If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and have decided upon Kauai as the island (or one of the islands) you’ll be exploring, you truly will not be disappointed. “The Garden Isle” is often referred to as the most underrated of the state’s main four islands. This makes it less crowded and allows you space to explore its hidden gems. In our previous post, Your Ultimate Trip to Kauai: Exploring the East Shore, I explained that while not very large, Kauai’s roads do not link directly across the island. The best way to plan your trip is by exploring the different shores in full on separate days. Read our previous blog for insights into accommodations, car rentals, and everything to do on the East Shore. Now it’s time for us to explore Kauai’s North Shore…
Hanalei
In our short assessment of the island, the North Shore felt both the most tropical and the most touristy. Hanalei definitely caters to tourists, and there are quite a few fun spots to see in this small town. Only one of our days in Kauai was spent on the north shore, and we took a few hours to enjoy Hanalei. For the most part, your best bet is to simply park and meander through the shops along Kuhio Highway. This is the main strip of town, and you’ll see your large names as well as smaller boutiques. As you wander, there are a few spots you should go out of your way for.
There are plenty of great restaurants in Hanalei, but we opted for cheaper, on-the-go, yet still delicious options. For something unique, head to Holey Grail Donuts. These made-to-order donuts feature taro as the base and they have new seasonal flavors weekly. All of the ingredients for their donuts, except two from California, are sourced from local farms in Hawaii. For something a little savory, we stopped at Hanalei Pizza Shop. While probably not the most authentic food in Hawaii, the veggie slices were flavorful and filling.
One shop that you should seek out is Havaiki Oceanic and Tribal Art. The owners traveled between remote islands of Oceania collecting art that gives the shop an almost museum-like feel. Most of the items here don’t fall within the average person’s budget, but it’s enriching to see the authentic pieces from the Hawaiian islands and beyond. Additionally, in the courtyard out front, there are informational signs recounting Polynesian history that are particularly interesting.
If you’re looking for some more recent history about the island, check out Waiʻoli Huiʻia Church. We simply enjoyed walking around the grounds of the church, but you can tour the 1836 Mission House. Based on online reviews, make sure to set up your tour in advance!
Wishing Well Coffee and Shaved Ice
We bookended our time in Hanalei with Wishing Well Coffee and Shaved Ice. Head back to the coffee shop and enjoy a coconut mocha latte or a housemade chai. Their beans are roasted right on the island by Outpost Coffee Kauai. The aesthetic is complete with surfboards and a map of the coast out on the patio. Wishing Well Shaved Ice is located in the food truck just in front of the coffee shop. There is a vast selection of flavors and we opted for a build-your-own: pineapple, coconut, and pog (passionfruit, orange, guava). Three flavors only came to $6 and it was plenty for the two of us to share. While they also offer ice cream, the shaved ice was extremely refreshing and a perfect taste of “island living.”
Hanalei Pier
Hanalei Pier may look familiar to you, as it’s featured in several movies. Located right near town, you can expect this beach to be quite busy. The waters of this bay appeared extremely calm for wading and also seemed to cater to beginner surfers. Though we enjoyed simply watching the surfers, if you’ve ever had any interest in trying it yourself, this seems like the perfect spot to give it a go. There are rental companies nearby as well as ones that offer lessons. For something a little more lowkey, you can also kayak or stand-up paddleboard along the nearby river.
Tunnels Beach
My favorite beach that we visited on the whole island of Kauai was hands down Tunnels Beach. It’s truly awe-striking, rain or shine. During our visit, as is common for the winter months, the swells were large and it would be far too dangerous to enter the water. At safer times of the year, there are shallow reefs that would be worth bringing snorkeling gear for. The sand here is pristinely soft, though there are still plenty of shells to admire. Tunnels Beach parking, technically at Ha’ena Beach Park, is extremely limited but, at least during our visit, meant the beach itself was relatively empty. We lucked out finding a spot later in the day. You could really spend hours enjoying the scenery here, and if you plan on hunkering down, there are public restrooms. From the rugged mountains to the palm trees along the sand, these pictures can’t even do it justice. If there is only one thing you do on the North Shore, it should be visiting this beach.
Maniniholo Dry Cave
Directly across from the parking lot for the beach is Maniniholo Dry Cave. The cave is 300 yards deep, making it much larger than it appears from the road. Use your phone flashlight to explore all the way to the back of it…if you dare! Legend has it that there are evil spirits within. You probably don’t need more than a few minutes here, but it’s a unique stop while you’re exploring the North Shore. If you’re lucky, you’ll receive cave kisses. This is when water drips off the ceiling onto you and it is thought to bring good luck!
Kīlauea Lighthouse
One of the most picturesque views you can get while exploring the North Shore is Kīlauea Lighthouse. Built in 1913, Kīlauea Lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not only is it a historical beacon, but the land surrounding it is a wildlife refuge for seabirds. You also have the chance to spot whales, dolphins, or other sea life from the shore, so don’t forget your binoculars! Tours of the lighthouse occur Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you have to book your $10 ticket in advance. Even if you can’t work a tour into your schedule, viewing the lighthouse from the road is worth the trip. Note that if you don’t schedule a tour, you have to stay behind the gate and cannot walk up to the actual lighthouse.
Right down the road from Kīlauea Lighthouse is Christ Memorial Episcopal Church. We made a spontaneous stop on our way back to the main road and found the doors to be left wide open to us, the sole visitors. The church was beautiful and the grounds were even more interesting, with graves dating to the 1800s and a stone labyrinth where you can peacefully stroll.
Honorable Mentions
Kalalau Trail
Alright, I know we’ll get some backlash for not having done the Kalalau Trail, as it is one of the top things to do in Kauai. Photos of the first half mile of this trail look absolutely stunning. Beyond that, it’s rumored to be even more gorgeous, but also potentially perilous. The full 22-mile trail (roundtrip) is known for needing rescues and, especially Crawler’s Ledge, is not for the faint of heart. We would have completed the first half mile but found out too late that you have to book your parking pass as soon as they become available, 30 days in advance. They WILL sell out and you’re not allowed to park nearby and walk in. Another option is to shuttle to Hāʻena State Park where the trailhead is. The shuttle passes are $40 per adult, which for us was not worth paying for such a short portion of the trail. Many people do the first 2-miles, to Hanakāpī‘Ai Beach, and some an additional 2 miles to Hanakāpīʻai Falls. If you opt to, check weather conditions to avoid slick trails and flash floods. Beyond this area, camping passes are required. Again, the Kalalau Trail is one of the top things to do in Kauai, so I’m sure it’s worth it! We thoroughly enjoyed our views of the Napali Coast on our boat tour and thus wanted to use this time and money to explore other parts of the North Shore.
Right outside of the state park, there are a few parking spots that allow one-hour parking. Stopping there, we saw a family playing in Limahuli Stream which also looks like a great way to get in the water if you’re not an avid embracer of the ocean.
Botanical Gardens
Short on time, we opted to skip the botanical gardens on Kauai. We were already getting to see so many beautiful plants popping up naturally everywhere we went. That being said, I don’t doubt that the flora of the botanical gardens on the Garden Isle is anything less than gorgeous. On the North Shore, there are both the Princeville Botanical Gardens and Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park. Each of these has amazing reviews and would likely make great additions to an itinerary!
Queen’s Bath
As of the date of this post, the hiking trail to Queen’s Bath is temporarily closed. When it reopens, you can expect a steep decline down to a rugged, beautiful shoreline. There were very few parking spots, so you may need to park further away and walk to the path. While some thrill seekers like to take a dive into the pool, it can be extremely dangerous. Enjoy your time simply observing the beautiful coast.
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