Aloha! If a trip to Hawaii is in your future, I am so excited for you already! Kauai, also known as the garden island, is a lush and stunning island to explore. For my vacation to Hawaii, I visited 3 islands: Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. I will have blogs on each island, but if Kauai is on your radar, keep reading for travel tips and itinerary items to consider for your iconic and memorable trip!

Transportation

To put it plain and simple, if you are vacationing in Kauai, book a rental car.

We stayed at a wonderful ocean-front resort and figured some days would be spent mainly at the resort or doing just 1 activity a day where we could get a taxi or an Uber. For the more laidback days, we figured using taxis or Ubers would help us save as our resort had a hefty daily parking fee. Still, we had planned to have a rental car for 2 days later in our stay to drive around the island and explore for long periods of time.

To tell you in advance, Ubers are very hard to come by and taxis are very expensive. Also, if you have to be somewhere promptly, taxis are recommended over Ubers for reliability purposes.

One day, we got a taxi to get from our resort to a location for our catamaran tour. The taxi ride was about 40 minutes and cost us $120… Nothing like watching the pricing meter go up and up and up. Since we had to promptly make it to the location at an early time in the morning, we had booked the taxi the previous day.

Then, we figured we would get an Uber back. For the same 40-minute drive, Uber was showing that the ride would be $40-$50, so it would be much cheaper. After waiting 30 minutes on the app for a driver to pick up the ride, we ultimately gave up and had to call a taxi. Therefore, we had to spend an additional $120 to get back to the resort. Hindsight’s 20/20, but we would have saved money by having the rental car that day even with paying for the resort’s hefty parking fee.

Ubers are fairly easy and cheap to get around the airport though. We got an Uber from the airport to our resort and one of the other days for a nearby excursion which worked out well. If the rides are further away though, the drivers often won’t pick up the Uber rides because they ultimately end up losing money from those rides. I am not sure why Uber can’t increase the price to benefit the drivers and still be less than a $120 taxi ride, but it just wasn’t working out in our favor. So, I recommend just booking a rental car for your whole stay on the island!

Accommodation

There are many beautiful resorts and quaint Airbnbs on the island to choose from. Personally, we stayed at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort. This resort is right on the ocean, so it is the perfect relaxing paradise destination. The resort is beautifully decorated and the staff were friendly. It is located on the East side of the island which was conveniently centered between the excursions we had planned across our stay. It was also just a short drive to and from the airport which was nice on those already long travel days. The Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort also has plenty of cultural activities and amenities to enjoy that come with the resort fee. Examples include lei making classes, hula dancing classes, tropical craft options, live music, bike rentals, 24/7 gym access, and their pool and hot tub.

Itinerary Items

When visiting the island of Kauai, you should expect a lush and remote island. You will not find endless industrialized touristy locations here. This island is for the beach and nature lovers who are ready to slow down, enjoy island time, and relax. There are certainly places to visit, but the pace is laidback as you truly soak in the beauty.

This is the island to put “holoholo” into practice. “Holoholo” is a Hawaiian term that involves tapping into what gives you pleasure and helps you express gratitude. “Holoholo” refers to slowing down and enjoying the journey and adventure each and every day.

The Nāpali Coast 

The Nāpali Coast has become famous in Kauai for good reasons. The lush and jagged mountains make for a stunning and unique landscape. You can hike the coastline or go on a boat tour to see the coastline in all of its glory. I definitely recommend a boat tour to visit The Nāpali Coast during your vacation!

We booked our Nāpali Coast catamaran tour through Blue Dolphin Charters. The company offers catamaran tours and raft tours. Since a couple of the members going in our group have gotten seasick before, we opted for the larger catamaran tour over the raft. The Blue Dolphin Charters brought us on such an iconic and eventful excursion! The staff was so upbeat, friendly, and hospitable.

Our excursion was 5 hours long, and we got lucky with beautiful weather. The staff served us a delicious breakfast, and we were able to pre-order our lunch that we ate on the boat as well. They had beverages such as juice, water, and soda throughout the entire excursion. For the second half of our cruise, they opened an open bar. A couple times throughout the cruise, we coasted along with dolphins jumping and playing which is such a happy memory. Almost halfway through the cruise, we also had an hour to snorkel in Gatorade blue water where we swam with countless colorful fish.

The pictures you get from a Nāpali Coast boat tour are unlike any other photos you will take, and the photos make for the perfect souvenir. There are several charter companies on the island, but personally, I would 100% recommend the Blue Dolphin Charters!

Luau

When in Hawaii… you attend a luau! There is no shortage of luau options on the island but do your research prior to making your selection and booking in advance. Some of the luaus are more traditional and authentic than others. Our resort hosted a luau you could book, but we opted to go off property for our luau excursion.

We chose to attend a luau at Smith’s Tropical Paradise where the family hosts the Smith Family Garden Luau. This local family-owned company is run by an amazing multi-generational family who welcome you right into their beautiful space and culture. Their land consists of 30 acres of jaw dropping and eyebrow raising landscapes, lush vegetation, and plenty of wildlife such as chickens, ducks, and peacocks. Your luau excursion includes time to explore the gardens and take a narrated tram tour.

