JKH

Jul 12, 2021

Top Things To Do & See In Kauai-Adventures On The Move

Planning a trip to Kauai and want to make the most of your time while in paradise???

Then we've got you covered! Below we share where to stay, the best beaches to visit, the best places to eat, roads less traveled, and all of our Kauai adventures.

About Kauai

Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands, and it’s also the smallest of the four popular islands in size. Additionally, Kauai is less populated, less commercialized, and more rural compared to the other islands.

(Map from Go Hawaii)

Kauai is divided into six main regions: West Side, South Shore, Lihue, East Side, North Shore, and the Na Pali Coast. Similar to many of the other Hawaiian islands, each region provides unique adventures and offer a slightly different climate.

Kauai, often referred to as the "Garden Isle", is mostly comprised of undeveloped lush rainforests and undeveloped mountain ranges making it one of the most beautiful islands to visit. Of course you can't have beautiful lush rainforests without rain; Kauai is the rainiest of the four main Hawaiian islands, getting about 450 inches of rain per year! Kauai's rainier season tends to be between November-March, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. Don't let the rain dissuade you from visiting, like many of the other islands, if it is raining in one region, it does not mean it will be raining in another.

We visited Kauai during the first week of July, and did not experience much rain throughout our 6 day visit. The "drier" months tend to be between April-October, but again chances are there will be several regions that have beautiful sunny weather, even if it is raining in one area.

General Tips & Preparing For Your Visit

Determine where to stay based on the adventures you plan to do. There are several areas across the island with beautiful resorts, beaches and plenty of delicious food.

The most popular areas to stay in Kauai are the South Shore (Poipu area), East Side (Kapa’a area), and the North Shore (Hanalei and Princeville). During our recent visit, we decided to stay in Kapa'a at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort; it was the most central to all of the adventures we had planned for our trip. We loved staying at the Sheraton and enjoyed several days at the pool and walking along the beach. There are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby the hotel, it is about 15 minutes from the Lihue airport, and you cannot beat the beautiful sunrises you can experience right from your hotel room.

Plan ahead when booking hotel reservations, rental cars, restaurant reservations and adventures!! Activities and restaurants fill up quickly, and there is currently a shortage of rental cars on most of the Hawaiian Islands following the pandemic. You will need a rental car when visiting Kauai to truly experience all that the island has to offer.

Our 6-Day Itinerary On Kauai

Our below itinerary includes everything we squeezed into our 6-day trip to Kauai; from river tubing, hiking, and boating along the Na Pali Coast, this itinerary includes our favorite adventures, favorite foods, and top things to do in Kauai.

Day 1: Pool Time, Exploring Kapa'a and dinner at Beach House

1. We arrived to Kauai in the afternoon, and our kids couldn't wait to visit the pool! The large pool at the Sheraton has a stunning beach backdrop, outdoor bar and restaurant, and plenty of seating with umbrellas.

(Photo from Sheraton Website)

2. After a few hours at the pool, we explored some of downtown Kapa'a before heading to dinner at Beach House Restaurant in Koloa. If you are looking for a nicer restaurant with delicious food and drinks, and spectacular sunset views, we highly recommend trying the Beach House Restaurant.

If you have some extra time in the area, be sure to check out the Spouting Horn blowhole, and Poipu Beach to see monk seals and sea turtles.

Day 2: Mountain Tubing Adventure, Wailua Falls, Wailua Shave Ice

1. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we headed to Kauai Backcountry Adventures for a morning of mountain tubing through one of Kauai's oldest tunnel systems that once irrigated sugar crops across the Lihue Plantation. The waters that originate at the top of Mount Waialeale are channeled through tunnels and ditches that were hand-dug over a century ago!

The adventure lasts about 3 hours and a sandwich lunch is provided at the end of the tour. Following a 30-40minute drive across the historic Lihue Plantation and stopping at a beautiful lookout of Mount Waialeale, our group was dropped off at the beginning of the river and we prepared for our tubing adventure. We were all provided with a head lamp and fitted for a tube before getting in the water. The ride goes through 5 different tunnels, the longest tunnel spanning 1-mile in length.

If you are looking for a unique Hawaii adventure that cannot be done on any of the other islands, we highly recommend the Mountain Tubing Adventure at Kauai Backcountry Adventures! (***All riders must be 5 years and older, and at least 43inches tall***)

2. Following our awesome tubing adventure, we made a quick stop to check out Wailua Falls before grabbing shave ice from Wailua Shave Ice.

Wailua Falls is easy to visit and has several parking spots at the end of the road. The dramatic falls are most recognized in the opening credits of the television show Fantasy Island.

