.
Travel to Kauai to wander and wonder in peace at the tropical beauty you find yourself immersed in.
Poipu
Getting to Know the Garden Island
It is helpful to understand the layout of the island before planning your trip, to help you pinpoint which town you would like to stay in, what hikes and beaches you would like to be close to, and what kind of vibe you are looking for in your vacation.
Kauai is the smallest, western-most of the four major Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island being the other three). It is only 552 square miles, roughly the size of Los Angeles (city, not county), and is home to 72,000 residents. It receives about 95,000 visitors annually. To compare, Oahu is 35 times bigger in size than Kauai and receives around 10 million visitors a year.
There is only one highway looping around the circumference of the island (I asked a local what the name of the highway was and he nearly couldn’t tell me, as there is no other road to confuse this highway with! It’s just the highway.) However, just FYI, it is the Kuhio highway, or #52. You will frequently encounter farm animals, one-lane bridges, fresh fruit stands, and beachy state parks on your drives. Poke, coffee, and mangoes are available around every corner.
Mountains, farms, and open country dominate the center of the island, leaving towns scattered around the edges of the island. Each side of the island offers tourist activities and natural attractions. Plan on keeping to the outer rim of the island; taking the looping highway clockwise, all the way from the North Shore to Waimea Canyon. The Nāpali Coast, a formidable and remarkable landmark that is recognized worldwide, separates the north and west coastlines, making that portion of Kauai impassable by car.
Kauai’s charm lies in its powerful peace; you feel the remoteness of this tiny, beautiful former volcano, a mere drop of sand in the midst of the Pacific Ocean. There are no skyscrapers and nightlife is basically nonexistent, except for a few small pubs. You don’t go to Kauai to party (that’s what Oahu is for). Most certainly, you will witness many family reunions and photoshoots on the beach at sunset, outdoor wedding ceremonies, and honeymooners. It is also a big retirement community, because people go to Kauai for the *blissful quiet*.
Below, I have broken down Kauai into parts so you can get a feel for what you can expect on your wonderful visit to the Garden Island. I also have highlighted the can’t-miss spots and sites on each part of the island.
Read on to fuel your wanderlust!
West Kauai
West Kauai
A beautiful, less trafficked drive out to West Kauai will treat you to fewer crowds, rural beach towns, open country, and drier, sweeping landscapes. While the north and east sides of the island are wet, the west stays relatively dry and rugged in comparison. The drive out there is a beautiful experience in and of itself and leads you all the way to Waimea Canyon State Park, back-to-back with the Nāpali Coast. Because of the undriveable Nāpali Coast, there is no cutting corners; if your accommodations are on the North Shore, you will drive clockwise in a 300 degree circle to arrive in West Kauai! But trust me, it is SO worth the drive.
Waimea Canyon State Park
Can’t miss spots:
Hanapepe: A laidback rural town with endearing shops and eateries, perfect for a great meal, shopping, and even a cute bookstore. Also, the inspiration for Disney’s Lilo and Stitch!
Hanapepe Swinging Bridge: A fun little stop in Hanapepe. Locals still cross the swinging bridge daily.
Waimea Canyon State Park: The “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” treats you to hiking and views galore, my favorite part of Kauai and potentially of all the Hawaiian islands. Honestly, you forget where you are once you step foot into this state park. Utah? The film set of Jurassic Park? Mars?
Kōkeʻe State Park: Neighbors with Waimea Canyon State Park. Fewer visitors means less people to share the trails and views with!
Hanapepe Swinging Bridge
North Shore
Lush and dense, the tropical forest grows thicker and closer the farther up the north coast you drive, all the way to Hā'ena State Park. Local young’uns bike around with happy shouts and resident surfers walk around with surfboards propped on their head lengthwise. There are great places to eat, expansive (and hidden) beaching spots, rental gear shops, epic mountains and trails to climb, and forests to get lost in.
Can’t miss spots:
Princeville: A resort town, with spacious golf greens and luxury condos.
Hanalei: Northernmost surf town, with a charming shopping and restaurant area.
Hanalei Valley Lookout: A beautiful place to stretch the legs while looking over the valley.
Queen’s Bath: Cool, water-beaten coves. Beware high waves in the winter. A short 0.8 mile hike will take you to this off-the-beaten-path spot.
Kilauea Lighthouse: A quick pitstop off the highway for a pretty photograph.
Hā'ena State Park: Northernmost point of Kauai! You can’t drive past the state park. Beautiful, lush trails with access to the famed Nāpali Coast.
Nāpali Coast: Anyone who goes to Kauai rants about the Nāpali Coast, an incredible rugged portion of the island’s coastline. The fact that it is only accessible by boat, helicopter, and foot makes it all the more tantalizing.
Blue Room Cave: A mysterious, adventurous pitstop on your way to Hā'ena State Park. You can swim in and poke around in these caves, after a quick scramble in and out.
