Information about Kauai

Kauai FAQs and Info

The information here is provided as a convenience without guarantees, assurances, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise. I do my best to keep up with changes but please let me know if any information is incorrect or if you’ve had a bad experience. I have no affiliation with any company listed.

ACTIVITIES: Where to begin! There’s so much to see and do. More on that farther down the page but contact Susie if you are interested in connecting with a fun and knowledgeable activity specialist. More info at Explore Outdoor Hawaii.

AIR TOURS: As your host and lifelong Kauai resident, I recommend exploring by car, easy short walks, longer hikes and by boat; ways that are fun, immersive and tactile. Click for more info here and about recent helicopter crashes on Kauai, including 2 in 2024, here and here and more Kauai helicopter crash articles here, here and here.

BOTANICAL GARDENS: My favorite is Allerton Garden. I also like the grounds around the old Plantation Gardens Restaurant where they have an orchid collection and cactus garden started by the sugar plantation manager who lived there years ago. The grounds are free and open and a nice walk from the house. Also consider Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens.

CAR or 4WD?: Taxi companies and ride sharing services are available but a car is essential to explore. 4WD is not really necessary unless you want to drive the unpaved back roads (not recommended). Once you’re at the house there are 3 beaches, 2 restaurants, a deli and a surf shop within a five minute walk. The Kauai Bus stop is about a third of a mile from the house.

CAR RENTALS: I’ve heard high recommendations for Pineapple Express and Costco Travel. Turo has become popular over the past few years but be aware that Turo car parking is not allowed in the airport lot. Some operators still leave cars there and many have gotten towed away.

DINING: Our new favorite restaurant is Hualani's in Lihue. Gorgeous views and we found the service and food excellent. The Beach House is one of the top for views though we have been less than impressed the last 2 times we've dined there. Reservations well in advance are required, especially for sunset. La Spezia in Koloa is quite good and casual. We’ve also enjoyed Tide Pools at the Hyatt. For a date night, we like Red Salt at Koa Kea and their Pool Bar. It’s an easy walk along the coast from the house. We usually go before sunset and order drinks and dinner at the pool bar then check out the turtles resting for the evening on Poipu Beach on our way back. For family dinners, Kalapaki Joe’s is close and casual. They also have a good happy hour. Paco’s Tacos is at the Kiahuna Golf Club and often features live music.

One of our favorites is picking up food from Da Crack and going to Poipu Beach with beach chairs for turtle watching and sunset. Kukui'ula Boat Harbor and Salt Pond Beach Park are also excellent for sunset dining on the sand. Usually best during the week.

Koloa Fish Market is the go-to for lunch take out. Check out the food trucks. There are two areas in Koloa. Some of our favorites are Craving Thai (Koloa) and Shaka Burger often across from Lihue Costco gas station.

DRIVING: A few driving tips, customs and local laws.
1. Seat belts are mandatory and handheld cell phone use is not allowed while driving.
2. Traffic: I try to avoid driving between Poipu and Lihue or Kapaa between 7am to 8:30am and 3:30pm to 5pm or allow for an extra 15 to 25 minutes.
3. Beware of cars making random U-Turns, sudden stops and half-way pullovers. Scenery, people, animals and sights are often distracting.
4. One-lane bridges are found all over the island. Common practice is to let 5 to 7 cars go at a time or clear the line then alternate.
5. General courtesies like letting cars merge are appreciated and usually received with a smile and a “shaka”. Honking is almost always considered rude.
6. Basic directions: “Makai” (towards the ocean) and “mauka” (towards the mountain). Very useful on an island.
7. Roads here can be blocked for hours and often no way around. It is not unusual for the Hanalei Bridge to close due to heavy rains. The Kauai Traffic Alerts Facebook group and Google Maps are very helpful.

DOCTORS / EMERGENCY Emergency: 9-1-1
House calls: Poipu Mobile MD
Closest Medical Clinic: 5371 Koloa Road, Koloa. Phone: 808.742.1621. Walk-ins accepted. Call first.
Urgent Care: 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka Rd, Unit B-201, Koloa. Phone: 808.742.0999
Main hospital/ER: Wilcox Memorial Hospital, 3-3420 Kuhio Hwy, Lihue. Phone: (808) 245-1100
Emergency Room – Phone: (808)245-1010

FARMERS MARKETS: Here’s the schedule.

FISHING: Licenses may be obtained here.

FRESH FISH: All grocery stores on Kauai sell fresh locally caught fish but will vary depending on weather and luck. Koloa Fish Market usually has local caught fish.

GOLF COURSES: Poipu Bay and the Kiahuna Courses are within a half mile from the house. You’ll find a greater mix of residents and visitors the Kukuiolono Golf Course and Wailua Municipal Golf Course. Kukuiolono is a 9-hole course about 20 minutes from the house. Wailua is about 35 minutes away and is located along the coast. Check out the Kauai Golf Course Guide for more info.

