Kauai

The Garden Isle, green cliffs and quiet coves

Region

Hawaii · United States

Best time to go

Kauai is pleasant all year, and summer is typically drier and calmer. The north shore is wetter, and winter surf can make north-facing beaches unsafe for swimming.

Getting there

Connecting flights are the norm, usually through Honolulu, with a few nonstop options from select West Coast cities.

Why go to Kauai

Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands, with deep valleys, sea cliffs, and no building taller than the coconut palms. Most of the island is rural, and one road nearly circles it, stopping short at the Na Pali Coast. It suits travelers who want hiking, boating, and quiet beaches more than nightlife.

Golfers Hikers

Things to do in Kauai

AdventureNa Pali Coast by boatBoats leave from the west side to cruise beneath the Na Pali Coast's fluted green cliffs, sea caves, and waterfalls. Summer usually brings the calmest seas, while winter trips can be rough or canceled, so take seasickness remedies if you need them.Explore related tours

NatureKalalau Trail to Hanakapiai BeachThe first two miles of the Kalalau Trail climb and drop along the cliffs to Hanakapiai Beach, with views back down the coast. The trailhead is in Haena State Park, which requires advance reservations, and swimming at Hanakapiai is dangerous.Explore related tours

NatureWaimea Canyon LookoutWaimea Canyon cuts a long red and green gorge into the island's west side, and the main lookout sits along the road up from Waimea. Go in the morning for the clearest views, before clouds build over the canyon.Explore related tours

NatureKokee State Park and Kalalau LookoutAt the top of the canyon road, Kokee State Park has cool forest trails and the Kalalau Lookout over a huge valley of the Na Pali Coast. Clouds often roll in and out, so wait a few minutes if the view is hidden.Explore related tours

BeachHanalei BayHanalei Bay is a wide crescent of sand on the north shore backed by waterfall-streaked mountains, with a historic pier at one end. Summer brings calm water for swimming and paddleboarding, while winter surf can be large and dangerous.Explore related tours

AdventureTunnels and Kee BeachNear the end of the north shore road, Tunnels Beach and Kee Beach have reefs that offer some of the island's best snorkeling in calm summer conditions. Kee Beach is inside Haena State Park, so you need a reservation, and winter swells often make both unsafe.Explore related tours

FamilyPoipu Beach ParkPoipu Beach Park on the sunny south shore has a sheltered swimming area that suits children and a sandbar where monk seals sometimes rest. Lifeguards are on duty, and turtles are common in the shallow water.Explore related tours

FamilySpouting HornSpouting Horn is a lava tube on the south shore that shoots seawater high into the air as waves push through it. It is a quick roadside stop near Poipu, with a small market of craft vendors nearby.Explore related tours

AdventureWailua River kayakingThe Wailua River on the east side is one of the few navigable rivers in Hawaii, and kayak trips paddle upstream and then hike to a waterfall. Boat trips also run to the Fern Grotto, a fern-covered cave with a long cultural history.Explore related tours

NatureWailua and Opaekaa FallsTwo roadside waterfalls on the east side are easy to see from viewpoints without hiking. Wailua Falls is a classic double fall, and the Opaekaa Falls lookout also looks across the Wailua River valley. Stay at the viewpoints, since the slopes below are steep and slippery.Explore related tours

NatureKilauea Point National Wildlife RefugeKilauea Point is a seabird refuge on the north shore with a historic lighthouse on a cliff above the ocean. Expect nesting seabirds such as albatross and boobies and, in winter, humpback whales offshore, and reserve entry ahead.Explore related tours

WellnessKe Ala Hele Makalae coastal pathThis paved path runs along the east shore through Kapaa past beaches and lava points, popular for walking and cycling. Bike rental is easy to find in Kapaa, and early mornings are cooler, calmer, and less busy on the path.Explore related tours

