 Welcome
to the Island of Kauai
Please use our Interactive
Map of the Hawaiian Islands page to get a better idea of the "lay
of the land" on Kauai.
 The
Island of Kauai is perhaps the most beautiful in the Hawaiian Island
chain. Vacationing on Kauai has become popular because of the fabulous
Kauai weather, the exciting tours and activities, the numerous packages
featuring Kauai vacations, and the abundant rainforest and waterfall
terrain.
The island of Kauai is the oldest of the major islands in the Hawaiian
chain and is the only Hawaiian island that has navigable rivers. Its
volcanoes have been extinct for about 5 million years.
As the northern most island in the Hawaiian chain, Kauai is the first
island that clouds from the northern and western Pacific basin are drawn
to as they gather from thousands of miles in all directions. Kauai's
5000+ ft. peak is quite literally the wettest spot on earth and receives
an annual rainfall of 420 inches a year. This tremendous rainfall over
the years has eroded much of the soil from the higher levels and has
deposited much of it on the leeward sides and created very flat areas
called alluvial plains.
These plains are very, very flat and the water which rushes from the
top in giant cascading waterfalls calms to a gentle presence when it
hits the flat plains below. Here the water meanders, winds and serpentines
for miles in a very gentle and tranquil flow to its eventual destination
in the ocean.
 These
rivers are ideal for kayaking
trips as the flowing waters ever so slowly wind their way through
the ever present jungle. Kauai is the only Hawaiian Island that has such
rivers and it is an incredible treat for those who choose to enjoy them.
On the northern end of the island you will find the unbelievably beautiful Na
Pali Coast. Kauai is also known for the Island
of Ni'ihau where
you'll find spectacular photography opportunities.
The tremendous rainfall on the mountains above Na Pali has produced
the most remarkable sheer valleys, razor sharp ridges descending to the
sea and most amazing array of waterfalls to be assembled anywhere in
the world. The extreme sea and wave action has also had a tremendous
effect upon Kauai's spectacular coastline producing this 11 miles on
Kauai's northern shore referred to as the Na Pali coast.
Air
Tours - Fixed Wing in Kauai - Air tours of Kauai by fixed-wing
aircraft are perhaps the most economical way to see the island
from above. These air tours are often half the cost of helicopter
flights but see the same areas of the island nonetheless. Though
they are not capable of hovering like a helicopter, and hence do
not get deep into the valleys to float like a cloud over the waterfalls,
they still offer a magnificent view of Kauai that you will remember
for years to come.
 ATV
Off-Road Tours in Kauai - The island of Kauai provides a number
of options for ATV rides which traverse some of the most beautiful
scenery anywhere to be found. This Kauai activity is among the
most popular and is a great way to see the backcountry.
Biking
Tours in Kauai - Bike trips on Kauai are also available to
the scenic Waimea Canyon where you can bike downhill to the ocean.
Dinner
Cruises in Kauai - Of all the evening activities available
on Kauai perhaps the most romantic are the Kauai sunset cruises,
Kauai sunset sails, the so called Kauai booze cruises or Kauai
cocktail cruises. These Kauai tours are available to visit the
stunning Na Pali Coast during the Summer months and usually cruise
the Poipu coastline during the Winter. The dinner cruises on Kauai
are generally much longer than on other islands and include a lot
more sightseeing.
Diving
- Scuba Tours in Kauai - Get beneath the water at one of the
most beautiful dive locations in the world. On a Kauai diving tour
you'll see crystal clear water and very interesting wild life.
The added advantage that Kauai offers is the bonus island of Niihau
which has fabulous diving and is a great place to see Monk seals.
Dolphin
Watching Tours in Kauai - Four species of dolphins are regularly
found in the waters around Kauai. They are the Pacific bottlenose
dolphin, the Rough-Toothed dolphin, the Spotted dolphin and the
Spinner dolphin. It is a rare instance indeed when you do not see
dolphins on one of these excursions. You'll enjoy the antics of
these ocean comedians as they come out in force to welcome your
Kauai dolphin tour.
Fishing
Charters in Kauai - People don't always realize the fact that
Kauai is a great place to go deep sea fishing. The ocean bottom
just off its coast is reminiscent of the coastline off Kona on
the Big Island in the sense that it drops off dramatically creating
a void for the big fish coming in from the oceans depths. These
fishing trips also make great sightseeing tours in that they can
visit the coast of Na Pali, the island of Niihau and the coast
along Poipu and Lihue.
 Helicopter
Tours in Kauai - Kauai helicopter tours are arguably among
the best helicopter rides of any in Hawaii. It was no accident
that Kauai was the first island to be viewed by helicopter tours.
The beauty of its remote valleys, cliffs, waterfalls and ocean
vistas is beyond compare and we always recommend a Kauai helicopter
tour as the foremost way to see all the wonders that Kauai has
to offer. One of the latest innovations for helicopter touring
is seeing the island from helicopters with the doors off. These
provide a great opportunity for photo taking and give you an "up
close and personal" helicopter experience that you will never
forget.
Hiking
Tours in Kauai - Kauai is famous for its Hiking trails and
they are abundant on the island. There is a Kauai hike for everyone.
Some hikes are less than a mile long and others can extend miles
along the coastline or into the island's interior. You won't be
disappointed when you sign up for one of Kauai's fantastic hikes
and many come in combination with kayak trips and even zipline
adventures.
 Horseback
Riding Tours in Kauai - Horseback rides on Kauai are among
the most exhilarating and beautiful of any riding tours that can
be found in Hawaii and are among the most fun Kauai activities
available. Kauai Horseback rides can vary from beautiful coastal
tours to tours that take you deep into the interior of the island.
Inter-Island
Excursions from Kauai - Don't forget that you can choose
to visit another island for a day while still staying on Kauai.
Special one-day trips are offered that fly you to Maui to view
the Hana Coastline, fly you to the Big Island to view the lava
in Volcano's National Park or to visit Pearl Harbor on Oahu. These
are great ways to get another island adventure into your schedule
without having to change islands or to change hotel rooms.
Kayaking
Tours in Kauai - Kayaking on Kauai is perhaps the single most
unique category of activities found on all the islands of Hawaii.
Kauai is the only island that actually has navigable rivers and
these are a fantastic vehicle upon which to visit the depths of
the Kauai rainforests. Often these tours are accompanied by hikes
that even take you further into the interior. During the Summer
months when the north shore coasts are calm we also offer ocean
kayak tours which cruise along the famous Na Pali shoreline.
Land
Tours in Kauai - The island of Kauai is perhaps the most dramatic
of all the islands of Hawaii to take a sightseeing or land tour.
The island is small enough to be circumnavigated in just one day
but the variations in topography are truly amazing. From jungle
to high forest to desert coastline Kauai land tours are among the
most exciting. We even have a tour that visits the sites made famous
by many of your favorite movies that have been filmed on Kauai
over the years.
Luaus
in Kauai - Kauai luaus are essentially a giant feast which
includes Hawaiian entertainment such as the hula dancing and a
considerable amount of socialization in the tradition of the "aloha
spirit". We have luaus that extend from the resorts of Poipu
into Kapaa and Wailua and beyond to Princeville. If your looking
for the quaintness and charm of old Kauai, a Kauai luau may be
just right for you.
Na
Pali Coast Tours in Kauai - The Na Pali Coast on Kauai is one
of the most spectacular, picturesque and beautiful coastlines to
be found anywhere in Hawaii. This is considered by many to be the
premier if not quintessential Kauai destination. The Na Pali coastline
is so remote that the only ways to see it are by boat, helicopter
or a strenuous hike. However you see Kauai, nonetheless, it is
certain to be among the most beautiful locations you will have
ever seen in your life.
Niihau
Tours in Kauai - Niihau is the smallest and perhaps the least
known of the major Hawaiian islands and in fact is known as the "Forbidden
Island" because only inhabitants are allowed on. Although
we do not have any tours that are allowed to visit the island,
we do have boats that cruise its coastline and snorkel the waters
of its sister island of Lehua.
