Kauai was the first Island in Hawaii I have visited. It is beautiful, lush and a great place for adventures. This Kauai Travel Guide will share the best places to visit and things to do while in Kauai, Hawaii
Places to Visit
Ho'opi'i Falls Trail
Ho'opi'i Falls is a two-mile hike that is well worth the adventure. This hike has waterfalls, a rope swing, and great swimming opportunities! I am fit and enjoy hiking but when we were in Kauai it was rainy and we knew all of the hikes would be muddy and a little bit too dangerous if we attempted a long treacherous one. Ho’opi falls was so much fun, but we did get covered in mud. I would recommend bringing a trash bag for muddy shoes and to keep your car clean! Overall, this was a fun hike and I would definitely recommend it.
Waimea Canyon
Waimea Canyon is “Hawaii’s grand canyon” and it is beautiful. I loved visiting the canyon for a day. The parking pass is $5 and you will be able to see 4-5 viewpoints. The canyon is beautiful and you will be able to see a waterfall, the lush forest, and the mountainside. I would definitely recommend taking a day trip to the canyon!
Red Dirt Falls
Red Dirt Falls is a super cool stop on the way up the mountain to Waimea Canyon. I loved this because you can pull over on the side of the road and see this awesome waterfall without hiking. You feel like you are transported to Mars and you can get some super awesome photos!
Secrets Beach
Secrets Beach was one of my favorite beaches in Kauai. The waves at Secrets Beach aren’t great for swimming, but this beach has shade during peak UV if you have gotten a little bit too much sun. Secrets beach is also fun because you can see the Kilauea Lighthouse. I think Secrets Beach is great for a half-day adventure in Kauai.
Queen’s Bath
Queen’s Bath is well known on Instagram for being a natural tide pool big enough for swimming. When the waves are small and there isn’t a large swell it is a great place for cliff jumping and swimming. When we visited the waves were 7 feet (much larger than the advisable 4 feet wave maximum for swimming). Regardless, it was fun to explore the lava rocks and watch the swell come in. I will add that it can be rough and muddy getting down to Queen’s Bath if it has been raining. I couldn’t imagine climbing back up the steep main trail but luckily we found a rope coming down the hill that serves as a shortcut back up to the trail entrance. Queen’s Bath is a fun stop when you are visiting Hanalei.
Hanalei Pier
After visiting Queen’s Bath I would suggest going to the Hanalei Pier and spending time at the beach. Hanalei Pier is an Instagram famous spot and Hanalei has a beautiful beach where I enjoyed soaking up the sun. I also love that you can see the mountains from the beach. I would highly recommend visiting Hanalei Pier
Kauai Coffee Plantation
The Kauai Coffee Plantation was a fun place to visit in Kauai. This plantation is responsible for producing 4 billion pounds of coffee. I went with my boyfriend Jackson and we enjoyed sampling free coffee and walking around the coffee plantation. I would suggest doing a self-guided tour because you can take it at your own pace. This tour is a free and fun activity while in Kauai.
Things to Do
Rent a Dog from the Kauai Humane Society
The Kauai Humane Society has an awesome field trip/day rental program. This program is unlike anything I have ever heard of before. You are able to go to the shelter, pick out a dog and take them with you on an adventure in Kauai. I LOVED getting to do this. We picked out a sweet pup named Boxer and we took him with us to our hike and beach day at Secrets. This was a fun way to get a dog out of the shelter for a day and donate to the humane society. The Humane Society asks for a minimum $40 donation which helps cover the cost of the program. If you go to Kauai, this would be the activity I recommend you to do the most!
Visit the Farmers Market at The Shops at Kukuiula
Kauai has some amazing farmers’ markets and the Shops at Kukuiula definitely has one of the best. I loved listening to live music, sampling some delicious food, and buying fresh fruit. I got white flesh pineapple, got a coconut and drank the coconut water, and my boyfriend got lychee. This farmers market is held Wednesdays from 3:30-6:00 pm. Visiting a farmer’s market is a must while in Kauai.
Shop at Warehouse 3540
Warehouse 3540 is an awesome spot near Poipu. I loved visiting this place because they have nice shops including Kauai Chicken. Kauai Chicken has shirts and stickers that are designed and printed in Kauai. Warehouse 3540 also has food trucks including The Fresh Shave (more details on this awesome shave ice place can be found in my Best Kauai Food blog post)
Visit Noka Fair
Noka Fair is an Instagrammable heaven. I love the colorful shops that reminded me of Burano, Italy. This is a quick stop, and I didn’t end up purchasing anything from the shops but nonetheless, it is a fun photo spot. I ended up parking at Noka Fair and eating lunch at the food trucks across the street!
Food
Kauai has some of the BEST food. For information about the best foodie spots in Kauai, Hawaii click here!
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! I hope you have an amazing trip to Kauai! Leave your favorite thing about Kauai in the comments!
Sincerely, Kylee Marie
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