Where to stay in Kauai

PoipuSunny, beachy south shorePoipu is the island's main resort area, with calm beaches, good snorkeling, and the driest, sunniest weather on Kauai. Old Koloa Town is close by for shops and food. It suits families and first-time visitors, especially in winter when the north shore turns wet and rough.FamiliesReliable sunSnorkeling

PrincevilleGreen, scenic, golf and viewsPrinceville is a planned community on a bluff above the north shore with condos, golf, and ocean views. It is greener and rainier than the south, with Hanalei Bay just down the hill. It suits couples and hikers who want to be close to the Na Pali Coast.CouplesGolfNorth shore access

HanaleiSmall surf town, mountain bayHanalei is a small town on a wide bay with taro fields, surf shops, and casual places to eat. Lodging is mostly vacation rentals, and the single-lane bridges into town can close during heavy rain. It suits travelers who want a slow, scenic north shore stay.Slow travelSummer beachesScenery

Kapaa and WailuaCentral, casual, local feelKapaa and Wailua sit on the east side with a coastal bike path, the Wailua River, and plenty of local restaurants. The location makes both the north and south shores reachable within about an hour. It suits budget-minded travelers and anyone who wants a central base.Central baseBikingLocal food

LihuePractical island hubLihue is Kauai's main town and home to the airport, with a protected beach at Kalapaki Bay and easy access to shops and services. It is less scenic than other areas but very convenient. It suits short stays and travelers with early or late flights.Short staysAirport accessErrands

When to go

Winter

December to March

Weather: Rainiest season, especially on the north shore, with big surf on north-facing beaches.
Crowds: Busy over the holidays, otherwise moderate.
Value: Highest rates over the holidays, more moderate in January and early March.

Spring

April to May

Weather: Drying out, with calmer seas arriving and green landscapes.
Crowds: Moderate.
Value: Often good value.

Summer

June to August

Weather: Driest and calmest, the best time for north shore swimming and Na Pali boat trips.
Crowds: Busiest season for families and hikers.
Value: Higher rates and the earliest-filling boat tours and park reservations.

Fall

September to November

Weather: Warm and still fairly dry, with rain picking up by November.
Crowds: Quietest stretch of the year.
Value: Usually the best value.

Getting the best value

Fall from September to mid-November and the spring months outside school breaks usually cost the least on Kauai. Summer and the winter holidays bring the highest rates, and boat tours and park reservations fill fastest then.

Check tour dates

Getting there and around

Getting there

Kauai's main airport is Lihue Airport (LIH) on the island's east side.
A few nonstop flights run from select West Coast cities, and many travelers connect through Honolulu on a short interisland flight.
US citizens flying from the mainland do not need a passport; bring a REAL ID-compliant license or other accepted ID and check current TSA rules.
From Lihue it is roughly 20 to 30 minutes to Poipu or Kapaa and about an hour to Princeville, mainly by rental car, with taxis and limited rideshare also available.

Getting around

A rental car is essential on Kauai, since sights are spread across a single road that nearly circles the island.
Taxis and rideshare exist but are limited, especially on the north shore and west side.
The Kauai Bus runs limited routes between towns and is not practical for most sightseeing.
There is no road around the Na Pali Coast, so reaching the north and west ends means driving the long way around or seeing it by boat.

Eat and drink

Plate lunch and pokeRice, mac salad, and kalua pork or chicken katsu make the everyday lunch, and poke counters at markets sell fresh fish by the pound. Both are easy picnic food for a beach day.Shave iceFinely shaved ice with tropical syrups like lilikoi and guava, sometimes topped with a sweet cream. It is the classic stop after a hot day on the south or west side.Kauai-grown coffeeCoffee is grown commercially on the island's south side, and local beans are sold across Kauai. A cup of island coffee before an early hike is a local habit.Farmers marketsWeekly farmers markets across the island sell papaya, apple bananas, rambutan, avocados, and fresh coconuts. Bring small bills and come early for the best fruit.Taro and poiHanalei Valley grows much of Hawaii's taro, which is pounded into poi, a staple of the traditional diet. Try it alongside kalua pork at a luau or local eatery.Huli huli chickenChicken grilled over wood and basted with a sweet, savory glaze, sold at roadside fundraisers and stands on weekends. Follow the smoke if you see it.

