Early on Kauai, roosters crow in the parking lots, the first surf-school trucks roll toward Hanalei Bay, and a rainbow often hangs over a green ridge that looks painted on. Among Hawaii’s main islands, none is as quiet or as rugged as this one, with its sheer cliffs, roads of red dirt and taro fields. It suits hikers, beach people and anyone who wants Hawaii at a slower pace.
What are the best things to do in Kauai?
The best things to do in Kauai are outdoors: lookouts over canyons, a stroll on the North Shore sand, a boat along the coast and a long meal at a roadside stand.
- Stand at the rim of Waimea Canyon and Kokee for views that change with every passing cloud.
- Walk the first stretch of the Kalalau Trail from Haena for the cliffs and the surf.
- Spend a day on the sand and in the shops of Hanalei.
- Ride a riverboat up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto.
- Watch for monk seals and sea turtles on the south and east shores.
- Eat plate lunch, poke and shave ice from local stands.
- See the sunset at Polihale, at the far end of the island.
Sights and landmarks in Kauai
Waimea Canyon and Kokee
Red, orange and green layers drop away from the road, and on a clear morning the whole gorge glows. The drive up from the west side winds past a series of pullouts, each with a different angle. Higher up, Kokee State Park has Kalalau Lookout, where the view opens onto a deep valley and the Na Pali cliffs beyond.
Mornings are usually the clearest, before clouds fill the gorge. It is cool at the top, so bring a layer. Kokee has seven named trails, from short forest walks to the long Alakai Swamp route, so you can match the effort to the day.
| Site | Admission (non-residents) |
|---|---|
| Waimea Canyon State Park, entry | $5 per person (children 3 and under free) |
| Waimea Canyon State Park, parking | $10 per vehicle |
Wailua River and the east side
The Wailua River was once the seat of Hawaiian royalty, and the valley still feels storied. Riverboats carry visitors upstream to the Fern Grotto, a cave draped in ferns inside a tropical garden. The cruise is a gentle, shaded outing, good when you want something calm after a hike.
Not far away, Wailua Falls pours down a cliff beside the road, with a short walk to the viewpoint. Early morning light often brings a rainbow across the spray.
| Site | Open |
|---|---|
| Wailua River State Park | Daily, 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
Hanalei and the North Shore
Hanalei is a small town with a curved bay, a long wooden pier and green mountains behind. The pier dates to the rice-growing days of the 1880s and is now where people fish, jump in and watch the sunset. Taro patches stretch inland along the river that runs down to the bay.
Past the town, the road narrows and crosses one-lane bridges west of Hanalei, where drivers take turns. At the end sits Haena State Park, the doorway to the Na Pali coast. Overlooking the valley in Princeville, the wildlife refuge shelters native waterbirds in its wetlands.
| Site | Open |
|---|---|
| Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge overlook | Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Beaches and outdoor things to do in Kauai
Haena and the Kalalau Trail
Haena is where the road ends and the cliffs begin. The Kalalau Trail starts here and climbs along the coast with open views of the sea and steep green walls. Many visitors walk only the first stretch to Hanakapiai Valley, which is as far as a day hiker may go without a camping permit for the wilderness park.
Visitors who live outside Hawaii need a reservation before arriving: one for each person or one for the vehicle. They open well ahead, so plan the day early. On these beaches in winter, the surf may get large, so before entering the water, check both the warnings that are posted and that day’s surf and currents, and swim close to a lifeguard only at spots where one is on duty.
| Reservation (non-residents) | Cost | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| Park entry | $5 per person | 30 days ahead |
| Parking | $10 per vehicle | 30 days ahead |
Hanalei Bay and Black Pot Beach
Hanalei Bay is a wide crescent where surfers, paddlers and families share the shore. Black Pot Beach Park, by the pier at the river mouth, is the social corner, with picnics, kayaks and locals fishing at dusk.
Conditions shift with the season. Summer tends to bring calmer water to the bay, while winter delivers large surf, so before entering check the warnings on display along with that day’s waves and currents, and swim only close to a lifeguard in spots where one is stationed. Sunsets here are a daily ritual.
Polihale
Polihale is a very long, wide beach at the western end of the island, backed by dunes and facing the sunset. The approach is a rough dirt track of five miles that can flood in rain, and four-wheel drive is recommended. Few services exist out here, so bring water and food.
Surf can be strong and the beach is remote, so it suits those who like space and long sunsets more than amenities. Camping costs non-residents $30 per night per campsite.
Monk seals sometimes haul out to rest on the sand, notably around Poipu, and green sea turtles feed along the coast. Both are protected. Stay at least 50 feet from a resting monk seal and at least 10 feet from a turtle, on land and in the water. Roped-off areas mean a seal is resting.
Day trips from Kauai
Kauai is small enough that most outings are day trips from wherever you stay, and the real choice is which side of the island to spend the day on.
A day on the west side
Head up to Waimea Canyon and Kokee in the morning, when views are clearest, then come down toward the dry coast for a late lunch and sunset on the sand. Dusty red roads and ranch country give the west a different feel from the green east.
It suits drivers who like to stop often. Bring layers for the cool rim and swimwear for the coast, and fill the tank before leaving the main road.
A day on the North Shore
Drive up through Kilauea and Princeville to Hanalei for breakfast, a stroll on the pier and an afternoon on the beach. Continue to Haena for the first miles of the Kalalau Trail, then end with sunset back in town.
