Choose from 30 Fun Things to Do in Kauai
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Koke'e State Park
When compared to the sun-drenched beaches of Poipu or Hanalei, Koke'e State Park is a brisk mountain outpost where bikinis and boardshorts are replaced by flannels and hiking boots. Located at 4,000 feet in the uplands above Waimea Canyon, the air is cooler than down on the shoreline, and flocks of nene goose meander through the low clouds that linger on the forested mountain slopes.
In addition to being a mountain outpost, Koke'e State Park is known as having Kauai's best hiking. No fewer than a dozen trails depart from the immediate vicinity, with trailheads leading either towards the colorful ravines of famous Waimea Canyon or into the lush interior which ranks as one of the wettest spots on the world. Still other trails lead towards overlooks which gaze down on the Na Pali coast, and the 3,000-foot, near-vertical drops are definitely not for the faint of heart.
For those who would prefer the dramatic overlook without having to hike to get there, the road which runs through Koke'e State Park reaches its upper terminus at the Kalalau and Puu O Kila overlooks where visitors can peer deep into the remote Kalalau Valley. Or, if you would prefer to learn about the island's varied natural history, the Koke'e Natural History Museum outlines everything from the introduced game animals of the Garden Isle to the effect that Hurricane Iniki had on the island's wildlife.
Camping is available for those who want to experience the early-morning calm of the mountains, and the entire park is a breath of fresh air where the crashing surf of the shoreline is replaced by whistles of native song birds as they flit their way through indigenous treetops. Rugged, rustic, and completely undeveloped, you can even make out the Forbidden Island of Niihau as it looms on the distant horizon.
In addition to being a mountain outpost, Koke'e State Park is known as having Kauai's best hiking. No fewer than a dozen trails depart from the immediate vicinity, with trailheads leading either towards the colorful ravines of famous Waimea Canyon or into the lush interior which ranks as one of the wettest spots on the world. Still other trails lead towards overlooks which gaze down on the Na Pali coast, and the 3,000-foot, near-vertical drops are definitely not for the faint of heart.
For those who would prefer the dramatic overlook without having to hike to get there, the road which runs through Koke'e State Park reaches its upper terminus at the Kalalau and Puu O Kila overlooks where visitors can peer deep into the remote Kalalau Valley. Or, if you would prefer to learn about the island's varied natural history, the Koke'e Natural History Museum outlines everything from the introduced game animals of the Garden Isle to the effect that Hurricane Iniki had on the island's wildlife.
Camping is available for those who want to experience the early-morning calm of the mountains, and the entire park is a breath of fresh air where the crashing surf of the shoreline is replaced by whistles of native song birds as they flit their way through indigenous treetops. Rugged, rustic, and completely undeveloped, you can even make out the Forbidden Island of Niihau as it looms on the distant horizon.
Address: Kokee State Park, Waimea, HI 96796, USA
From $ 114
Waimea Canyon
A geological kaleidoscope of reds and browns, Kauai’s impressive Waimea Canyon—at 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) long, one mile (1.6 kilometers) wide, and 3,600 feet (1,097 meters) deep—is Hawaii’s version of the Grand Canyon. In fact, some say Mark Twain was the first to lend it its nickname: the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Stop on its winding rim road for views of a far-below river, sheer drop-offs, spectacular views, excellent hiking, and waterfall-lined crevasses, all just a short way away from the Garden Isle’s legendary Na Pali Coast.
The Basics
The canyon, within the purview of the free-to-access Waimea Canyon State Park, is best seen on a tour, which allows you to gaze over the cliff edges without having to also navigate a vehicle along the winding, canyon-hugging route. Take a 4WD tour on Kauai’s backroads and past popular attractions like quaint Koloa Town, the Spouting Horn blowhole, the artsy town of Hanapepe, and the old Russian Fort before skirting the canyon. Or follow the Wailua River—coupling boat or kayak rides to the jungle of Fern Grotto—with a journey west for comparatively dry river views. Most Waimea Canyon tours continue to Kauai’s northern coast, stopping at Kokee State Park and the Kalalau Overlook for sweeping views of the undulating Na Pali Coast.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Waimea Canyon itself is dry and dusty, but the Na Pali Coast can be foggy and wet. Be prepared and dress in layers for whatever the weather may bring.