Day trips from Kauai

Na Pali Coast boat tripCatamarans and rafts leave from the west side to explore the cliffs, sea caves, and waterfalls of the Na Pali Coast. Summer seas are usually calmest and give the best chance to get close.Explore related tours

Niihau and Lehua snorkel tripLonger boat trips sometimes continue past the Na Pali Coast to snorkel near Lehua, a crescent islet beside Niihau, when seas allow. These trips are long and can be rough, so they suit confident boaters.Explore related tours

Helicopter tourFlights from Lihue cover Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast, and interior valleys you cannot reach by road. Morning flights often have the clearest skies.Explore related tours

Wailua River and Fern GrottoKayak or take a riverboat up the Wailua River on the east side, with a hike to a waterfall or a visit to the Fern Grotto. It makes an easy half-day trip from Kapaa or Lihue.Explore related tours

Sample itineraries

5 days on Kauai

Day 1Arrive at Lihue and check in, then take an easy evening walk on the beach near your base.
Day 2Drive up Waimea Canyon to Kokee State Park and the Kalalau Lookout, stopping in Waimea town on the way back.
Day 3Take a morning Na Pali Coast boat trip from the west side, then relax at Poipu Beach Park.
Day 4Spend the day on the north shore with Kilauea Point, the Hanalei Valley Lookout, and Hanalei Bay.
Day 5Kayak the Wailua River or bike the Kapaa coastal path, then head to the airport.

Browse activities for this itinerary

7 days on Kauai

Day 1Arrive, pick up your car, and settle into Poipu with a sunset at the beach.
Day 2Snorkel and swim at Poipu Beach Park, then visit Spouting Horn and Old Koloa Town.
Day 3Drive Waimea Canyon in the morning and hike a short trail in Kokee State Park.
Day 4Take a Na Pali Coast boat trip and enjoy a slow afternoon back in Poipu.
Day 5Move north or make a day trip, stopping at Kilauea Point and spending the afternoon at Hanalei Bay.
Day 6With a Haena State Park reservation, hike the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai Beach and snorkel at Kee Beach if calm.
Day 7Kayak the Wailua River or see Wailua and Opaekaa Falls, then fly home from Lihue.

Browse activities for this itinerary

Good to know

Reserve Haena State Park entry well ahead if you want Kee Beach or the Kalalau Trail, since spots fill quickly.
Kauai beaches have strong currents and shorebreak, so swim at lifeguarded beaches when you can and skip the water when surf is up.
Bring a rain jacket and shoes that can get muddy, as trails turn slick fast after showers.
Use a mineral, reef-safe sunscreen, since Hawaii restricts sunscreens with certain chemical ingredients.
Give Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles plenty of space, as both are protected by law.
Keep valuables out of parked cars at trailheads and beaches, and fill up on gas before heading to the remote west side.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Kauai?

Late spring and fall usually balance good weather, calmer crowds, and better value. Summer is best for north shore swimming and Na Pali boat trips.

How many days do I need on Kauai?

Five days covers the highlights, and a week lets you split your stay between the south and north shores.

Do I need a car on Kauai?

Yes. Public transit is limited, and most sights are spread out along the island's main road.

Can you drive around the whole island?

No. The road ends at Kee Beach on the north shore and near Polihale on the west side, with the Na Pali Coast between them.

Is Kauai good for kids?

Yes, especially in Poipu, where Poipu Beach Park has a calm, protected swimming area. Many hikes are best for older kids.

Does it rain a lot on Kauai?

The north shore and interior get frequent showers, especially in winter. The south and west sides are much drier, and showers often pass quickly.

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