Hawaii, USA

HAWAII: 22 Exciting Things to Do On Kauai & What to Expect

No trip to Hawaii is complete without stopping off on on the breathtaking island of Kauai. Looking back on the pictures I took there, I still find it hard to believe it actually exists (even after seeing it with my own eyes!). With its dramatic landscapes, stunning beaches, and heaps of exciting activities on offer, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do on Kauai. Some of my personal favourite highlights were snorkelling, mountain tubing and a doors-off helicopter tour! I’ve put together a guide of everything you need to know before you set off on your own trip to Kauai. The guide includes what to expect of the island, how to get around, as well as 22 incredible things to add to your itinerary!

What to Expect:

Rain

One thing you need to know before your trip to Kauai is that rain is pretty common on the island. In fact, its second highest peak, Mount Waialeale, is one of the rainiest spots on earth. But don’t let this put you off! As a result of the rainfall, the island is very tropical and green. It’s one of the reasons why the island is so beautiful. One of our tour guides described the mountain range on Kauai as a baseball ‘catcher’s mitt’ for the clouds. This results in almost daily rain showers, but they don’t tend to last for the whole day. Come prepared by packing a waterproof rain jacket, in case you get caught in a shower. This will also be useful for hiking in the mountains, and other activities you do during your stay.

Rural

Kauai is nicknamed the ‘Garden Isle’, as it is picturesque, green and largely untouched. Around 97% of it is covered by mountain ranges and forests. It also has a smaller population than Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Only around 10% of Kauai is accessible by car, and a large proportion is not accessible by foot at all. This means that some of Kauai’s most incredible sights must be seen on foot, by boat and from the air!

The island is very picturesque and green. Exploring it's rugged, natural landscapes is an essential thing to do on Kauai!

Things to See and Do:

1. Have a Go at Mountain Tubing

I had personally never heard of this activity before planning this trip, but it’s one of my favourite memories of the whole trip! We went on this excursion with a company called Kauai Backcountry Adventures. We had an amazing experience mountain tubing with them, and they also offer loads of other excursions too. This excursion involves floating down canals in a big rubber ring. The canals are the former irrigation system for an enormous sugar plantation. They run through a series of long tunnels, so the company provide you with a head torch as well as a rubber ring.

Mountain tubing is such a unique and fun experience, and is an essential thing to do on Kauai. Although there were only adults on our trip (and we were the youngest by a considerable amount), I felt like a little kid and it was such a funny trip. All the guides were really friendly and a great laugh too. The excursion costs $116 per person, which includes the equipment, transport in their mini bus and lunch afterwards. In my opinion it’s worth every cent!

2. Drive Up to Pu’u O Kila Lookout

The Pu’u O Kila Lookout is a scenic viewpoint looking out over the stunning Kalalau Valley. The views of this valley are absolutely breathtaking – it is definitely something you won’t want to miss from your Kauai itinerary. To get to the car park at the lookout point, follow Kokee Road to the top of the mountain as far as it goes. There tends to be a lot of clouds gathered in this valley, which can block the view. However, if it’s cloudy when you arrive, I recommend waiting a while to see if they pass. If it’s raining you may even see some rainbows. The car park costs $5, but this ticket also can also be used for the other hikes and viewpoints along the road.

Driving to the incredible Pu'u O Kila Lookout is one of my favourite things to do on Kauai.

3. Explore Hanalei Town

Hanalei is a vibrant little town on the north shore of Kauai. There are lots of cool shops and restaurants here, and it has a nice chilled atmosphere. Hanalei is the perfect place to grab some lunch and explore for a couple of hours. It’s also the starting point for a lot of boat tours along the Na Pali Coast.

4. Relax at Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauai. It has a 2 mile stretch of white sand beach, a pier, and a beautiful mountain backdrop. Hanalei Bay is a popular place for paddle boarding, swimming, snorkelling and surfing. It is renowned for its big surf during the winter months. Hanalei Bay is another of the many greats thing to do on Kauai.

5. Learn to Surf

Like much of Hawaii, Kauai is full of excellent surf spots. What better time to give it a go than during your trip to Kauai! There are numerous beaches on the island where you can have lessons, or hire boards and try for yourself. For example, Hanalei Bay, Kalapaki Beach, and Poipu Beach – just to name a few!

