Kauai is a stunning island located in the state of Hawaii. Also known as the “Garden Island,” Kauai is renowned for its lush green landscapes, turquoise waters, and pristine beaches. Kauai is an outdoor lover’s dream, offering visitors a range of activities such as hiking, surfing, snorkeling, and boating. The island’s natural beauty has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, including Jurassic Park. Our Kauai Itinerary has the perfect amount of adventure and relaxation!
Where to stay in Kauai
Regions in Kauai
There are four main areas to stay in Kauai:
- North Shore
- East Side
- Lihue (near airport)
- South Shore
Keep in mind that from the South Shore to the North Shore can be over 2 hours, so it may be best to split up your time in Kauai in multiple areas, unless you are okay with a lot of driving some days.
Kauai’s last region, the West Side, has very limited accommodations.
Accommodation in Kauai
Two resorts that we had the opportunity to stay at:
- Grand Hyatt: We were so impressed with this property. This luxury beachfront resort is home to tons of pools, a 150-ft waterslide, a saltwater lagoon, as well as a diverse array of restaurants.
- Royal Sonesta: Close proximity to the airport and a great location for travel to pretty much any region of Kauai.
How to get to Kauai
Whether you are traveling from another Hawaiian island or from home, you’ll fly into Lihue Airport (LIH). The best part is that the airport is small and easy to navigate. The rental car counters are across from the terminal which makes picking up your car super easy!
Note that when leaving Kauai for the US mainland, you will be required to go through an agricultural inspection.
Responsible Recreation in Kauai
- Respect all signage and don’t trespass on private property
- Check if trails require reservations or permits
- Consider using the shuttle instead of self parking for Hāʻena State Park (both shuttle and entry reservations needed)
- Check beach conditions daily online to know where its safe to swim and snorkel
- Check recent trail conditions and download offline trail maps
- Wear hiking boots with good traction on trails and be cautious of mud with recent rain
- Wear reef safe sunscreen only
- Don’t carve into rocks or trees
- Leave no trace by staying on trail and packing out everything you bring
- Consider participating in a Mālama Hawaii volunteer program
- Eat at Ocean Friendly designated restaurants that meet sustainability requirements
- If you are unsure if something is accessible or have any questions, contact the Kauai Visitors Bureau
Day 1 in Kauai
Explore Grand Hyatt Kauai
Our first day started off relaxing with swimming at the many pools of Grand Hyatt Kauai, floating in the lazy river and riding the water slide. We took it easy to rest up for a few days of adventures!
Take a helicopter tour around the island. This is one of the best experiences we had in Hawaii as a whole. We would recommend a later afternoon tour if you want the best light for photography. There are several companies that do a private, doors-off experience which we recommend.
Volunteer with Surfrider Kauai
Would you consider volunteering on vacation?
Mālama Hawaii is a program that allows visitors to volunteer and give back to the local communities in Hawaii! Our experience was so memorable and we would highly recommend participating.
We volunteered with an incredible organization called Surfrider that works towards these goals: Plastic Pollution Reduction, Beach Access, Ocean Protection, Coastal Preservation, and Clean Water. We helped sort through ocean debris that was collected from their weekly beach clean ups and it was eye opening to see how much ocean debris there is. Surfrider reuses the debris as much as possible for things like art projects and educational programs for kids but sadly most of it has to go to the landfill.
Surfrider’s mission is to protect oceans and beaches for the enjoyment of all people. Hawaii also has the Ocean Friendly Visitor’s Program which helps teach visitors how best to support Kauai’s oceans!
Dinner at Stevenson’s Sushi and Spirits
The vibe of this restaurant was so cool! It was a library theme with specialty cocktails and delicious sushi. It was the perfect end to our evening!
Day 2 in Kauai
Breakfast at Little Fish Coffee
Start your day early with acai bowls and delicious coffee at Little Fish Coffee in Poipu.
Hike the Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls Trail
This 3 mile trail might have been our favorite of the whole trip! The canyon trail has beautiful panoramic views of the Nāpali Coast and a waterfall feature. Keep in mind it can be extremely muddy and slippery, so wear hiking shoes with good traction that you don’t mind getting dirty. We saw way too many people with white tennis shoes!