Sightseeing
Tours in Kauai - The island of Kauai is perhaps the most dramatic
of all the islands of Hawaii to take a sightseeing or land tour.
The island is small enough to be circumnavigated in just one day
but the variations in topography are truly amazing. From jungle
to high forest to desert coastline Kauai land tours are among the
most exciting. We even have a tour that visits the sites made famous
by many of your favorite movies that have been filmed on Kauai
over the years.
Snorkeling
Tours in Kauai - Kauai's coastline is both varied and beautiful
ranging from the more gentle inlets and coves of the Poipu and
South Shore region to the dramatic, isolated and incredible shoreline
of the Na Pali Coast. In addition, you can also snorkel at the "Forbidden
Island" of Niihau. Aside from the fish and beautiful scenery
you can also expect to see dolphins and perhaps a Hawaiian Monk
seal on Kauai. During the winter months on Kauai you will also
have the opportunity to see the humpback whales.
 Sunset
Sailing Tours in Kauai - A Kauai sunset sail or Kauai sunset
cruise is a good call for any evening of your vacation but perhaps
the very best time would be your last evening on the island for
a fond farewell. The Na Pali coastline on Kauai is a favorite destination
for most sunset sail boats. Kauai's uninhabited and uniquely beautiful
setting is one of the most famous coastlines anywhere in the world.
Surfing
Lessons in Kauai - Kauai is a great place for surfing in general
but for surf lessons in particular. The surf on Kauai is usually
very consistent and there are a number of areas that have a sand
bottom which makes for an ideal learning area. Since Kauai is the
home of many great surfers we are fortunate that many of them supplement
their income by teaching the art of surfing.
Tubing
Adventures in Kauai - Here's a Kauai tour so special that it
requires its own category. Traverse Lihue's old sugar cane plantation
into Kauai's pristine emerald green interior and enjoy breathtaking
vistas and spectacular scenery. Then, grab a tube, don a headlamp,
and jump in for a leisurely cruise. Witness Kauai's spectacular
engineering feats as you float down the tropical waterway consisting
of open ditches, tunnels and flumes all of which were engineered
and hand dug circa 1870. At the end of your Kauai tubing adventure,
you will be guided to an enchanted picnic area for a great picnic
lunch next to a natural swimming hole. Great for the entire family!
Water
Skiing
in Kauai - Kauai is the only location in Hawaii where you can
water ski on a fresh water river. The glassy water conditions on
the Wailua River in Kauai are about the best for water skiing that
you will find anywhere. In addition, it's an exotic location "to
boot". Imagine water skiing
on the same river that was made famous in the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders
of the Lost Arc".
Whale
Watching Tours in Kauai - The months of December through May
are a wonderful time to visit Kauai because the whales are here.
These magnificent creatures spend their Winters in the waters off
Kauai to breed and to bare their young. Many whale watching tour
boats ply the waters off the coast to view these
"gentle giants" and these whale watch tours are often the highlight
tour of all of the activities taken on Kauai.
Visit
Another Island from Kauai - Don't forget that you can choose
to visit another island for a day while still staying on Kauai.
Special one-day trips are offered that fly you to Maui to view
the Hana Coastline, fly you to the Big Island to view the lava
in Volcano's National Park or to visit Pearl Harbor on Oahu. These
are great ways to get another island adventure into your schedule
without having to change islands or to change hotel rooms.
Zipline
Tours and Adventures in Kauai - Zipline tours are a fairly
recent addition to the list of Kauai's spectacular activities.
Kauai zipline tours are also among the most popular. Some zipline
tours on Kauai zoom across huge spans of canyons or bluffs and
some glide from tree to tree through the tops of magnificent pine
forests. Zipline tours are exciting activities on Kauai, but are
often booked for weeks in advance so be sure to call us early to
assure that you will be able to go at the time you want, if at
all.
Kauai - General Information:
Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With
an area of 1,430.4 km² (552.3 sq mi), it is the fourth largest of
the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago and the 21st largest island
in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle", Kauai
lies 105 miles (170 kilometers) across the Kauai Channel, northwest of
Oahu. Of volcanic origin, the highest peak on this mountainous island
is Kawaikini at 1,598 m (5,243 ft). The second highest peak is Mount
Waialeale near the center of the island, 1,570 m (5,148 ft) above sea
level. One of the wettest spots on Earth, with an annual average rainfall
of 460 inches (11,700 millimeters), is located on the east side of Mount
Waialeale. The high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central
mountains, carving out canyons with many scenic waterfalls.
There is no known meaning behind the name of Kauai. Native Hawaiian
tradition indicates the name's origin in the legend of Hawaiiloa - the
Polynesian navigator attributed with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands.
The story relates how he named the island of Kauai after a favorite son;
therefore a possible translation of Kauai is "place around the neck",
meaning how a father would carry a favorite child. In South Africa, a
health food and drink franchise is named after the island.
The United States Census Bureau defines Kauai as Census Tracts 401 through
409 of Kauai County, Hawaii, which is all of the county except for the
islands of Kaula, Lehua, and Niihau. The 2000 census population of Kauai
(the island) was 58,303.
Kauai - History:
During the reign of King Kamehameha, the islands of Kauai and Niihau
were the last Hawaiian Islands to join his Kingdom of Hawaii. Their ruler,
Kaumualii, resisted Kamehameha for years. King Kamehameha twice prepared
a huge armada of ships and canoes to take the islands by force and twice
failed; once due to a storm, and once due to an epidemic. In the face
of the threat of a further invasion, however, Kaumualii decided to join
the kingdom without bloodshed, and became Kamehameha's vassal in 1810,
ceding the island to the Kingdom of Hawaii upon his death.
The city of Līhue, on the island's southeast coast, is the seat
of Kauai County and the second largest city on the island. Kapaa, on
the "Coconut Coast" (site of an old coconut plantation) about
6 miles north of Līhue, has a population of nearly 10,000, or about
50% greater than Līhue. Waimea, once the capital of Kauai on the
island's southwest side, was the first place in Hawaii visited by British
explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. Waimea town is located at the mouth
of the Waimea River, whose flow formed one of the most scenic canyons
in the world. At 3000 ft (900 m) deep, Waimea Canyon has been called "The
Grand Canyon of the Pacific".
1992's Hurricane Iniki may have caused an indirect change in Kauai's
ecosystem. Some say a chicken farm was destroyed, causing all of the
chickens to roam free that one may see today. Others say that sugarcane
plantation laborers in the late 1800s and early 1900s brought and raised
chickens (for eating and cockfighting) and many got loose over the years
and multiplied. Whatever their original source, Kauai is now home to
thousands of wild roosters and hens, roaming the island with few natural
predators. Wild roosters have been known to disturb evening quiet time
at odd hours with their crowing. Currently, the Humane Society is investigating
the death of large numbers of Kauai chickens. The deaths are most likely
due to bacterial infections caused by over-population.
The island of Kauai has been featured in more than 70 Hollywood movies
and television shows, including the musical "South Pacific" and
Disney's 2002 animated feature film and television series Lilo & Stitch.
Waimea Canyon was used in the filming of the 1993 film Jurassic Park.
Parts of the island were also used for the opening scenes of Raiders
of the Lost Ark. Other movies filmed here include Six Days Seven Nights
and the remake of King Kong. Coco Palms Resort is a famous resort located
on this island and many of Elvis' films including Blue Hawaii were filmed
here. The resort was damaged in the Hurricane in 1992, but is set to
reopen by 2010.
Kauai is home to the U.S. Navy's "Barking Sands" Pacific Missile
Range Facility, on the sunny and dry western shore.
Kauai was known for its distinct dialect of the Hawaiian language before
it went extinct there. Whereas the standard language today is based on
the dialect of Hawaii island, the Kauai dialect was known for pronouncing
/k/ as /t/. (In fact, Kauai retained the old pan-Polynesian /t/, while
Hawaii has innovated and changed it.) Therefore, the native name for
Kauai was Tauai, and the major settlement of Kapaa would have been called
Tapaa.
