Things to Do in Kauai, USA (Hawaii)

About Kauai

Kauaʻi is the oldest and greenest of the main Hawaiian islands, and the one that looks most like the Hawaiʻi of the movies: the fluted sea cliffs of the Nāpali Coast, the red-and-green gorge of Waimea Canyon, taro fields under the peaks above Hanalei and a north shore where the highway simply ends at a beach. It is also the least built-up of the four visited islands, with no building taller than a coconut palm by county rule, a single main road that does not go all the way around, and a rental car as the only practical way to see it. The sunny south and west (Poʻipū, Waimea) and the wet, lush north and east (Hanalei, Wailua) are different climates 40 minutes apart, and the best trips move between them, booking the handful of permits and reservations that now govern the most famous places before they leave home.

Top Attractions in Kauai

1. Nāpali Coast Boat Tour

   Seventeen miles of 4,000-foot cliffs on the northwest shore, with no road and three ways in. Boat tours are the classic: catamarans and inflatable rafts leave Port Allen and Kikiaola Harbor on the west side year-round for four- to six-hour trips with snorkelling and, in calm summer seas, sea-cave runs, and from Hanalei on the north shore roughly May to September. Expect $150–$300 a person, mornings for the calmest water and winter swells that cancel trips at short notice. Helicopter tours from Līhuʻe ($300–$500 for 50–60 minutes) add Waimea Canyon and the Mount Waiʻaleʻale crater in one loop. The third way is on foot along the Kalalau Trail.

2. Kalalau Trail

   The 11-mile trail from Kēʻē Beach to Kalalau Beach is one of the great coastal hikes on Earth and heavily regulated. Everyone entering Hāʻena State Park at the road's end, including day hikers, needs an advance reservation for parking or the North Shore Shuttle from Waipā, released on the state's Hāʻena reservation site 30 days ahead and gone within minutes for summer dates; the park caps daily visitors. Day hikers may go two miles to Hanakāpīʻai Beach (never swim there; the currents are lethal) and two more up the valley to Hanakāpīʻai Falls, a strenuous eight-mile round trip. Continuing past Hanakāpīʻai toward Hanakoa and Kalalau requires a Kalalau camping permit from the state Division of State Parks, issued per person per night and sold out months ahead. Rain turns the trail to red mud; start early and turn back if the streams rise.

3. Waimea Canyon

   Mark Twain never actually called it the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, but the name stuck: a gorge ten miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep in red rock and green ridges, streaked with waterfalls after rain. Highway 550 climbs from Waimea town past the Waimea Canyon Lookout and Puʻu Hinahina to Kōkeʻe State Park, where the Kalalau Lookout and Puʻu o Kila at the road's end stare down 4,000 feet into the Nāpali valleys. Go before 10am; clouds fill both views by late morning on most days. Non-residents pay a small per-person entry and parking fee at the lookouts. Kōkeʻe has a natural history museum, a lodge serving lunch and 45 miles of trails, and it is 15 degrees cooler than the coast.

4. Hanalei Bay

   A two-mile crescent of sand under 3,000-foot green peaks with a wooden pier at its east end, the bay is the north shore's swimming, surfing and sunset spot in one. Summer brings flat, clear water; winter brings surf that only experienced riders should touch, so swim near the lifeguard towers at Black Pot and Pine Trees beach parks. Hanalei town behind it is a block of wooden storefronts, food trucks, a bakery worth queuing for and the Tahiti Nui bar; the Hanalei Valley Lookout on the highway above frames the taro fields of the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.

5. Poʻipū Beach Park

   The sunny south shore's family beach: a lifeguarded double crescent divided by a sand tombolo, calm snorkelling in the sheltered pool at the west end, boogie boarding at Brennecke's next door, and Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles that regularly haul out on the sand and are roped off by volunteers (stay well back). Spouting Horn, a blowhole that fires seawater 50 feet through a lava tube on big swells, is five minutes west, and Kōloa, the old sugar-plantation town, is ten minutes inland.

6. Wailua River Kayak

   Kauaʻi has the only navigable rivers in Hawaiʻi, and the Wailua is the one to paddle: two miles upstream from the marina, then a mile on foot through a stream crossing and jungle to Uluwehi Falls, known to everyone as Secret Falls, a 100-foot cascade with a swimming pool at its base. Guided trips ($90–$130) include the kayak, dry bags and lunch; renting for the unguided version is cheaper, and commercial rentals do not operate on the river on Sundays. The Fern Grotto boat and the roadside lookouts at ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls and Wailua Falls, a double drop at the end of Māʻalo Road, round out the valley.

7. Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

   The northernmost point of the main islands holds a 1913 lighthouse on a lava headland and the state's largest accessible seabird colony: red-footed boobies nesting in the trees, Laysan albatross from November to July, great frigatebirds overhead and, in winter, humpback whales offshore. Entry is by timed reservation through recreation.gov with a small fee, and the refuge is closed for part of each week, so book it when you book the flights. Volunteers lend binoculars.

8. Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail

   A four-mile round trip along the wild coast east of Poʻipū, from Shipwreck Beach beside the Grand Hyatt across lithified sand dunes and sea cliffs to Māhāʻulepū Beach, with Makauwahi Cave Reserve, the largest limestone cave in Hawaiʻi and a fossil site, a short detour inland. No reservation, no fee, no shade: go early with water and reef shoes, watch for monk seals on the sand and turtles in the coves, and stay off the crumbling cliff edges.

Best Neighborhoods in Kauai

• Poʻipū and Kōloa

  The south shore is the driest, sunniest part of the island and the resort base: condos and beach hotels along Poʻipū Road, the Grand Hyatt on Shipwreck Beach, the Shops at Kukuiʻula for dinner, and Kōloa town's plantation-era storefronts, fish market and rum tasting room ten minutes inland. Everything in this guide is under 90 minutes away.

• Kapaʻa and Wailua

  The east side's strip of condos, food trucks and surf shops along Kūhiō Highway, known as the Coconut Coast, is the island's most affordable base and its most central: 15 minutes from the airport, 45 from Hanalei, 40 from Poʻipū. The Ke Ala Hele Makalae coastal bike path runs eight miles along the shore, the Wailua River and the Sleeping Giant (Nounou) trail are at the back door, and Kapaʻa town has the best shave ice on the island.

• Hanalei and Princeville

  The north shore is the wettest and most beautiful side: Princeville's clifftop resort and golf community above the bay, then the one-lane bridge down to Hanalei town, its beach parks and the taro fields, and the road on to Hāʻena and the trailhead. It is an hour from the airport and cut off whenever heavy rain closes the Kūhiō Highway, which happened for more than a year after the 2018 floods and still happens for days at a time, so keep a day's flexibility.

• Līhuʻe and Kalapakī

  The county seat and airport town is where the island shops, banks and eats saimin, not where it holidays, but Kalapakī Beach beside the Marriott is a calm, sheltered bay for children and stand-up paddling, the Kauaʻi Museum tells the island's story, and Hamura Saimin has been serving noodles since 1952. Hotels here are the cheapest on the island and everything is under an hour away.

• Waimea and the West Side

  The dry, quiet west: Waimea town, where Captain Cook first landed in 1778, with plantation cottages to rent and the road up to the canyon; Hanapēpē, the 'biggest little town', with its swinging bridge, galleries and Friday Art Night; Port Allen's harbour for the Nāpali boats; and beyond Kekaha the dirt road to Polihale State Park's 17 miles of empty beach under the first Nāpali cliffs, the best sunset on Kauaʻi.

What to Eat in Kauai

• Saimin at Hamura Saimin in Līhuʻe
• Poke from Koloa Fish Market
• A Puka Dog (Polish sausage in a hollowed roll with fruit relish) in Poʻipū
• Shave ice at Wailua Shave Ice in Kapaʻa
• Kauaʻi coffee at the Kauai Coffee Company visitor center in Kalāheo
• Taro smoothies and kalua pork at Hanalei Taro & Juice Co.
• Shave ice from JoJo's in Waimea after the canyon
• Lilikoʻi (passion fruit) pie from the Kilauea Bakery or a farmers market

Best Time to Visit Kauai

Kauaʻi is warm all year, but the sides differ: the south and west are dry and sunny in every month, while the north and east get most of their rain from November to March, which is also when north-shore surf closes beaches to swimming and Nāpali boat trips from Hanalei stop. April to May and September to October bring the lowest prices, the fewest people and calm water on most coasts. Summer (June to August) has the flattest north-shore seas for snorkelling at Hanalei and Kēʻē and the busiest trails; December to March adds humpback whales offshore and holiday rates that double. Waimea Canyon is clearest in the morning in every season.

