Kaua’i is the oldest and fourth largest island in Hawaii. Often referred to as the Garden Island, Kaua’i is lush, green, and full of natural beauty. There is so much to experience on this gorgeous island including mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches. Below is a list of incredible experiences that shouldn’t be missed when visiting the slice of paradise that is Kaua’i.
Kayak and hike to Secret Falls
A great way to start your vacation in Kaua’i is with a kayak and hike to Secret Falls. You can either book a tour or rent kayaks and do the excursion on your own. The route is pretty easy to follow, and there will be other people around if you find yourself unsure of the route at any point.
The adventure starts as you paddle out of Wailua River State Park. After about 30-45 minutes of easy paddling along the beautiful Wailua River, you will pull your kayak onto shore and start the 1.5 mile hike along the well-worn jungle trail.
After a short walk, you will need to cross the river. This is the one area where it wasn’t completely clear where we should cross, but a guide with a group was close behind us and he pointed out the way. The water was quite high but the current was weak when we were there, so it was safe and easy. Soon after the river, you will reach a large section of the trail that is comprised of boards to minimize the mud accrual on your shoes.
After 20-30 minutes of hiking (total) you will find Secret Falls. Here you can swim in the brisk natural pool that the 120 foot waterfall cascades into. No longer a secret, you will have to share Secret Falls with many other people. I recommend starting your excursion in the early morning to decrease the number of people you will be sharing the waterfall with.
After a refreshing swim and enjoying the view, backtrack along the same path to your kayak and paddle back to Wailua River State Park.
Doors-off Helicopter Tour of Kaua’i
If you have ever wanted to take a helicopter ride, this might be one of the best places to make that happen. In just an hour you will transverse the entire island of Kaua’i and it’s stunning the entire time. Now imagine having a completely unobstructed view of the scenery below. A doors-off helicopter ride provides an epic presentation of this incredible island. I cannot verbalize how incredible this experience was. Just “WOW”!
From the helicopter, you will fly over endless green mountains with waterfalls plummeting over edges into hidden pools below. You will see the incredible Waimea Canyon, with its red rock and lush green valleys. Then the flight will take you over the dramatic ridges of the Napali Coast. This aerial view reveals small secluded beaches tucked between the rugged ridges reaching into the Pacific Ocean. Rounding the north side of the island, you’ll fly over Hanalei Bay and then back south where clouds cling to lush, waterfall-kissed mountains.
This is the only way to see much of the island as only 10% of Kaua’i is accessible by car. See the numerous photos below for a glimpse into how incredible this experience was.
Be amazed by Waimea Canyon
I was blown away by the contrast of intense green, lush valleys next to the orange and red hills of Waimea Canyon. The canyon is about 10 miles long, a mile wide, and 3,000 feet deep. You don’t want to miss Waimea Canyon.
There are a number of viewpoints along Kōke’e Road in Waimea Canyon State Park. The best viewpoint of the canyon is at the Waimea Canyon Lookout. I recommend stopping at this viewpoint in the afternoon when the sun is shining on the canyon from behind the viewpoint. This is when the lighting allows you to see all the definition and colors of Waimea Canyon. We first saw it the first time when we drove up around 2 pm and were amazed at its beauty. We visited a second time in the early morning, but were underwhelmed as colors were not very visible with the sun shining at you from behind the canyon.
The other can’t miss viewpoint is from Pu’u O Kila Lookout. From this spot you will be looking northwest to stunning ridges of the Napali Coast. When we visited, the road to this lookout was closed to cars so we had to walk about a mile to reach it. If this is still the case when you visit and you aren’t up for the trek, the Kalalau Lookout offers a very similar view.
If possible I strongly recommend hiking a couple trails in Waimea Canyon State Park to see more. There are many to choose from with varying degrees of difficulty. We hiked the Canyon Trail and the first part of the Pihea Trail as they were medium level hiking and we had limited time in the area.
Hikes in Waimea Canyon
The Canyon Trail starts from the Pu’u Hinahina Lookout parking lot and is about 1.8 miles each way. Consider taking the short detour to the Cliff Trail viewpoint. For just a short .1 mile add on, you will add another beautiful view of the canyon. The highlight of the hike was the view from the exposed flat red rock with a drop off to the valley below. The canyon walls climb up the other side of the valley. From here you only have a few tenths of a mile until you reach a small waterfall with a pool of water that you could take a dip in. The Canyon Trail actually leads to the top of Waipo’o Falls, but the trail was closed just after this smaller waterfall when we visited. Therefore we didn’t reach the top Waipo’o Falls as some visitors have.