References: Official site of County of Kauai; County of Kauai QuickFacts
from the U.S. Census Bureau; Hawaii Dept.of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism; and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kauai - Perfect Days Introduction:
Starting in the late 1990’s Tom Barefoot and his good friend Arnold
Schuchter collaborated in the creation of a series of guidebooks of the
Hawaiian Islands. Included on this page is much of the information that
was collected regarding the island of Kauai. We have included it
here as a source of information for your Kauai travels:
The Perfect Days Team
Kauai is one of the best places in the world to experience the
gamut of outdoor activities on land, water and in the air. That’s
one of the main reasons why Tom Barefoot loves living and working in
Hawaii and I try to visit the Aloha State as often as possible, after
the special pleasure of living there on and off for several years.
This shared love for Hawaii and Kauai is the main reason why
Tom and I have teamed up to write Perfect Days in Kauai – to
make it easier for others to discover and experience its unique attractions
and learn to respect its fragile beauty.
One of the most respected pioneers in Hawaii's tour and activity industry,
Tom has owned and operated his Maui-based service since 1975. For more
than 30 years he has helped tens of thousands of visitors to enjoy Hawaii,
first on Maui and then, starting in the 1990s, throughout the Aloha State.
Tom has spent countless hours exploring Hawaii to seek out only the
best of Hawaii's activities and adventures. Today Tom’s huge, informative
Web site, www.tombarefoot.com, is the most comprehensive activities guide
on the Web for visitors to the islands. And Tom’s Web site also
is an important part of the content of Perfect Days in Kauai.
I first set foot in Hawaii in the late 1950’s as a lowly PFC in
the U.S. Army stationed on Oahu. With my wife and a one-year-old child,
I lived in a simple beachfront house on stilts in beautiful Mokule’ia,
between the plantation town of Waialua and Kaena Point. Before Oahu had
highways, I commuted to work daily on two-lane roads through pineapple
fields across the island to my job at CINPAC atop Pearl Harbor.
Many years later, I returned again and again to Hawaii as a tourist
and then to live on the Big Island and elsewhere in Hawaii. I've written
four guidebooks to the islands, most recently Perfect Days on Maui, Lana'i
and Moloka'i. Each guidebook contained a series of mini-itineraries on
each Hawaiian island – the genesis of Perfect Days.
After meeting in the mid-1990s, Tom and I decided to create a series
of new travel guides to Hawaii – Perfect Days -- that
shows visitors how to combine sightseeing, outdoor and other activities,
and dining on Kauai and other islands in ways that squeeze the
most pleasure and satisfaction out of mornings, afternoons and evenings,
including ample time for Hawaiian-style relaxation.
In addition to the content of Perfect Days in Kauai,
we urge you to refer to descriptions of activities and tours on Kauai,
Maui, Oahu, the Big Island, Lana’i and Moloka’i in his
website which
is updated daily by Tom and his staff.
Tom and I want your comments, suggestions, photos, videos, and "perfect
days" that we can post on this blog. In particular, send us photos
and videos of your experiences on activities on land and sea, and recommendations
on vacation rentals, B&Bs, restaurants and eateries on Kauai.
The Garden Island
Beyond even fertile imaginations, the incredible beauty and spirit of
Kauai truly have to be experienced. Nature – tropical forests,
peaks and valleys, spectacular canyons and cliffs, an incredible assortment
of large, tiny and hidden beaches, great sunsets and rainbows – makes
Kauai a unique place on earth even among legendary island escapes.
A profusion of local art tries to capture the island’s alluring
qualities and spirit and is never satisfied with the results.
In addition to attracting artists and lovers of art, Kauai attracts
people who want to exercise their senses and bodies, beachcomb on beautiful
beaches, trek on foot or horseback on trails winding through rainforests,
climb or simply peer down deep canyons, cross a great mountaintop swamp,
sail the ocean and explore its marine life and depths, follow Hawaii’s
only fresh water rivers and streams, or just enjoy the man-made contours,
landscape and challenges of outstanding golf courses.
For visitors who just want to relax and shed their stressful lives,
Kauai offers countless ways and places to do so on the dry and
sunny South Shore and even drier and sunnier West Shore, the busier but
still laid-back Coconut Coast along the East Shore, and on the lush,
rainier North Shore. In all of these places, hundreds of vacation rentals
provide great deals on lodging, with and without breakfast, and the best
personalized advice on how to stay busy or relax on Kauai.
The northernmost and most ancient of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai
is as lush and as arid in parts as any other island. Year-round you’ll
find plants in bloom on the “Garden Island.” It’s no
accident that three of Hawaii’s National Tropical Gardens are located
on Kauai. Each one is worth visiting and these remarkable gardens
are part of several Perfect Days in Kauai.
At the center of the island, 5,148-foot Mount Waialeale receives the
most rainfall in the world – an average of 460 inches per year.
From Waialeale, a series of ridges covered with plant life radiate out
to the sea, separated by valleys, rivers and streams, many cascading
over beautiful waterfalls. Exploration of these ridges, waterways, and
waterfalls, on foot and bicycle and by kayak, provide some of the most
enjoyable parts of Perfect Days in Kauai.
The average temperature on Kauai is 75 degrees year-round. High
and low temperatures vary by less than 10 degrees. Differences in weather
conditions in winter and summer, however, prompt different activities.
Winter’s northerly trade winds bring swells that pound North Shore
beaches around Hanalei while Po’ipu’s beaches are comparatively
calm. In the summer, Kona winds bring bigger surf to Po’ipu and
the South Shore while the North Shore calms down.
Kauai’s 110-mile coastline is as varied as any in Hawaii,
fringed by dozens of beautiful beaches, coral reefs, bluffs and high
cliffs, river lagoons and bays. Just about every Perfect Day in Kauai includes
visits to at least one of Kauai’s memorable beaches.
All of Kauai’s beaches are accessible by car, bicycle and
on foot except for the 25-mile long Na Pali coast which is only accessible
on foot or from the sea. Na Pali’s little beaches, fronting on
deep valleys, are only accessible by hiking from the very end of Hwy.
560 near Ke’e Beach on the North Shore or by inflatable boat or
kayak.
Please use our Interactive
Map of the Hawaiian Islands page to get a better idea of the "lay
of the land" on Kauai. Find the best beachcombing beaches and
snorkeling sites: on the North Shore, Ke’e Beach, Tunnels, and
Princeville’s secluded beaches below the resort’s bluffs;
on the East Shore, long and sandy ‘Anini, beautiful Moloa’a,
serene Lydgate Park, and lovely Kalapaki in Nawiliwili Bay; on the
South Shore, Po’ipu and Maha’ulepu beaches; and on the
West Shore, relatively calm Salt Pond Beach and, beyond Waimea Canyon,
the longest beach in Hawai’i from Kekaha out to Polihale and
the Na Pali Coast.
Perfect Days in Kauai
For those of you who have never been to Kauai, the island offers
some of the best travel experiences anywhere in the world for single
persons or couples of all ages and for families. For those of you who
already have visited Kauai, perhaps even more than once, the island
deserves several more chances to show you its hidden charms and attractions
in addition to its abundance of exceptional values in vacation rentals.
Perfect Days in Kauai start with comfortable lodgings
that fit your tastes and pocketbook and enable you to look forward to
getting up in the morning and returning at night after a wonderful day.
Perfect Days also require satisfying and memorable meals at breakfast,
lunch and dinner, including picnic lunches and meals served on cruise
ships and during other guided trips on water and land.
All too often visitors to Kauai miss many of the most beautiful,
peaceful and interesting places to hike and walk, stroll on beaches and
through rain forests and gardens, watch waves crash on the shorelines,
swim and snorkel, look for special birds, picnic and, not least of all,
spend the night and wake up in the morning very near or in the midst
of Kauai’s scenic attractions.
When we hear the words ‘been there, done that’ referring
to Kauai (or any of the Hawaiian Islands), we’re ready to
respond with a challenge. Perfect Days provides another, very
different way to plan your vacation to Kauai. Take a quick look
at any of the Perfect Days presented in this guide. These Perfect
Days provide the best explanation of what Perfect Days is
all about and why it differs from other guidebooks.
