kauai

The land of quiet and canyon. 

Each of the Hawaiian islands has it’s own personality, but Kauai’s is truly unique. Fewer tourists visit Kauai and much of the island is undeveloped. It is much more relaxed than other islands, and the unique canyons are truly a one-of-a-kind sight.

Waimea Canyon

  • There are two easy ways to see the canyon. One if by driving the interior of the canyon, along Kokee road and into the Waimea Canyon State Park. There are pull-offs along the road all throughout this drive, and it took us several hours to make it through because there was so much to see. Notable are the Red Dirt Waterfall, the Waimea Canyon Lookout, and the Pu’u O Kila Lookout at the very end of Kokee road. 

  • Because you can’t drive the perimeter of the canyon, another excellent way to view it is from the ocean. A boat tour provides excellent views of the iconic green ridges. We did the Napali Coast Sunset Tour with Blue Dolphin Cruises. This provided amazing views of the coast, a beautiful sunset, and a quick dinner onboard. The crew were excellent, provided recommendations for activities around the island, and we even saw whales, dolphins, and turtles on our tour! This was well worth the price, and I consider this a must-do on the island of Kauai.

North Side

  • Hanalei bay is a popular area on Kauai, and Hanalei Beach is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. When we visited, the waters were calm and many people were learning to surf in the bay. There are a few beach parks along the bay offering parking, but parking is very limited and gets full quickly. We were lucky to get a parking spot when we arrived, but be prepared to have to park on a side street and walk to the beach. 

  • Haena Beach Park and Ke’e Beach were beautiful. You have to book your entry time and parking in advance at gohaena.com. Reservations fill up shortly after opening, so be sure to check in advance and book as soon as possible. The park was very quiet when we visited in the late afternoon with only few people there. There is a beautiful walk through the forest to get to the beach, but be sure to take bug spray!

  • The Ching Young Village Shopping Center was a nice stop for dinner and some window shopping.

Other sites

  • We stayed at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort & Spa, which was an excursion in itself. We were very happy with our room, and the multiple pools and hot tubs, ocean-side park, beach, and onsite bars and restaurants made for a great stay. 

  • The Tree Tunnel (near the intersection of Kaumualii Highway and Maluhia Road is a nice short drive. 

  • Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company was very popular, and for good reason. They offered amazing breakfast drinks, and lunch. We went here for breakfast one day, and returned for snacks and meals as much as we could. 

  • Kauai is full of wild animals, and there were tons of chickens all over the place. We also saw cows, horses, and wild cats that just wandered around the island in the wide open space. 

Kauai was even more beautiful than I could have expected and I would love to return just to see the canyon again!