ANARA Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai (tel. 808/240-6440): Get rid of stress and be pampered in a Hawaiian atmosphere where the spirit of aloha reigns. An elegant 25,000-square-foot spa, ANARA (A New Age Restorative Approach) focuses on Hawaiian culture and healing, with some 16…
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Kauai Attractions
Yes, Kauai has the best beaches in Hawaii, but don't forget the rest of this beautiful island. Get out and discover for yourself why Kauai is called the "Garden Isle." Walk back in history in the capital of Lihue. Make time to see Kauai's incredible botanical world of manicured gardens, the geological wonders of Waimea Canyon, the incredible carved cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, and the enchanted rainforests of the wettest place on Earth. Book a helicopter flight, take a back-roads tour in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, make a pilgrimage to a Hindu temple located on a sacred Hawaiian site, drop the kids off at a children's museum, or sign up for an expedition to Kauai's famous movie sites. There's a lot more to Kauai than its gorgeous beaches, so get out there and discover why visitors become enchanted with this magical island.
Hang Ten Without Getting Wet -- Here's your opportunity to take a photo of your trip to Kauai that will astound and amaze your friends -- you on a surfboard. Oh, you don't surf; can't even swim? No problem. Drive down to Hawaiian Trading Post, at the intersection of Koloa Road and Kaumualii Highway. On the side of their building (facing the parking lot) is a fake backdrop with a surfboard and a huge wave (fashioned from plaster) that looks amazingly like the real thing. Bring your own camera (and bathing suit) and snap away.
The Poipu Resort Area
No Hawaii resort has a better entrance. On Maluhia Road, eucalyptus trees planted in 1911 as a windbreak for sugar-cane fields now form a monumental tree tunnel. The leafy-green, cool tunnel starts at Kaumualii Highway; you'll emerge at the golden-red beach. The Poipu Beach Resort Association (tel. 888/744-0888 or 808/742-7444; www.koloaheritagetrail.info) produces a free brochure called the Koloa Heritage Trail, which is a 10-mile walk, bike ride, or drive that has some 14 historical stops and markers describing the history and culture of this area. The Historic Trail begins at Spouting Horn and finishes at the Koloa Mission Church in Koloa town. The trail is a great idea, but a few of the sites are either no longer there (like site no. 10 on Hapa Rd., where the precontact evidence of ancient Hawaiians is no longer), changed dramatically from what they once were (like site no. 13, the Yamamoto Store and Koloa Hotel, now gone), or difficult to get to (like site no. 9, Pu'uwanawana Volcanic Cone, which you can see in the distance from the highway, but is located on fenced private property).
Waimea Town
If you'd like to take a self-guided tour of this historic town, stop at the Waimea Library, at mile marker 23 on Hwy. 50, to pick up a map and guide to the sites.
Wailua River State Park
Ancients called the Wailua River "the river of the great sacred spirit." Seven temples once stood along this 20-mile river, which is fed by 5,148-foot Mount Waialeale, the wettest spot on Earth. You can go up Hawaii's biggest navigable river by boat or kayak, or drive Kuamoo Road (Hwy. 580, sometimes called the King's Hwy.), which goes inland along the north side of the river from Kuhio Highway (Hwy. 56) -- from the northbound lane, turn left at the stoplight just before the ruins of Coco Palms Resort. Kuamoo Road goes past the heiau (temple) and historical sites to Opaekaa Falls and Keahua Arboretum, a State Division of Forestry attempt to reforest the watershed with native plants.
Sleeping Giant -- If you squint your eyes just so as you pass the 1,241-foot-high Nounou Ridge, which makes a dramatic backdrop for the coastal villages of Wailua and Waipouli, you can see the fabled Sleeping Giant. On Kuhio Highway, just after mile marker 7, around the minimall complex of Waipouli Town Center, look mauka (inland) and you may see what appears to be the legendary giant named Puni who, as the story goes, fell asleep after a great feast. If you don't see him at first, visualize him this way: His head is Wailua and his feet are Kapaa.
