In the space from 9 PM to midnight, the otherworldly Na Pali cliffs are too steep and treacherous for a roadway. The only way to reach them is to hike in or kayak to their shores. You can gaze at them from behind, at one of the little-known viewpoints in Kauai. On the north side, the highway past Hanalei was closed for several months following a storm, and the bridge into Hanalei is periodically closed due to excess water.
Waiohai at Poipu is a sea-urchin minefield at low tide while seemingly gentle Pakalas is mud-brown, sharky, and, frankly, not that friendly to newcomers. But these pros-only waves also make for some of the most epic viewing experiences from the beach. Families weighted down with beach umbrellas, coolers, chairs, and the like are not looking for hard-to-reach shores.
It means those stretches of sand will stay blissfully empty for the rest of us. At the north end of the island, in Princeville, a nine-car lot is the only place to park your car if you want to access Hideaways Beach.
From there, a ridiculously steep and treacherous path down the escarpment — with rusted posts, uneven steps, and haphazard ropes stretched across slippery rocks — brings you to Hideaways, a jungly gem of a beach cove.
On the south shore, by McBryde and Allerton Gardens where botanical tours are available, you need to park along the road and scamper along a retaining wall to get past the locked gate. You may feel tempted to bring boogie boards, but be careful.
These fast and steep waves are treacherous. Or you can drive past the Grand Hyatt where the paving gives way to dirt, past the horse stables. Only then will you see a car or two parked next to some trees. The fact is that when Hawaiians prepare their own cuisine — an intoxicating meld of many different cultures, like Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and others — the results are unforgettable.
Kauai is also a great place to get off that well-worn path. These are normally set aside for locals. In Princeville, hit up the North Shore General Store behind the Chevron station and preorder some grass-fed steaks from nearby ranches.
Slow down and turn into the parking area of the Kalalea Juice Hale. The One Speed — a luscious whirl of coffee, bananas, house-made coconut milk, dates, and cocoa nibs — is better than a venti latte any day. The Kauai Juice Co. At Ka Lea O Kaiwa beach, you might see some heart-stopping boogie boarders. Then they go back for more. Those guys have grown up doing this.
You can, however, boogie board in calmer seas at Poipu or hit up the sand-bottom swells at Hanalei Bay. You can also snorkel in a few locations — the best spot is by the Beach House Restaurant. You can also sea kayak to check out the Na Pali cliffs or kayak down the Hanalei River towards the bay. Golf clubs abound in Kauai, including the Princeville Makai Golf Club , one of the top public courses in the country. And, of course, the hiking is fantastic.
Besides the Na Pali coast, a great trail on the south side starts at Shipwreck Beach. Hiking and biking are just some of the many low-cost ways to enjoy Kauai. You can mountain bike, and Kauai does have a few mountainside single-track options. They come with either baskets or cute little bags for your goodies tied onto the handlebars.
For the die hard surfers, we suggest heading to the north shore during winter months! Otherwise, you pretty much can't go wrong anywhere on this gorgeous Hawaiian island. This amazing vista provides dramatic views of Hanalei River which snakes through Taro fields and lush mountain spires.
A "must not forget camera" spot! You'll find plenty of palm trees, white-sand beach and views of the Napali cliffs from Ke'e Beach. Along the winding road Route there are numerous lookout points, and vantage points for snapping pictures of the panoramic views.
Lawai Valley is well-known as a healing sanctuary, because of the rich archaeological and cultural treasures found there. In , early Japanese immigrants constructed 88 shrines to replicate the 88 temples in Shikoku, Japan, making it one of the oldest Buddhist temple sites in the United States. Also located in Lawai Valley is the National Tropical Botanical Garden, which is home to the largest collection of native Hawaiian plants on the planet, and more than acres of lush gardens.
It's a wonderfully scenic 5-acre beach, nestled between the jagged emerald mountains and the turquoise ocean. In the winter, it's a surfers paradise on the outside break, but swimming is not recommended. Now THIS is paradise! Imagine a huge bay circled by a beautiful beach with waterfalls and distant jagged cliffs steeped in rich tropical plant life.
Calm in the summer and big waves in the winter, this North Shore beach is a favorite for water-sport enthusiasts, families and is rarely crowded. This beach is off the beaten path and although the beach is public, the road to it is private. It's worth the trek to this somewhat remote, 2-mile stretch of beach where sand dunes, caves and limestone cliffs dot the area. Plenty of space to wander on this beach, but swimming can be sketchy even for experienced swimmers.
Be sure to depart before beach access closes at 6pm sharp. It is also nearly perfect for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and boogie-boarding. This is the perfect spot for a sunset! Truth be told, all of Kauai is remarkable. However, some Kauai attractions are incredibly popular because they offer an experience that truly captures the magical essence of Kauai.
Of volcanic origin, the highest peaks on this mountainous island are Kawaikini , at 5, feet, followed by Mount Wai'ale'ale near the center of the island, at 5, feet above sea level.
One of the wettest spots on earth , with an annual average rainfall of inches , is located on the east side of Mount Wai'ale'ale.
This high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountain, carving out ridges, canyons, and gorgeous valleys with many scenic waterfalls.
Click on any of the tiles below to discover just a few of Kauai's top attractions. The NaPali Coast is the gem of all gems on the island. There are 3 ways to visit the NaPali Coast: by land, by sea, or by air. Filled with dramatic cliff faces, pristine beaches, rugged hiking trails, and extensive archaeological sites, NaPali Coast is an environment of immense power where natural forces are continually evolving the shape of the land.