All of the dozens of beaches along the sunny South or West Coasts or
the East Coast from Kapa’a to Kilauea are different and appealing.
How do you choose the one that’s right for you and perhaps your
family? You snorkel, boogie-board, kayak, swim, surf and, like most people,
enjoy walking in the sun (with proper skin protection, of course), picnicking
at the beach or elsewhere along a beautiful coastline. If you can spend
time at only a few beaches or other scenic coastal or inland spots, which
ones are best for the kind of activities that you want to pursue? Which
ones really qualify as not to be missed?
At some point, you want to take a cruise or perhaps several different
ones -- for relaxation, watching whales or a sunset, sportfishing, snorkeling,
diving, or excursions to explore the island of Niihau, Na Pali and other
scenic coastlines. Many of these boat trips leave from Port Allen on
the West Coast and you want to know how to plan your day to include one
of these boat trips, in the morning, afternoon or evening, and how make
the best use of the rest of the day.
Perfect Days tries to minimize the number of times you have
to get in and out of your rental car, the distance that you have to drive
each day and the amount of time you have to spend driving from place
to place and, unfortunately, even stuck in traffic jams in paradise.
Perfect Days Travel Philosophy
It’s really easy to have fun on Kauai, enjoy great beaches
and marine activities, visit the incredible Waimea Canyon and Na Pali
coast, eat a marvelous variety of delicious food, and soak in scenic
beauty around the clock.
How can it get any better? The pleasures of Kauai’s coastlines
and interior can be experienced in many ways with very different results. Perfect
Days in Kauai is designed to help you make lots of decisions,
before leaving for Kauai and also after arriving, about not only
where to go but how, when, where to start, places to snack, eat and relax
with refreshments along the way, and suggestions for ending the day with
a sense of satisfaction and joy. In other words, Perfect Days in
Kauai.
Perfect Days provides a different way of looking at travel
and travel planning. It’s not just where to go and what to see
or do when you get there, but also what combinations of activities yield
the best Kauai experiences each day and from day-to-day.
Obviously it’s possible to have literally hundreds of different Perfect
Days in Kauai. After spending a few days, a week or more
on Kauai, you’ll be able to create your own version of Perfect
Days for friends and family.
Perfect Days is your personal concierge who asks “what
would you like to do today” and has dozens of suggestions that
fit your special interests:
- Snorkeling? Beginner or advanced? Lessons? Shoreline or boat trip?
Scuba, too?
- Picnic or sit-down lunch? Indoors or outside? On the beach? Another
scenic spot? Great sunset?
- Hike? Easy or strenuous? Coastline or mountains? Off-the-beaten-track?
Guide? Morning, afternoon or all-day? Casual lunch spot? Special cravings
for food? Lunch on the trail? Suggested picnic spots?
- Walk? Short or extended? Inland or along a beach or someplace a bit
more adventuresome? Town? Shopping, too? Local art and crafts? Parking?
- Flower lover? Birdwatcher? Combine with cruise? Kayaking? Hike? Historic
and archeological sites?
- Whalewatching? Combine with cruise? Dinner cruise? More adventuresome?
Raft? Kayak?
Here are the very simple elements of what we call the Perfect Days travel
philosophy. Most of them should seem like common sense to you. That’s
a good start. Think back to trips you’ve taken anywhere in the
world, as a student, on a honeymoon or romantic trip, with friends or
family, and reflect on these points:
Choice of lodging is crucial, not just a place to lay your head. Depending
on your choice of hotel, B&B or other lodgings, the day feels quite
different when you wake up in morning and go to sleep at night -- and
also during the day and evening as you anticipate what it will feel like
returning to your room and waking up the next morning.
Choice of a route and transportation to get to a place or activity may
be as important as the destination itself. Drive a different route to
and from your vacation destination or perhaps use a different form of
transportation one-way or both ways (boat or train vs. car) and the different
transportation and its route make the day’s entire excursion feel
different. For example:
- Go snorkeling from shore or alternatively on a boat tour and the
snorkeling experience feels very different. Snorkel from a particularly
scenic site and bring a picnic lunch along vs. heading to a restaurant
for lunch after snorkeling.
- Walk out your door onto a long, sandy, scenic beach vs. driving to
the same beach for a day-trip.
It’s not how many places and sights you see, it’s the uniqueness
and quality of the destinations. Spend the morning somewhere seeing several
tropical wonders but not at the expense of missing one place that, by
itself, would have provided an even more memorable experience.
Each meal should provide a memorable experience. Why eat even one very
good but expensive dinner that lacks special distinction when, for the
same price or less, you could eat several delicious and distinctively
different kinds of meals?
Several of the most scenic places on Kauai’s coastline,
including some of the most spectacular anywhere in Hawaii, can be visited
either on shore or from the water. Each way of seeing these places provides
a different experience of the same place.
The time of day makes a big difference. Whenever possible, go everywhere
early in the morning for better winds and easier parking.
Vacation Rental Deals & Locations
- Kauai has more than a hundred B&B’s located all
over the island in which you can rent rooms for $400-$1000 per week.
- Kauai has more than 500 suites, cottages, bungalows and apartments
renting for less than $500 per week and another couple of hundred oceanfront
or oceanview units renting for less than $1250 per week.
- Kauai has dozens of marvelous houses in scenic beach or oceanview
locations, suitable for honeymoons, romantic vacations, and family
vacations or reunions, renting for less than $2000 per week. (See Vacation
Rentals in Kauai and add your own favorites or comment
on your own experiences at any one of the vacation rentals mentioned.
These vacation rental deals are not rare exceptions. Dozens of vacation
rentals that fit your needs are available if you’re willing to
spend the time researching, talking to owners or managers, and sending
out email inquiries. In any season, you’ll find homes, cottages,
and rooms for rent that are clean and attractively decorated, fronting
on or located near an excellent beach, managed by pleasant, helpful staff,
and offering excellent values at reasonable rates.
The daily rate (total amount paid per day) for a vacation rental can
vary considerably depending on:
- Low season, high season or holiday booking (especially Christmas-New
Years but also Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day and Thanksgiving);
- Last-minute or special discount offers including Internet-only discounts;
- Offer of a night free in return for booking a week or more;
- Discounts offered for booking a week, several weeks or a month;
- Cleaning fee (sometimes waived for a longer term booking);
- Number of people included in the booking (up to maximum capacity).
And don’t forget to add local taxes (11.42%) to vacation rentals
when you estimate daily rates.
These vacation rentals are located in the best parts of Kauai
for Perfect Days of sightseeing, activities and dining:
- In lush, incredibly lovely Wainiha Valley within minutes of a half
dozen of the best and most scenic beaches on Kauai for snorkeling,
surfing, beachcombing and picnics.
- Around the beautiful and historic Wailua River, funky Kapa’a
Town, the Coconut Coast, on Highway 580 along the mountainside of the
Sleeping Giant, up Hwy. 580 past Opaeka’a Falls towards Keahua
Arboretum and hiking territory, up Kealia Rd. into the green hinterland
toward the Anahola Mountains (a.k.a. Kalalea Mountains or Makaleha
Mountains).
- Around Anahola Bay, Aliomanu Bay, down Moloa’a Road and around
scenic Moloa’a Bay, and all over Kilauea Town and around Kilauea
Bay.
- Mauka along Kahiliholo Road and makai down Kahiliholo Road to the
river, Kahiliholo Bay and Anini Beach and all over Princeville.
- All around Hanalei Town and on mauka and makai sides of Highway 560
in Haena.
- In and around Ma’alo Road (Hwy. 583) that leads to Wailua Falls,
quite a few scattered around Lihue and especially overlooking Kalapaki
Beach.
- Around Koloa Town and especially in Po’ipu and Lawai Valley.
- Out Hwy. 50 all around Kalaheo, west of Koloa and Lawa’i, in
Hanapepe and especially in Kekaha west of Waimea.