71 Results
- Park/Garden
Allerton Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden
Discover an extraordinary collection of tropical fruit and spice trees, rare Hawaiian plants, and hundreds of varieties of flowers at the 186-acre preserve known as Lawai Gardens, said to be the largest collection of rare and endangered plants in the world. Adjacent McBryde Garden, a…The Poipu Resort Area
- Beach
Anahola Beach
Anahola is part of the Hawaiian Home Lands federal program, meaning that much of the land here is reserved for lease by Native Hawaiians; you’ll pass their modest homes on the road to this secluded, mostly reef-protected golden strand. The 1 1/2-acre Anahola Beach Park on the south…East Side - Park/Garden
Anaina Hou Community Park
Anywhere else, a mini-golf park might be easily dismissed as a tourist trap. On Kauai, it’s a wonderful introduction for families to the Garden Island’s tropical flora and cultural history, and just one of several visitor attractions in this inviting park. The well-landscaped,…North Shore - Beach
Anini Beach
Anini is the safest beach on Kauai for swimming and windsurfing, thanks to one of the longest, widest fringing reefs on the island, among the very largest in all of Hawaii. With shallow water 4 to 5 feet deep, it’s also a good snorkel spot for beginners (although the coral and… - Tour
Blue Hawaiian
Blue Hawaiian has been the Cadillac of helicopter tour companies on Maui and the Big Island for more than a decade, and recently they have expanded their operations to Kauai. I strongly recommend that you try to book with them first. Their operation is first-class, and they use…Western Kauai - Sports Venue
CJM Country Stables
A trail ride through the rugged Mahaulepu region, passing through former plantation fields and natural landscape to the untrammeled sandy beaches under the shadow of Haupu Ridge, may well be the highlight of your trip. CJM’s standard rides both include 2 hours of riding, but the…West Side - Tour
Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures
Captain Andy has been sailing to Napali since 1980, with a fleet that now includes two sleek 55-foot custom catamarans, the Spirit of Kauai and Akialoa; two luxurious 65-foot catamarans, the Southern Star and the Northern Star; and the zippy 24-foot Zodiac, which holds about a dozen…West Side - Natural Attraction
Fern Grotto
The journey as much as the destination has kept this tourist attraction popular since 1946, when the Smith family first began offering boat trips 2 miles up the Wailua River to this lava-rock cave with lush ferns hanging from its roof. The open-air barge cruises past royal and sacred…East Side - Historic Site
Grove Farm Museum
The son of missionaries in Hanalei, George N. Wilcox bought the original 900-acre Grove Farm from a German immigrant in 1864 and turned it into a successful sugar plantation. Two-hour guided tours of the homestead start at the original plantation office and include the two-story main…East Side - Natural Attraction
Haena State Park
Besides snorkeling at pretty Kee Beach ★★★, in the shadow of jutting Makana (Bali Hai) mountain, or camping, the main allure of this state park is that it’s at the end of the road, the perfect place to witness sunset after a leisurely drive to the North Shore. It’s also the start of…North Shore - Beach
Hanalei Beach
Easily one of the most majestic settings in Hawaii, and unbelievably just a few blocks from the main road, Hanalei Beach is a gorgeous half-moon of golden-white sand, 2 miles long and 125 feet wide. Hanalei means “lei-shaped,” and like a lei, the curving, ironwood-fringed sands adorn…North Shore - Sports Venue
Hokuala Golf Club
The former Kauai Lagoons Golf Club is now part of the new Timbers Resort development, Hokuala, which plans to add a boutique hotel and retail center to its luxurious private homes. Jack Nicklaus originally designed the 18-hole, oceanfront Kiele Course (since renamed the Ocean Course)…East Side - Tour
Holoholo Charters
Holo Holo Charters ★★★—Port Allen is the point of departure for Holo Holo’s two gleaming catamarans. The 50-foot Leila, licensed for 45 passengers but limited to just 37, serves Holo Holo’s 5-hour, year-round Napali snorkel sails: They’re $159 adults and $119 children 6 to 12,…West Side - Farm
Hoopulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill & Taro Farm
Many of the green taro patches seen from the Hanalei Valley Overlook belong to the 30-acre Haraguchi Farm, where fifth-generation farmer Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, family members, and other laborers tend Hawaii’s revered staple by hand. When the Haraguchis bought the farm in 1924,…North Shore - Tour