The Pihea Trail starts from Pu’u O Kila Lookout. We hiked just the first mile of the trail as it became too muddy for us after that. The start of the hike provides a view of the ridge that the trail follows as well as the expansive forests to the east. Along the trail you get more views of the Napali Coast that are a bit better than the view from the lookout. Vivid green ferns surround the trail before it enters a forest of trees. The trail becomes increasingly difficult towards the end of that mile with increased mud and climbing. The best views are within the first 1/2 mile before the mud and steep sections.
Hike the Heritage Trail on the west coast of Kaua’i
The Heritage Trail is a short, 1 mile each way, out and back hike along the west coast of Kaua’i. It starts at Shipwreck Beach which is small, pretty, and relaxed. The hike has multiple trail options, all leading the same general way with the proximity to the ocean varying slightly. You can hike along these cliffs for dramatic coastal views. Or you can hike in the trees and be shielded from the strong wind. The trail eventually enters a golf course and extends a bit beyond. This hike was a lovely way to break up our drive from Waimea Canyon to the north side of the island.
Relax at stunning Tunnels Beach
I love this stunning, tranquil beach. The parking lot is actually at nearby Ha’ena Beach and you will need to walk along the sand to reach connected Tunnels Beach. These beaches appear to be one, but when you reach Tunnels the water will be calmer. The view looking west from Tunnels Beach is stunning as lush green mountains rise up behind the coast. A reef breaks the ocean waves far from shore here. The calm water provides relaxed, safe swimming in this area.
Between Tunnels Beach and Ha’ena Beach, coral reefs rest below the quiet water near the shore. This area is popular for snorkeling but unfortunately we didn’t have snorkel gear with us. However, just by walking knee deep in the water, we spotted an abundance of juvenile fish around the shallow coral. I was excited to spot a couple butterflyfish and a triggerfish! Next time we will bring snorkeling gear.
Revel in dramatic landscapes at Hanalei Bay
Hanalei bay is a beautiful bay half surrounded by green, waterfall-covered mountains. Moody clouds hovered above, encompassing just the tips of the distant mountains. While the coast was gloomy, the sky over the ocean was clear and blue. Plenty of parking is available in the area, making it an easy beach to visit while still being gorgeous. Bits of driftwood scattered in the sand provide a rustic natural beach. The bay water was refreshing and fairly calm, gently rolling onto the sandy beach.
Hike the Napali Coast
Hiking on the north part of the island is the one thing we had planned that we didn’t get to do. There are 2 highly talked about hikes and they actually start off on the same trail. They are the Kalalau Trail and the Hanakāpīʻai Falls Hike. We had planned on trekking the waterfall hike. Unfortunately it rained a lot the couple days before and was forecast to rain all day on our hiking day.
The most well known hike is the Kalalau Trail. It is an intense 11 mile one way hike which requires camping overnight along the trail for most people to complete the whole thing. It sounds like a hike for the more courageous, with slippery trails and drop offs. It does sound and look epic.
The other well known hike is the Hanakāpīʻai Falls Trail. This hike departs from the Kalalau Trail after about 2 miles. It then hikes up another 2 miles to reach a waterfall. The total hike roundtrip is 8 miles and is listed as “hard”. We spoke to some other travelers who had tried to do this hike but said it was so muddy and difficult they couldn’t make it to the waterfall, so be prepared to get dirty and exhausted. Hopefully next time we will get to Hanakāpīʻai Falls!
Boat trip to see the Napali Coast
We would have loved to go on a boat trip to see the Napali Coast from the water. Since both the boat trip and the helicopter were larger ticket items, we decided to only do one. The helicopter won out this time. The photos I have seen of the boating excursions look incredible as well though. Another thing to add to the list for the next trip to Kaua’i.
Watch for Kaua’i wildlife, especially all the birds!
While in Kaua’i we spotted some turtles, seals, and lots of birds.
The most common bird you will see and definitely hear is the chickens! They are everywhere. We spotted them wandering around town, walking across roads all over the island, miles into hikes in Waimea Canyon, and on the sandy beaches. While their song isn’t quite so pretty, I still really enjoyed seeing them all around Kaua’i.
The other birds we saw a lot were the red-crested cardinals. They are quite friendly and fun to watch. We did see some red cardinals in Waimea Canyon as well. A vast variety of other birds are on the island as well. It’s truly heart-warming to hear the chorus of birdsong in the early morning and late evening.
Beyond birds, the most exciting animals we spotted were a couple green turtles and Hawaiian monk seals on Poipu Beach. Ropes were set up around the resting animals to keep tourists from bothering them. Remember to keep your distance to not disturb the local wildlife on the island.
Those were my recommendations of what to do on your trip to Kaua’i. If you have been to this gorgeous island and have any other recommendations of things not to miss, please leave a comment below.
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