Within these areas, we recommend that, whenever possible, and especially
renting condominium units, rent directly from owners of vacation rentals.
Owners usually are prepared to offer and, depending on circumstances,
negotiate better deals than property management, real estate and travel
companies.
In addition, using a combination of email and toll-free numbers, you
can ask vacation rental owners lots of questions about their properties,
surroundings and local activities. Also, if they do not appear on the
property’s Web site, you can ask for examples of guest recommendations.
PLANNING PERFECT DAYS
Kauai’s Vacation Planning Areas
Perfect Days in Kauai is divided into four geographic
sections of the island: North, East, South and West:
North – Kilauea Town and Princeville to Hanalei,
Haena and Ke’e Beach and the Kalalau Trail
East – Lihu’e through Wailua and Kapa’a
north to Anahola and Larsen’s Beach (practically to Kilauea Bay)
South – Koloa to Poi’pu and Poi’pu
east through the Maha’ulepo Beaches to Ha’ula Beach, and
west through Koloa Landing to Kukui’ula Bay east of Spouting Horn
and inland to Lawa’i and Kalaheo
West – Hanapepe, Ele’ele and Port Allen
to Waimea and Kekaha to Polihale State Park and inland to Waimea Canyon
and Koke’e State Park
Each of these four sections begins with a brief description of the highlights
of sightseeing, activities and special experiences. Following these highlights,
we provide an alphabetical checklist of specific attractions, activities
and experiences which are included in Perfect Days in Kauai.
For the purpose of planning your vacation, Kauai’s four
sections can be grouped into two main vacation planning areas: East and
North Shores; and South and West Shores. Of course many visitors will
make daytrips between these two areas but each one – East-North
and South-West -- deserves at least a week of Perfect Days.
For great beaches, snorkeling, walks along beaches and coastal bluffs,
mountain biking and hiking inland, birdwatching, kayaking and surfing,
shopping and restaurants in Lihu’e, Kapa’a, Wailua, Kilauea,
Princeville and Hanalei, there are more than enough choices in East and
North Shores.
The beaches and special attractions of Po’ipu, Lawai, and Koloa
Town on the South Shore deserve at least a day trip from the East or
North Shore. Waimea Canyon and the trails of Koke’e State Park
are a must day-trip for visitors staying on the South Shore or anywhere
else on Kauai. Hikers who want to take full advantage of Waimea-Koke'e
State Park should try to book lodgings in Koke’e Lodge on the mountain,
at vacation rentals down below in Kekaha or to the east in Kalaheo in
order to cut down on travel time.
If you’re planning to take more than one sailing trip or cruise
out of Port Allen, the South Shore or West Shore offer the best base.
Staying at a hotel or vacation rental in the Po’ipu Area is better
than West Kauai in terms of heading north to attractions from
Lihue-Nawiliwili to Princeville-Hanalei.
In other words, we suggest that you select and plan your Perfect Days,
including the land, sea and air tours and activities that you want to
book with Barefoot Hawaii before you decide on lodgings. With the help
of Tom Barefoot and his experienced staff, you can customize Perfect
Days that fit the part of Kauai that you want to use as your base.
For example:
- You’ve never snorkeled before, you want lessons, and prefer
these lessons to be near where you’ll be staying.
- You’ve always wanted to scuba dive but never dared. You can
learn to snuba: attached to a 20-foot hose that is connected to an
airtank on a raft; dive master and a couple of instructions included;
no tank and no hassle.
Both of these water sports, offered by different companies at Lawa’i
Beach on the South Shore, can be arranged at discount prices through
Barefoot Hawai’i. If you prefer snorkel lessons on the North Shore,
they can be scheduled at, for example, Tunnels Beach, west of Hanalei,
or at beaches near the Princeville Hotel such as Hideaways. When you
master the basics of snorkeling, you can rent equipment and snorkel comfortably
at either Lydgate State Park or Po’ipu Beach Park. All of this
can be planned and arranged to minimize the amount of driving on Kauai
and to fit your personalized Perfect Days.
Traffic & Travel-time Realities
Traffic problems and travel-times between destinations on Kauai
are good reasons for selecting lodgings in conjunction with planning
outdoor activities.
A highway (with different numbers) stretches almost around Kauai.
Distances on these roadways are less important than driving times. Speed
limits on the island are slower than on the Mainland -- and strictly
enforced (also seat-belts). During commute hours, traffic is heavy in
some areas, especially Lihu’e and Wailua. In fact, during commute
hours traffic patrols force traffic to drive on the wrong side of the
road in these sections, which slows traffic even further.
Thus, when and where you drive during the day becomes an important consideration
for planning Perfect Days even in “paradise.” Here
are some typical one-way driving times that are very important to Ke’ep
in mind as you plan Perfect Days:
- Lihu’e to Hanalei – 1 hour
- Lihu’e to Waimea Canyon – 1 hour
- Princeville to Waimea Canyon – 2 hours
- Lihu’e to Po’ipu – 30 minutes
- Princeville to Po’ipu – 75 minutes
- Kapa’a to Princeville or Hanalei – 30-40 minutes
As a result of these driving times, activities on the West Shore require
a long drive from the East and South shores, especially from the North
Shore. Likewise, getting to Ke’e Beach and the Kalalau Trail along
the Na Pali is a long drive from the South Shore.
Planning activities and lodgings for Perfect Days should account
for and, if possible, avoid long round-trip drives. Sometimes, however,
it’s just unavoidable.
The most spectacular hikes and walks on Kauai are at Kauai’s
extremities – Waimea Canyon on the West Shore and the Kalalau Trail
on the North Shore.
Personalizing Perfect Days
Perfect Days in Kauai will differ for each visitor depending
on their special interests and preferences for outdoor activities, history
and cultural activities, dining and lodging, crowds and seclusion, exertion
and rest, and the like. Perfect Days tries to make it easy for
visitors to customize their own Perfect Days into a flexible
itinerary for an entire trip. Each Perfect Day combines:
- Kauai’s natural pleasures by land, sea and air – lush
mountains, ridges and ravines, waterfalls and rivers, rain forests
and flora, splendid marine life, cliffs, beaches and tidepools
- Kauai’s manmade attractions -- trails for hiking, walking,
mountain biking, and horseback riding, former sugar and current coffee
plantations, museums, shops, towns, resort hotels, golf courses, tennis
courts, spas and other features.
Self-guided and Booked Activities
In addition to your own self-guided activities, each one of Kauai’s
four sections provides wonderful opportunities for activities provided
by local activity companies. Perfect Days in Kauai can
tell you about all of the best activities and tours on the island. Using
only this website,
one email address, toll-free or local telephone number you can check
out and purchase the very best activities either before you arrive in
Kauai or while you’re there:
- bike and 4-wheel tours
- sport fishing charters, sailing trips, whalewatching, dinner and
other cruises
- helicopter tours to the Na Pali coast, Waimea Canyon and other scenic
spots
- snorkeling and diving tours, kayaking, waterskiing and surfing
- hiking trips and tours of mountains, backroads, canyons, waterfalls,
historic sites, and rainforests
- horseback, ATV, jeep, motorcycle and hang glider tours of different
parts of the islandfeasting on food and entertainment at luaus, and
much more.
Examples of Perfect Days
We suggest dozens of different Perfect Days that hopefully
will suit everyone’s special interests and require reasonable amounts
of driving. These Perfect Days combine: the best beaches for
beachcombing, water sports, and secluded getaways; the best viewpoints
and Hawaiian natural landscapes; and the tastiest food of all kinds --
local (Hawaiian, Asian, and American), plate lunches for picnics, seafood,
shave ice (syrup over shaved ice), international and a few examples of
gourmet cooking.