East Kauai
East Kauai
The east side is a little more commercial. You will land in the island’s capital, Lihue, in a tiny, cute airport. Here you will find the only Walmart, Target, banking, and other such modern conveniences on the island. I vote that you move away from the commercialized part of the island after you stock up on groceries, and move a little further north or south, whichever direction catches your fancy. Before abandoning this area, however, a few sites not to miss:
Can’t miss spots
Wailua Falls: If you don’t want to work for a beautiful waterfall view, then this is served as dessert for you. You drive right up to the falls and witness the gorgeous free falling waters from a great distance and height.
Sleeping Giant Trail: An island must-do and 3.4-mile morning adventure! Read more in the hiking section below. Don’t wake the giant!
'Opaeka'a Falls: Another beautiful waterfall visible from the parking lot, not requiring a hike.
South Kauai
South Kauai becomes more rural as you drive along. You will find a few resorts and tourist-driven hubs, certainly, but that is balanced with a local, slow-country feel. The winding highway takes you through a rural, tropical paradise and removes you from the major traffic zones near Lihue, transitioning you into the more remote western Kauai.
Can’t miss spots
Poipu: The main southern beach town of Kauai. There is a charming stretch of beach-inspired restaurants directly across from Poipu Beach Park. You can also rent gear, surf, snorkel, and more.
Spouting Horn Park (Blowhole): A pitstop on the south side to witness ocean water spray forcefully into the air from the strength of the waves!
McBryde Garden and Allerton Garden: These two botanical gardens are stunning, pedicured tropical paradises that puts the best of Hawaiian natural beauty on display.
How to Navigate the Island
Unless you plan to plant your seat on a beach chair at a resort and sip Mai Tais with eyes closed and happy, lazy sighs, and resolute to not move an inch from your newfound happy place, you will want a car. Exploring the different parts of the island requires wheels. The benefits of a car rental include: getting to trailheads for hiking, different coastlines and beaches (the terrain changes over the island), exploring all the beach towns, and trying out different restaurants.
Where to rent a car
Turo: What I used. Relatively affordable options.
Discount Car Rental: Others swear by this company.
Anahola Beach Park
Where to Stay on Kauai
Hotels
There are different types of resorts in every “major” town; you can select a hotel style or a more beach cottage type of stay.
Find Deals: Kauai Accommodations
Airbnb
Airbnb is less common on Kauai than on other major Hawaiian islands. On Oahu, there is an Airbnb or VRBO every ten feet. Airbnb options are more limited here, due to the rural, retired vibes, but you can find an assortment of condos and glamping options.
Camping/Van Life
If you go the non-traditional route and decide to camp, Kauai has many beautiful campgrounds for you to explore. This saves you major money, as lodging on the island can make up half of your total trip cost. There are state parks all over the island, planted directly on the beach, so where you sunbathe is where you can stay overnight, as well. Camping permits can be located here.
For Hawaiian residents, it is either $5 or free, depending on the campground. For out-of-state residents, the cost is either $3 or $25 per adult per night. Check the official website to double-check the cost of the specific campsite you are looking at.
You could also opt for a van, which opens the door to mobile living and pulling up directly to your campsite. Van living on the remote, beautiful island of Kauai feels very fitting. It’s pretty awesome to be able to drive wherever you want and be able to pull right up to the ocean to sleep. Sliding the door open in the morning to watch sunrise out of your camper van is a special experience. All of the beach state parks have outdoor showers and restrooms available.
Highly Rated Campgrounds
Lydgate Beach Park
Anini Beach Park
Anahola Beach Park
Salt Pond Park
Hanamaulu Beach Park
When to Go to Kauai
As with all Hawaiian islands, it is least expensive to travel to Kauai in the off-season. The most expensive and busiest times to go will be summer months of April through August, the month of December, and around each major holiday such as Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Spring Break.
Your best bet for affordable flights and accommodations (and clearer beaches and less traffic) will be January through March and September through November. You can steal surprisingly good roundtrip flight deals if you keep an eye out and have flexibility with your visit dates.
Also be aware that wave patterns change throughout the year. During winter months, the North Shore becomes treacherous, with monumental waves that prevents swimming.
Best Things to Do in Kauai
What are the most popular, can’t-miss sights and activities on Kauai?
1. Nāpali Coast: Accessible by helicopter tour, boat tour, or your own two feet (if willing to hike 22 miles roundtrip).
2. Waimea Canyon: The Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Stunning hiking and views accessible in this state park.
3. Rum Tasting: Take a cultural turn with a rum tasting at the beautiful Kilohana Plantation.
4. Hiking: Kauai is a hiker’s paradise, with trails and treks dotting the entire island. See below for the most popular trails!
5. Snorkeling: Nearly every beach offers snorkeling opportunities, with gear rental companies scattered throughout the beach towns. Tunnels Beach is one such popular snorkeling spot.
