3 Waterfalls along the Kalalau Trail, Kauai; credit Jordan McQueen
Kauai Attractions
Helicopter Tours
On your first trip to Kauai, this activity should top your list. Take helicopter tours early morning for less wind. It’s common however for light rain and clouds to occur. If it gets very cloudy, ask your pilot to avoid thick clouds. Flights can be 45 minutes to 2 hours. His sailing adventure along Na Pali Coast features a custom 55′ Gold Coast Yacht. Enjoy a deli-style lunch, beer & wine. Reputable companies include Kauai Photography Flight Doors-Off Windows, Amazing Air Kauai Helicopter Tour, Deluxe Waterfall Safari, Kauai ECO Adventure Helicopter Tour, Hughes 500 Doors-Off Helicopter, and Doors Off Air Kauai Helicopter Tour.
Cast. Andys
His cruises out of Port Allen on the west shore are the most popular on Kauai. Take a sailing cruise with lunch up the Napali Coast or a romantic dinner cruise that features a brilliant sunset. Their tours are Star Na Pali Dinner Sunset Sail, Star Na Pali Snorkel BBQ Sail, Star Na Pali Snorkel BBQ Sail, Raft Na Pali Snorkel Adventure, and Classic Na Pali Snorkel Picnic Sail. Prices range from $225 to about $400. We took Capt. Andys lunch cruise up Napali Coast and loved it.
WEBSITE: https://www.napali.com
Blue Adventures Boat Tours
Having over 5000 5-Star reviews for Zodiac Tours, Catamaran Tours and Private Tours, they are a strong alternative to Capt. Andys.
WEBSITE: https://www.goblueadventures.com
Outfitters Kauai Zipline Tours
This compay has the most ziplines and longest ziplines, and most unique ziplines to support tandem, single, superman, water-zips, and the only pendulum zipline. Ride thrilling ziplines over scenes so beautiful they were featured in movies like Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Guests meet with them at Kipu Ranch for convenient check-in with plenty of parking. Friendly guides will share local island knowledge from natural history and folklore to their restaurants and food trucks.
WEBSITE: https://outfitterskauai.com/zipline-tours/
Kauai Backcountry Adventures
One-of-a-kind Kauai activities include tubing down an old sugar plantation irrigation system, through open canals, and through several tunnels hand-dug around 1870. Other activities include soaring through the air on a stunning zipline course, traversing the side of a mountain down to a lush bamboo grove. Enjoy exclusive access to over 17,000 scenic acres of former plantation lands in the heart of Kaua’i. Through it all, you learn about our island’s history, culture, and natural environment.
WEBSITE: https://kauaibackcountry.com
Queens Bath
Located near near Princeville lets you soak in a natural pool overlooking the ocean. A pleasant 10-minute hike past a waterfall leads down to a rocky landscape of lava rock. Another 5-minute trek over uneven rocks leads to the bath. Roughly the size of a large swimming pool, the Queen’s Bath is a natural tide pool with some fish. Water spills over the lava rocks to refresh the pool. Like many ocean attractions on Kauai the area should be approached with caution. The path and rocks are not suitable for those with mobility problems. Visiting the Queen’s Bath without appreciating the potential hazards can be deadly. The hike is not suitable for all. From October through May the coast is exposed to big surf. People have drowned after being swept off the rocks. Sprained ankles and bruises from slips on wet or uneven rocks and dirt are a common occurrence. After rain, the path becomes very difficult to walk.
WEBSITE: https://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai/attractions/queens-bath.aspx
Kauai Coffee Company
Located on the largest coffee farm in America. Take a free walking tour through the coffee orchard and talk to friendly guides. You’ll like see the coffee trees, see how their nuts are harvested and roasted on-site. Stop at their Visitor Center for a tasting of their fresh ground coffee. After the tour, you can relax on our lanai and take in the beautiful panoramic views of our plantation full of coffee trees that line picturesque fields leading down to the sea.
WEBSITE: https://www.kauaicoffee.com
Mokolea Lava Pools
One of many incredible geological formations in the Mokolea Lava Pools on the island of Kauai. This partially-submerged lava ledge sits 20 feet above the sea. Incoming tidal waves are often twice that height, drowning the rocks before receding to reveal a series of roiling tidal pools. The largest and most photo-ready of these pools is roughly the size of a hot tub. Sea life is often caught in the strong tides being shoved up through the pools and become briefly trapped.
WEBSITE: https://hawaiianislands.com/kauai/things-to-do/pools-of-mokolea
Spouting Horn Park
Located between the south and west shore, this area is known for its crashing waves in Poipu district. Waves erode lava rocks on the coastline which creates narrow openings. With every wave, water shoots upward when it is forced through an opening and creates a sound suggestive of hissing. The spray can shoot as high as 50 feet in the air. The original Hawaiian name was puhi, meaning blowhole. It best to see this blowhole from a safe distance. It’s a treasure just to watch the blowhole go off every 30-40 seconds depending on the tide. This is one of those great places to capture video for family and friends back home.