Wailua Shave Ice is located in a shopping center in Kapa'a. We all tried the "Lava Flow" shave ice with Haupia foam, and it was delicious!

3. After a fun-filled morning, we headed back to the hotel for an afternoon of pool time and exploring the beach. We enjoyed a low-key dinner on our balcony with take out from Saimin Dojo.

Day 3: Na Pali Coast Boat Tour, Hanapape Town and Swinging Bridge, Kauai Coffee Company

1. Day 3 started off bright and early as we headed to the South Shore to board our Na Pali Coast Tour with the Na Pali Experience. The Na Pali coast is one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world and is one of Kauai's most popular sites to visit!

There are numerous tours that travel along the coast and offer a variety of different boating options. We chose the Na Pali Experience to be sure we experienced all that the coast has to offer....from entering in and out of the sea caves, snorkeling, and riding along side several groups of spinner dolphins up and down the coastline, this was by far one of our most memorable Hawaii adventures!

2. After our unforgettable tour, we changed into some dry clothes and headed to explore the town of Hanapape. We grabbed some lunch from Bobbie's Restaurant and a coffee from Midnight Bear Breads. While waiting on our food, we walked over to check out the Hanapape Swinging Bridge. This suspension bridge was originally built in the early 1900s, and is one of Hanapape's most popular attractions. Also found in the tiny town of Hanapape, is the Talk Story Bookstore; the westernmost bookstore in the US.

3. Our next stop 5 minutes from Hanapape, was Kauai Coffee Company Estate. The Kauai Coffee Estate is the largest coffee farm in the United States. The estate offers self-guided tours, coffee samples, and a full coffee menu.

4. After our visit to the coffee estate, we made our way back to our hotel. We made several stops along the way at various fruit stands for fresh fruit and smoothies! We enjoyed another relaxing evening grabbing dinner poolside at the hotel.

Day 4: Waimea Canyon

1. We started off our morning heading towards Waimea Canyon State Park, an hour and twenty minutes from the hotel. We stopped along the way for coffee and breakfast at a local spot in Kekaha called Gina's Anyone Grinds Cafe.

2. After a delicious breakfast, we continued on to Waimea Canyon. In addition to the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, aka the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", is one of Kauai's most incredible sites to visit. We were beyond excited to visit the canyon and see a completely different type of Hawaiian terrain. There are several lookouts that you can park your vehicle and walk out to overlooking various parts of the canyon. The last lookout, the Pu'u O Kila lookout, provides views of parts of the Na Pali Coast on a clear day. We did not have any luck with the clouds when we made it to the last lookout, however, the drive to the lookout is beautiful and along the way we made a stop at the museum and Koke's Lodge for some snacks and souvenirs.

3. Following all of the lookouts, we made our way back to the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls trailhead. Although we were a little tired, I'm so glad we made the decision to complete this amazing trail. If you have time and enjoy hiking, this is by far one of the most beautiful hikes we have completed. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks, water, a rain jacket, and good hiking shoes. This trail is often muddy and can be slippery in some of the steeper parts of the trail. The Canyon Trail takes you through various terrains often providing you with stunning views of the canyon, and finally ending at the top of the Waipoo Falls which can be seen in the distance at the first lookout. This was another unique and unforgettable Hawaii experience for our family!

Day 5: Exploring the North Shore and Hanalei Bay

1. After a long day exploring Waimea Canyon, we took our time getting out the door on day 5. We enjoyed breakfast and coffee from Java Kai in Kapa'a and juice from Kauai Juice Company before making our way to the North Shore.

2. We originally planned to hike a portion of the Na Pali Coast Kalalau Trail; however, we were unfortunately unsuccessful in getting a parking permit for Ha'ena State Park. We still decided to explore the area and check out Hanalei Bay and the North Shore town. On our way to the most northern point, we stumbled upon a small river with rocks and beautiful plants to explore and cool off in. When planning your trip, be sure to allow for extra time when visiting the North Shore, the state continues to do construction on the highway limiting it to one way traffic only. The drive up to the North Shore is beautiful and completely worth it, just remember to be patient and embrace being on Hawaii Time!

3. After a relaxing day in the North Shore we headed back to our hotel for one more pool evening and beach walk.

Day 6: Kamalani Playground at Lydgate Beach Park, and flying back to Oahu

1. Our morning in Kauai, we grabbed a quick breakfast and went to explore a nearby playground that was highly recommended! Kamalani playground was fantastic and kept our older kids entertained. Although we did not make it down to Lydgate Beach, this is a great option for families with little children as their is a calm tide pool for the kids to play in. If you have some down time, this is a great beach option to visit.