- Although the canyon trails aren’t generally wheelchair accessible, the many lookout points are.
- For experienced hikers, longer treks—including guided multi-day hut-to-hut hikes—are an option. Trail maps and additional information are available in the Kokee Museum and Visitor Center north of the canyon.
- There are no gas stations and only one restaurant along Waimea Canyon Drive—a route that, depending on how many stops you make, could take all day. Choose a tour that includes lunch or snacks, or pack food.
How to Get There
Access Waimea Canyon along scenic, in-and-out Waimea Canyon Drive (Highway 550) in southwestern Kauai. There are several lookout points and trailheads along the route. You can access the road from coastal Highway 50 in the town of Waimea, or from farther west at Kekaha, via Kokee Road. On the return journey be sure to look for glimpses of distant Niihau, the Forbidden Island.
When to Get There
It’s best to head to Waimea Canyon early in the day (before 10am) or in the late afternoon (after 3pm), when the fog that regularly rolls off the sea is less likely to obscure views along the route. Very early morning and at sunset, the canyon’s colors come alive and make for great photographs.
Stops Along the Waimea Canyon
There are dozens of pull-offs along Waimea Canyon Drive, but don’t miss sights like the Waimea Canyon Lookout at mile marker 10 or Waipio Falls, best seen from a small lookout around mile marker 13, opposite a picnic area with restrooms and water fountains. The Iliau Nature Loop is a flat and easy (though dusty) trail with signage on local birds and plants, as well as some great canyon views; look for it just before mile marker 9. The restaurant at Kokee State Park, north of the canyon, serves local-style meals—try the loco moco, a hearty Hawaiian dish of white rice, a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and gravy.
Address: Waimea Canyon Drive, Waimea 96796, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 69
Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park
Evidence of a little-remembered attempt by Russians to gain a foothold in Hawaii between 1815 and 1817 can still be found in the remnants of an old fort alongside the mouth of the Waimea River. Though today the site is little more than jumbled red rock walls hinting at its former layout, an irregular octagon guarding entrance into Kauai via the waterway, it once was the site of grand plans to use Kauai as a permanent provisioning and trading station for the state-sponsored Russian American Company. With outer rock walls constructed from ancient heiau (Hawaiian temples), the fort once included residences, a chapel, gardens, a trading center and the main fort building. Visitors can explore what’s left via a self-guided interpretive tour following signage with drawings of how the area once appeared.
Here, Dr. Georg Anton Schäffer, sent to retrieve lost cargo from a wrecked Russian American Company ship, overstepped the orders of his mission. Schäffer instead built the fort complex, befriended Kauai’s chief, set him against the newly instated Hawaiian King Kamehameha and secured a sandalwood monopoly for the company. When Mother Russia learned of Schäffer’s actions, however, she disapproved. Russia didn’t want to become embroiled in the already complicated politics of the islands; they just wanted their cargo back. So, Russia summoned Dr. Schäffer home, leaving the fort to be claimed by the Hawaiians, and, later, after the dismantling in 1864, the elements.
Practical Info
The remains of the fort—within the larger Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park—are located off Kaumualii Highway (named for Kauai’s last king and the man Dr. Schäffer befriended) on the river’s eastern bank about a mile south of Waimea proper. The site has a small parking lot and is open daily during daylight hours. If visiting during peak sun, bring sunscreen and a hat; the area is exposed with little shade.
Address: Kaumualii Hwy, Waimea, Hawaii 96796, USA
From $ 75
Waioli Mission House
Down a dirt road behind Hanalei’s iconic green Wai’oli Hui’ia church, the Wai’oli Mission House served as the residence for three different gospel-sharing families in the early 19th century. The charming two-story, four-bedroom home—one of the Island’s oldest Western-style dwellings—was built by Congregational missionary Reverend William Alexander and his wife Mary in 1837.