Overlooks at Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park
There are four overlooks and we’d recommend stopping at all of them! Each offers a unique and different view of the beautiful Waimea Canyon and Nāpali Coast. Waimea Canyon is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and we thought the beautiful red canyon lived up to the name. These state parks are connected through one road and offer tons of hiking trails and many drive-up overlooks with scenic views.
Visit Kauai Coffee Company
Did you know Kauai Coffee Company is the largest coffee estate in the US with over 4 million coffee trees? They have free samples of all of their coffees as well as a self guided walking tour that takes you through the process of developing their coffee. They also offer guided tours. This is a quick, fun, and informative stop to add on to your day!
Coconut Corner and Shrimp Station
Stop for some fresh fruit or juice at this little roadside fruit shop! We ate the best papaya we’ve ever had from here. For lunch, we shared shrimp tacos from the Shrimp Station and they were absolutely delicious.
Dinner at Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach
Check into your next hotel, the Royal Sonesta Kauai and grab dinner on the beach when you arrive. We had a welcome Mai Tai included and took full advantage!
Day 3 in Kauai
Coffee at Sunrise Coffee
More delicious acai bowls and coffee for breakfast! This charming little food truck is the perfect place to fuel up before our day exploring the North Shore. These might be the best acai bowls we had in Kauai from this cute little shack!
Hanalei Bay Overlook
This is a quick stop on the side of the road but definitely worth it for this beautiful view overlooking Hanalei Bay!
Tunnels Beach
Tunnels Beach is a must stop. The mountain backdrop on a beach landscape is one of our favorite views. The water is so blue, and it is a great beach to relax at all day! Be sure to park in the regulated parking lot and do not park on private property.
Wailua Falls Overlook
This is an easy stop that requires no hiking. The 173 foot falls are located near the airport near Lihue. Please note you cannot climb to the base of the falls as it is illegal and dangerous!
Dinner at Hualani’s
We were so impressed with Hualani’s. This fine dining beachfront restaurant has incredible dishes.
Day 4 in Kauai
Raft the Napali Coast
The Nāpali Coast raft and snorkel trip with Captain Andy’s is one of the funnest adventures we’ve ever been on! The journey to the beautiful Nāpali coast was exhilarating and along the way we saw tons of Spinner dolphins riding in the raft wake and putting on a show for us! Once you arrive at the Nāpali coast, you travel into incredible sea caves and you will likely even get to snorkel alongside sea turtles like we did!
This is definitely an adventure for only those in great physical condition. This tour can’t accommodate pregnant women, anyone with any history of back or neck issues, medical conditions or recent surgeries, or children under six. Be sure to wear reef safe sunscreen!
Acai Bowls at Expresso and Juice
Stop here after your raft tour as it is conveniently located on your way back. You can’t go wrong with these delicious acai bowls.
Hike the Kuilau Trail
This hike’s close proximity to the airport makes it an easy one to add onto your last day! This hike really blew us away. We were surrounded by lush tree canopies and the greenest forest we had ever seen. The hike isn’t hard and leaves you in the best mood after being fully immersed in the most beautiful forest, hiking along a ridge.
Located in Līhu’e-Kōloa Forest Reserve, this out-and-back trail is 3.6 miles round trip with only 650 feet of elevation gain. It’s especially important to clean the soles of your hiking boots before and after the hike to decrease spread of fungus that kills native trees. Don’t forget to wear hiking boots with good traction and use caution with recent rain as this trail has the potential to be very muddy.
Dinner at Oasis on the Beach
One last dinner before you leave! We had a 10 PM flight and it gave us time to enjoy one last dinner at a beachfront restaurant as the sun set. The prices were very affordable here for a beachfront restaurant and the food was delicious!
We hope that you found our 4 day Kauai itinerary helpful! If you’ll be visiting the island of Maui, check out our Maui Itinerary and guide to the best stops on the Road to Hana.
