On Kauai, even the tourist hotspots feel like hidden gems. The small-town feel of the “Garden Isle” is one of the many reasons it’s considered the most underrated of Hawaii’s main four islands. In this conclusion to our Kauai series, we’re headed to the south and west shores. Though less tropical, we explored the most iconic sights of our trip here. Don’t forget to read part one of our Kauai guide for insights into accommodations, car rentals, and everything to do on the East Shore HERE. Or click over to part two to plan your perfect day on the North Shore HERE. But for now, let’s plan your days on the South and West Shores…
Nā Pali Coast Boat Tour
One of the — if not the main — reasons people come to Kauai is to see the Nā Pali Coast. Along Kauai’s west shore are 17 miles of raw beauty in the form of jagged mountains and shallow valleys. The Nā Pali Coast has been featured in many films over the years, including King Kong, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Jurassic Park. You can explore the Nā Pali Coast by boat, by air, or by foot. To explore by foot, check to our North Shore post or the trail and viewpoint at the bottom of this post. There are many well-reviewed helicopter and light aircrafts tours if that’s up your alley, but I knew I wanted to experience the coastline via the water.
Three of the main boat charters are Capt Andy’s, Makana Charters, and Holo Holo Charters. All three offer a variety of tours with different lengths, vessels, and snorkeling or dining options. Based on reviews, I truly think you could do a coin flip and be happy with any of them. We chose the Holo Holo Napali Coast Sunset and Sailing tour which left out of Port Allen in Eleele. We truly had one of the best afternoons of our entire lives. They are certified by the Surfrider Foundation as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, and the food was much better than we expected for being out at sea. Not to mention that the crew was whipping up Koloa Rum Mai Tais the whole time! There’s also beer, wine, and other beverages, and all of the food and drink is included in the tour price. The crew was AMAZING. They were constantly sharing information with us about the coastline, grabbing pictures, and helping to make sure everyone was comfortable and safe.
While boat rides are over $200 per person, please let this budget traveler convince you to splurge and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. A Nā Pali Coast boat tour needs to be personally experienced for you to truly understand its wonder. That being said, there are a couple things you ought to note. The bathrooms on board are below deck and while there are railed stairs down to them, this could be hard for some people. The seating onboard is tight, but this wasn’t a problem for us as we found we always wanted to be standing at the rail enjoying the view. They only use the sail if the weather is permitting (just in case that’s a deal breaker for you). Having taken Dramamine prior to boarding, we had no problems with motion sickness, but other adventurers weren’t so lucky, as the water can be quite rocky and the boat can get moving faster than you’d expect. There is no completely indoor seating, so you may get a little wet. My mom and I enjoyed laying out on the mesh trampolines, but we were the only takers. Take it from me, the particles in the water can ruin white clothing, and you definitely want an extra layer or two because the wind can get quite biting.
Despite all that, these views can truly not be beat, and we even had some dolphins swim along the boat, guiding us back to shore as the sun set!
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Kauai Coffee Company
Whether you need fuel before or after your boat ride, the obvious choice is Kauai Coffee Company. Though they maintain the service and homely feel of a small business, Kauai Coffee Company is actually the largest coffee grower in not just Hawaii, but the entire United States. While they offer guided tours, we opted for their self-guided walking tour. A meandering path weaves you through the grounds as placards explain the growing and roasting processes. There are several freshly brewed varieties at any given time in the main building and you are welcome to sample as many as you would like completely free. I then opted to order a macadamia nut latte which perfectly complemented the view of the island from their roomy deck! I really appreciated the estate’s affordability, sustainability, and natural charm. Read our Kauai blog exploring the East Shore to see how you can further enjoy Kauai Coffee Company’s island collaborations. I hope you like rum!
Glass Beach
Just a two-minute drive from the port where you’d be launching a Nā Pali Coast tour is the town of Eleele’s Glass Beach. Located adjacent to an industrial area, it may not seem like the most scenic of beaches on Kauai, but the “sand” makes it a gem. Unsurprisingly, it owes its name to the millions of small pieces of tumbled sea glass that lie underfoot. Spend some time simply walking around and picking out unique pieces as souvenirs. Glass Beach has been smoothed by time, but you still may want to wear sandals to make your visit more comfortable. Walk just a short way up the road to see an interesting cemetery and get a view overlooking the beach!
Kōloa
Looking awfully similar to the Dark Hedges from Game of Thrones, the Tree Tunnel along Route 520 into Kōloa is enchanting. In full disclosure, we drove up and down it a few times just to savor the magic. There is a pull-off if you want to step out and take a picture, but just be cognizant that this is a busy road. Once you finally move on into Old Kōloa Town, you’ll be greeted by quaint plantation-era buildings. Now, this historic strip is lined with unique boutiques, souvenir shops, galleries, and dining options. We can’t recommend it since we didn’t eat there ourselves, but if we had more time we would have loved to enjoy the outdoor seating of Mucho Aloha Brewhouse.
