10 Incredible Things To Do on Your Trip to Kauai!
Being the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands—Kauai has had a long time to develop into the adventure that it is today. With so much natural beauty, there’s easily over 100 things you could do on your trip to Kauai—but we’ve tried to narrow it down into 10 incredible things that everyone should add to their itinerary!
1. Swim in a Waterfall
Makaleha Falls
Known as one of the wettest places on earth it's no surprise that Kauai has some truly incredible waterfalls. While there are some falls that can be seen from roadside view points—such as Wailua and Opaeka'a Falls—we recommend challenging yourself with a hike to the bottom where you'll be rewarded with a refreshing swim and an even better view!
2. Camp on the beach
Polihale State Park
Picture yourself laying under the stars and listening to the melodic sounds of waves breaking along the beach. As each wave crashes onto the shore you drift further and further off to sleep. Even if you don’t enjoy camping—we strongly suggest giving beach camping a try before completely writing it off. Worried that camping in Hawaii will be too hot? The cool ocean breeze keeps the Hawaiian heat at bay and allows for a very comfortable sleep!
Check out our ‘Ultimate Guide to Camping in Kauai’ for all the best campsites in Kauai!
3. Hike the Kalalau Trail
Kalalau Trail
At 11-miles long, the Kalalau Trail will take you along the Nā Pali coastline from Ke'e Beach to Kalalau Beach. This gruelling hike is rated as one of the world's best, and most dangerous, and is only recommended for experienced hikers. If you decide to do the entire trail make sure you do your research and get the proper permits. Don't think you’ll have time for the entire trail? Why not try hiking to Hanakapi'ai Falls! This hike will let you experience the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail before branching off towards a stunning waterfall.
Bonus: You can cross off the first three from this list by hiking the Kalalau Trail! Take the detour at mile 2 to Hanakapi'ai Falls before continuing on to camp at Kalalau Beach!
4. Try a Poke Bowl!
If you’ve never heard of a Poke Bowl—think sushi, but instead of being neatly packed into bite sized pieces, the ingredients are all combined into one big bowl of deliciousness. The typical bowl includes raw salmon or tuna but if you aren’t a fan of raw fish or if you’re vegan—most places have a pork, chicken and a tofu option as well!
Our favourite spot on the island was Kauai Poke Co.! Located in Lawai—you’ll find their food truck parked out front of a small collection of shops featuring local vendors known as ‘The Warehouse’. Their bowls are made with 100% fresh fish and will definitely have you going back for more!
5. Visit Waimea Canyon
Waimea Canyon
A trip to Kauai isn’t complete without a visit to the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’! Spend a day driving to each lookout and marvel at cliffside views of this 3,000 foot deep canyon; OR go on a hike that will let you walk along the red dirt that gave this canyon it’s name. At approximately 10 miles long there’s no shortage of incredible sights in this state park!
Make sure you bring some warm clothes. The temperature can be up to 10 degrees colder at the top of the Canyon!
6. Take a boat/kayak tour of the Nā Pali coast
Photo by Caleb Fisher on Unsplash
There are a few different ways to see the Nā Pali coast (See #3 and #10 for the others), but if you want to experience the epic scale of this rugged coastline then you’ll have to see it from the sea (yeah, yeah, we know it’s an ocean but how could we resist saying ‘see it from the sea’?).
Even though we didn’t have enough time to add this into our itinerary—we had multiple friends tell us this was the highlight of their trip to Kauai! Choose a kayak tour if you want to see the coast up close and are up for a good workout or check out Captain Andy’s for an incredible boat trip!
7. Eat as many açai bowls as possible!
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
If you don’t already know what an açai bowl is then you’ll quickly learn about them when visiting Hawaii. These smoothies are packed with healthy nutrients that will keep you fuelled-up all day and get you ready for some of Kauai’s many long hikes! The basic bowl includes an açai berry base topped with granola, fresh fruit, and peanut butter but many places have their own unique spin on the traditional bowl.
8. Learn to surf at Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay
Surfing and Hawaii basically go hand in hand. For many people—myself included—it’s the place they’ll try surfing for the first time! If you’re looking for a great beginner spot on Kauai—look no further than Hanalei Bay. Not only will you be learning to surf at one of the most picturesque beaches on the island but you’ll also be treated to consistent waves and a shallow, sandy bottom—making the inevitable falls that much easier!
9. Take a tour of Kauai Coffee Estate
The warm sun, consistent rainfalls and rich volcanic earth make Hawaii a great place to grow coffee. Visit Hawaii’s largest coffee grower for a complimentary cup of coffee before joining a guided tour of their farm (10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm). You’ll gain a whole new appreciation for the work that goes into your daily cup of java!
We saved our visit to a coffee farm for the Big Island (shoutout to Greenwell Farms) but if you don’t plan on visiting the Big Island then Kauai Coffee is a great option!
Don’t have time for a tour but still looking for a great cup of coffee? Our favourite coffee shops on the island were Ha Coffee Bar (Lihue) and Aloha Roastery (Lihue and Koloa)!
10. Take a helicopter tour of the island!
Nā Pali Coast
Last—but certainly not least—on our list of things to do on your trip to Kauai is a helicopter tour! With over 70% of Kauai being inaccessible by foot, an aerial tour is the only way to fully experience how much natural beauty exists on ‘The Garden Isle’. If you were only able to choose one thing on this list—a helicopter tour would be our top suggestion. While not the cheapest option on this list, it’s an unforgettable experience that is sure to be the highlight of your trip!
Wondering which helicopter tour is best? We wrote an entire blog post to help you choose!
We know you’ll have an amazing time in Kauai no matter what you do—but if you’re able to add a few of the activities mentioned above to your itinerary it will help make your trip even more memorable!
Tag us!
Heading to Kauai? Use our hashtag #wanderlikeus and tag @wanderlikeus in your photos to show us your Hawaiian adventure and you can be featured in our story!