GROCERIES: Leaving Lihue Airport, Kukui Grove Shopping Center is on your left about a quarter mile out of Lihue on your way to Poipu. This where you’ll find Safeway (open 24/7) and CostCo. There are two grocery stores in Koloa (2 miles from the house). Big Save is across from Koloa Post Office and is like a small Safeway. Sueoka’s is where Highway 520 meets Koloa. Kukui’ula Store is in a small strip center on Poipu Road about halfway between Koloa and Poipu. Living Foods is in the nearby Kukui’ula Shopping Center. Brennecke’s has a mini sundries store located across from Poipu Beach Park about 3 blocks from the house. If using a grocery shopping service, please be sure deliveries are scheduled for after 4pm on your arrival day.

HAENA STATE PARK / KE’E BEACH / KALALAU TRAIL: One of the most spectacular places on Kauai is the Kalalau Trail. It’s challenging, muddy in places, has a risky river crossing 2 miles in and a beach famous for its beauty and dangerous currents. It is also the only beach and hike on the island that requires reservations. Slots open 30 days in advance at 12am HST and go very quickly. Details at GoHaena.

Early morning at Ke’e Beach

HEALTH FOOD STORES: Hoku Foods in Koloa, Living Foods in Poipu, Vim ‘N Vigor in Lihue and Papayas Natural Foods in Kapaa.

HORSEBACK RIDING: CJM Country Stables is closest to the house and offers coastal rides. Princeville Ranch is an hour away.

CJM morning ride

HIKING ON KAUAI: Extra vigilance is required on Kauai trails due to rapid erosion, undermining and loose volcanic soils and rocks. We stay well back from the edge and recommend hiking poles on the more slippery trails.

Maha’ulepu coastal walk is one of my favorites and is also the closest. It can be started right from the house. Walk out the front door to the ocean and turn left. Walk along Pe’e Road as it winds up the crater. There is a trail that goes out to the ocean then along the rocky coast to the beach fronting the Hyatt then up the limestone trail continuing along the coast. We often start from the Shipwrecks Beach parking lot east of the Hyatt as it puts you right onto the trail. There are a number of trails that roughly parallel the coast. The total length is about 3.5 miles each way. Better for late afternoons or early mornings. Bring water. This is one of the best places for whale watching. Look for the remains of a WWII pill box at the top of the first ridge.

The Kalalau trailhead at Ke’e Beach Park is the most weather dependent and is the only one requiring reservations. It is often sold out so if interested, book as far in advance as possible. Entry info here. For those not interested in the full distance, it’s worth going the first half mile to catch the view down the coast and Ke’e Beach overlook. The beach and stream can get extremely treacherous. Once reaching the beach, Hanakapi’ai Valley is another 2 miles up the valley. No other waterfall hike on Kauai comes close. Be aware of possible falling rocks and flooding. Bring water or a water filter.

Kokee and Waimea Canyon Parks have the most trails and the Lodge serves delicious food and specialty coffees. Favorite hikes are Waipo’o Falls, Nualolo, Awa’awapuhi, Berry Flats (best for kids) and Alakai Swamp. Be extra diligent as trails can get undermined and very slippery if it’s been raining. The trails to the NW will generally dry out first after a hard rain. Waipo’o is the easiest to find and most busy. Berry Flats is a nice easy meander through the forest and a birder favorite. There is a loop at the top of the Kukui Trail with endemic plants and great canyon views though we avoid Kukui for it's long steep switchbacks that get quite hot in the afternoon.

I also like the Nonou Trail (Sleeping Giant) and Kuilau Ridge Trail on the east side (25-45 minutes away).

Along our favorite coastal walk from the house.

KAYAKS: There are several companies that rent single and double kayaks for Wailua River. Not recommended on windy days.

LUAU: Smith’s and Kilohana are about 35 and 20 minutes from the house. Be sure to sit in the front row for a chance at an impromptu hula lesson on stage 😉

MUST SEE/DO: Some of my favorite things to do on Kauai;
Coastal walks starting from your front door: (1) Walk to the ocean then left along the road for about a quarter mile. Look for a small parking lot and trail between Embassy Suites and Makahuena Condos. The coastal path then runs in front of the Hyatt to Shipwreck Beach then along the bluffs continuing for about 3.5 miles. There are several paths running roughly parallel to the ocean with several beaches along the way. This is a good place for whale watching but generally not good for swimming. More info. (2) The other one is heading west of the house. Walk along the short road section to Brennecke Beach and through Poipu Beach Park and along the bay. There is a path in front of the Marriott and continuing to Spouting Horn with a mix of beach, trail and sidewalks. Check out the Moir Gardens along the way.

Poipu Bay Course from the Mahaulepu coastal trail

Waimea Canyon and Kokee Parks are spectacular. From vistas along the road to a wide variety of hikes to just relaxing in the meadow by the Kokee Museum. The charges for parking at the lookouts but one charge is good for the day at all of the lookouts. We like Kokee Lodge for its tasty food and comfortable atmosphere. At around 4,000 ft elevation, it’s much cooler than Poipu.