Getting to and Around Kauai

Līhuʻe Airport (LIH) is on the east coast, and the rental-car lots are a shuttle ride from the terminal; book the car with the flight, since the island runs out in summer and at Christmas, and expect $60–$120 a day for a standard car, which handles every paved road in this guide, plus $20–$40 a night for resort parking. A taxi or rideshare from the airport is $25–$40 to Poʻipū or Kapaʻa and $90–$130 to Princeville; the Kauai Bus costs $2 but does not carry large luggage or reach the parks. Drive times from Līhuʻe: Kapaʻa 15–20 minutes, Poʻipū 25–30, Waimea town 45, the Waimea Canyon Lookout about 1 hour 15 and Kōkeʻe 1 hour 30, Hanalei an hour and Hāʻena 1 hour 20 outside the afternoon traffic, which crawls through Kapaʻa from 3pm to 6pm (a contraflow lane helps in the mornings). The main road does not circle the island: Polihale in the west and Kēʻē in the north are 40 miles apart by sea and four hours apart by car. Nāpali boats leave from Port Allen and Kikiaola Harbor near Waimea, 45 minutes from Poʻipū, and from Hanalei in summer. Helicopters fly from Līhuʻe. The Kapaʻa bike path rents cruisers for $20–$30 a day and is the one car-free outing. Fuel is cheapest in Līhuʻe and scarce west of Waimea and north of Princeville; fill up before either. Wild chickens have right of way everywhere.

Where to Stay in Kauai

Pick a coast by weather, then accept a drive to the other. Poʻipū is the sunny resort base: beachfront hotels at $400–$900 a night, condos along Poʻipū Road at $250–$450 and older complexes in Kōloa at $150–$250, with lifeguarded beaches, restaurants at Kukuiʻula and the canyon and the Nāpali boats within an hour. Kapaʻa and Wailua are the value and the centre: condos and small hotels along the Coconut Coast at $150–$300, hostels and guesthouses from $80, everything on the island under an hour, and the trade-off of more rain and passing traffic noise. Princeville is the north shore's resort: the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay and the Westin's condos at $600 and up, plus rentals at $300–$500 with the bay views; Hanalei town itself has beach houses and cottages at $300–$700 that sell out for summer by spring, and both are an hour from the airport and the first to be cut off by rain. Līhuʻe's hotels and the Marriott on Kalapakī Beach run $180–$350 and suit a short stay or a late arrival. The west side is quiet: Waimea Plantation Cottages at $250–$400 and B&Bs at $150–$250 put the canyon and the boats on the doorstep and the north shore two hours away. Resort fees of $30–$50 and parking are common, so compare all-in rates, and Kauaʻi County requires vacation rentals outside resort zones to carry a permit number, so ask for it. Peak prices run from mid-December to early January and June to August.

3 Days in Kauai: A Sample Itinerary

Every stop below is one of the places named in this guide. Use it as a starting point, or let the planner build a version around your dates, pace and budget.

Day 1: The Nāpali Coast, Waimea Canyon and Poʻipū

1. Morning: Nāpali Coast Boat Tour

   Check in at Port Allen or Kikiaola Harbor for a 7am Nāpali Coast Boat Tour: four to five hours along the cliffs with a snorkel stop at Nuʻalolo Kai in summer, spinner dolphins most mornings and whales from December to March, back on the dock by noon.

2. Afternoon: Waimea Canyon

   Drive 25 minutes up Highway 550 for Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park: the Waimea Canyon and Puʻu Hinahina lookouts, then the Kalalau Lookout at Kōkeʻe for the view down into the Nāpali valleys if the clouds allow (on a cloudy afternoon the lower lookouts are usually still clear), with a late lunch at the Kōkeʻe Lodge and shave ice from JoJo's in Waimea on the way down.

3. Evening: Poʻipū Beach Park

   Poʻipū Beach Park for the last hour of sun, when the monk seals haul out and the tombolo pool is calm for a swim, a Puka Dog from the stand at the shopping centre, and sunset from the lawn at Spouting Horn or dinner at the Shops at Kukuiʻula.

Day 2: The Wailua River, the east side and Līhuʻe

1. Morning: Wailua River Kayak

   An 8am Wailua River Kayak trip from the marina: two miles of flat water upstream past the Fern Grotto landing, then the mile-long hike to Uluwehi Falls for a swim under the 100-foot cascade, and back on the water by noon (book a guide, or rent a double kayak and go on your own, Monday to Saturday).

