Kauai is the oldest and the fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands located in the Central Pacific. Kauai is referred to as the Garden Island due to the abundance of tropical plant life. We always find that we are drawn to Kauai with its stunning cliffs that stretch along the coast of the island and its beautiful golden beaches.
Our favourite part of the Island of Kauai is the Napali Coast. This coast runs along the North side of the island…the Napali Coast is truly an amazing natural wonder and can be experienced by boat, helicopter or hiking.
Another great part of Kauai is the Waimea Canyon, which starts at the South end of the island and runs through the middle of Kauai up to the North shore ending at the Napali coast. Waimea canyon is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The Waimea Canyon is blanketed with lush greenery and breathtaking lunging waterfalls. In the heart of the Waimea Canyon is the wettest spot on earth which receives an average annual rainfall of 38′ (but don’t worry this is only in the canyon and not along the coast….you will only experience this rainfall by helicopter).
We love Hawaii…we’ve travelled to Hawaii more than a dozen times…although some may comment that Kauai is a sleepy Island lacking major nightlife, this is what we enjoy, the serene beauty not overtaken by a boisterous nightlife. On our most recent trip to Kauai we went on the Kalalau Trail hike. The Kalalau trail is a 11-mile hike from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Valley. You can choose to do portions of the hike and we hiked to Hanakapi’ai Beach, which is 2 miles each way. This may not sound like much, but we hiked with our two boys 6 & 11 years old at the time.
Our 6 year old did an exceptional job of managing the inclining trail in the hot sun. We doubted our decision to bring him along, but after taking it slow with lots of stops to take in the breathtaking views he really enjoyed the hike. We felt rewarded when we reached Hanakapi’ai Beach. The sights are beautiful but be cautious if you decide to take a swim as currents are strong…be smart if others are not in the water swimming you should stay out as well. This is not a difficult hike for a veteran hiker but be sure to bring lots of water and snacks, as there is nothing on the trail.
Another one of our favourite spots on Kauai is on the West side of the island, Polihale State Park/Barking Sands Beach. Not many tourists venture out this far, and the military base nearby doesn’t attract the average beach goer. But if you decide to go off the beaten path this beach is worth the trek. Take the Kaumualii Hwy (Hwy. 50) to the very end then take Lower Saki Mana Road. This road is very bumpy and if there has been any recent rainfall a 4×4 or all wheel drive is recommended for the drive in. Once you’re at the beach, only drive onto the beach if you have a 4×4 Jeep as you will get stuck in the sand. If you are in a normal vehicle, or don’t feel the need to drive on to the beach, park and walk to the beach (about 5-minute walk).
During the week there’s very few if any people at the beach, during the weekends locals come out for barbeques and spend the entire day set up along the shoreline. Bring a lunch as there’s nothing on the beach, except beautiful views of Napali Coast. The beach is rough at times with no lifeguard, so swimming is truly at your own risk. On our most recent trip to Polihale State Park Beach, we were fortunate enough to be there when the tide was high, and the ocean was rough. As a result of this high tide, a small lake had formed, which our kids enjoyed swimming and snorkelling in with no fear of waves.
When you visit Kauai, be adventurous, explore the island and enjoy the beauty. Please remember to respect Kauai…it’s reefs, it’s nature, the culture and the people of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands are rich in history from the Polynesian explorers, formation of Hawaii’s agriculture…if you’re interested watch this Discovery Atlas 4D video on YouTube:
Discovery - ATLAS 4D HawaiiBest Things to do in Kauai:
- Kalalau Trail (North side)
- Ke’e Beach (North side), adjacent to Kalalau trail head
- Napali Coast (North side) Blue Dolphin Boat Tours (Napali Coast)
- Kilauea Lighthouse (North side)
- Hideaway’s Beach (North side)
- Hanalei (North side)
- Anani Beach (North side)
- Queen’s Bath (North side)
- Poipu Beach (South side)
- Waimea Canyon (South side) Waimea Canyon Kauai
- Polihale State Park/Beach (West side) Polihale State Park
- Opaeka’a Falls / Fern Grotto (East side)
Massive Trips – Travel tips Kauai, Hawaii:
- Flying to Kauai – you can fly direct to Lihue airport (airport code LIH) or fly into Honolulu (airport code HNL) or Maui (airport code OGG) from Honolulu or Maui then fly Hawaiian Airlines to Lihue-Kauai which is approximately 35 to 40-minute flight
- Car Rentals – should you plan to explore Kauai there’s plenty of car rentals located directly at Lihue Airport. Prices will fluctuate depending the time of year. Be sure to book in advance.
- Resorts – there are three main resort areas: (1) Princeville on the North end tends to be more luxurious (including St. Regis hotel) and close to Hanalei, which has good restaurants and shopping as well; (2) Poipu on the South end also has a number of resorts, restaurants and shopping; (3) Kapaa on the East end (just North of Lihue airport) also has good resorts however tends to be a little busier of an area
- Restaurants – Most restaurants serve American style food. You can also take in a traditional Hawaiian Luau which is typically a buffet style meal (must try Poi at the Luau!) and a show displaying Hula and fire dancing
- Tipping at restaurants and major resorts is similar to mainland U.S. (15-20%)
- Diving or Snorkeling spots can be found throughout the island (please be cautious at beaches that do not have lifeguards as the surf can be rough at certain times of the day and certain times of the year)
- Climate – Kauai climate is tropical and ranges from upper 70’s in winter months (December through to February) and climbs to mid-80’s in the summer months (June to September)
- Time zone is HST and does not observe time change/daily light time saving