Though tours of clap-board house are offered only on certain days, and on a first-come first-served basis—ring the old school bell to alert the docents of your presence—visitors are treated to a unique blend of early Hawaiian-made home goods as well as items useful in missionary life: A still-functioning wall clock, koa bedframes and bookshelves filled with the missionaries’ tomes, a lava rock chimney, ohio wood floors, a traveling chest, a whale oil burning lantern and a spinning wheel. Many of the artifacts belonged to Lucy and Abner Wilcox and their eight sons who lived here between 1846 and 1869—the longest serving and final residents of the Mission House. Touring the historic home is an educational way to spend a rainy Hanalei day, indeed, the name “Wai’oli” means joyful water, perhaps a nod to the many waterfalls that stream down the mountains behind the old mission settlement during the rains or its proximity to the meandering Hanalei River.
Practical Info
To reach the Mission House, continue 0.2 miles west on Kuhio Highway past Wai’oli Hui’ia Church to Old School House Road. A parking lot and footpath leading to the mission house is located in the trees alongside Hanalei Elementary School. Guided mission tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Address: Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, Hawaii 96714, USA
Hours: Guided mission tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Admission: Suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children
From $ 135
Wailua River
Kauai’s Wailua River runs from the volcanic Wailua crater to the coast, flowing through the Wailua River State Park.
It’s Hawaii’s only navigable river, so make the most of the experience with a boat tour or cruise into the island’s rugged interior.
Along the way, you’ll pass waterfalls, nature reserves and walking trails as the river slowly meanders its way inland.
The river’s highlights are Fern Grotto, Wailua Falls and Secret Falls, reached by a secluded walking trail.
Practical Info
The Wailua River enters the ocean on the island’s east coast, near the settlement of Wailua.
Address: State Highway 580, Wailua 96791, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 59
Waimea Valley
Once named the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain, Waimea Valley is the gateway to one of Kauai’s most impressive natural sights, Waimea Canyon. At 26 miles across and 21 miles long, Waimea Canyon has crags, gorges, and rugged mountains characterized by a variety of colors. Natural green, red, and even purple and blue hues appear in various degrees along the eroded mountain sides. The canyon was carved thousands of years ago from waters flowing from the top of Mount Waialeale, still today one of the places on Earth with the most rainfall. There are still dozens of hidden waterfalls and pools to explore throughout the valley.
Waimea Valley, with all its natural beauty, was considered sacred by the ancient Hawaiians. Archaeological sites and more than 700 years of native Hawaiian history can still be seen, while visitors can also enjoy panoramic views of the valley from one of several lookouts or explore by foot on one of the area’s many hiking trails.
Practical Info
Waimea Valley is situated on Kauai’s west coast. It can be accessed from Waimea on Hawaiʻi state road 550, which leads up to Koke'e State Park. Waimea Canyon Road, located just past mile marker 23, winds along the canyon but no gas stations are present so be sure to embark with a full tank.
Address: 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA
From $ 245
Lihue
Kauai's capital city is Lihue, though with a population in the low thousands, "˜city' may be overstating things a little.
It is the island's main shopping destination, however, with a Macy's and other big-name department stores you'll recognize. You'll also find a variety of good restaurants in Lihue.
The town's proximity to the airport makes scenic air tours a major reason to visit.
Practical Info
Lihue is on the east coast of Kauai, just a little inland from the ocean and Lihue Airport.
Address: Rice Street, Lihue 96766, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 140
Polihale State Park
Regardless of what type of traveler you are or what sort of experience you’re looking for, Polihale State Park on the far western edge of Kaua’i is a remote outpost that holds a different allure for all who venture to her shores.
Novelty-seekers can revel in the knowledge that Polihale State Park is the westernmost public beach in the entire state of Hawaii, while adventurers will love how the park is accessed by a rugged dirt road where 100-foot sand dunes line the empty shoreline. If you’re a photographer, Polihale State Park is one of the few places on Kauai where you can photograph the sunset disappearing into the water and somehow be the only person around.
