10 Things To See On Kaua'i

I started visiting the island of Kauai back in 2011. I fell deeply in love with it immediately and decided to return as soon as I could possibly manage. Before I knew it, I was visiting 2–4 times a year, and becoming increasingly more depressed every time I left. My last vacation, I was traveling from Boston mid winter and I knew that I was going to need to make a serious change. A series of unfortunate events occurred the summer of 2014 and I decided it was time to move. I’ve been on island since. So that’s a little about me. Let’s talk about this beautiful island and what you should see while you’re here!!

I’ll do my countdown geographically, North Shore to West, as my favorite side of the island is the North. The first thing you need to know, if you’ve never been to Kauai, is that the weather is very fickle. The North Shore is an actual rain forest. We are the first and occasionally the second most rainy spot in the entire world, averaging over 450 inches of rain per year. The second, is that the island’s ONE main highway, doesn’t connect. So you cannot drive around the island. Therefore, if you want to see something specific, do plan according to the weather and the amount of time you have to see it. We may be a small island, but with only one road, traffic happens often and can really throw a wrench in your plans. The places I’m listing are not things to do, so much as things to see. I do have a list of things to do on island, but this is not it. This is more of a sightseeing from your car list. So... onto the good stuff!

#1: Ke’e Beach

This is the “end of the road” on the North Shore. It’s a beautiful beach with good snorkeling and epic waves, the right time of year. It’s a must see, not only because it’s the end of the road, but also because the drive up is breathtaking. As you leave Hanalei, the road follows the ocean for the most part and you will not see a greener, more island-style landscape anywhere else on island. If you plan to get out of your car, I recommend getting there really early in the morning. The Hanakapi’ai and Kalalau Trailheads are also at Ke’e and many people get there early to hike. The sunrises are heavenly here, so it would be worth it to wake up at the crack of dawn to park and see it. But if you’re not an early riser, the drive up is amazing anytime of day. Please pay attention to the “One Lane Bridge” signs. You will need to yield and local custom is 5-7 cars per turn.

#2: Hanalei Bay & Pier

One of the most iconic locations on Kauai, this bay has everything you could want. Swimming, paddleboarding, surfing, dolphins, epic mountain views from the ocean, and even food trucks. It’s moderately busy, all the time, but worth the fight for a parking spot. The parking lot to beach ratio allows for the beach to not be overly crowded (most of the time) so even if it feels daunting, it’s worth it. I highly recommend sunsets at this location. This is the first place I would drive to upon arriving on island, no matter what time of day or night. I love it so much, it’s tattoo’d on my arm.

#3: Kilauea Lighthouse

The lighthouse is not only cool and groovy for being the western most lighthouse in the United States, it’s also home to many types of seabirds. If you’re a lighthouse or bird lover, this lookout is for you! Even if the lighthouse is closed, you can often see a great many birds, nests, whales, and dolphins from this point.

#4: ‘Opaeka’a Falls & Lookout

Located in Kapaa, this is one of our drive-up waterfalls. It’s nice because you don’t have to hike to see it, and the parking lot is large enough to accommodate the cars and the buses of people coming to view it, as well as bathrooms. After looking down at the falls, you can cross at the crosswalk for a view of the Wailua River, the only navigable river in the state. If you take the next pull out as you drive back down the hill, there’s a gorgeous ocean view as well as the river mouth.

#5: Wailua Falls

Another drive up falls. Just like ‘Opaeka’a, you will be looking down on the waterfall from the road. The spray from this waterfall makes for excellent rainbows most days. While you may see people playing in the falls down below, I highly recommend you not join them. Not only is it trespassing, it is very steep and moderately dangerous to get to the falls, as well as a common flash flood area. You do not want to try and scramble up that mountain for your life. Parking here can also be a bit of a pain.

#6: Tree Tunnel to the South Side

Heading into Koloa/Poipu, there’s a beautiful long tree tunnel made of eucalyptus trees. Anytime of any day (when it’s light out) is a beautiful time to see the tunnel. Watch out for pigs and humans in the road. It happens often. This is a great drive that will lead you to the next 2 must-sees on the list!

#7: Maha’ulepu Beach

Following the tree tunnel will take you into the South Shore. The adorable old town of Koloa is great for food and walking around. Grab a snack and head to Maha’ulepu Beach. The road is VERY bumpy and full of potholes. If you have a rental car that isn’t a Jeep, you may want to make friends with someone staying at your resort who does have a Jeep, as this road will ruin your undercarriage. BUT if you do have a Jeep, or a newfound friend with one, the beach is well worth the bumpy ride. It’s secluded and often void of people. I recommend taking all of your belongings with you and leaving your windows down, as tourist vehicles are often victims of smash and grabs here.

#8: Spouting Horn

The best place to view Spouting Horn, in my opinion, is from Kukui’ula Harbor Beach. While you can see the spout pretty much any day and time, my favorite is at sunset from this harbor. The sun sets behind Spouting Horn, the beach and waves are beautiful and you can sit out on the jetty at the end of the pier to get a beautiful unobstructed view.

#9: Waimea Canyon

Kauai’s own mini Grand Canyon. The lookout is breathtaking. If you’ve ever seen the Grand Canyon, it’s very much like that. If you haven’t…you’re in for quite the view. There are waterfalls, goats, a view of the ocean and even rainbows in the right conditions. The parking lot isn’t as big as it needs to be, but there’s a pretty quick turnover. There are bathrooms and even a food stand boasting a wide variety of local fruits and eats.

#10: Polihale

Much like Maha’ulepu, the road to Polihale will mess with your rental car as well as the agreement you signed. All companies on Kauai state that driving to Polihale will void the agreement. So, once again, proceed at your own risk or make a friend with a Wrangler. If you can make your way out to the “end of the road’’ on the West Side, it is WELL worth it. It’s the longest stretch of unobstructed white sand beach in the state. Which means that no matter when you go, you can guarantee that you’ll have a large section to yourself. Even if you’re in a Jeep, I do not recommend driving in the sand. It’s a hefty fee to be towed out, over a thousand dollars last I heard. But should it happen, they say taking a case of Heineken and putting it on the roof is the Hawaiian version of the Bat Signal and a local will appear seemingly out of nowhere to help.

I hope you find this list helpful! Enjoy your vacation and be safe!!