2. Afternoon: Wailua Falls

   The lookouts at ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls on Kuamoʻo Road and the double drop of Wailua Falls at the end of Māʻalo Road, then shave ice at Wailua Shave Ice in Kapaʻa and a rented cruiser bike on the Ke Ala Hele Makalae coastal path to Kealia Beach, or the 3.5-mile Sleeping Giant trail for the view over the whole east coast.

3. Evening: Hamura Saimin

   Saimin and a slice of lilikoʻi chiffon pie at Hamura Saimin in Līhuʻe, open since 1952 and cash only, then a walk on Kalapakī Beach as the harbour lights come on in Nāwiliwili.

Day 3: The north shore: Kīlauea, Hanalei and Hāʻena

1. Morning: Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

   Leave Poʻipū or Kapaʻa by 7:30am for your reserved slot at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge: the lighthouse, the red-footed boobies and albatross, and whales in winter; then the Hanalei Valley Lookout for the taro fields and a late breakfast at the bakery in Hanalei town.

2. Afternoon: Kalalau Trail

   Continue over the one-lane bridges to Hāʻena State Park for your parking or shuttle reservation: the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai Beach and back (allow three hours; stay out of the water), or, on a calm summer day, snorkelling instead at Kēʻē Beach and Makua (Tunnels) next door.

3. Evening: Hanalei Bay

   Back in Hanalei for taro smoothies and kalua pork at Hanalei Taro & Juice Co. or fish tacos from a food truck, then the sunset from Hanalei Pier over Hanalei Bay and a last drink at the Tahiti Nui; the drive south is an hour in the dark, so leave before you are tired.

Plan this trip — get a personalized day-by-day Kauai itinerary with drive times, restaurant picks and a packing list.

Kauai Travel Tips

• Rent a car for the whole stay — the Kauai Bus runs only along the main road for $2 and stops early, taxis are scarce, and the canyon, the north shore and the Nāpali harbours are each 45–90 minutes from the others
• Book the north shore before you fly: Hāʻena State Park parking or shuttle (30 days ahead), Kīlauea Point (recreation.gov) and any Kalalau camping permit, which sells out months in advance
• Never turn your back on the ocean: Kauaʻi's beaches have some of the strongest currents in the state, especially on the north shore in winter, so swim at lifeguarded beaches (Poʻipū, Hanalei, Lydgate, Kealia) and skip Hanakāpīʻai and Lumahaʻi entirely
• Give monk seals 50 feet and turtles 10 feet, use reef-safe sunscreen (required by state law), and respect the one-lane bridges north of Hanalei: cross in groups of five to seven cars and wave
• Check the road: heavy rain closes the Kūhiō Highway beyond Hanalei and the road to Polihale without warning, and the Waimea Canyon lookouts cloud over by late morning, so do the north and the canyon early in the day and early in the trip

Kauai FAQ

When is the best time to visit Kauai?

Kauaʻi is warm all year, but the sides differ: the south and west are dry and sunny in every month, while the north and east get most of their rain from November to March, which is also when north-shore surf closes beaches to swimming and Nāpali boat trips from Hanalei stop. April to May and September to October bring the lowest prices, the fewest people and calm water on most coasts. Summer (June to August) has the flattest north-shore seas for snorkelling at Hanalei and Kēʻē and the busiest trails; December to March adds humpback whales offshore and holiday rates that double. Waimea Canyon is clearest in the morning in every season.

How much does a day in Kauai cost?

Plan on an average daily budget of $180–$350/day in Kauai. The local currency is the US Dollar ($).

How do I get around Kauai?

Rent a car for the whole stay — the Kauai Bus runs only along the main road for $2 and stops early, taxis are scarce, and the canyon, the north shore and the Nāpali harbours are each 45–90 minutes from the others.

What should I know about safety and etiquette in Kauai?

Give monk seals 50 feet and turtles 10 feet, use reef-safe sunscreen (required by state law), and respect the one-lane bridges north of Hanalei: cross in groups of five to seven cars and wave.

What are the top things to do in Kauai?

Top attractions in Kauai include Nāpali Coast Boat Tour, Kalalau Trail, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay and Poʻipū Beach Park. Kauai is best for hiking, scenic drives, beaches and nature.

Similar Destinations to Kauai

• Maui, USA (Hawaii)
• Big Island, USA (Hawaii)
• Waikiki, USA (Hawaii)
• Banff, Canada

• More beach and island guides → Bali, Phuket, Cancún, Santorini and the Hawaiian islands compared: which beach for which trip, a 14-day Phuket and Bali route, seasons and seaweed, what a day costs, and the entry rules in one place.