Different from the popular tourist centers of Poipu, Kapa’a, and Hanalei, the main draw for visitors to Polihale is not its popularity, but how it somehow continues to be completely and totally wild. There are no facilities to be found anywhere at Polihale, and the only place which is safe for swimming is a protected area towards the south end of the beach which is known as the Queen’s Bath.
Camping is permitted along the length of Polihale, although campers will need to pack in all of their own supplies since the closest town is over 30 minutes away. A windswept wilderness of sculpted sand and powerful surf, a visit to Polihale State Park is a reminder of what it means to be free.
Novelty-seekers can revel in the knowledge that Polihale State Park is the westernmost public beach in the entire state of Hawaii, while adventurers will love how the park is accessed by a rugged dirt road where 100-foot sand dunes line the empty shoreline. If you’re a photographer, Polihale State Park is one of the few places on Kauai where you can photograph the sunset disappearing into the water and somehow be the only person around.
Different from the popular tourist centers of Poipu, Kapa’a, and Hanalei, the main draw for visitors to Polihale is not its popularity, but how it somehow continues to be completely and totally wild. There are no facilities to be found anywhere at Polihale, and the only place which is safe for swimming is a protected area towards the south end of the beach which is known as the Queen’s Bath.
Camping is permitted along the length of Polihale, although campers will need to pack in all of their own supplies since the closest town is over 30 minutes away. A windswept wilderness of sculpted sand and powerful surf, a visit to Polihale State Park is a reminder of what it means to be free.
Address: Polihale State Park, Waimea, HI 96796, USA
Hours: During daylight
From $ 525
Spouting Horn
When the island of Kauai erupted from the sea between 4 and 5 million years ago, parts of the coastline were riddled with tubes where molten lava once flowed. One of those spots is the Spouting Horn on the island’s southern coast, where waves are channeled into the tube before violently erupting in a saltwater geyser over 50 feet in the air. Compared to other Hawaiian blowholes, what makes Kauai’s Spouting Horn unique is the guttural moan that precedes the powerful eruption. A second, smaller hole in the rocks funnels air as opposed to water, and the result is a sound that makes it seem like the rocks themselves are groaning. No wonder Hawaiians believed that a mo’o was stuck inside of the rocks—a mischievous lizard of Polynesian lore that can still be heard to this day. Once finished admiring the geyser and feeling the ocean’s fury, peruse the homemade souvenir stalls erected by local vendors. Even if you don’t find that perfect give to bring back from your Hawaiian vacation, the locals are always a good source of friendly conversation.
Practical Info
The Spouting Horn is located on Lawai Road about 8 minutes west of Poipu. There’s an area with a guardrail for protected viewing, and while walking near the blowhole is technically allowed, it can be very dangerous and multiple visitors have been injured or lost their lives. As an added bonus, the drive from Poipu parallels the ocean and is a great spot for watching whales during the winter from December-April.
Address: Kauai, Hawaii, USA
From $ 65
Wailua Falls
Kauai is known as “The Garden Isle” for its exceptionally verdant beauty, and when you first catch sight of Wailua Falls it’s easy to understand why. Spilling 80 feet over a rocky ledge into a fresh water pool below, this double-streamed, misty cascade so perfectly captures the tropical essence that it was used as part of the opening scene for the TV show, Fantasy Island.
And, while there’s definitely no shortage of waterfalls on Kauai, what makes Wailua Falls so popular is the fact that you can see the falls without even having to hike. As you follow rural, Ma’alu Road as it twists its way up the mountain, there will eventually be a large parking lot approximately four miles up from the highway. Here, from a sweeping viewpoint on a country road looking over Wailua Stream, a heart-stopping view of Wailua Falls is only a few steps away. For an added, tropical, Wailua Falls bonus, try to visit in mid-morning on a clear, sunny day, when a thin rainbow can often appear in the softly spiraling mists.
Practical Info
Wailua Falls is located about 5.2 miles outside the town of Lihue. While there are trails that lead down the steep cliff face to the base of the thundering falls, the trails are steep, exceptionally dangerous, and officially off-limits to hikers. To reach the falls, drive north of Lihue for approximately one mile until your reach Ma’alu Road, and turn left for a four mile journey into the misty hills.
Address: Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
From $ 122