7. Scuba diving: Organized tour trips will take you scuba diving off the coast, making for an unforgettable experience in the beautiful, pure waters of the Pacific and its marine inhabitants!
8. Checking out restaurants: You could spend days poking around the many local eateries of the island (don’t forget to try shaved ice and poke!).
9. Waterfalls: Visit glorious waterfalls, such as Waipoo Falls or 'Opaeka'a Falls.
10. Rent bikes by the ocean: You can rent bikes from Coconut Coasters and bike the 4 or 5 mile oceanside bike path in Kapa’a.
11. Visit a botanical garden: Immerse yourself in pedestrian-friendly tropical paradise at the McBryde and Allerton Gardens.
12. Zipline through the jungle: Zipping through the jungle is a popular go-to; check it out here!
13. Helicopter Tour: Helicopter tours are hallmarked as a must-do while on a visit to Kauai, if your budget can afford it. There are places on Kauai that can only be seen and experienced from the air!
14. Kayak up the Wailua River to the base of Wailua Falls.
15. Surf: If you have a hankering to learn to surf or—bless your soul—you already know how to, there is ample opportunity to rent a board or take a lesson.
Best Hikes on Kauai
Sleeping Giant Trail
Sleeping Giant Trail
3.4 miles (roundtrip) with about a 1000-foot elevation change.
Set aside 2 to 2.5 hours for the hike, a tidy and heart rate-accelerating incline to the chin of the “sleeping giant.” You’ll be able to pick out the prostrate figure of this slumbering giant in the hills as you drive towards the trailhead!
Waipoo Falls
Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls
3.5 miles (roundtrip) with an approximately 1000-foot elevation change.
Taking about 2 hours, (plus dilly-dallying time at the waterfall) this is an awesome, accessible hike into the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, culminating in a fun rock scramble, sweeping view of the canyon, and the top of the beautiful Waipoo Falls. Do not forget your camera!
Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai Falls
8 miles (round trip)
Reservations are needed and parking is limited, so you may have to take the shuttle from Wailua. A challenging, solid day hike that rewards you with amazing views and a muddy, tropical experience.
Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
4 miles (round trip)
This coastal “hike” is for those looking for a stroll. It is highly accessible, walkable for all levels and ages, and travels from Shipwreck's Beach to Mahaulepu Beach.
Kalalau Trail (entire trail to Nāpali Coast)
22 miles
If you are ready to conquer a major bucket list item, hike the whole 22 miles. For highly active and fit hikers, it is possible to hike the entire out-and-back in a day or you can camp at Hanakapiai Beach and wave at the tourists on the boats that paid around 200 bucks to look at the coast from a distance while you’re ON it.
Best Beaches on Kauai
Anahola Beach Park
Hideaway Beach
Tunnels Beach
Hanalei Beach
Poipu Beach
Shipwreck Beach
What to Expect with Weather on Kauai
Hanapepe
You can expect an evenly sunny and balmy upper 70s and low 80s range for weather, year-round. Yay!
Raining intensifies in winter months, while summertime is typically drier. If you are staying on the North Shore, you may expect more dampness and rain no matter what time of year; that is the price of such lushness and deep green grandeur! West Kauai misses more of the rain. A great thing about bad weather on this island is that you can often escape a rainstorm by retreating to another side of the island. Sunshine is usually just another beach away!
If you plan to hike, you should prepare for mud. Bring shoes that have good tread and grip, otherwise you may be skating and sliding on shaky legs the entire time. After a good rain, mud reigns free.
Unlike Oahu, there are bugs on Kauai. You may want to invest in bug spray, even for shady portions of the beach.
Length of Ideal Stay on Kauai
A 6 or 7 day itinerary on Kauai would be ideal to experience everything that this little, packed island could offer. The Garden Island may look small, but once you arrive, you’ll understand how each town deserves exploration, each beach a swim, each trail a hike, each mountain a jaw-drop.
It is entirely possible to split up a trip to Hawaii between two islands. Any more than two islands in the space of a week, and you won’t be doing them justice; each island deserves at least three to four days and nights.
I felt relatively satisfied in the amount of territory on Kauai that I covered in three days, but with three more nights, I could have delved more into each beach town community, gotten to know all the hidden beaches, explored the local eateries… three days wasn’t enough for me!
Conclusion
One more travel tip: it aids mental organization of your Kauai trip to “favorite” or “star” locations on your Google maps. That way you can make sure you are hitting every site and landmark you had planned on visiting, and can orient yourself quickly when on the road.
Nobody leaves Kauai disappointed. The beautiful, open landscapes, tropical forests, aquamarine ocean will satisfy every wanderlust craving and traveller’s dreams.
I hope your upcoming trip to the Garden Island finds you embracing your inner beach bum, throwing out shakes right and left with a smile, sipping from a cold fresh coconut after conquering a tropical hike, and living out the lyrics of Zac Brown Band’s “Knee Deep.”
Mahalo.