6. Try Famous Hawaiian Shave Ice

Hawaiian Shave Ice (not ‘shaved ice’) is a popular dessert made by shaving a block of ice, and adding delicious, colourful syrups. The Hawaiian Islands are renowned for their Shave Ice, and tasting it for yourself is another thing you simply must do whilst on Kauai. Wishing Well Shave Ice is an amazing little spot located in Hanalei on Kauai’s north shore. They offer Shave Ice with a wide range of fruity flavours, as well as acai bowls and organic coffee.

7. Go Snorkelling

The island of Kauai is the perfect snorkelling location, full of remote beaches and crystal clear water. There are plenty of places to hire snorkel gear from, and it’s a great inexpensive activity you must do on Kauai! Alternatively you can go on a boat tour and snorkelling excursion, which will provide the snorkel gear and flippers for you. Remember not to stand on the coral reef, nor feed the turtles/fish, and also use a reef-safe sun protection!

8. See the Magnificent Na Pali Coast

The Na Pali Coast is a 17 mile span of stunning coastline on the northwest of Kauai. The coastline is part of the Na Pali Coast Wilderness Park, which is almost entirely untouched as it is so inaccessible. The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile long hiking trail which spans a section of the Na Pali Coast. However, this hike is extremely difficult and involves camping for a night. You also need to obtain a permit to do the hike. Aside from the hike, there are two ways to admire this incredible coastline; from the sea and from the air (see my next two points). Visiting the Na Pali Coast is one of the most famous things to do on Kauai, and an essential to add to your itinerary.

The Na Pali Coast is one of Kauai's most iconic sights, seeing it is a must do on Kauai.

9. Explore the Na Pali Coastline by Boat

What better way to appreciate the incredible Na Pali Coast than with a boat tour along it! You can really appreciate the scale of this drastic coastline by boat as it towers over you, as well as explore lots of the little sea caves. There are plenty of tour companies to choose from on Kauai. We went with Na Pali Coast Boat Tour Hanalei and had a fantastic experience. When choosing a tour, a boat tour with snorkelling included is a must in my opinion. There’s a good chance of swimming with turtles, as well as countless tropical fish on the Na Pali Coast. And you may even spot some dolphins!

Tip: I recommend choosing a tour which leaves from Hanalei, rather than the south of the island. This is because Hanalei is located closer to the coastline itself. This way you’ll waste less time of the tour on the way to and from the Na Pali Coast, and more time admiring the coastline and snorkelling!

10. A Doors-Off Helicopter Tour

A helicopter tour on Kauai is, in my opinion, an essential thing to do whilst on the island. We chose a doors-off helicopter tour, which had 4 passengers, but of course is a bit pricier. The tour was 60 minutes, and we got to see all of our favourite spots on the island from the unique perspective of up in the air! This included; the Na Pali Coast, Hanalei Bay, Waimea Canyon as well as numerous waterfalls. It’s safe to say a helicopter tour is the most expensive activity we did in our whole trip to Hawaii. However, it is an exhilarating experience that’s, without a doubt, worth the extra cash. It’s an experience that will leave you with memories for life.

You can read the full guide to booking your helicopter tour over Kauai here: 7 Kauai Helicopter Tour Tips – A Guide to Booking Your Tour

Check out my favourite shots I took during the helicopter tour in my gallery here: Kauai Helicopter Gallery – Incredible Doors-Off Helicopter Tour Photos

11. Chill Out at Kalapaki Beach

Kalapaki Beach is a great spot located on the southeastern coast of Kauai. We visited this beach a few times as it was conveniently close to our accommodation. It was a really nice place to relax when we weren’t doing activities. There are a number of stops and restaurants just a short walk away from Kalapaki beach if you get hungry. You can also sometimes spot turtles in the water at this beach!

12. Admire Waimea Canyon State Park

Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is a ten mile long canyon on western Kauai. It is 3,000 ft deep, and well known for the red colour of its soil. As you drive through the park, there are many places to stop along the side of the road to look out across this incredible canyon. There are also many hikes to choose from, many of which lead to waterfalls. If you choose to go on a helicopter tour of the island, you will most likely fly over the canyon, which is a breathtaking experience! However, I also recommend hiking one of its many trails in order to admire the canyon on foot too.