Hanapēpē
The exploration of Kauai’s small town continues! As a kid, I was a huge fan of Lilo and Stitch, so “Hawaiian Roller Coaster” was stuck in my head for the entirety of this trip. I didn’t know before starting my research for our trip that there was actually a town on Kauai that inspired the town in the movie. Of course, we had to visit Hanapēpē…twice! Our first jaunt into town included a trip to Midnight Bear Breads for pastries. Both savory and sweet did not disappoint. Cross the street and head down the path next to Aloha Spice Company to reach the Hanapēpē Swinging Bridge. Enjoy the bridge’s gentle sway as you take in the view. After you grab a picture with the Lilo and Stitch mural, peruse the shops for unique souvenirs. My personal favorite was Talk Story Bookstore where you may even see “The Boss,” also known as Natalie the cat. As a bonus, it’s pretty cool to be able to say you’ve been to the westernmost bookstore in the United States. Just outside of town, keep your eyes peeled for a pull off for Hanapēpē Valley Lookout to enjoy a stunning view!
As I mentioned, we visited Hanapēpē twice, the second time being for the town’s Art Night. Art Night occurs every Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and consists of food trucks, artisan stalls, live music and performances. Many of the local shops stay open later as well. We enjoyed some campfire-style pies, fresh fruit, and a dance performance. Just a heads up, some of the vendors sell out and pack up a little early.
Warehouse 3540
Warehouse 3540 is a bit more “hip” and “trendy” than a lot of the other places on the South Shore. I love an artisanal marketplace and these goods were making me wish that I had saved more space in my suitcase for souvenirs. Since I had just had coffee, I unfortunately skipped out on the adorable coffee truck located inside of Warehouse 3540, but my mom and I split a california roll from Big Monster Sushi & Rice, a food truck right in the parking lot. The roll was so fresh and you can’t beat the atmosphere of a tropical patio (luckily covered, as it started to rain).
Waimea Canyon
Hawaii Route 550 is the slow-moving yet picturesque road that winds you up into the mountains for views of Waimea Canyon. Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, you cannot visit Kauai without visiting Waimea Canyon. The canyon is approximately 3,600 feet deep and its striking burnt colors contrast from the cool blues of the coast. There are helicopter tours that I’m sure give a beautiful view, but luckily for us budget travelers, the views from the road are still astounding. As you head up towards the Visitor’s Center or hiking trails, make sure you give yourself extra time. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to stop at EVERY vista along the route, especially those that look out at the majestic 800-foot Waipo’o Falls. One of my favorite pull-offs was at the Red Dirt Waterfall. Though its quite small (use the grass in this photo as your scale), pop out of your car momentarily to feel like you’re on Mars!
Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls
There are a plethora of hiking trails on Kauai’s West Shore. Some of the most popular are the grewling Awaʻawapuhi Trail, which grants you more views of the Nā Pali Coast, and the Waimea Canyon Trail. We did the Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls, starting from the sign for Koke’e State Park, but you can also take a trail that links up to the falls from the Pu’u Hinahina Lookout. While the Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls isn’t terribly long, there is a hefty elevation change which kicked our out-of-shape butts! Luckily for us, a group of friendly strangers who had used their four-wheel drive to get them down to a closer starting point gave us a ride in the back of their truck back up the most challenging part. Thanks, strangers!
If you only have time for one trail within the park, I’d make it the Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls. It takes about two hours and has a major pay off. That being said, there are a couple things to note! The Canyon is gorgeous, and you get amazing views, but as someone with a fear of heights, there were parts of the trail that made my stomach flip. Make sure you have good shoes and I personally would have felt better with trekking poles, especially when over-eager adventurers were running past on narrow paths. There is some uneven ground, but we saw travelers of every age and a range of perceived abilities making the journey. Also, the portion of Waipo’o Falls that you’ll be seeing is a smaller, jungle secluded waterfall that flows into the larger falls further downstream. We liked the view, and some people even swim there, but many reviews online seemed surprised and disappointed that it wasn’t the larger falls.
Koke’e Natural History Museum
Heading further up the road into Koke’e State Park, give yourself time to explore Koke’e Natural History Museum. “Though she be but little she is fierce.” This small cabin is truly packed with interesting information about the island, from the natural formations to information on endemic species to human histories. Not a lot of US history classes cover Hawaii’s unique past, so it was especially intriguing to read about the islands’ dynamics and royalty. The Koke’e Natural History Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is completely free, though there is a donation box. The gift shop has Kaua’i made items, so I opted to pick up my go-to travel souvenirs here. Adjacent to Koke’e Natural History Museum is Kōkeʻe Lodge where you can grab a quick meal. Kōke’e State Park Campground is right at the end of the parking lot, and when we were initially considering camping in Kauai, this was going to be the campground we chose as it seemed safest based on reviews. That being said, it is extremely out of the way from the other parts of the island. You can read more about our chosen accommodations HERE.
Pu’u O Kila Lookout
If a boat tour exploring the west side of the island is out of your budget, or if you simply can’t get enough of the Nā Pali Coast, there are some amazing viewpoints that you can drive to just a few miles from the Visitor’s Center. Pu’u O Kila Lookout and Kalalau Lookout each have parking lots and only require a short walk to enjoy stunning vistas. You’ll want to use caution as the road to get there can be almost as rugged as the coastline. Also, while there are barriers around most parts of these lookouts, if you take the road less traveled, there are deadly drops. Besides the boat, Pu’u O Kila Lookout was the best view we got on the island, so I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary.
Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site
And finally, a quick stop on your galivants along the South Shore, Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site makes for a lovely impromptu sunset spot. The statue of King Kaumuali‘i looks truly epic gazing out of the water, and if you venture a bit further, you can see the ruins of a Russian fort, circa 1817. We didn’t find that we needed more than about ten minutes worth of time here, but it’s right off the main road. There are MANY stray cats near here, so please be cautious of your driving.
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