Here are a couple of examples of Perfect Days:
#1 Starting near Lihu’e or Kapa’a --
- breakfast in Lihu’e at Kukui’s Restaurant at
the Marriott or join local folks at Dani’s on Rice Street
or at the Tip Top Café on Akahi Street
- swim or snorkel at Kalapaki beach fronting on the Marriott
- stay at Kalapaki until lunch or drive out Hwy. 583 to the viewing
area (not the hazardous descent to the base) for twin Wailua Falls
- return to Nawiliwili Harbor in Lihue to have lunch at the Whalers
Brewpub right on the Harbor where you can have a “Whale
of a Burger” or house fresh fish and enjoy great views over
a leisurely lunch
- after lunch visit the Kauai Museum for historical background
that will make a trip to nearby Kilohana even more meaningful as you
tour the old Wilcox plantation house
- enjoy a refreshment at Gaylord’s courtyard garden
café at Kilohana
- backtrack to Nawiliwili for a sunset cruise
- if your lodgings are in Kapa’a or elsewhere in East or North
Kauai, take Hwy. 56 north for a delicious dinner at Caffé Coco or Coconuts
Island Style Grill.
#2 Starting near Po’ipu or Kaleheo –
- breakfast at the Po’ipu Bay Grill & Bar at the
Po’ipu Bay Resort Golf Course or at Joe's On the Green at
the Kiahuna Golf Course
- drive past the Hyatt Regency on the dirt road to the beautiful, long
white sands of Gillin’s Beach
- if the south swell is low, it’s ideal for snorkeling
- otherwise, take a walk on this lovely beach lined with ironwoods
or drive your snorkeling gear (and picnic items) just a short way to
Kawailoa Beach
- after snorkeling, take a short hike (about 15-minutes) over to Ha’ula
Beach, surrounded by hills and sand dunes, another secluded, marvelous
picnic spot
- as an alternative to a picnic lunch, enjoy lunch at Brennecke’s overlooking
Po’ipu Beach or a burger or other selections from at huge menu
at Po’ipu Tropical Burgers In Po’ipu Village
And there’s still plenty of time for a leisurely afternoon drive
to the West Shore:
- browse at shops in Old Koloa Town and see the remains of an old
sugar mill
- On the way west, at the intersection of Koloa Rd. and Hwy. 50, stop
at the Hawaiian Trading Post to see the largest display of authentic
Ni’ihau shell leis on the island and visit their lovely garden
- Continue to Kuku’iolono Park to see beautiful Japanese and
Hawaiian gardens and a marvelous vista of the South Coast
- Return to Hwy. 50 and head for the Hanapepe Valley Lookout
- Just to the west lies charming Hanapepe, an interesting relic of
Kauai’s past with many art galleries on its dusty main
street
- You’ll be back to your lodgings in time to freshen up and then
head for sunset drinks and pupus at the Beach House on Lawa’i
Road in Po’ipu
- As an alternative, stay for dinner on the West Shore at one of several
restaurants in the Hanapepe area that serve tasty meals at reasonable
prices, including the Hanapepe Café, Grinds Café or Toi’s
Thai Kitchen.
#3 Kilauea to Ke’e Beach --
- Spend the morning at a world-class golf course in the Princeville
Resort -- The Prince Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., as
challenging as it is beautiful or the Makai Course, designed by Robert
Trent Jones, inspired by great views (holes 3-7 on the Lakes Course
and holes 6 & 7 on the Ocean Course).
- For hikers and mountain bikers, the Powerline Trail offers choices
of ascending a steep hill from the Kapa’a side or a long, mostly
gentle ascent from the Princeville side. Hike or mountain bike the
Powerline Trail from the Princeville side for a few miles or all the
way to the top of Kualapa Ridge after an early morning swim or snorkeling
at the large pool carved into lava known as Queen’s Bath, Pu’u
Poa Beach or at nearby Pali Ke Kua (Hideaways) at the Princeville Resort.
- Birdwatchers can have an excellent breakfast in Kilauea before focusing
binoculars on seabirds around Kilauea Lighthouse in the Kilauea Point
Wildlife Refuge and, later, at the Hanalei bird view above Hanalei
River Valley.
- With several fantastic beaches within a few miles, Hanalei is an
ideal base for shopping, dining, beachcombing, snorkeling, surfing,
kayaking, windsurfing, swimming, bird-watching, hiking, botanical and
other sightseeing, and more. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Hanalei
before a trek on the Okolehao Trail to Kaukaopua for a 360-degree view
of the North Shore. Head for a delicious lunch in Hanalei Town or pick
up a picnic lunch to eat at one of the beaches along Hanalei Bay.
- Near Ke’e Beach at the end of Hwy. 560, a paradise for snorkelers,
lovers of flowers will find Limahuli Tropical Garden, a National Tropical
Botanical Garden that provides a botanical education on Hawaiian vegetation.
- Hikers should leave early in the morning for the Kalalau Trail to
cover the two miles from Ke’e Beach to Hanakapi’ai Beach
and verdant Hanakapi’ai Valley in order to have sun and warmth
for the 2 miles to Hanakapi’ai Falls, a swim and picnic lunch
before returning to Ke’e Beach and a sunset cruise around Hanalei
Bay.
#4 Nawiliwili Bay to Po’ipu --
Visit the Kauai Museum in Lihue and the mid-19th century buildings
on Kress Street. Eat local style at the Hanamura Saimin Hut.
At the Grove Farm Homestead Museum, tour the George Wilcox Estate and
gardens (which requires an advance reservation) and then take a sailing
cruise from Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor. Before leaving Nawiliwili,
leap back in time 1000 years at a Fish Pond built by the legendary Menehunes.
Don’t leave before driving through the remarkable Kauai
Marriott resort and out to Nawiliwili Jetty for a look at the harbor
and Ninini Point Lighthouse. Try to visualize a busy Hawaiian village
and its taro patches along the bay.
From Hwy. 50, drive through the Tree Tunnel of eucalyptus trees bordering
Hwy. 520 to the sugar mill in the charming shopping emporium of Koloa
Town on the way to Po’ipu. On the outskirts of Po’ipu, another
former sugar mill, Koloa Mill, sits near hidden Maha’ulepu Beach,
site of an epic 13th century battle between the kings of Kauai
and the Big Island. Beachcombing visitors may find themselves sunning
near endangered monk seals. For an extreme but pleasant contrast, take
a stroll through the nearby Hyatt Regency Kauai and stop for a
refreshment on Lima Terrace.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
For anyone seeking an active vacation, Kauai is as close to perfect
as anywhere in Hawaii or the world. The average temperature on the island
is 75 with relatively little variation. Kauai rarely gets hot,
just warm enough to be paradise for beach-lovers. You can move from green
cliffs and rainforest to arid countryside in an hour or less. In addition
to Na Pali, the towering ridges along the north coast, Kauai’s
110-mile coast is fringed by scenic bluffs, coral reefs and Hawai’i’s
most varied and beautiful assortment of beaches.
Perfect Days in Kauai takes you to all of the most beautiful
and hidden sand and coral-fringed beaches around Kauai and suggests
the best ways to enjoy each one in a morning, afternoon or all-day, including
our favorite walks, picnic spots, and bicycle rides along shorelines.
The “rainy” windward north shore gets as much as 90 inches
of rain mainly in brief storms that leaves gorgeous greenery soaking
in eternal tropical sunshine and blooming wildly all year. This same
rain and eons of trade winds have carved the island’s volcanic
landscape into ridges, valleys and canyons through which flow Hawai’i’s
only navigable rivers and streams that seem to create beautiful waterfalls
at ever turn.
For people that enjoy hiking and easy walks, Kauai’s landscape
has been designed by nature to offer some of the most beautiful and Perfect
Days in Hawai’i or anywhere. Each Perfect Day takes
only a splendid fragment out of this abundance of beauty for beach or
mountain walks and hikes, snorkeling, kayaking and other watersports.
Each Perfect Day can be customized and extended so that on any Perfect
Day you can spend more time, perhaps in a more leisurely manner,
on hiking trails, beaches, rivers and streams, enjoying picnic lunches
at special viewpoints, on beaches, and otherwise exploring inland and
coastal treasures.
