Kauai, Hawaii! Without a doubt it is one of the most beautiful islands in the United States! And being the 4th largest island out of Hawaii’s 6 main islands, Kauai’s surface is covered mostly by tropical rain forest! It has earned the nickname “The Garden Isle” for a reason!
Kauai is separated into 5 main regions: the North Shore, the South Shore, the Westside, Lihue & the Eastside (Coconut Coast).
Kauai’s most dramatic geographic feature is easily the wondrous, Nā Pali Coast! Miles of a jaw dropping coastline that took millions of years to form is the result of this natural beauty!
The BEAUTIFUL Nā Pali Coast in Kauai, Hawaii!
Let me tell y’all something….I don’t think I was in Kauai for an hour before I started selling everything that I owned back home in California so that I could save the money to move to this breathtaking place (well……this is what I was doing in my head anyway). I had never seen an island so lush and so GREEN!
GETTING TO KAUAI
While scrolling through Facebook one day, I came across a post from the ‘The Flight Deal‘ advertising that Priceline was offering round-trip flights to Honolulu, HI for only $285 from L.A.! I couldn’t believe what I was reading! I punched in my credit card info on the Priceline app so quick! Next thing I knew, my family & I were jetting off to Hawaii! Here's my intinerary:
From: Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to Honolulu, HI (HNL) on Delta Airlines
From: Honolulu, HI (HNL) to Kauai, HI (LIH) on Hawaiian Airlines
I also had to purchase round-trip flights from Honolulu to Kauai. Flying directly to Kauai can be pretty expensive. It’s best to use Hawaiian Airlines to island hop from Honolulu.
Once we landed at Kauai’s airport, Lihue Airport (airport code: LIH), we rented our vehicle (pack some patience. The car rental place gets BUSY) and off to explore the island we went! I must add this – while in Kauai, renting a Jeep Wrangler is a must! The Wrangler + the island! Ahhhhhhh! It just goes! Take the top off when it’s sunny and enjoy Kauai’s oxygen-rich air, beautiful landscapes & heavenly beaches!
For our 1st time in Kauai, we decided to stay in the town of Princeville since it was near where we wanted to be - the Kalalau Trail. Princeville is located on the north shore of the island (about a 45-minute drive from the airport / 29 miles).
WHERE TO STAY IN KAUAI
While visiting Kauai, we decided to stay in a condo versus a hotel for this holiday. I decided to book through ‘Kauai Vacation Rentals & real Estate Inc’.
Our digs – Pali Ke Kua #114
Pali Ke Kua 114 is a spacious 1-bedroom on the oceanfront that overlooks the breathtaking North Shore! The condo’s island decor will have you feeling right at home! And the view from the patio….JAW DROPPING beautiful! Which is what sold me on this place!
The condo sleeps 4 people and comes with 1 queen bed & a sofa sleeper. There are several more amenities as well – Wifi, full kitchen, free parking, washer & dryer, fully equipped kitchen, beach chairs/beach towels etc.
But back to the view of this place……..aahhhhhhhh……so incredibly beautiful! I loved waking up in the morning, sitting on the patio and watching the sunrise. Taking in the sunset with a nice glass of wine was great too!
Staying at Pali Ke Kua 114 also allows you access to Pali Ke Kua Beach (sometimes known as Hideaways Beach). This beach can be accessed by a private path starting between buildings #1 & #3 in the Pali Ke Kua Community. It is a must that you make it down to this beach. You’ll be left speechless!
I do want to take a second and point out that this condo is located in what seemed like a retirement community. It was extremely quiet (yet relaxing) during our stay. So if you’re looking for any type of action – this is not the place for you. But overall, this condo is a great place to stay in Princeville, convenient to several restaurants, and in the midst of some awe-inspiring scenery!
WHERE TO EAT IN KAUAI
☀️ Hanalei Bread – Looking for a quick breakfast spot – then this is it! The breakfast burrito, avocado toast & frittatas are delicious!
☀️ Happy Talk Lounge – Located in Princeville, this restaurant has beautiful views along with good food, potent cocktails and attentive servers! But make sure to make reservations as this place can get busy!
☀️ Lava Lava Beach Club – Kauai – This cute beachfront bar is located in Kapaa. It’s a great place to have cocktails. The food is pretty good too! This is also a great spot for Happy Hour and to catch a breathtaking Kauai sunset!