WEBLINK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spouting_Horn
Kalalau Trail in Koke’e State Park
When you hike this beautiful trail, bring walking boots and plenty of water. Hike in the morning. This 11-mile trail leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along the Nāpali Coast. Plan your outing to the secluded Kalalau Beach and/or Kalalau Valley. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. The trail traverses 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach where it is blocked by sheer cliff. The trail drops to sea level at the beaches of Hanakāpīʻai and Kalalau. When you cross a stream, beware that a heavy rain can change it to a flash flood on your return hike.
WEBSITE: https://kalalautrail.com
Spouting Horn blowhole in southwest Kauai; (c) Soul Of America
Red Dirt Waterfall
Most visitors associate this waterfall with the red planet, Mars. It has the hue of reddish-brown rust or clay. These falls is a great hike for those with children or who don’t consider themselves avid hikers. Although there isn’t a marked trail, the falls are visible from the road and a short hike from your car. There aren’t food or drink stands at Red Dirt Falls, so pack your snacks and water. To get there, take the Waimea Canyon Road (Highway 550), and at milepost 23, you’ll spot the red Martian-like landscape on your left. There isn’t a parking lot, so you’ll have to pull over onto the right shoulder. Traffic can be dangerous, so be careful crossing the road and hopping over the guardrail. The falls are a short hike away.
WEBLINK: https://hawaiianislands.com/kauai/things-to-do/red-dirt-waterfall
Wailua River and Secret Falls Kayak and Hiking Tour
Explore the natural beauty of Kauai on a 5-hour tour that combines a lovely kayaking trip with a moderately easy hike to Uluwehi Falls, also known as Secret Falls. Your experienced guide provides a paddling lesson and guided kayak tour in the Wailua River Valley, following gorgeous waterways through the lush Kauai landscape. Then hop out of your kayaks and take a 45-minute hike to Secret Falls where you can cool off in the clear waters before returning to the Wailua marina the way you came. Learn about local wildlife, and Hawaiian history and legends from the guide Park the kayaks for a hike to Secret Falls Includes all needed equipment and instruction.
WEBSITE: https://www.hawaiitours.com/to-do/secret-falls-kayak-tour/
Ha’ena State Park
Located at the northwestern extent of Kuhio Highway on Kauai’s north-shore. The park offers viewing of restored lo’i kalo (taro field) and the spectacular Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park. The park also offers beach-related activities including shore fishing and swimming at Ke’e Beach. Hā’ena is also home to the trailhead of the world-famous 11-mile Kalalau Trail and the 4-mile Hanakāpīʻai Falls Trail. Non-Hawaii residents are required to purchase $5 Park Entry Reservations or a Parking Reservation ($10 per vehicle) prior to arrival at Hāʻena State Park. Parking Reservations includes Park Entry for the driver and passengers. If you want to park for longer than one time slot, you need to purchase additional reservations. For example, if you want to be at the park from opening until closing (sunset), you’ll need to purchase all three time slots.
WEBSITE: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/kauai/haena-state-park/
Hike the Kalalau Trail on Kauai; credit Alain Bonnardeaux
Limahuli Garden & Preserve
Built on the footprint of Hawaiian ancestors, Limahuli Garden and Preserve is located on the north shore in one of the most biodiverse valleys in Kauai. Home to dozens of endangered plants and birds found nowhere else on earth, Limahuli Garden and Preserve highlights native and culturally-significant species in an authentic Hawaiian landscape. Limahuli Garden is a puʻuhonua (place of refuge) for an ecological system that honors the connection between nature and humanity, where indigenous traditions live in the 21st Century and they practice bio-cultural conservation. The Visitor Center & Gift Shop Hours are Tuesday-Saturday 8:30a–4p.
WEBSITE: https://ntbg.org/gardens/limahuli/
Kilalue Lighthouse & National Wildlife Refuge
This ecologically significant site is located on the north coast. This destination seamlessly combines history, natural beauty, and conservation efforts. The lighthouse stands tall on a promontory overlooking the ocean. Built-in 1913, it is a picturesque landmark that has guided mariners for over a century. Its historical importance is evident as it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Visitors can explore the lighthouse and its fascinating history through exhibits and displays inside the visitor center. The rugged coastline, with its sheer cliffs and lush greenery, is a sight. The panoramic ocean views from the lighthouse offer a perfect vantage point for whale watching during the winter months when humpback whales migrate to the warm Hawaiian waters. The pristine blue waters and the rugged terrain create a mesmerizing backdrop for photography and simply take in nature’s serenity. The area is home to diverse seabirds, albatrosses, frigate birds, and red-footed boobies. Ideal for wildlife photography.
WEBSITE: https://www.kauai.com/kilauea-lighthouse
Kauai Plantation Railway
A conductor-narrated train tours of the historic 105 acre Kilohana Plantation. The 2.5-mile rail line passes stands of original island crops like sugarcane and taro – the staple of ancient Hawaiians. You will also pass groves of mango, banana, papaya, pineapple, and then on to experimental plantings of longan, cashew, hybrid mango, noni, and atamoya. You get to disembark to spend some time feeding the pigs, goats, sheep, and a donkey. This is a great narrated ride for kids under age 8. Parents will enjoy the natural scenery.
WEBSITE: https://www.kilohanakauai.com/plantation-train