Island Helicopters
Curt Lofstedt has been flying helicopter tours of Kauai for nearly 3 decades. He personally selects and trains professional pilots with an eye not only to their flying skills but also to their ability to share the magic of Kauai. All flights are in the six-passenger Aerospatiale A…Western Kauai - Tour
Jack Harter
The pioneer of helicopter flights on Kauai, Jack was the guy who started the sightseeing-via-helicopter trend. On the 60-minute tour, he flies a four-passenger Hughes 500 with the doors off or a Eurocopter AS350BA A STAR. The 90-minute tour (in the A STAR only) hovers over the sights…Western Kauai - Historic Site
Ka Ulu O Laka Heiau
On a knoll above the boulders of Kee Beach stands a sacred altar of rocks, often draped with flower leis and ti-leaf offerings. The altar is dedicated to Laka, the goddess of hula. It may seem like a primal relic from the days of idols, but it's very much in use today. Often, dancers…On the Road to Hanalei - Beach
Kalapaki Beach
This quarter-mile-long swath of golden sand may seem like a private beach, given all the lounge chairs on its border with the Kauai Marriott Resort, which towers behind. But there’s generally plenty of room to find your own space to sunbathe, while the jetty stretching across much of…East Side - Cultural complex
Kamokila Hawaiian Village
This family-run 4-acre compound of thatched huts and other replica structures, opened in 1979 on the site of an ancient village, always looks in need of more upkeep. Nevertheless, it serves as a pleasantly low-key introduction to traditional Hawaiian culture, especially for families.…East Side - Farm
Kauai Coffee
Some 4 million coffee trees grow on 3,100 acres of former sugarcane fields from Lawai Valley to Eleele, making Kauai Coffee the largest producer of coffee in Hawaii—and the United States. Kona coffee fans might sniff at the fact that the beans are machine-harvested, but it’s…South Shore - Museum
Kauai Museum
Though admission has jumped to $15, that fee allows you to return within a week—and you may well want to, in order to absorb more of the fascinating geological and cultural history of Kauai and Niihau. Visitors enter through the Wilcox Building, the former county library built in…East Side - Tour
Kauai Plantation Railway
The first new railroad to be built in Hawaii in 100 years opened in 2007 after 5 years of work, 6,000 ties, 30,000 hand-driven spikes, and 480,000 pounds of iron rail. The Kauai Plantation Railway is part scenic tour, part-cultural tour, part agricultural tour, part educational tour,…Lihue & Environs - Beach
Kauapea Beach
Not exactly secret, but still wonderfully secluded, this long, broad stretch of light sand below forested bluffs lies snugly between rocky points, with only a few cliff-top homes and Kilauea Point Lighthouse to the east providing signs of civilization. Although strong currents and…North Shore - Cultural complex
Ke Kahua O Kaneiolouma
It’s impossible to miss the four towering tiki on a stone platform by the main turnoff for Poipu Beach Park, but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you just drive by. Still under restoration, this rock-walled, centuries-old complex contains a navigation-themed heiau (temple),…South Shore - Garden
Keahua Arboretum
Part of the vast Lihue–Koloa Forest Reserve, this grove of rainbow eucalyptus (named for its colorful bark), monkeypod, and mango trees may not be well maintained from an arborist’s standpoint, but it’s a nifty, family-friendly place to picnic and dip in a cool stream, particularly…East Side - Beach
Kealia Beach
Only very experienced surfers and bodyboarders should try their skill on the usually powerful waves here, but everyone else can enjoy the show from the broad golden sand, a picnic table, or the nearby coastal multiuse path. The lifeguards can advise you if it’s calm enough to go for…East Side - Beach
Kee Beach
The road ends here at this iconic tropical beach, hugged by swaying palms and sheltering ironwoods, its pale dunes sloping into a cozy lagoon brimming with a kaleidoscope of reef fish. You could feel like a sardine during summer when the ocean is at its most tranquil; year-round, the…North Shore - Beach
Keoneloa (Shipwrecks) Beach
Makawehi Point, a lithified sand dune, juts out from the eastern end of this beach, whose Hawaiian name means “the long sand.” Harrison Ford and Anne Heche jumped off Makawehi in Six Days, Seven Nights (don’t try it yourself), while bodysurfers and boogie-boarders find the roiling…South Shore - Sports Venue