☀️ Keoki’s Paradise – I loved this restaurant because of it’s gorgeous garden view & authentic Hawaiian vibes. The food was delicious (loved the Holua Sliders) and the atmosphere was fun! However, this spot can get busy so make a reservation!
THINGS TO DO IN KAUAI
☀️ Kalalau Trail– The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile trail that leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along the Nā Pali Coast. Thousands travel from all over the world to Kauai just to say that they’ve conquered this beast of a hike! After the first 2 miles of this hike, you’ll be treated to the beautiful Hanakāpī`ai Beach. After 4 miles in, you’ll come to the stunning waterfall, Hanakāpī`ai Falls! To trek the entire 11-miles, you will need to purchase a permit.
If I’m being completely honest…..this hike was treacherous, strenuous and extremely scary at certain points. But it is the most BEAUTIFUL hike I have ever taken. The cliffs, the green scenery, the deep blue water below us….all so amazing!
We (myself, my 12-year old son & 58-year old mother) completed the 2-mile hike (4-miles round-trip) to Hanakāpī`ai Beach which took us a little over 4 hours total time. It rained the day before, so the trail conditions were not great. The trail was extremely slippery, muddy and very wet in a lot of areas. We definitely got wet while crossing the creek at the end of the 2-mile mark to Hanakāpī`ai Beach. There are “flash flood” signs at the creek before you cross so CAUTIOUS!
For this hike, prepare as much as you possibly can. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring plenty of water, snacks, etc.
Oh and have your camera ready! The scenery is out of this world!
☀️ Waimea Canyon – Up to 3,000 feet deep and approximately 10 miles long, the Waimea Canyon is definitely worth the visit! Nicknamed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” – you MUST go see this natural wonder for yourself! The drive on the way to Waimea Canyon is breathtaking and the canyons themselves will leave you awestruck (as will the waterfall in the distance)! We drove up to the look out points to view the canyons from there. But you do have the option to hike if you’re really feeling adventurous, (more info here) or take a helicopter ride above it all (do your research on the companies first)!
One of my favorite things about this day was the drive to Waimea Canyon. We started the drive on State Hwy 55 at sea level and very quickly elevation changed and we were up in a very scenic, mountainous area with stopping points along the way to take pictures. While on Waimea Canyon Rd., we noticed some cars parked alongside the shoulder. To the left was ‘Red Dirt Falls’.
I fell in love.
Red Dirt Falls in Kauai! So beautiful!
Here are the GPS coordinates for Red Dirt Falls: 22.009, -159.677. This beautiful, unexpected landmark is not to be missed on your way to Waimea Canyon!
KAUAI'S BEACHES
☀️ Poipu Beach Park – The ‘Travel Channel’ once named Poipu Beach “America’s Best Beach”. It’s the most popular beach on the South shore. And for good reason…..it’s BEAUTIFUL! Here you can enjoy snorkeling, sunbathing & beach wildlife.
☀️ Hanalei Bay – Another PERFECT Kauai beach located on the North Shore! Soft white sand, a super scenic backdrop and waves for days! This beach is truly magical!
☀️ Tunnels Beach – *Warning* this beach can get pretty crowded (try to get there early for a parking spot at Ha’ena and walk to Tunnels). Beach goers quickly fall in love with the lush, tropical mountain backdrop, amazing snorkeling and the exotic sea life!
☀️ Ke’e Beach – This beach is right at the start of the Kalalau Trail. Ke’e beach is not a huge beach, but it is still worth the stop to take in another stunning Kauai sight! Catch a sunset here if you can. Just breathtaking!
☀️ Queen’s Bath – These natural swimming holes are absolutely incredible to experience if you decide to visit. However, there is a steep/treacherous hike down to reach Queen’s Bath. And it can be extremely dangerous if is raining or has rained the night before. The trail will more than likely have muddy/slippery conditions. This trail is narrow, but you will definitely enjoy the scenery along the way. The waterfalls are amazing! Use caution once you reach the rocks as tides can get high.
☀️ Mahaulepu Beach – This beautiful beach is located along an isolated and windswept coast and is more suited for experienced swimmers/snorkelers. You can hike to this beach from the Hyatt or 4-wheel drive down the dirt road to reach this stunning beach!
Kauai is truly, TRULY spellbinding! The lushness, the incredible beaches, the emerald valleys – simply amazing! It really is the perfect island to relax and get into something adventurous! The only thing that is missing is Y O U!
Happy travels to Kauai, y'all! Until next time!
