Why You Should Visit the Island of Kauai, HI
Kauai, the garden isle of Hawaii. Home to one of the most iconic coastlines, the lushest green landscapes, and yummiest poke & açaí bowls.
Of the 5 islands, this one was perfect as we were seeking relaxation on island time, but also outdoor adventures (without the crowded tourist-y vibe of the Oahu).
We visited in May 2018 and had the opportunity to stay at Grand Hyatt Kauai (in Poipu) for the first half of our trip & Airbnb beach house (in Wailua) for the latter half. We uber/lyft-ed and biked around the island for the first half & rented a car the second half.
Read on to share in some of our favorite Kauai experiences and draw inspiration for your next tropical adventure.
Mahalo!
1. Chasing waterfalls in Waimea Canyon
Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, this canyon is famous (for good reason) for its appearance in popular movies such as Jurassic Park. The start of the drive through the canyon begins just 20 minutes north of Waimea, on the south shore. There are many viewpoints throughout the drive (with toilet facilities), and hiking trails too. Waimea Canyon Trail hike is highly recommended for a view of the canyon atop the waterfall (we opted for a different hike detailed below, but perhaps next time!)
It’s best to come early, before the fog rolls in, or in the afternoon ~3 pm (if weather allows) right as the sun strikes the canyon.
2. Hiking Awa’awapuhi Trail
Located 10 minutes north of the Waimea Canyon lookout in Waimea Canyon and 5 minutes south of the Kalalau lookout, this trailhead leads to a 6.5 mile there-and-back hike. It’s downhill for 3.25 miles, where you’re (supposedly) rewarded for your low-cost efforts with a panoramic view of the Napali Coast, and taxed for the view on the way back up. Unfortunately on the day of our hike, we caught the fog — late bird catches no views, and only a workout! Although most of the trail is shaded by canopy and protected from the sun, due to the humidity, the hike has a rain forest/steam room feel. But hey, it’s au naturale!
Just remember to stop by the Koke’e lodge to ask the locals if the weather conditions are good for your hike the day you go. And unlike us, probably listen to the advice they give.
3. Watching the sunset from Poipu Beach Park
Since Kauai is the westernmost Hawaiian island, the sunsets here are picture-perfect. One of our favorite sunsets was witnessed while we were staying in Poipu, on the south shore. In the early-summer months, the sun sets around 7 PM, so we made sure to snag a spot on this heavily populated beach around 6:30 PM, making a few friends from around the world as we bid adieu to the day’s sun.
4. Double-rainbow sightings across the island sky
Because of the flash rains in Kauai, there are many opportunities for rainbow sightings. Although the forecast stated 60% chance of rain for more than half our trip, we were incredibly lucky there was never a downpour and it hardly impacted our trip. And we only got caught in a 5-minute flash of sprinkles once, on our walk to the benefit concert in Poipu to raise money for victims of the recent flood (“Kokua for Kauai” featuring Jack Johnson as the headliner).
However, that was also when we witnessed our first full double rainbow spread across the sky. What a beautiful sight to behold — I’d trade walking in the rain for that double rainbow any day.
5. Biking on Ke Ala Hale Makalae coastal path
In the town of Kapaa, on the east shore, we rented bikes and road 3.5ish miles up the coast along a scenic bike path. Our bikes (2 for $10 per hr) were from Hele on Kauai Bike Rentals, and there’s many other bike rental shops on Kuhio highway (the main street that runs through Kapaa) to choose from.
There were so many breath taking views throughout the ride… Kapaa beach, Kaelia beach, “Pineapple Dump”, and Donkey beach, each more and more beautiful than the previous. Even with the copious stops you’re bound to take (for photo ops and sun screen reapplications), the ride takes under 2 hrs.
6. Koi feeding at the Grand Hyatt Kauai
During our stay, we enjoyed the resort activities, but my favorite was the koi feeding from 9–10 am at Tidepools. There are 200 koi in this pond and they reach maturity at 4 years. I’m scared of fish (lol, yes all fish), but feeding them is a whole different story.
If you’re trying to decide where to stay on the island of Kauai or already committed and doing additional research, check back for more about our stay soon!
7. Eating local Hawaiian cuisine
When in the home of poke, kalua pork, and açaí bowls, there’s no better way to start (or end) your day than with some traditional Hawaiian cuisine. The açaí bowls and smoothies throughout the island were perfect thirst quenchers on the hot humid days. However money conscious travelers beware eating in Kauai is not cheap.
If you’d like to read about my favorite food picks on the island of Kauai, you can do so here.
8. Staring at the Napali Coast in awe
No Kauai to-do list would be complete without the Napali Coast, on the north shore. This stunning cliff scene can be viewed by air, sea, or foot, and we had planned to hike the Kalalau Trail [[this trailhead can only be reached from Hanalei, on the north shore, since the highway doesn’t loop around the entire island]]
Unfortunately, due to the recent flood in April, the northern-most section of the island was still closed off for safety reasons and we were unable to reach the trailhead. Sad-face. But silver lining: we have something to look forward to next time!
Instagram for my fellow basics ✌
Are you planning your trip to Kauai? Read about my Kauai food recommendations below:
Mahalo, and Aloha!