Another important reason for making the most of small areas on Kauai,
rather than dashing around the island, is to cut driving time and increase
pleasurable time for activities that you enjoy. For example, from Kapa’a
it’s “only” 30 minutes one-way to Hanalei, but that’s
at least an hour of driving in a precious day. If possible we try to
limit driving on Perfect Days to 40 minutes roundtrip, for example:
Princeville on the North Shore to Haena; and Po’ipu on the South
Shore to Port Allen or Waimea (where it’s still another hour round-trip
up Waimea Canyon to Koke’e State Park).
Watersports
Kauai’s 50 miles of beaches are all different and nearly
surrounded by fringing reefs. Many of Kauai’s beaches are
among the most beautiful in Hawai’i, which is saying a lot. That’s
the awfully good news. The not so good news is that many of these beaches
are not protected in their lovely bays and coves and, because of surf,
changing waves, and currents, many are not swimable, especially in the
winter.
Eastern and northern beaches are especially dangerous, except in summer.
Very few snorkeling sites on Kauai are sufficiently protected
to be safe in all seasons or even at times during the day. With only
a few exceptions, cautions are essential for both swimming and snorkeling
on most of Kauai’s beaches, even on the North Shore in summer,
when the water is calm. Perfect Days in Kauai tells you
all about these beaches and the best ways to enjoy them in all seasons.
We provide a handy checklist of Kauai’s beaches in each
section of the island, what to look forward to and where to find the
best and safest snorkeling and swimming. Bring your snorkel gear or you
can rent gear inexpensively in many local shops. We also suggest fins
(maybe with zip-on booties) because of strong currents and to save your
feet and toes from scrapes on coral. And don’t forget to bring
or buy quantities of sunscreen, especially if you’re fair-skinned.
Have fun – with a friend or buddy (yes, once again, to reduce risk).
Beach Checklists
Beach Checklist: North Shore
[From south to north]
Kahili Quarry Beach -- Good swimming and boogie boarding
on the western side and good snorkeling near the Kilauea Stream (but
watch out for rip currents)
Secret Beach -- Swim and snorkel on calm summer days
Kalihiwai Beach -- Good swimming and boogie boarding
in summer and surfing in winter for experienced surfers only
Anini Beach Park -- Excellent swimming, excellent windsurfing,
and good snorkeling
SeaLodge Beach (Kaweonui) -- Excellent snorkeling in
calm waters
Queen’s Bath (Queen Emma’s Bath) -- Virtually
a swimming pool and excellent snorkeling
Hideaways (Pali Ke Kua) -- (Two beach coves separated
by a lava rock.) Excellent snorkeling at both beaches in calm waters
Pu’u Poa Beach -- Good snorkeling in calm waters
and excellent surfing in winter off the outer edge of the reef
Black Pot -- OK swimming, surfing and boogie boarding
in summer
Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park -- OK boogie boarding and
surfing in summer
Kahalahala Beach (north of Lumaha’i) -- Excellent
swimming in summer
Lumaha’i Beach -- NEVER swim
Kepuhi Beach -- Good snorkeling
Tunnels Beach (Makua) -- Outstanding snorkeling most
of the time
Ha’ena Beach Park – Cannons – Excellent
surfing
Ke’e Beach -- Excellent swimming and snorkeling
Beach Checklist: East Shore
[From south to north]
Kalapaki Beach -- Excellent swimming, bodysurfing,
boogie boarding and windsurfing
Ninini Beach -- Good snorkeling
Nukoli’i Beach Park -- Good snorkeling in calm
waters
Lydgate State Park -- Excellent swimming and snorkeling
Wailua Beach -- Good boogie boarding and surfing
Waipouli Beach Park -- Good swimming behind the breakwater
Kealia Beach -- Good for boogie boarding and experienced
surfers
Donkey Beach -- Good surfing
Anahola Beach Park -- Safe near Kahala Point and near
Anahola Stream
Aliomanu Beach -- Best at the northern part near Kuaehu
Point
Moloa’a Bay -- Swim at beach near end of Moloa’a
Road and before Moloa’a Stream
Larsen’s Beach -- Snorkel near the parking end
of the beach, not near Pakala Point and Pakala Channel
Beach Checklist: South Shore
[From west to east]
Lawai Beach -- Outstanding snorkeling and snuba
Baby Beach -- Good, safe swimming but littered with
lava stones
Koloa Landing -- Excellent scuba
Po’ipu Beach -- Excellent swimming, boogie boarding
and snorkeling
Po’ipu Beach Park -- Excellent swimming and snorkeling
Brennecke Beach -- Outstanding boogie boarding
Shipwreck Beach (Keoniloa) -- Good for body surfing,
boogie boarding, surfing and windsurfing
Kawailoa Beach -- Excellent windsurfing
Beach Checklist: West Shore
[From east to west]
Salt Pond Beach Park -- Good swimming
Pakala Beach – Infinities -- Excellent for surfing
experts (only)
Kekaha Beach Park – long scenic beach, good snorkeling
and swimming when VERY calm
Majors Beach – very long beach that includes Barking
Sands and Pacific Missile Range Facility, dangerous for water sports,
outstanding for sunsets
Polihale State Park -- another outstanding stretch of
beach to watch sunsets but not for watersports
Snorkeling
The fringing reef around Kauai is longer and more developed than
other Hawaiian islands. Beaches from Hanalei to Ke’e are easily
accessible. In winter, however, the water is rough and there’s
more rainfall. Small, secluded beaches below the cliffs of Princeville
require short but pleasant hikes to get to snorkeling sites.
Eastern beaches are exposed to a heavy swell all year that makes their
low reefs dangerous for snorkeling except for a few weeks. A man-made
breakwater at Lydgate Park and the protection of Kalapaki by Nawiliwili
Bay are notable exceptions. The Po’ipu area has the widest assortment
of beaches, snorkeling spots, more hours of sun, the greatest variety
of lodgings and, in winter, the best snorkeling.
Here are your best choices for Perfect Days of snorkeling on
Kauai:
- Protected by an extensive reef, Ke’e Beach’s beautiful
little cove, with Mount Makana in the background, is perfect for novices,
especially during summer when the surf is low, and also for more experienced
snorkelers.
- At Tunnels, arguably Kauai’s best snorkeling spot, outer
and inner reefs provide a natural lagoon ideal for snorkeling.
- Kepuhi has a big reef area to explore.
- All of Princeville’s small beaches are about 200 feet below
the plateau. Queen’s Bath is very special for snorkeling and
swimming. Pu’u Poa Beach on Hanalei Bay, near and accessible
from Princeville, also offers good snorkeling.
- In a lush, jungle-like setting, Moloa’a Bay is excellent for
snorkeling when calm.
- For the calmest, safest snorkeling on the island, head for Lydgate
Beach Park.
- Right in front of the Kauai Marriott, Kalapaki provides a
lovely setting and especially good snorkeling under the bluffs toward
Kuki Pt.
- The area east of Po’ipu between beautiful Kawailoa Beach and
Gillin’s Beach has the best snorkeling on Maha’ulepu Beaches.
- On the western side of the divide (tambolo), snorkel cautiously in
protected areas at Po’ipu Beach Park and the Kiahuna-Sheraton
Beach.
- With surprisingly calm waters and lots of fish, Koloa Landing may
be the best snorkeling spot on the South Shore. Ho’ai Bay, in
front of Prince Kuhio Park and Lawa’i Bay in front of the Beach
House run a close second.
Sport fishing & Bottom Fishing
- Leaving from Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, take a sport fishing & bottom
fishing charter cruise trip along the South Coast and Na Pali Coast.
Rent a Kayak and paddle on:
- Wailua River
- Hanalei River and Bay
- Hule’ia River (and Hule’ia National Wildlife Refuge)
- Kilauea and Kalihiwai rivers
Rent a Surfboard, Bodyboard or Snorkel Equipment for:
- Ke’e Beach
- Tunnels Beach
- Hideaways Beach
- Queen’s Bath
- Secret Beach
- Moloa’a Bay
- Lydgate Park
- Po’ipu Beach
Ocean Kayaking
- Na Pali Coast (May-Sept. only) and along the Po’ipu-Lawa’i
South Coast (Oct.-Apr. only).
