Tips for Visiting Kauai: How to do Better than I Did

When planning our January 2022 trip to Hawaii, our friends told us how much we’d love Kauai. We heard all about adventure and hiking. We were so excited! Kauai is beautiful, but… we were unlucky with the weather and learned some lessons along the way. I’ll pass on what you should do so you have a better experience on Kauai than we did!

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Things to Know about Kauai

Kauai is the least developed island of the four that tourists often visit. The infrastructure is fine, but you’ll notice the differences. That said, you’ll definitely need a rental car on the island.  

We had a rental car on our first day. Then, we rented a campervan. We thought it would make life easier than a hotel + car. If we were doing it again, we would do that differently for several reasons. 

First, Kauai is a wet island, and it is hard to get out of the humidity while camping. Seriously, the wettest spot in the world is on Kauai. Bring a raincoat, especially if you go in winter. 

Second, driving a car around the island is much less stressful than a van. The roads aren’t large, and it felt better when we were in the car vs. the van.

You can stay in Kapa’a, Poipu, or Hanalei. We chose Kapa’a because it was in the middle of the other two locations. The location was a good enough choice. The island is small, so driving from one end to the other doesn’t take too long.

Hanalei was my favorite city on the island, and the beach in town was charming.

Poipu is the sunniest part of the island. You’re less likely to get rained on in this part of the island. This is also where most of the resorts on the island are.

There are pros and cons to every area.

What to See and Things to Know

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is an unexpected landscape when you think of Hawaii, but it should be on your list for Kauai. Over the years, the Waimea River carved a massive canyon in the lava rock. Now, you get to experience the beauty of it.

Waimea Canyon State Park and Kokee State Park border each other, and the parking/entrance for both is combined. Parking is $10, and then there is a $5 entrance fee for each person. There are machines in parking lots for you to pay fees.

The park’s road takes you to various lookouts over the canyon, the Nāpali Coast, and Waimea Canyon. There are also hikes throughout the park. Check out the Waimea Canyon Overlook, Puu Hinahina

Lookout, Kalalau Lookout, and Puu o Kila lookout, where the road ends.

The Cliff Trail is an easy hike that won’t take long. This little hike will give you great canyon views if you want to stretch your legs. For a more challenging hike, consider the canyon trail. This trail takes you to a view of 800 ft Waipo’o Falls and then to the Kumuwela Lookout.

The canyon is at elevation, so it can be cold in winter. Plan to bring layers just in case it’s cool when visiting. Make sure you note the elevation and plan any SCUBA dives on the island accordingly.

We went up to the canyon on the day we arrived. It was the perfect way to kick off the trip. However, I wish we’d planned more time for hiking since our other hikes rained out.

Also, it was much chillier than expected.

Poipu Beach

Be sure to check out Poipu beach on the island’s southern end. If the weather on the rest of the island is rainy, it could still be sunny in Poipu. This beach is home to sea turtles, and you may get lucky enough to see them in the water or on the beach.

We walked right by them when we first arrived; they looked like rocks!

If you’re fortunate, you’ll get to see a turtle swim in from the sea or swim out to sea from the beach.

Be respectful of the distance the lifeguards ask you to keep between you and the turtles.

The bay at Poipu Beach is perfect for beginner snorkeling. It’s mostly protected, but the fish and turtles can come and go. Please pay attention to lifeguard directions so they can help you stay safe. Also, look for sea urchins when you’re near the rocks. 

You can watch the surfers on either side of the bay when you’re not snorkeling.

When you’re visiting this area, try to stop by Warehouse 3540. It’s a collection of local restaurants and shops.

Hanalei

Hanalei is a cute island town in the northern part of Kauai. It’s got a laid-back hippy vibe with local shops and restaurants. I was told I would love it; I did.

The bay at Hanalei is a popular spot for pictures. The beach has a long pier, the bay is stunning, and the backdrop is part of the Nāpali Coast. It’s one of the most wonderfully beautiful places you could imagine: genuinely breathtaking.

We did our surf lessons in Hanalei Bay, which was the perfect place. We also tried to surf in Waikiki; it was far less enjoyable. You don’t have to paddle out a long way in Hanalei; the ocean’s bottom is sandy, so you aren’t as worried about hard coral. If you want to surf, I recommend learning on Kauai in Hanalei Bay.

