If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, the first question you need to ask yourself is which island(s) would you like to visit? While the state is technically made up of over 100 “islands,” the main four are Hawai’i (The Big Island), O‘ahu (home to the capital city of Honolulu), Maui, and Kauai. Nicknamed the Garden Isle, Kauai is known as an oasis and frequently is referred to as the most underrated of the state’s main four islands. After brief research, I knew this was the one I was meant to visit. That being said, if you’re interested in visiting any of the other main four, we have several blogs written by other contributing writers that you can find HERE!
A Brief Overview Of Kauai
At only 25 miles long and 33 miles wide, Kauai is relatively small and you can get a good feel for the island in just a few days. Of course, a longer visit would be worth it, but if you’re on a budget like us, know that my mom and I thoroughly enjoyed our four days here without feeling too rushed. That being said, you are not able to completely circumvent the island via vehicle. This is due to the rugged Na Pali coast! Because of this, you’ll want to plan your days accordingly so that you aren’t attempting to drive from one side of the island to the other multiple times throughout the course of your trip. We’ll break up three Kauai blogs on the North, the South, and the East sides of the island to help you best plan your time.
Turo Rental Car
If you want to save yourself time looking, you can just take my word for it: Turo Car Rental will be cheaper than any rental car company on the island. If you’re unfamiliar with Turo, think of it like Airbnb for rental cars. It’s quite popular in most major US cities and between my mom and I, this was our third time using it. A free shuttle took us from the airport to a Turo parking lot just a short drive away and back to the airport upon our return. Give yourself a little time in your schedule to check in and out of the car on the app (you’ll have to take interior and exterior photos). We got the full insurance, just to be safe, but you’ll want to note that some vehicles don’t let you drive on certain roads (none listed in these blogs). Not all Turo cars offer the airport shuttle, so double-check that as well. If you’re interested, we loved our Kia Soul, linked HERE! Also of note, we found it to be cheaper to refill the gas tank ourselves before drop-off instead of prepaying.
Kauai Palms Hotel
Arriving by plane in Kauai, you’ll fly into Lihue Airport. This puts you on the east shore of the island, which isn’t a bad place to be if you’re trying to see a lot in a short period of time. One of my mom and my personal rules for visiting Hawaii was that we didn’t want to stay at a big chain hotel. Our budget agreed with our morals!
That’s how we ended up at Kauai Palms Hotel. We stayed in one of the studio cottages with a fully stocked kitchenette for $200 per night. It’s cozy, but you’re not in Hawaii to sit in your hotel room anyway, and we truly loved our stay. Every morning you can head on over to the lobby for complimentary Kauai Coffee and check out the local Hawaiian artifacts. Though it sadly didn’t fit into our schedule, you can even set up a chat with Ron, the manager, where he’ll talk to you about the artifacts. One slightly unfortunate thing to note: the front desk hands out free earplugs…grab them! Not unique to only the Kauai Palms Hotel, you’ll quickly learn the island is covered in early-rising chickens. Once made loose from a hurricane, these residents are adorable and will be a staple of your trip, but you might not appreciate them at 5:30 am.
Ha Coffee
Though Kauai Palms Hotel is in a residential area, there are plenty of local places for food and drinks within walking distance. Just down the road, walk past the colorful murals of Kress Street to Ha Coffee. Start your day with a latte (I liked The Samoan), an acai bowl (we liked the Buzz Bowl), and a slice of dense and delicious banana bread. If it works with your schedule, this street hosts the Downtown Lihue Night Market, featuring local vendors, artists, music, and food every second Saturday from 4–6 p.m.
Koloa Rum Co.
I don’t know about you, but to me, nothing screams “I’m on an island” quite like finding a good, local rum. When you’re at Koloa Rum Co., there’s an emphasis on the local. Using rainwater collected from Kauai’s Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest places on the entire Earth, and collaborating with other Kauai companies for flavor, you’re really getting to sip the essence of the island in an eco-conscious way. Hearing about how these symbiotic relationships work was one of the coolest parts of the tasting. Kauai Coffee Company and Lydgate Chocolate Farm both use the flavors created at Koloa Rum Co. for their own products as well. And it gets better: the tastings are free! You just need to reserve online in advance and pay a $5 fee to hold your spot. This is a great budget-friendly experience to add to your trip. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and the rums were delicious.
Koloa Rum Co.’s tasting room and gift shop are located on the Kilohana Plantation. If you want to spend more time checking out the property, the main house is home to a restaurant, bar, and small shops. Two more buildings out back hold a pottery and sweet shop. Further, Kilohana Plantation hosts a Luau (starting at $160 per person which you’ll learn is pretty standard in Hawaii) as well as a 2.5 mile train tour of the property. On a budget, we didn’t opt for either of these experiences but enjoyed exploring parts of the grounds by foot.