Kiahuna Golf Club
This par-70, 6,353-yard course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is a veritable wildlife sanctuary, where black-crowned night herons, Hawaiian stilts, and moorhens fish along Waikomo Stream, and outcroppings of lava tubes by the second fairway hold rare blind spiders. Keep your…South Shore - Historic Site
Kiki a Ola
Ancient Hawaiians were expert rock builders, able to construct elaborate edifices without using mortar. They formed long lines and passed stones hand over hand, and lifted rocks weighing tons with ropes made from native plants. Their feats gave rise to fantastic tales of menehune,…Western Kauai - Nature/Outdoor Recreation/Lighthouse
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge & Lighthouse
Two miles north of the historic town of Kilauea is a 200-acre headland habitat—the island’s only wildlife refuge open to the public—that includes cliffs, two rocky wave-lashed bays, and a tiny islet serving as a jumping-off spot for seabirds. You can easily spot red-footed boobies,…North Shore - Farm
Kilohana Plantation
This 105-acre portion of a former sugar plantation has long been known for the unique shops tucked into a handsome 1930s mansion, its luau, and the courtyard Gaylord’s restaurant, named for original owner Gaylord Wilcox. But more recent additions are also memorable. Beyond sampling…East Side - Park/Garden
Kokee State Park
It’s only 16 miles from Waimea to Kokee, but the two feel worlds apart: With 4,345 acres of rainforest, Kokee is another climate zone altogether, where the breeze has a bite and trees look quite continental. This is a cloud forest on the edge of the Alakai Swamp, the largest swamp in…West Side - Sports Venue
Kukuiolono Golf Course
Although not on a resort, this 9-hole hilltop course has unbeatable views to match an unbeatable price: $9 for all day, plus $9 for an optional cart. The course is part of woodsy Kukuiolono Park ★, which includes a Japanese garden and Hawaiian rock artifacts; both the garden and the…South Shore - Park/Garden
Kukuiolono Park
Hawaiians once lit signal fires atop this Kalaheo hillside, perhaps to aid seafarers or warn of invaders. Most visitors are still in the dark about this unusual park, created by pineapple magnate Walter McBryde and then bequeathed to the public after his death in 1930. A mile off the…South Shore - Beach
Kumukumu (Donkey) Beach
When the only way to reach this beach was by a downhill hike through sugarcane fields near a donkey pasture, nude sunbathers took full advantage of its seclusion. Now it’s bordered by large luxury estates and the Ke Ala Hele Makalae coastal path, connecting it to Kealia Beach, 1 1/2…East Side - Museum/Religious Site
Lawai International Center
Although you’ll hear some noise from the unseen highway, the serenity of this historic 32-acre valley, open only for free guided tours, is unshakable, especially once you ascend the former Hawaiian heiau (temple) to the new Hall of Compassion, a gleaming wooden structure in the style…South Shore - Tour
Liko Kauai & Makana Charters
Liko Kauai & Makana Charters ★—Born and raised on Kauai, in a Native Hawaiian family with roots on Niihau, Captain Liko Hookano offers more than just typical cruises; instead, they’re a 5-hour combina-tion Napali Coast tour/snorkel/cultural history class/seasonal whale-watching… - Garden
Limahuli Garden and Preserve
Beyond Hanalei and the last wooden bridge, there’s a mighty cleft in the coastal range where ancestral Hawaiians lived in what can only be called paradise. Carved by a waterfall stream known as Limahuli, the lush valley sits at the foot of steepled cliffs that Hollywood portrayed as…North Shore - Beach
Lumahai Beach
Between lush tropical jungle of pandanus and ironwood trees and the brilliant blue ocean lie two crescents of inviting golden-sand beach, separated by a rocky outcropping. Here is Kauai at its most captivating—and where you must exercise the most caution. Locals have nicknamed it…North Shore - Beach
Lydgate Beach
Part of the family oasis of 58-acre Lydgate Park ★ on the south side of the Wailua River mouth, Lydgate Beach has two rock-walled ponds that create the safest swimming and best snorkeling on the East Side—unless storms have pushed branches and other debris into the pond, which can… - Park/Garden
Lydgate Park
