Kaua‘i is the 4th largest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian island chain. It is said to be the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and it’s nickname is “The Garden Island” as 97% is undeveloped and consists of extremely lush mountains, valleys and rainforests. Additionally, Kaua‘i has 43 miles of beaches to explore and, of course, world class surfing! Read on to see why you should plan a trip to Kaua‘i!
Scenery.
Almost all of the Hawaiian islands have amazing, lush tropical scenery, but Kauai’s landscape is simply stunning. With colorful canyons, the amazing Na Pali Coast, Mt. Waialeale (one of the wettest spots on earth), jaw-dropping waterfalls, beautiful beaches and verdant valleys, there is no shortage of scenery to take in. Many movies and television shows have been filmed in Kaua‘i , such as Jurassic Park, Fantasy Island and South Pacific, due to the incredible landscape. (Check out a list of movies and television shows filmed in Kaua‘i here).
The island receives some kind of precipitation (many times just a short shower) an average of 144 days a year and averages 240 days annually of beautiful, warm sunshine. This weather is apparently perfect for fruit (pineapples, bananas, guava and papaya to name a few), flowers, coffee, macadamia nuts, and a wide variety of vegetables, trees and other foliage to flourish.
Best ways to check out the scenery?
Hiking. There are many great hiking trails for hikers of all abilities. Advanced hikers can trek to epic waterfalls on the interior or the unbelievable green folds and ruggedness of the Na Pali coast.
Driving the island is pretty easy and enjoyable (with the exception of a few areas during rush hour and several one lane bridges on the north side of the island) and a great way to take your time, stop and explore and really experience the different parts of the island.
By Boat. There are many companies that offer boat excursions, primarily to the Na Pali Coast. These excursions are mostly offered in the summer season when the seas on the north shore are calmer.
Another option? A helicopter ride. To really see the interior and the Na Pali Coast (where there are no roads) a helicopter ride will give you amazing views of the entire island – including The Weeping Wall, an area on Mt. Waialeale that features a long, steep green wall with multiple waterfalls cascading down the grooves of the mountain. We booked a doorless helicopter ride with Jack Charter Helicopters and it was the ride of a lifetime – fantastic! There are many other helicopter options (with doors!) available too. Check out more photos from our helicopter ride here.
Beaches.
Although technically part of the “scenery” covered in the previous paragraph, we’re big on beaches and are dedicating an additional paragraph to them! Kaua‘i’s beaches range from calm and swimmable to rough and scenic. The sand color varies on different parts of the island, but is commonly a golden or light tan. Some beaches have life guards and amenities and others are hidden, remote treasures just waiting for you to find them. (Check out a list of secluded Kaua‘i beaches here).
Some of our favorites?
Mahaulepu Beach on the south side. It is actually separated into 3 different parts: Gillin’s Beach, Kawailoa Bay, and Hāʻula Beach and is not the easiest to find – but worth it. There is a small area for swimming, a very long expanse of walkable beach, and some trees for shade. Apparently it’s a favorite of the endangered monk seal. We saw two huge monk seals basking in the sun on the sand while we were there.
Hanalei Bay on the north side is actually comprised of several different beach areas. It’s a large, beautiful bay that with a backdrop of stunning green mountains. In the summer, the bay is calm and great for swimming and SUPing. In the winter, the surf becomes rougher and perfect for surfers.
Kealia Beach on the east side. Although not the best for swimming, the long swath of golden sand is great for walking, running or just enjoying the sunshine. It’s a great place to catch a glimpse of whales during the winter months. The sunrises here are beautiful!
Rum.
The Mai Tai. It seems that the Mai Tai is the rum drink of choice in Hawaii and that left us wondering why. After all, the Mai Tai is said to have originally been created in 1944 by Trader Vic at his restaurant in Oakland. Why then is it so popular in Hawaii? We found the answer quite interesting in this article by Chow Hound. Anyway, after embarking on some “research” during our last trip to Kauai, the best Mai Tai we had was in Hanalei at Tahiti Nui. What’s the secret? No one would tell, but it was good. You can find a recipe for a Mai Tai here.
Kōloa Rum Company. Located in Lihue, the Kōloa Rum Company has a lineup of award winning rums that you are able to sample and buy at their tasting room/store. We attended a tasting, which not only allows you to taste quite a few of their delicious rums, but gives an interesting history of rum on the island. Be sure to sign up as soon as you get there; tastings are on the half hour for 16 people and fill up fast!
Eats.
What should you eat during your time on Kaua‘i ? To start with, opt for fresh fish and fresh local produce whenever you can. Opah, Ono (Hawaiian for “good to eat”), Onaga, Opakapaka (red snapper), Ahi and Mahimahi are all delicious local fish options to try. We couldn’t get enough of the fresh fruit during our visit, particularly the Sugarloaf Pineapple, which you can pick up at farmer’s markets or even ordered online.