Sail or Cruise
- ketch-rigged sailing yacht at sunset from Port Allen (winter)
- Hanalei Bay (summer)
- sunset cruise along the Na Pali Coastline
- cruise to and snorkel along the Na Pali coast, with beach landing
and hiking
- entire day and evening snorkeling, diving and visiting the island
of Ni’ihau
- morning or afternoon (seasonal) whalewatching tour
- Na Pali Coast and Ni’ihau in one day, with breakfast, lunch
and snorkeling
- sunset sailings in Kalapaki Bay
- from Kuku’iula Harbor in Po’ipu, sail along the Po’ipu
shore on a catamaran with pupus and drinks
- snorkel near Po’ipu from a raft
Snuba
- From Lawa’i Beach take a snuba tour off the South Shore.
Activities on Land
Garden and Botanical Enthusiasts
North Shore
East Shore
- Smith’s Tropical Gardens on a visit to Wailua State Park
- Lydgate State Park and its sacred sites of Hawaiian Royalty
- Fern Grotto
- Opaeka’a Falls
- Keahua Arboretum
- Kuilau Ridge Trail
West Shore
- Kilohana Plantation Estate gardens
- Moir Gardens at Kiahuna Plantation
- Allerton Tropical Garden and Lawa’i Tropical Garden (National
Tropical Botanical Garden)
- Kuku’iolono Park
- Olu Pua Gardens
- Kauai Coffee Visitor’s Center and Museum
- Kawaiele Bird Sanctuary (at Majors Bay)
- Iliau Nature Loop (Waimea Canyon)
- Koke’e State Park
Birdwatchers and Other Nature Enthusiasts
North Shore
- Manoa Stream (near Ha’ena Beach Park)
East Shore
- Kilauea Point Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge
- Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
- Smith’s Tropical Gardens and Wailua River
- Fern Grotto
- Kuilau Ridge Trail
- Ho’opi’i Falls (along Kapa’a Stream west of Kealia
Beach)
West Shore
- Koke’e State Park
- Halemanu-Koke’e Trail
- Pihea Trail
- Alaka’i Swamp Trail
- Nu’alolo Trail
- Nu’alolo Cliffs Trail
- Awa-’awapuhi Trail
- Mohihi-Wai-’alae Trail
Hikers and Mountain Bikers
North Shore
- Kalalau Trail
- Okolehao Trail
- Manoa Stream
East Shore
Three interconnected trails climb up to the summit of Nounou (“Sleeping
Giant”) -- Kuamoo-Nounou Trail, East-side Trail, and West-side
Trail. All three trails offer pleasant hikes, places to picnic and enjoy
the views. Each trail takes no more than a few hours to hike, even with
frequent stops to enjoy panoramic views of Makaleha and Wai’ale’ale
mountains. However, hiking the East-side Trail to the Summit and returning
via the West-side trail requires a second vehicle, is over 7 miles long
and, with a leisurely lunch, takes most of the day.
Powerline Trail
For mountain bikers, the Powerline Trail is a half-day trip that, for
a Perfect Day, can be combined with other activities anywhere on the
eastern or northern coasts. For hikers, with at least an hour at the
top of Kualapa Ridge (2128 ft.) and pauses for views of verdant Hanalei
Valley and River, and numerous waterfalls, Powerline is an all day activity.
Powerline can be accessed from either the Princeville side or the Wailua
side. If you start the 13-mile trail from Keahua Arboretum on the Wailua
side, Powerline is a very tough uphill climb for five miles, to Kualapa
Ridge, before descending gradually into Hanalei Valley. Deep mud and
ruts make it difficult in small sections. Bicycling or hiking from either
direction, the main goal is Kualapa Ridge and its marvelous views of
Hanalei Valley and Bay and Nounou Mountain (“Sleeping Giant”).
Kuilau Ridge Trail
From Keahua Arboretum, the Kuilau Ridge Trail runs a couple of miles
one-way and makes a wonderfully scenic morning bike ride or hike. For
visitors that only have time for one hike or bike ride on Kauai,
Kuilau Ridge Trail is the one. It zigzags through some of the most beautiful
terrain and panoramas on the island along a narrow ridge between Kawi
and ‘Opaeka’a Streams. For those who want to continue their
Perfect Day hiking or bicycling, the Kuilau Trail connects with the Moalepe
Trail but the trail gets muddier than it’s worth.
Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Park trails are unsurpassed on
the island and in Hawai’i for views and tropical foliage and birds,
including the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls, Kuku’i Trail, the Nu’alolo
Trail-Nu’alolo Cliffs-Awa-’awapuhi, the Pihea Trail to Alaka’i
Swamp, and others.
Hiking Combined with Sightseeing
Nounou Mountain Trails to the summit of the “Sleeping Giant,” the
Powerline Trail to the top of Kualapa Ridge, and the Kuilau Ridge Trail
can be combined with visits to sacred and scenic sights along the Wailua
River:
- Lydgate Park, at the mouth of the Wailua River, and the first of
seven sacred heiaus up the river;
- Wailua River State Park’s Poli’ahu Area with its Pohaku
Hooanau (Royal Birthstones), ‘Opaeka’a Falls, Kamokila
Village, a recreated folk village, and Keahua Arboretum.
More Activities on Land
ATVs
- ATVs are especially enjoyable for a backcountry riding experience
in the Kipu Ranch area of Koloa on 22,000 acres of otherwise inaccessible
terrain. For three hours in the morning, you’ll get a guided
tour of a beautiful valley, waterfalls, and then enjoy a gourmet lunch.
Horseback Riding
- a couple of hours horseback riding on 400-acres of Silver Falls Ranch,
a working ranch with a waterfall
- Princeville Ranch along the Kalihiwai Ridge to Kalihiwai waterfalls
and mountain pools
- along the bluffs above ‘Anini Beach, with a snack on the beach
Wailua River Cruise
- Take a Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto from the Wailua Marina
State Park.
For every visitor to Kauai, with every level of fitness and athletic
ability, expertise, energy, passion and adventuresome spirit, there’s
a suitable choice of: walking, hiking, horseback riding,
snorkeling, scuba diving, snuba, surfing, boogie boarding, helicopter
rides, excursions in one- and two-person kayaks, ocean kayaks, rafts,
and a variety of vessels for snorkeling, sailing, whale-watching (Dec-May),
dinner cruising and more.
Most of time will be spent on
your own walks and hikes, enjoying beautiful beaches, swimming and snorkeling,
visiting spas, and shopping in Koloa, Kapa’a, Kilauea, Hanalei
and elsewhere on the island. Discovering, exploring and enjoying many
of Kauai’s best sights and activities on land and sea, however,
will require the right transportation, equipment, guides and instructors
-- fishing, hiking, horseback riding, seeing remote or inaccessible mountains
and valleys by air and land, exploring underwater for marine life, and
more.
Hearing Impaired
- Read the full transcript for this
page's audio narrative.
Kauai Tours and Kauai Activities - Each island
of the Hawaiian chain has its own enticing differences from the others
providing different and varied types of activities that “highlight” as
the special activities of that island.
For the island of Kauai, those specialty activities are its helicopter
flights, its river kayaking and its boating activities along the Na
Pali Coast.
There is no more beautiful place on Earth to view by air than Kauai.
It is a veritable “garden of eden” with its verdant lush
valleys, breathtaking cliffs, huge waterfalls, razor-sharp ridges and
dynamic coastlines. It is no mistake that Kauai was the first island
in Hawaii to make use of the helicopter for touring. It is undoubtedly
the most spectacular helicopter tour to be taken anywhere on the planet.
Kayaking on Kauai’s numerous rivers is also quite a treat.
This is the only island in Hawaii to have navigable rivers. They are
gentle and meandering and provide the perfect vehicle to traverse into
the jungle interior of the island.
Lastly is the spectacular Na Pali Coast on the North Shore. This
spectacle has no equal anywhere. Viewing these cliffs and green valleys
from off-shore provides a glimpse into what must have been; a pristine
and ideal setting for the Hawaiians of days past.
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"The
Garden Isle" - Discount Tours and Discount Activities
