Ever dreamed of heading to Hawaii’s garden isle: Kauai? Not sure where to start planning your trip? Check out the must-dos for a week-long trip.
When to go
Deciding when to head to Kauai may seem like a tough question – but there isn’t a bad time to visit the island. While the island is the wettest of the main Hawaiian islands, there are dry areas of the island on the southern side and Kauai has 240 days of total sun each year! It may be rainy in one area and dry in another. Use my Google Flights tips to score the best flights to Kauai.
Where to stay
Planning your stay on this small island will be the next decision. There are 3 main locations to stay: the southern, eastern, and northern areas. Each area has a unique flair and town to use as your base depending on your activities.
With the small island, the drive time between the southern and northern areas is only around 2 hours, so don’t spend too much time trying to find the perfect location – they are all excellent!
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- The southern area consists of Poipu and is known for its dry, sunny days and beautiful beaches.
- The eastern area consists of Kapaa and is known for its small-town charm.
- The northern area consists of Princeville and is known for its lush scenery and stunning landscapes.
Building your Itinerary
My pro-tip to start building your itinerary is to find the things you want to do and put them on a map. I love using Google Sheets and Google Maps for this! You can easily see where things are and find the best place to stay near you and how far apart things are. Using this tip, you can squeeze in an extra attraction or stop during your day and maximize the places you can see.
Each day will depend on where you are staying on the island and your preference for activities. Using these suggestions, build a trip around your style and see all that Kauai has to offer.
Arrival Day
On arrival day, you will either be flying straight into Lihue or transferring on a flight from Oahu. Most major airlines fly into Oahu and have a short 35-minute trip to Kauai. Either way, once you arrive in the early afternoon, you will head to pick up your rental car.
There is a Costco and several grocery stores on the island, so grabbing a few items before heading to your hotel is recommended. After check-in, pick a restaurant for dinner and watch your first Hawaiian sunset!
Here are some great recommendations depending on your location on the island:
Southern: Brennecke’s Beach Broiler
Eastern: Lava Lava Beach Club
Northern: B’s Kitchen
Explore the Beaches
You may find yourself an early riser on your first morning due to the time change. This is an excellent time to catch a stunning sunrise if you’re up! You can even head to your nearest beach and watch the sunrise – the views are worth it.
After a quick breakfast, grab your beach gear and head to the beach – after all, that’s why you came, right! There are several amazing beaches to visit, here are just a few:
Poipu Beach – This beach is a popular beach with nearby hotels and restaurants making this beach a perfect all-day affair. You can rent surfboards and boogie boards nearby, have a picnic in the grassy playground area, or grab a drink at Brennecke’s.
Kalapaki Beach – This beach is a sheltered beach great for swimming and learning to surf. The beach is wide, offering room to spread out and enjoy the Hawaiian sun after learning to surf by one of the many local tour groups.
Tunnels Beach – Take in the breathtaking views as the beach meets cliffs on the northern side. Tunnels Beach is great for snorkeling and scuba diving. Watch for the strong currents during seasonal tidal changes and keep an eye on the local signs.
Visit Waimea Canyon State Park
Have you heard of the Hawaiian Grand Canyon? Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of the Pacific with gorgeous desert-like red rock facades and a steep 3,000-foot set of cliffs.
You can drive along the canyon and view the cliffs from several lookouts along the way. There are also some trails that you can explore along the rim or even down into the canyon.
Explore the Island from a Helicopter Tour
The BEST way to see the island is from a helicopter tour! While exploring the island on foot would be ideal, the mountainous, steep hikes require extra planning, permits, and fitness. An easier way to see the whole island is through a helicopter tour that will showcase the highlights of the island in roughly an hour.
While there are several tour companies to choose from, we highly recommend Ali’i Tours. Their helicopter tour is a perfect intimate tour for two. You can choose doors on or off – we recommend off for the best-unobstructed photos!
During the tour you will see the sheer cliffs of the Na Pali coastline, fly over Manawaiopuna Falls (aka Jurassic Falls), go into Waimea Canyon, feel a chill entering the wettest spot on earth in the Wai’ ale’ ale Crater, and see numerous waterfalls and beaches before returning to Lihue airport.
Taste Kauai Rum
All these tropical drinks taste even better with some local Kauai rum from Koloa Rum. On the island, make sure to stop in at the Kilohana Plantation for a delicious, free rum tasting. Each rum tasting comes with a welcome cocktail and four rum tastings. Check their website to see which cocktail is served on your tour date.
Take in the Culture of a Luau
No first-timer trip to Hawaii would be complete without a luau. While each luau is unique, they all offer delicious food and drinks, an amazing atmosphere, informative culture and history, and spectacular performances.
View the Na Pali Coast via a Cruise
The sheer cliffs of the Na Pali coastline are something to write home about! Unless you are an avid hiker, you’ll want to stick to either a cruise or helicopter tour to see these beauties. A Na Pali coast cruise is a fun way to see this landscape and see the gravity of how tall 3,500 feet is from the sea.
There are several options when selecting your cruise from snorkel cruises, sunset dinner cruises, and even deluxe cave tours. If you aren’t into open-water snorkeling, a sunset cruise is an excellent choice. Most cruises will offer some light fare and drinks while watching the sunset over the Na Pali coastline and are worthwhile experiences.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
There are several waterfalls that don’t require too much chasing. In fact, several are viewable just steps from your car.
Wailua Falls – This iconic waterfall is just steps from your car on an overlook near the eastern side of the island. A small retaining wall separates you and this gorgeous waterfall as you look down to the left. Parking is limited and may be crowded. Grab a couple of pictures here before driving to your next waterfall.
Opaekaa Falls – Another car-accessible waterfall is just a short drive from Wailua Falls. This waterfall is near a parking area with restrooms and has a small park with picnic benches. After a quick refresh, walk over to the lookout and grab some photos of this waterfall with the lush greenery surrounding it.
Just go!
No matter what your dream week looks like, just go! There are so many hidden gems and things to explore, one week will not be enough to do them all. Another reason to see your top list items and plan a return trip down the road.
Stay tuned for the Ultimate Kauai trip list and helicopter tour in-depth review!
Adriana De La Cruz
I love this. So many amazing things to do there. we may have to plan a trip next year!
themintedtraveler
Absolutely! There are so many things to do in Kauai. When you near planning, let me know and I’d be happy to help!