Na Pali Coast State Park. Dubbed " The Grand Canyon of the Pacific " by Mark Twain, Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon in the Pacific and truly a dramatic sight to behold at ten miles long, one mile wide, and more than 3, ft.
Carved thousands of years ago by rivers and floods that flowed from Mount Waialeale's summit, the canyon is home to the Waimea River. The river was named for the red hue of the water, as Waimea means 'red waters. Waimea Canyon. Kalalau Lookout isn't just another Waimea Canyon lookout, as many first-time visitors often believe. It's a view into the heart of the Kalalau Valley- one of the most-photographed and well-recognized valleys in all of Hawaii. The surrounding coastline and valley, which is the largest valley on the island at two miles wide, has served as the backdrop for countless films including "King Kong" the original , "Mighty Joe Young," "Jurassic Park," and "Six Days Seven Nights.
Kalalau Lookout is also the highest elevation most people reach on the island by road, at 4, feet. Kalalau Lookout. On an average day, this is by far the best beach on the island. It's family-friendly and the sand is pristine.
At ft. Hanalei Bay Beach is bordered by the Hanalei River to the east, the Waipa River to the west, and there are two large coral reefs at both ends of the bay. For those seeking ocean fun and diversity, the beach has a little of everything. The right side of the bay features a reef that creates ideal surfing conditions for those looking to catch some waves. Near the pier the waves are much more gentle, making it an ideal location for those new to the ocean or rookie wave riders.
Boogie boarding is reliable along the central portion of the bay, and even some intermediate surfing is possible here. The crowds don't flock to this beach, so there's plenty of room for everyone at Hanalei Bay. Hanalei Beach Park. Tunnels beach offers some of the best snorkeling anywhere in Hawaii during the calm summer months.
The backdrop is similar to that of Hanalei Beach; the mountains rising up behind the beach are gorgeous. Tunnels Beach has one major downside- parking.
But you can usually find parking at Haena Beach Park and then walk to the right to access Tunnels Beach. Surfers also will enjoy the outermost portions of the reef where waves are larger. Makua 'Tunnels' Beach. If you've ever fantasized about seeing a double-tiered waterfall, then get ready to turn your fantasy into reality at the gorgeous Wailua Falls. Unlike many other waterfalls on the island, Wailua Falls is easily accessible, as no hiking is needed to reach it and appreciate its beauty up close.
In fact, the parking lot basically overlooks the falls. As an added bonus, when the sun hits at just the right angle you'll get a beautiful rainbow extending out from the base of the falls in the mist, which is nothing short of spectacular.
Wailua Falls. Number one on our list for hiking is the Kalalau Trail, or what some refer to as the "Hanakapiai Trail. It is popular with visitors who want a very scenic half-day hike. It can be semi-strenuous, however, as the trail does do a good bit of climbing and descending.
Crossing the stream at Hanakapiai Beach can also be hazardous, but overall this is a good trail for visitors who want to see some of NaPali's beautiful coastline on foot. Visitors planning to make the Kalalau trail hike must now make online reservations ; which will currently be limited to a day, according to the state DLNR. Please also be aware of the new rules for the whole Haena State Park area. Kalalau Trail. Situated between NaPali and Limahuli stream, the lagoon-like beach is also popular for snorkeling.
The water here is very clear and reef fish are abundant. The chickens are part of the local scene, and it makes us wonder, where else will you find chickens on a beach? For more information on where to park, please be aware of the new rules for the whole Haena State Park area including Ke'e Beach access.
Kee Beach. Kilauea Lighthouse is the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian Islands. The lighthouse was built in with the largest hand-blown clamshell lens in the world. It was later replaced with a beacon in the 's. The lighthouse is open to look around within on the ground level. Today the lighthouse remains one of Kaua'i's most popular attractions.
Native vegetation and an informative visitor center attract thousands of tourists to this site to bird-watch, view the sweeping cliff and ocean vistas, and revel in the island's past. Kilauea Lighthouse. Poipu Beach is the star when it comes to the south shore of the island.
This beautiful curve of white sand is 50 ft. The beach is actually split into two small bays; one section is ideal for small children and beginner snorkelers while the other section is better suited for swimming, snorkeling, and even surfing when the surf is up. The sandbar separating the two bays is often home to the endangered monk seal; however, we highly encourage you not to approach them. Poipu Beach. For many visitors, a Kauai tour may be the perfect way to experience parts of 'The Garden Isle' that you'd otherwise never get to see.
We've hand-selected these top-5 Kauai tours below due to their popularity and high ratings with visitors like yourself! Take to the skies with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and see incredible aerial views of the island's top attractions. Depart from Port Allen on a 3. Enjoy drinks and dinner as the sun sinks below the horizon and casts a golden hue on the rugged coastline. Climb aboard Smith's Fern Grotto Cruise, and experience one of the best things to do on the island.
Enjoy views of the Wailua River while on-board a spacious open-air boat, and listen to the stories and songs of old Hawaii performed by live musicians.
Experience the best and most popular activity on the island with a fun-filled mountain tubing adventure that will take you on an inner tube float trip through irrigation ditches of the Old Lihue Sugar Cane Plantation on an epic lazy river experience.
Enjoy a 5-hour tropical waterfall adventure along the Wailua River. A top-rated outdoor adventure tour for the active family.
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