Getting Here

The Closest airport is in Lihue i.e Lihue Airport(LIH). You could either take a direct flight to Kauai or fly into Honolulu or Maui and then take a flight to Kauai.

While in Kauai, you will need to rent a car to go around as public transport isnt the best here. You can rent cars from any of the major car rental company.

Best Time to Travel

Kauai is a great place to travel to year round. The weather throughtout the year is between 67°F to 85°F (19°C to 29°C). The best months are the shoulder seasons ie April - June or September-November.

December - March is considered winter and the north shore is less accessable so you might want to avoid the island then, unless you are not planning a snorkel adventure.

June - August are the driest months but also the most crowded so prices tend to be high.

Where to Eat?

There are so many amazing places to choose from to eat in Kauai - not very vegetarian friendly but will surely not disappoint your taste buds. Here are a few places we tried and LOVED.

For Breakfast/ Coffee:

• Rainbeau Jo's - Delicious coffee and great for a bagel breakfast
• Sunrise Coffee & Donuts - very cute coffee shop
• Java Kai Kapaa - This is the top of my list. I loved the coffee, the breakfast and the pastries here, especially the passion fruit cheesecake
• Imua Coffee Roasters - Vegan coffee place with an amazing coconut papaya dish.
• Passion Bakery Cafe or Kauai Bakery - for the best Malasadas

For Lunch:

• Coconut Corner or Kalalea Juice Hale - Both great for fresh juices and smoothies
• Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hot Dogs - The best hot dogs I have eaten for a while
• Waipa Self-Serve Fridge - such a cool concept. Get the Lilikoi cheesecake!
• The Terrace Hanalei - Works great for lunch or dinner
• Tiki Tacos - Amazing tacos worth the stop

For Dinner:

• Naisla Kitchen and Cocktails - An interesting combination of Japanese and Italian
• Keoki's Paradise - Great place for live music and good dinner
• Kauai Island Brewing Company - Great beer, very ok for food
• Tahiti Nui - Really amazing Mai tais and pizza!

Where to stay?

There are several options to choose from when it comes to where you want to live. It all depends on what your goal for the trip is. Let me break the three main areas down so it is easy for you to choose from

Option 1: Princeville

Princeville is located on the north shore of Kauai. It is known for being more family friendly but also more expensive and more luxurious.

Option 2: Kapa’a

Kapa’a is more tourist friendly, has really amazing restuarants and bars and is overall more centrally located. We stayed in this area for two main reasons:

1. It is closer to the airport so we didnt have to worry about a long dive before or after a flight.

2. It is equidistant from both South shore and North shore so we were able to spend time in both places without feeling too exhausted by the end of the day

Option 3: Poipu Beach

This is another really nice place to stay if you love watching sunsets every evening and if you are looking for more consistently sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and family-friendly atmosphere.

Sunsets

Sunsets are hard to catch in Kauai as they are primarily seen from the west shores that aren’t very popular among tourists but nonetheless, they are breathtaking. Here are a few beaches I’d recommend going to without being too out of the way.

Poipu beach:

Although you cannot see the sun setting directly in front of you, the dramatic colors in the sky make it a beautiful place to watch the sun set. The added bonus is you can see several turtles coming onto the shore as the sun sets making it a very dramatic place to be.

Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor:

For beautiful sunsets on the horizon, this is where you need to be.

Now, breaking down a 4 day getaway to Kauai -

Day 1 - South Island - Poipu Beach, Kauai Hindu Monastery

You can use this consolidated view on google maps for your day 1 itinerary Map for Day 1

Start the day off by grabbing a cup of coffee and some breakfast before heading out on your days adventure. If you are in the Kapa’a area on a Thursday, stop by the farmers market near Coconut Marketplace for fresh product, honey and other local gems. You can also stop by Passion Bakery for some tasty malasadas - lilikoi being my favourite. Once you are energized for the day, make your way to the Hindu Monestry. This is a beautiful and tranquil spot with tons of greenery and also a rudraksh forest!

On your way out to Poipu beach, stop at Opaekaa Falls for views of a beautiful waterfalls. This is one of the islands most accessable waterfalls and you get beautiful views all around.

If you plan on snorkeling during your time here, I recommend renting out your gear on day 1 so you save some time each day. We rented our snorkel gear from Snorkel Bob’s. The best thing about this was we were able to drop if off at a different location. The rental process was easy and we got snorkel gear and fins.

Make your way upto Poipu Beach for some afternoon snorkeling and lunch at Puka Dog. On your way here, drive through Tree Tunnel - a beautiful drive with over 500 Eucalyptus trees growing on either sides.

Day 2 - Lydgate Snorkel, Island from above, Princeville

You can use this consolidated view on google maps for your day 2 itinerary Map for Day 2

Starting the day off with a dip in the ocean is bound to get you up and ready for the day. We started the day by going to Lydgate Park to snorkel. This is a really good spot for younger kids and beginners as the water is shallow, calm and you see tons of sea life!

