Why you should visit Kauai, Hawaii:

Kauai is one of my favorite places I have ever been to. The nature, waterfalls, and beaches are incredible, and the entire time I felt like I was in a rainforest paradise. It truly is a magical place to see nature in its truest form.

WHERE TO STAY IN KAUAI, HAWAII:

Depending on what area of the island you would like to be on and your budget, there are a great variety of options when staying on Kauai.

• Luxury: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. If you want to be on the north end of Kauai, this is the hotel for you. Just opened in 2023, the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is paradise!

• Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa: if you’re looking for a hotel that is located on the south side of the island, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has everything you could ask for and then some. The resort has a golf course, restaurants, tennis courts, pools, and a spa.

Top 10 Things To Do In Kauai, Hawaii:

Click here for a video that sums up the best things to do.

1) Hike the first portion of the Kalalau Trail to the beach where you will see amazing views and it will easily become one of your favorite hikes. This hike is rated as moderate and according to my Fitbit, was 6 miles long roundtrip.

Note- you need to make a reservation/permit on the website linked here to be able to enter the park. The reservation is super important because it also decides if you have to take a shuttle into the park or can park your car. I would suggest making your reservation 4 days in advance for the shuttle, and up to 30 days in advance for the car option.

2) Hike to Hanakapaii Falls (the tallest waterfall in Kauai… and the best one I have ever seen)—- you need the same permit/reservation for this hike as the one above, which I will link again here. Also disclaimer, this is a difficult hike where you have to cross multiple rivers and climb rocks, so make sure you are prepared. It’s around 11 miles roundtrip total as well, so bring lots of water, food, and shoes that can get wet.

3) Explore the scenic viewpoints and do the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls hike at Waimea Canyon (which is called the Grand Canyon of the pacific). This is a beautiful hike where you get to hike to the top of a waterfall that goes into the canyon. If you have time after your hike and are hungry, grab food at the historic Kōkeʻe Lodge which is a really cool spot that transports you out of Hawaii.

4) Visit the famous Hanalei Bay and get Pink’s Hanalei original grilled cheese for lunch (pro tip- bring your lunch onto the beach and have a picnic when looking at the incredible views). Make sure to also walk around this cute surf town and stop at the famous Wishing Well for shave ice before leaving town.

5) Do a Na Pali Coast boat tour with Captain Andy’s (this is weather dependent, but if you go in the summer months you have a much better chance of being able to go out). I highly recommend the Catamaran tour for a smoother ride, but if you are up to the adventure, book a raft tour with Captain Andy’s!

6) Do an ATV tour with Kipu Ranch Adventures. I specifically did the Triple Trail Expedition and it was wonderful. The waterfall at the end was gorgeous too!

7) Visit Poipu Beach (to see the turtles and sometimes seals on the beach). Pro tip- near sunset is a great time to get a chance to see the turtles laying on the beach.

8) Do a kayak and hike tour on the Wailua River to Secret Falls with Kayak Wailua. This was such a wonderful activity and took about 5 hours total. The kayaking along the river is gorgeous and so is the hike to the waterfall.

9) Visit Kilauea Lighthouse (you might even see some whales and definitely will see some goats on the way!) You don’t need too much time here but it is a great place to learn about the different types of animals on Kauai!

10) Do a helicopter tour over the island to see waterfalls, valleys, and the Na Pali Coast by air. This is something I haven’t done yet but everyone says is amazing. I’ve heard Wings Over Kauai is a great option!

Overall, you can’t go wrong with what you do on Kauai. I highly recommend though spending less time laying on the beaches and more time exploring all of the different things that the island has to offer!