Ninini Point Lighthouse
One of the best places to experience sunset on Kauai’s east shore is Ninini Point Lighthouse, built in 1906. This gives you a view of Nawiliwili Bay as the sun descends over the mountains in the distance. The road to get to Ninini Point Lighthouse, like many roads in Kauai, can have gaping potholes. And don’t be confused when the GPS is taking you through a golf course, it knows where it is going. You’ll want to give yourself extra time to get there, so unlike us, you don’t see peak sunset from the road! Though it could have just been because it was the off-season, there was only one other car at the lighthouse, making this a really peaceful spot to take in the view and listen to the waves.
Kalapaki Beach
Sheltered from the rougher ocean waves, the cove at Kalapaki Beach makes for a relaxing area to enjoy the water or simply soak in the sun on the sand. Part of The Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue, this beach was extremely clean and there is a small portion marked as open to the public. I’ll be honest, we’re not positive if it’s allowed, but we parked at the hotel, walked a short way past it, and took the public elevator down to beach level. The scenery here was stunning, and we even got to see a Hawaiian monk seal resting on the sand! If you see these adorable animals anywhere on the island, make sure to keep your distance.
After having our fill enjoying the beach, we exited through the hotel’s impressive gardens and also checked out the breathtaking artwork in the gallery. We prefer staying at a mom-and-pop, but neither of us could deny this hotel was gorgeous.
Kauai Beer Company
Several breweries on Kauai all pay homage to the island in their name, so it can be a bit confusing. Based on the reviews, you really can’t go wrong with whichever you pick. Our first night on the island, we chose to check out Kauai Beer Company, as it was an easy walk from our hotel. The atmosphere here was laidback and relaxing after a long travel day. We enjoyed the coconut crusted shrimp as an appetizer and the fish tacos for dinner. These tasted extremely fresh and the portions were so big that we could have just split the tacos. As far as beers go, I sampled only two, my favorite being the Lihue lager, but they do offer flights for those wanting to try the whole selection. Staying on Kauai’s east side, you can also consider checking out Napali Brewing Co. and Nani Moon Meadery.
Wailua Falls
While some may recognize Wailua Falls from the title sequence of Fantasy Island, it’s worth a quick stop for both fans and non-fans alike. From the Wailua Falls parking area, you’ll get an aerial view of the cascading river. You’ll have to drive about 13 minutes each way to the waterfall, but it’s quite peaceful if you have the time. Hiking down to the falls is not considered safe, so we’d highly recommend, as we did, ignoring any suggested routes fence-crossers have created. We were lucky enough to come across a coconut vendor while we were here, who for only $10 chopped open the top of a coconut and handed us a straw. Once we were done drinking the water, he cut it completely open for us to enjoy the pulp. We’ve never tasted coconut this fresh, and I highly recommend buying at least one during your trip! Don’t worry if there isn’t a coconut vendor here during your visit, I’m sure you’ll see several throughout Kauai.
Kaiakea Point
Kaiakea Point isn’t likely to be one of your most memorable stops in Kauai, but this roadside pull-off grants a beautiful panorama over the ocean and the beaches below. It’s an easy stop on your way to or from other destinations. If you do have more time and want to spend it with this view, consider walking or renting bikes in Kapa’a and exploring the flat 7.2 mile Ke Ala Hele Makalae Path.
Mamahune's
How can you go to Hawaii and NOT visit a tiki bar? While maybe a bit cheesy, in my opinion, tiki bars are always fun. Mamahune’s is located on the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay property and is open to everyone. It only features outdoor seating, but there is a canopy that prevents rain from diluting your cocktails! Decked out with all of the quintessential tiki bar decor, what really makes Mamahune’s extra special is the view. There’s just something about being surrounded by nautical decor while you sip a piña colada and stare out at the ocean that screams “vacation mode.” For other non-meat eaters, or just those who want to try something new, I highly recommend the taro burger. It’s made with local taro (also called kalo) and the pineapple jam added delicious island flare.
Honorable Mentions on Kauai’s East Shore
Whether due to their hours, our budget, or simply having to make time to explore the other parts of the island on only a four-day trip, there were a few things we missed while exploring Kauai’s East Shore. While we are happy with the choices we made, consider adding these other East Shore activities to your own itinerary if your budget and time constraints allow:
Lydgate Farms Kauai Chocolate
Lydgate Farms Kauai Chocolate is a family-owned business that has become renowned for their quality. I even saw it being sold in Montreal, Canada on a recent trip! While tours of the property are pricey, you can also simply just visit the gift shop and enjoy free samples.
Secret Waterfall Kayak Tour
Over several hours, kayak up the Wailua River and hike the remaining distance to Secret Falls. This private waterfall looks truly enchanting, and had we not had our time and money already allocated, this was a tour we were considering. Several companies provide tours.
Kauai Museum
The Kauai Museum may be a small building, but it holds hundreds of years of island history and artifacts. Throughout the week, they have docents available for guided tours as well as classes and live music.
Rainbeau Jo’s
Rainbeau Jo’s is a vibrant cafe with great reviews located just a couple hundred feet from the Kauai Museum.
Kauai's Hindu Monastery
Kauia’s Hindu Monastery is home to a couple of Hindu temples and gardens that many reviews call “peaceful.”
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