August 2018

I visited Kauai with my sister and brother in law this past late July and early August and we had a blast!  Kauai is known as the,”Garden Island,” and is full of vibrant green vegetation, lush mountains, waterfalls and picture perfect beaches. This island is known as the wettest place on earth, so there’s no wonder why its plants thrive! There’s something truly unique and magical about this Hawaiian island and I highly suggest you visit.

I am happy to share with you my top suggestions to help fill your Kauai itinerary. Enjoy!

My top suggestions for things to do in Kauai.

1. Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay is located in the North Shore of Kauai. It is a great place to swim, have a picnic, watch an epic Kauai sunset and learn to surf. My first surfing lesson ever was here and I couldn’t have chose a better place.  With the drop dead gorgeous backdrop, lush mountains and a waterfall in the far distance, it created the perfect scenery.  Hanalei Bay is usually great for beginner surfers (depending on the month) as the early morning waves are smaller and the flat sandy floor is smooth. After this experience I was hooked.  Check out Hanalai Surf School for more info.  When facing the water look on the far left side to see if you can spot Puff the Magic Dragon sleeping, the outline of his body is formed by the mountains.

2. Na Pali Coast

The Na Pali Coast, which means, “coast of many cliffs,” is a very unique sight! Many movies were filmed along the Na Pali Coast such as Soul Surfer, King Kong Skull Island and Jurassic Park. Na Pali Coast is also known as one of the most spectacular geological regions on Kauai. A combination of different weather such as wind, ocean swells and rainfall carve the majestic cliffs on the ocean’s edge. There are many ways to experience the Na Pali Coast such as hiking, by helicopter or by boat.  The time we visited the Na Pali Trails were closed, so we opted for the boat tour with Holo Holo Boat Tours to get a good view of the Na Pali Coast. The boat tour also took us into sea caves, snorkeling and we even spotted dolphins and sea turtles in the ocean! Na Pali Coast is definitely a must on your to do list when visiting Kauai.

3. Waimea Canyon State Park

Waimea Canyon State Park is another amazing geological region on Kauai.  Located on the uppermost side of the island, Waimea Canyon looks similar to the Grand Canyon and is definitely worth the visit.  For some reason it reminded me of classic animated movie, The Land Before Time. While driving up to the canyon keep an eye out for Red Dirt Falls that you will pass on your left hand side. It’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. Great spot to stop and take some pictures.

4. Secret Falls aka Uluwehi Falls

The Secret Falls is not so secret but still one of my favorite hikes.  To get to the Secret Falls you must kayak part of the Wailua River and hike through muddy terrain and walk across a river to get to the refreshing waterfall.  My advice if you don’t want to kayak a far distance is to start at the Kamokila Hawaiian Village and rent a kayak there.  Then kayak about 10 minutes to where you dock your kayak and begin your hike.  During the hike you will pass the King and Queen’s bath which is nice to dip in.  I highly suggest water shoes due to the mud you may have to hike through.  Wear bug spray as well and start early morning so the waterfall isn’t too crowded with tour groups.   If you rent your kayak from the Kamokila Village you can kayak to the Secret Falls, Fern Grotto and/or the swimming hole. Admission to the Kamokila Hawaiian Village which is recreated on an authentic site is also included, don’t forget to check it out, it’s pretty cool and I learned a lot too.

5. Poipu Beach

Located in South Kauai, Poipu Beach is great for snorkeling! You will see fishes right off the beach. I suggest going earlier to beat the crowds and to experience calmer water.  Crowded or not we still had fun. We even saw a seal sun bathing on the rocks .

6. Kapa’a

This hip town has the famous Wailua Shaved Ice truck, which uses fresh local fruit!  Of all the shaved ice I’ve had this is the best in my opinion. Don’t forget to check out Alllove Intentional clothing right behind the shaved ice truck.  Alllove has dope clothes that spread high vibes and positivity. They also make personalized clothing which is a nice touch.  Java Kai has really bomb macadamia nut coffee lattes and they offer food such as sandwiches and wraps as well. If I visit Kauai again I would probably stay in Kapa’a as we kept coming back here throughout the week.

7. Queen’s Bath

I personally did not have enough time to fit this into my trip but I would recommend it based off of pictures and others suggestions.  It can be a muddy hike depending on the weather and the pool may disappear during high tide so make sure to check the tide before planning the hike so you can swim in the Queen’s Bath.

I hope you found this post helpful in planning your trip to Kauai. Feel free to comment if you like, thanks for reading!