The north is rainy and lush, and showers pass quickly. It is best for those who enjoy walking and slow lunches, and the reservation at Haena should be settled first.
A day on the south shore
Poipu is the sunny corner, with sheltered beaches, snorkeling and the chance of a seal on the sand. Nearby, the Spouting Horn blowhole sends water up through a lava tube when the swell rolls in.
It is the easiest day for mixed groups, with swimming, shopping and a relaxed dinner. Keep your distance from any wildlife you meet on the sand.
What to eat in Kauai
Eating on Kauai means plate lunch, fresh fish and fruit bought from roadside stands. A plate lunch comes with rice, macaroni salad and a main like kalua pork, teriyaki chicken or fish, and it is the island’s everyday meal.
Poke, cubes of raw fish dressed with soy, sesame and seaweed, is sold at counters in nearly every town. Shave ice, fine as snow and soaked in tropical syrups, is the cool treat after a hot hike. Look for farmers markets for pineapple, papaya, bananas and local coffee.
Many food trucks and small stands cluster in Hanalei, Kapaa and Waimea, where you can eat on a picnic table. Seafood grills and Hawaiian regional restaurants serve the evening crowd.
Things to do in Kauai at night
Evenings on Kauai are quiet, built around sunset, dinner and the stars. People gather on a beach or a pier to watch the sun go down, then move on to a table.
Some restaurants and resort lawns host live music, often slack-key guitar and ukulele, and a few resorts stage a luau with hula and a feast. Away from town, the sky is dark enough for a clear view of the stars, so a night walk on a quiet beach is a pleasure. Kauai has no big nightclub scene, and most places wind down early.
Things to do in Kauai with kids
Kids on Kauai enjoy beaches, boat rides and watching animals from a respectful distance. A riverboat cruise on the Wailua is an easy outing, and Wailua Falls is a quick stop with a big view from the roadside.
Poipu has sheltered spots for sand play, and spotting a turtle or a resting seal is a highlight, as long as the family keeps well back. Before entering the water, look over the posted signs at the beach entrance along with the surf and currents for that day, and swim near a lifeguard only at spots where one is on duty.
Sun is strong all year, so hats and shade matter. Distances between sides of the island are long on winding roads, so pick one area per day.
Good to know before you go
A rental car is the usual way to move around, since sights are spread along a few main roads. Lihue Airport is the main gateway. The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and Hurricane Lowell passed just west of the island in September 2026, so check the state parks notices page for the current status of parks and trails before planning a visit.
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State transient accommodations tax | 11.00% | Guests of hotels and rentals |
| Kauai County transient accommodations tax | 3% | Guests of hotels and rentals |
Sources
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, Tax Announcement No. 2025-03 (Transient Accommodations Tax Law Changes from 2025 Legislative Session), files.hawaii.gov/tax/news/announce/ann25-03.pdf, checked September 24, 2026
- County of Kauai, Department of Finance, Transient Accommodations Tax page, kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Finance/Transient-Accommodations-Tax, checked September 25, 2026
- Hawaii Department of Taxation, County Surcharge on General Excise and Use Tax page, tax.hawaii.gov/geninfo/countysurcharge/, checked September 25, 2026
- Federal Aviation Administration, CY2024 Commercial Service Enplanements (xlsx), faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/arp-cy2024-commercial-service-enplanements.xlsx, checked September 24, 2026
- NASA Earth Observatory, "Waimea Canyon, Kauai", science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/waimea-canyon-kauai-4067, read September 25, 2026
- DLNR Division of State Parks, "Waimea Canyon State Park", dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/waimea-canyon-state-park/, read September 25, 2026
- DLNR Division of State Parks, "Kokee State Park", dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/kokee-state-park/, read September 25, 2026
- DLNR Division of State Parks, "Haena State Park", dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/haena-state-park/, read September 25, 2026
- DLNR Division of State Parks, "Napali Coast State Wilderness Park", dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/napali-coast-state-wilderness-park/, read September 25, 2026
- DLNR Division of State Parks, "Wailua River State Park", dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/wailua-river-state-park/, read September 25, 2026
- State of Hawaii Data Book 2015, Table 5.14 "Major Named Waterfalls, By Island" (sourced to U.S. Geological Survey and Hawaii DLNR Commission on Water Resource Management records), files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/databook/2015-individual/05/051415.pdf, read September 25, 2026
- DLNR Division of State Parks, "Polihale State Park", dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/polihale-state-park/, read September 25, 2026
- County of Kauai Department of Parks and Recreation, "Black Pot Beach Park Master Plan", May 2021, kauai.gov (blackpotplan-final-may-2021.pdf), read September 25, 2026
- NOAA Fisheries, "Hawaiian Monk Seal", fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal, read September 25, 2026
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge", fws.gov/refuge/hanalei, read September 25, 2026
- NOAA Fisheries, "Viewing Marine Wildlife in Hawaiʻi", fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/marine-life-viewing-guidelines/viewing-marine-wildlife-hawaii, read September 25, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USW00022536
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00518165
- NOAA NCEI, monthly normals 1991-2020, station USC00513099
- County of Kauai, press release « Hurricane Lowell Update », September 8, 2026, kauai.gov ; DLNR news release of September 16, 2026
- Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp (home page, avis of October 5, 2026)
- NWS Honolulu / Central Pacific Hurricane Center, « 2026 Central Pacific Hurricane Season Outlook », weather.gov/hfo/hurricaneOutlook2026, checked September 24, 2026