There are many dining options in Kaua‘i , from fine dining overlooking the ocean to farm to table experiences to food trucks and everything in between. Here are a few casual options that we’re happy we tried:
Puka Dog in Poipu. Although I’ve never been a fan of hot dogs, it was suggested that we try a Puka Dog, or Hawaiian style hot dog while in Poipu. I’m so glad we did! The freshly baked Hawaiian Sweet Bread Puka (means hole) Buns are toasted on the inside only, which creates an interesting texture, then your choice of garlic lemon secret sauce – mild, spicy, hot or lava and your choice of tropical sauce – mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana or starfruit is added. Choose a polish sausage or veggie dog topped off with a generous dollop of Aunty Lilikoi’s Hawaiian Mustard and wash it down with a glass of their fresh squeezed lemonade. Mmmm!
Shave Ice. There’s no better way to cool off after a day on the beach than a cold, sweet and colorful heaping serving of Hawaiian Shave Ice. It can be found in locations all over Kauai and comes in lots of tropical flavors and combinations. See the 5 Best Shave Ice Stands in Kauai according to Hawaii Magazine here.
Bubba Burger’s. We enjoyed our first Bubba Burger in Kaua‘i years ago at their north shore location in Hanalei. Unfortunately the north shore location has closed, but Bubba has 2 new locations; one in Poipu and one in Kapaa. Bubba Burgers are made from Fresh Ground Kaua‘i “Grass Fed” Beef, and are simple, quick and reasonable. This popular eatery is an experience and if you are easily offended by snarky slogans and signs, you might as well go somewhere else. As Bubba says, “Always Juicy–Never Greasy. Where the food’s hot, the service is cold, and the music’s too DAMN LOUD!”
Explore and Adventure.
Each time we visit Kaua‘i , we’re amazed at the variety of things to explore. Although we’ve seen a lot, there’s an ever growing list of things to do – or re-do upon our return. Here are just a few suggestions:
Hike the Na Pali Coast. The Kalalau Trail is an 11 mile trail that provides the only land access to the Napali Coast on Kauai. It is a strenuous trail that rewards hikers with incredible vistas of mountains, a rugged coastline and hidden beaches. Many people hike just to Hanakapiai Beach, which is a strenuous 2 miles (each way). Find out more about hiking this incredible trail here and see photos from our hike to Hanakapiai Beach here.
Visit Waimea Canyon. Dubbed “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, this colorful 10 mile long and up to 3,600 ft deep canyon is spectacular. There are several lookouts that provide parking and several pullouts to sneak a peak at this geological wonder. Challenging hiking trails and hunting are abundant in and around the canyon as well. Find out more about visiting Waimea Canyon here.
Zipline! Fly above the Kauai rainforest on a zipline adventure with one of several companies providing zipline tours. An exhilarating way to experience the beauty of Kauai! Read more about our Kauai zipline adventure here.
Visit Kauai Coffee Company to taste the different blends of coffee made from beans grown at their plantation, such as Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Big Braddah’s Coffee and Rooster Alarm and take a self-guided walking tour of the estate.
Check out a Farmer’s Market or Arts & Craft Fair to sample and buy some local products.
What to Bring Home.
Want to bring home something that reminds you or your wonderful vacation on Kaua‘i ? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Kōloa Rum – some flavors are available on the mainland, but if you go to a rum tasting and fall in love with one or two, why not bring them back, just in case!
2. Kaua‘i Coffee
3. Macadamia Nuts
4. Tropical Fruit Preserves. Unfortunately the delicious fresh fruit grown on Kaua‘i must be consumed there and cannot be taken home on the airplane. So, why not remember the delicious taste of pineapple, mango, guava or passionfruit with a delicious jar of a locally made fruit preserve?
5. Hand painted ceramic tiles, pottery or fine art from local artists. A good place to shop for this? Banana Patch Studios.
6. Chicken Poop. Say what? I asked our local guide for a suggestion on a local product to bring home for the kids/grandkids and after a few minutes of thinking, she said “Chicken Poop”. After chuckling at my confused look, she told me this story. Hurricane Iniki hit Kaua‘i without warning in 1992. It was a devastating Cat 4, the strongest to ever hit the Hawaiian Islands and it hit Kauai particularly hard. After the hurricane finally passed, locals began to realize the damage and found that the storm had destroyed most of the chicken coups on the island resulting in many escaping into the woods. Today in Kaua‘i , there are a large number of wild chickens and roosters that roam free on the island. Our guide said that the bags of Chicken or Rooster Poop (actually chocolate covered macadamia nuts or almonds) was a way of making light of these now wild creatures that roam as they please. Guess who brought some home?
These are just a few of the reasons why we think you should plan a trip to Kaua‘i . Who’s ready to go?!
Other posts you might enjoy:
Why You Should Plan a Trip to St. Thomas, USVI
Why You Should Plan a Trip to Barbados
Why You Should Plan a Trip to St. Croix
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