13. Go Hiking

Hiking is one of the most incredible things to do on Kauai due to the abundance of insanely scenic landscapes. I highly recommend giving it a go even if you are a complete amateur when it comes to hiking. Kauai is such a breathtaking place, and is full of hikes for all abilities. I guarantee you’ll be able to find an easy one to start you off.

One of the hikes we did on Kauai was the Waipo’o Falls hike. This is a moderately difficult trail along the side of the Waimea Canyon. The trail leads to Waipo’o Falls, and has amazing views out across the canyon. Although, what many don’t realise about this hike is that you won’t actually see the 800ft waterfall that you are hiking towards. This is because the hike leads you to the top of falls. However, if you choose to do the helicopter tour you’ll most likely see this enormous waterfall when you fly through the canyon! It was amazing getting to see the waterfall from two entirely different perspectives.

14. Discover the Remote Polihale State Park

Polihale State Park is located on the west coast of Kauai and has a stunning stretch of white sand beach. This beach is slightly challenging to get to, as the road leading to it is very rocky and requires a 4×4 vehicle. For this reason, the beach is isolated and has very view visitors. This gorgeous beach is a must do on Kauai if you’re looking for something off the beaten track!

15. Go On a Coffee Tour

Kauai is home to the largest coffee plantation in Hawaii, Kauai Coffee. This enormous plantation is located on the southwest of Kauai, and visiting is a must during your stay on the island! On a visit to the plantation you can learn all about the process of growing, harvesting and roasting coffee. You can also sample some of their delicious products! They offer both walking and driven tours around the site – you can visit their website and book a tour here.

16. Wander Around Old Koloa Town

Koloa is a historic plantation-era town in the south of Kauai. There are lots of cute little shops and places to eat. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring.

17. See Turtles at Poipu Beach Park

Poipu Beach Park is a beautiful beach located on the south coast of Kauai, just a short drive away from Koloa Town. It’s a really nice spot to relax for the afternoon and have some down time. Poipu beach is great for snorkelling, and to see turtles who regularly come up onto the beach at night to sleep.

18. Hire A Car

Having a car will allow you to make the most of your time on Kauai and schedule in a busy itinerary. The island of Kauai is pretty remote with drastic landscapes. Having a car will allow you to reach all the best sights on Kauai, such as Waimea Canyon, Pu’u O Kila Lookout and Polihale State Park – just to name a few.

For car hire I recommend downloading the app ‘Turo’. Turo allows you to hire cars from locals in the places you’re travelling to. This option was more flexible and a lot cheaper than traditional rental cars, particularly because we were all under 25. You still have to pay the young driver surcharge, but it is much lower than with big car rental companies.

19. Watch a Sunset

Another thing you must do on your trip to Kauai is watch a sunset. Relaxing on a beach to watch the sunset is the perfect way to end a busy day of exploring. There are numerous great beaches to watch the sunset from on Kauai. Some of my personal favourite spots were Poipu Beach Park and Polihale State Park.

20. Take a Cruise to the Fern Grotto

The fern grotto on Kauai is located along the Wailua River on the east of the island. It is a lava rock grotto covered with ferns and other tropical plants. The only way to access the fern grotto is by boat or kayak. You can go on a short river cruise, during which you’ll learn about Hawaii’s history, and listen to ancient stories and songs. Visiting Kauai’s fern grotto is a beautiful experience to add to your Kauai itinerary!

21. Admire and Respect Nature

Kauai is a very remote island with stunning landscapes and a lot of wildlife. You will likely come across many wild chickens, often with their chicks following behind. While you enjoy your stay on the island, it’s important to remember to respect the wildlife and their habitat. No matter whether it’s dolphins, turtles, fish, chickens or other animals you come across, don’t touch them and be mindful whilst you are in their home.

22. Go to a Hula Show

The Hula is a traditional Polynesian dance usually accompanied by music and singing which originates from the Hawaiian Islands. There are numerous places on Kauai where you can enjoy a Hula Show, many of which are free performances. Some places that offer free performances include Poipu Shopping Village and the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort. Going to a hula show is a really fun experience and another of the things you must do whilst on Kauai.

I hope this list of 22 fun and exciting things to do on Kauai helps with planning your own trip! If you’re interested, check out my other Hawaii blog posts below:

Thanks for reading!

Abbey x