Nāpali Coast

The Nāpali Coast is possibly the biggest draw to Kauai, and rightly so. It’s beautiful… it’s also rainy. It can be argued that Mount Waialeale is the wettest place on Earth. If you have your heart set on this part of the island, I wouldn’t recommend visiting in winter. This is the rainy season, and it’s not uncommon for this side of the island to be very wet. It was raining so hard that we didn’t even get out of the car. We also forgot raincoats. Don’t be like us. 

There are great stops for beaches and snorkeling on the way to Nāpali Coast, but they are much more accessible in the summer when the currents are calmer. We’d hoped to do lots of hiking and exploring in this part of the island that didn’t happen. When planning, check out Kee Beach and the 4-mile round trip hike to Hanakāpīʻai Beach (you don’t need a hiking permit to do this hike, and it doesn’t require sleeping overnight).

When visiting, plan early to get the correct parking/driving permit. There is very limited parking at Nāpali Coast and at stops along the way. You’ll need a permit to park at the parking lot near the trailhead. There is also a bus that can take you, but you wouldn’t be able to stop along the way and would likely miss some of the beauty of the drive. Look for a parking + entry pass on this website. Permits are available one month in advance, and you should plan to get your permit as soon as it’s available. There are only 70 permits per day.

If you’re going to splurge on a helicopter tour on a visit to Hawaii, Kauai is the best place to do it. This jungle island is so stunning, and a helicopter to the Nāpali Coast is the best way to see the iconic part of the island.

If you’re going to splurge on a helicopter tour on a visit to Hawaii, Kauai is arguably the best place to do it. This jungle island is so stunning and a helicopter to the Nāpali Coast is the best way to see the iconic part of the island.

Waterfalls

Since Kauai is so rainy, it feels very much like Jurassic Park, and there are some breathtaking waterfalls. Since trails were extra muddy, we stuck with waterfalls we could drive to that didn’t involve long muddy, slippery hikes. I felt great about this choice when I saw hikers with mud up to their knees from their hikes. No, thank you. It may have been easier to justify if we weren’t in a van and had more than a camp shower to clean up in.

Opaeka‘a Falls

Opaeka’a Falls is 40 ft wide and 151 ft tall. Even though you see it from a distance, it’s impressive. Your GPS should navigate you to a parking lot with picnic tables and restrooms. Check out the waterfall and consider crossing the street to view the river.

Wailua Falls

This waterfall is located just north of Lihue and is off the beaten path, but it’s still popular. There is limited parking near the falls. Since there isn’t a hike, most people only linger for a short time on their visit. This waterfall is 80 ft tall but looks so much bigger! How much water flows will depend on the island’s recent rain. We were lucky to see it flowing strongly. It was so loud, and the amount of water moving over the cliff was impressive.

Snorkeling

There are some good snorkeling spots on the island for all levels. There are some beginner sites we were able to snorkel during the winter. Many of the best snorkel spots aren’t accessible in winter because the surf is rougher.

Poipu Beach is one option. It’s also worth checking out Lydgate Park. This snorkeling pool is near the hotels in Kapa’a. Even in rough surf, you can still safely snorkel. The water won’t be clear. Even in poor weather, there were lots of little fish swimming around. It would be even better when the weather is more ideal!

The Big Take Away from Kauai

Kauai is a beautiful jungle island. It’s also rainy. Come prepared with a raincoat, and have some backup plans just in case you get a rainy week. If your heart is set on the Nāpali Coast, consider the rainy season when planning.

But, even with the rain thwarting many of our plans, Kauai was still beautiful. The people are so warm, and the culture on the island really reflects the relaxed island time better than on any other island. It seemed like everyone had a rack for surfboards on the roof of their car. Locals were quick to take a break from work if the surf was good. It’s a perfect low-key vibe; everyone on the island is relaxed, so you are too!

Go in with some flexibility and plan a slow trip; you’ll love Kauai!

Check out the other Hawaiian Islands:

The Big Island

Oahu

Maui- Road to Hana

Gluten-Free Hawaii