After exploring, the guests gather around an imu oven to learn how the kalua pig is cooked. During the explanation, the general manager explained how they are 1 out of 2 places who still use the traditional imu oven on the island when cooking the ‘ono (“delicious” in Hawaiian) kalua pig. Then, enjoy some cocktails while you listen to live Hawaiian music before indulging in the remarkable traditional luau feast. The food was incredible, and I definitely ate enough for 2 or 3 people! Lastly, the group heads to their neat amphitheater for a show full of traditional hula dances, fire throwing performances, and more!

I would genuinely rate this luau 10/10. I had zero complaints! The family is so hospitable, and the events transitioned smoothly throughout the memorable evening. Definitely consider the Smith Family Garden Luau when researching luaus on Kauai!

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is a state park in Kauai that is also known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. This state park provides fantastic panoramic views of the canyon and numerous hiking trails to embark on. Some of the trails take you near waterfalls as well. There is a small cost to enter the park. If you are not a resident of Hawaii, then there is a $10 fee for each car and a $5 fee for each visitor. So for example, in our car of 4 people, we paid $30 total. There is a kiosk to pay at after you park your car. Waimea Canyon is worth the stop to see the views, snap some beautiful photos, and do a hike or 2.

Kauaʻi Coffee Company

Kauaʻi Coffee Company is the biggest coffee farm in the United States. Visit the coffee farm and explore their giftshop, try free coffee samples, walk through their small museum, and learn about how they grow and roast their coffee on the self-guided walking tour on their farm. The self-guided walking tour took us about 20 minutes.

It is free to enter the Kaua’i Coffee Company grounds, but you may consider buying specialty drinks here such as lattes or partaking in one of their paid tours. They host a “Coffee on the Brain” tour for $35 per person that educates you on the coffee process. Also, they have truck farm tours that drive around the land and teach you about all there is to know about coffee for $50 for adults and $45 for individuals who are 8-18 years old.

Downtown Hanalei

Don’t miss downtown Hanalei when visiting Kauai! This hip surfer town has lovely boutiques, wonderful coffee shops, plenty of food trucks, and amazing restaurants to choose from.

Beaches on Kauai

Jaw dropping beaches are not scarce on this island. The mountains meet the ocean creating stunning and unique landscapes. Hanalei Bay, Poipu Beach, Coconut Beach, and Tunnels Beach are just a couple of the beaches that you can check out during your vacation!

This is a random fact, but Tunnels Beach in Kauai was actually the place where Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a tiger shark in 2003. If you have never heard of Bethany Hamilton, she was a surfer who lost her arm after a shark incident and ultimately inspired people as she showed determination and strength. She wrote a book, and a movie was made about her called Soul Surfer. I read her book and owned the movie when I was younger, so she was an inspiration to me. Therefore, it was an interesting experience visiting the beach where the shark accident took place. That being said, be careful at the beaches, but wow are they beautiful!

Find wildlife

Finding wildlife is always exciting for me, and there are plenty of opportunities to see sea animals on the island. When staying at the Sheraton on Coconut Beach, we saw a monk seal almost everyday sleeping on the beach. Kauai is home to the endangered Hawaiian monk seals.

Poipu Beach is the place to go to in order to see wildlife as well! It was probably my favorite beach in Hawaii. Numerous sea turtles swim to the sands of Poipu Beach around sunset each evening to rest for the night. I think we saw like 30 sea turtles the night we were there! We also saw a couple monk seals swimming in the ocean and chilling on the sand at Poipu Beach.

As mentioned above, if you get out on the water (possibly on a tour of the Nāpali Coast), you may find playful dolphins and thousands of colorful fish in the clear water as well! Of course, be respectful, keep your distance from the animals, and don’t touch them.

Hanapēpē

Hanapēpē is a quick visit but pulls tourists, because this little town was the inspiration for Disney’s Lilo and Stitch movie. While walking their quaint downtown area, you can see murals recognizing the success of this movie. Hanapēpē also has a short suspension bridge that you can walk across. It is called Hanapēpē Swinging Bridge.

Favorite Restaurant & Coffee Shops

My favorite restaurant from my visit on Kauai was Tahiti Nui which is located in downtown Hanalei. This restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating with live music and a delicious menu. Their specialty pizzas were delicious!

I have to mention 2 of my favorite coffee shops on Kauai. First, Slow Yourself Down Coffee is a super cute coffee shop located downtown Hanalei. They offer specialty drinks and pastries and lots of merch such as shirts, hats, recipe books, and mason jars. I had to buy one of their “Slow Yourself Down” mason jars! I bought one of the reusable jars with peanut butter overnight oats in it, and the oats were delicious!

The other coffee shop that you should consider is Java Kai Coffee Co. Their bakery makes insane baked goods that are certainly tempting! They prepare various breakfast dishes that are all plated so nicely. Some of their breakfast options include avocado toast, breakfast burritos, bagel sandwiches, and power bowls. For my drink, I ordered a blended caramel anu, and it was very tasty! If you’re not a coffee drinker, they also serve other beverages such as matcha, smoothies, chai tea lattes, and fresh juice.

Conclusion

Although Kauai may not be cheap, it is a lush, memorable, and stunning destination for a vacation! It is a great spot to relax and learn about the beautiful Hawaiian culture. If you have any questions or further recommendations for Kauai, type them in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to putting “holoholo” into practice and making connections around the world. To read my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website.