This is one of the rare beach parks in Hawaii where the facilities almost outshine the beach. In front of the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, Lydgate Beach ★ offers two rock-walled ponds for safe swimming and snorkeling. But many families also gravitate to the 58-acre,…East Side - Beach
Mahaulepu Beaches
Not far from the well-groomed resorts of Poipu is a magical place to leave the crowds—and maybe the last few centuries—behind. To reach the three different beaches of Mahaulepu, framed by lithified sand dunes, former sugarcane fields, and the bold Haupu ridge, you’ll have to drive at…South Shore - Sports Venue
Makai Golf Club
This gem of a course—the first on the island to be designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.—has extra luster now that the nearby Prince Course has gone private. It’s already gained favor with nongolfers by offering self-guided sunset golf cart tours ★★★ ($60 per cart; 808/826-1863), with…North Shore - Archeological Site
Makauwahi Cave Reserve
The Pacific’s greatest cache of fossils, including those of enormous, long-extinct waterfowl, may lie in the depths of the largest limestone cave in Hawaii. Exposed by a sinkhole thousands of years ago, the cave is managed by paleoarchaeologists and conservationists David and Lida…South Shore - Beach
Makua (Tunnels) Beach & Haena Beach
Makua Beach earned the nickname of “Tunnels” from the labyrinth of lava tubes that wind through its inner and outer reef, making this Kauai’s premiere snorkeling and diving site year-round. But as fascinating as the rainbow of tropical fish and the underwater tunnels, arches, and…North Shore - Natural Attraction
Menehune (Alekoko) Fishpond
Just outside Lihue and Nawiliwili Harbor, on the Huleia River, lies a mystery that still can't be explained -- the handiwork of the menehune. The pond, called Alekoko ("rippling blood") and today known as the Menehune Fishpond, was an aquacultural feat constructed hundreds of years…Lihue & Environs - Garden
Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens
Off the North Shore’s beaten path, this magical garden and hardwood plantation covers 240 acres, sprinkled with 70 life-size (some larger-than-life-size) whimsical bronze statues. It’s the place for avid gardeners, as well as people who think they don’t like botanical gardens. It has…North Shore - Park/Garden
Napali Coast State Wilderness Park
This 15-mile-long crown of serrated ridges and lush valleys is the most impressive of Kauai’s natural features—and also its most inaccessible. Only hardy, well-equipped hikers should attempt the full length of the 11-mile Kalalau Trail, which begins at Kee Beach and plunges up and…North Shore - Park/Historic Site
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Formerly owned by the McBryde Sugar Company, which bought the land from Queen Emma in 1886, this lush swath of Lawai Valley contains two major gardens worth visiting, as well as the headquarters and research facilities of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The 186-acre McBryde…South Shore - Tour
Niihau Helicopter
This is the only helicopter company offering tours of Niihau, the "Forbidden Island." The half-day tours, on an Agusta 109A twin-engine helicopter, include an aerial tour over the island. The helicopter then lands on Niihau at a beach (the island is generally closed to the public),…Western Kauai - Sports Venue
Poipu Bay Golf Course
This 7,123-yard, par-72 course with a links-style layout was, for years, the home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the challenging course features undulating greens and water hazards on eight of the holes. The par-4 16th hole has the coastline…South Shore - Beach
Poipu Beach
A perennial “best beach” winner, the long swath of Poipu is actually two beaches in one, divided by a tombolo, or sandbar point. On the left, a lava-rock jetty protects a sandy-bottom pool that’s perfect for children most of the year; on the right, the open bay attracts swimmers,…South Shore - Beach
Polihale Beach
This mini-Sahara on the western end of the island is Hawaii’s biggest beach: 17 miles long and as wide as three football fields in places. This is a wonderful place to get away from it all, but don’t forget your flip-flops—the midday sand is hotter than a lava flow. The pale golden…West Side - Sports Venue
Prince Golf Course at Princeville
Here’s your chance to play one of the best courses in Hawaii. Reopened in 2012 after a $5-million renovation, this Robert Trent Jones, Jr.–designed devil of a course sits on 390 acres molded to create ocean views from every hole. Some holes have a waterfall backdrop to the greens,… - Park/Garden
Prince Kuhio Park