Connector trail to Awa’awapuhi

The Na Pali Coast is spectacular! 3 best ways to enjoy;
1. Our favorite: the Kalalau Trail. Drive north to the end of the road and park at Ke’e Beach (reservations required). There’s a spectacular vista at the half mile marker looking west along the Na Pali Coast. Hanakapi’ai Beach is another mile and a half and the falls are about 2 miles inland from there. Out and back is ~8 miles total. Not recommended during heavy rain as the trail gets slippery and streams rise. Debris could come over the falls at any time so we stay to the sides when swimming there.
2. View from the two Kalalau lookouts at Kokee State Park.
3. Na Pali by boat. We’ve been out with both Na Pali Experience and Captain Andy’s.

For zip lines, check out Outfitters Kauai. I’ve been on the hike/zip line tour with my kids.

PHOTOGRAPHY: I highly recommend Christine for weddings, family and all specialized photography. Visit Kilikina Photography for a sampling of her beautiful work and contact info.

PLACES TO AVOID:
1. Queen’s Bath in Princeville (injuries, rogue waves, parking problem)
2. Kipu Falls (injuries, officially closed)
3. Exercise extreme caution at Hanakapi’ai, Lumahai and Polihale Beaches. These beaches are known for the strongest currents. ALL beaches on Kauai can be safe and ALL can be dangerous. It’s not always obvious. Sometimes the biggest waves have intervals of 30 minutes or more.

PRIVATE CHEF: We’ve enjoyed delicious food at events catered by Chef Thomas Ryan, at Custom Catering Hawaii. 808-332-9856 and Mi Va Mi Mediterranean food Private Chef & Catering.

RAIN IN THE FORECAST: Checking weather ahead of arrival is always a good idea but it is amazing how many forecasted rain days turn out to be sunny and beautiful! Forecasts are revised often. Also keep in mind that the weather station is at the Lihue airport which is not as dry as Poipu. The north shore tends to be quite rainy at times. Rain here is typically passing showers. When we do get a rainy spell, Salt Pond Beach Park is typically
drier. It will be best during the week. Occasionally we’ll get Kona winds when the wind comes out of the south. The east and northeast beaches typically have better weather under those conditions. Lydgate is a good choice.

SCENIC OVERLOOKS: Kauai has great scenic vantage points that don’t require any or just minimal walking. The closest is Spouting Horn in Poipu. There are several official lookouts on the way up to Waimea Canyon that require various degrees of walking. There are several more where you can just pull the car off the road. You’ll see them clearly as you drive up. The Kalalau Valley lookout is one of my favorites. This one requires about a 300 yard walk. Also check out Wailua and Opaekaa Falls and the Hanalei Valley lookout in Princeville.

SCUBA DIVING: There is good scuba diving around Kauai, especially the reefs off Poipu which is also one of the best snorkeling areas year-round. There are several dive shops in Koloa.

SNORKELING: Generally, the best snorkel beach is right around the corner from the house between Poipu Beach Park and the Marriott. It’s about a five minute walk along the coast and across the beach park. Another snorkeling spot is Hoai Bay about a mile west toward Spouting Horn adjacent to the Beach House Restaurant. Tunnels and Ke’e Beaches on the north shore often have nice snorkeling in the summer but can be treacherous. Reservations are needed for Ke’e Beach. Important info on snorkeling risks here.

SUP/Standup Paddle Boarding: Kalapaki Bay is the most popular place to go and there are board rentals available there.

SURFING: There are 6 main surf breaks on the south shore. The closest is Waiohai, directly in front of the Marriott. It is a right and left hander considered an intermediate break and one of the most consistent surf spots on the island, often with ridable waves year round. There are a few other breaks a mile west of the house. All depend on wind, tide and swell for best conditions. For board rentals, Nukumoi Surf Shop is about 2 blocks from the house and a short walk to Waiohai. No need to drive. There are several surf schools in the area including Kauai Surf School. Here’s a link for surf forecasting.

Alanna-CW at Pinetrees.jpg
Your host Chris and daughter Alanna in from surfing on Kauai

TENNIS/PICKELBALL COURTS: We enjoy playing at Koloa Park located on Maluhia Road just outside of Koloa, heading east toward Lihue. They’ll be on your right. The courts are all new in 2023.

TURTLES (HONU): Take the short walk to the lagoon at Poipu Beach Park just before sunset to see the honu emerge from the ocean to rest for the night on the sand. Sometimes you'll find dozens!

WEATHER: The weather is generally sunny in Poipu year-round. Here are the averages. Temperatures mostly range from 60’s to low 80’s. The island weather station is on the east shore at the Lihue airport which is typically windy and not as dry as Poipu. Forecasted rain typically means passing showers. Poipu will normally have the best weather year round except during the unusual, short periods of “Kona” weather when the wind switches to south then the east and north shores can have nicer weather.

Contact Chris for additional info and reservations
808-639-4127 or chris@kauaivp.com
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