One of the most popular but pricy activities to do while in Kauai is going on a helicopter ride. This is both, thrilling and a very unique activity. The helicopter tour takes you to the Jurassic Park waterfalls, all over the canyons, the Napali Coast, and to the wettest place on earth(where it rains almost everyday!)

I have a breakdown of prices and vendors for your comparasion and feel free to choose what suits your timeline and budget! You can either do an open door heli ride or a closed door and both have their own pros and cons but neither will dissappoint!

• Open Door Rides:

Company	Duration	Price
Jack Harter Helicopters	65 mins	$364
Airborne Aviation	50 mins	$350
Kauai Helicopter	50 mins	$325
Air Kauai Helicopters	45 mins	$345
Hughes	50 mins	$345

• Closed Door Rides:

Company	Duration	Price
Safari Helicopters	90 min	$279
Island Helicopters	55 min	$145
Blue Hawaiian	45 min	$274
Air Kauai Helicopters	45 min	$280

The best time to go on a helicopter tour is at afternoon so you get good weather and the sun isnt obsfucating too much of the scenery. The fog seems to clear out by this time making it ideal.

Out of the helicopter as you are re acquainting yourself with land, make your way to Wailua Falls for another gorgeous waterfalls.

I’d recommend heading over to Princeville stopping along the way at lighthouses, fruit stands and maybe even coupling in a hike at Wai Koa Loop Trail. Make your way upto Tunnels beach for a dip or just a drive and dont forget to get a slice of the lilikoi cheesecake at the self serve fridge!

Hanalei Bay is a cute town and an ideal place to get dinner while you enjoy the husle of the small island.

Day 3 - Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon

You can use this consolidated view on google maps for your day 2 itinerary Map for Day 3

Another really popular activity on Kauai is taking a boat ride to the Napali Coast. Napali Coast is breathtaking and by far the most mesmerizing view of any mountain range I have seen from the ocean. You get to snorkel with fishes, and see dolphins in the dozens on a boat ride and as bumpy as the ride is, it is totally worth it.

Here are a few options I have for you to choose from:

Company	Duration	Price	Max Passengers
HOLO HOLO	7 hrs	$315	49
Capt Andy	4 hrs	$224	12
Capt Andy	6 hrs	$295	12
Makana	4.5-5 hrs	$215	12-16

It is hard to go wrong with any of these and for reference, we choose Makana tours and were very satisfied with the over head shade that the boat provided, the food, the music and the bathroom!

Make your way to Waimea Canyon after the boat ride to take in the beauty of the canyons from land.

It is a gorgeous canyon and doesnt take too long to drive along. If you have time to spare, you can hike along the Awaʻawapuhi trail and experience one of the most beautiful sunsets.

Day 4 - Snorkel at Anini Beach

Anini Beach snorkeling was a highlight for me in Kauai. I loved the calm beaches, the abundance of sea creatures including friendly turtles and the vastness of the cove as well. This beach does not have life guards so be extra careful if you are not an expert swimmer.

You can drive to the end of the road on Anini or park at the State park and there are plenty of reefs around to keep you satisfied. We spend our last day on Kauai snorkeling and enjoying our time in the ocean as we dont get to do this as often as we like.

If being in the ocean is not your cup of tea, you can choose to do one of the things I listed below that we didnt get to do:

• Warehouse 3540
• Koloa Fish Market
• Dine at Beach House Restaurant
• Take a tour of Kauaʻi Coffee Company
• Go to the Kōloa Rum Company Store or to Hanalei Spirits Distillery Corp
• Shipwreck Beach

No matter what you end up doing, Kauai is a dream island where time stands still and beaches and beauty is all around you.

Best Places to Snorkel

North Shore:

• Tunnels Beach - Great snorkel spot but impossible to find parking!
• Anini Beach - This was the best spot for us!
• Ke’e Beach - Its a journey to get here but the fruits are plenty!

South Shore:

• Poipu Beach Park - For guranteed turtle sighting.

East Shore:

• Lydgate Beach Park - Best for kids

Tips for Kauai

• Use coral safe sunscreens to protect the corals
• There are a ton of sea urchins that can sting you so be safe while snorkeling
• Drink plenty of fluids as the island can dehydrate you
• It can start raining at any time so be prepared!
• You will have to drive a LOT, everywhere so make sure you account for the time and traffic.
• Restaurants tend to close early so make sure you get food before 8pm to be safe
• Helicopter rides can get cancelled for a myraid of reasons so book that on your first day so you have more chances incase of a cancellation

Hawaii is the kind of place you want to keep coming back to. The people, the beaches, the sunset, the food - it all takes your breath away. I was here for a short while but I cannot wait to be back on my next Hawaiian adventure!

–

Amrita