This small roadside park is the birthplace of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, the "People's Prince," whose March 26th birthday is a holiday in Hawaii. He opened the beaches of Waikiki to the public in 1918 and served as Hawaii's second territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress. What…The Poipu Resort Area - Sports Venue
Princeville Golf Club, Prince Course
Here's your chance to play one of the best golf courses in Hawaii. This Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed devil of a course sits on 390 acres molded to create ocean views from every hole. Some holes have a waterfall backdrop to the greens, others shoot into the hillside, and the…The North Shore - Sports Venue
Princeville Ranch Adventures
There’s no nose-to-tail riding at this working North Shore ranch, owned by descendants of the area’s first missionaries. Instead, horses amble across wide-open pastures with mountain and ocean views as you learn about Kauai’s paniolo (cowboy) history and distinctive landscape. The…West Side - Sports Venue
Puakea Golf Course
This former Grove Farm sugar plantation opened up 18 holes in 2003 to rave reviews, however, we are disappointed to report the greens have gone downhill and when we went to press the greens were not in good shape. The course was in the middle of construction when Hurricane Iniki…Lihue & Environs - Historic Site
Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park
To the list of those who tried to conquer Hawaii, add the Russians. In 1815, a German doctor tried to claim Kauai for Russia. He even supervised the construction of this fort in Waimea, named for the wife of Czar Alexander I (spelled “Elisabeth” on some signage), but he and his…West Side - Tour
Safari Helicopters
This family-owned and -run company also flies custom-designed, huge windowed "Super" A STAR helicopters (37% larger than most helicopters) with high-back leather seats. Here, too, the pilot is on the left side of the helicopter (instead of the usual position on the right), which not…Western Kauai - Beach
Salt Pond Beach
You’ll see Hawaii’s only salt ponds still in production across from Salt Pond Beach, just outside Hanapepe. Generations of Hawaiians have carefully tended the beds in which the sun turns seawater into salt crystals. Tinged with red clay, ‘alae, the salt is used as a health remedy as…West Side - Sports Venue
Silver Falls Ranch Stables
The wide falls here may not be as impressive as the taller ones on Princeville Ranch, but the swimming hole is equally refreshing and the scenery just as stimulating. The 300-acre ranch in Kalihiwai Valley features an 80-acre tropical garden and close-up views of the 2,800-foot-tall…West Side - Natural Attraction
Spouting Horn
The Hawaiian equivalent to Old Faithful—at least in regularity, if not temperature—is an impressive plume of seawater that jettisons anywhere from 10 to 50 or so feet into the air above the rocky shoreline (fenced for safety reasons). The spout comes from the force of ocean swells…South Shore - Tour
Sunshine Helicopter
Ross and Anna Scott bought out Will Squyres Helicopter tours and have a range of tours from both the Lihue Airport and from the Princeville Airport. You can save a lot of cash by booking through their website, where you have a choice of a 40- to 50-minute tour or a 45- to 55-minute… - Natural Attraction
Wailua Falls
If you'd like to see cascading waterfalls but don't want to hike into the wilderness to do it, this is your best bet. The journey here, about a 4-mile drive from Lihue, takes you through rolling hills past former sugar-cane fields and across a valley, with majestic mountains in the… - Sports Venue
Wailua Golf Course
Highly rated by both Golf Digest and the Golf Channel, this coconut palm–dotted, largely seafront course in windy Wailua has hosted three U.S. amateur championships. Along the makai (ocean) side of the main highway, the first nine holes were built in the 1930s; the late Kauai golf…East Side - Park/Historic Site
Wailua River State Park
Wailua River State Park ★★ PARK/HISTORIC SITE—Ancients called the Wailua River “the river of the great sacred spirit.” Seven temples once stood along this 20-mile river, Hawaii’s longest, fed by the some 450 inches of rain that fall annually on Waialeale at the island’s center. The…East Side - Natural Attraction
Waimea Canyon State Park
Often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific—an analogy attributed to Mark Twain, although there’s no record he ever visited—Waimea Canyon is indeed spectacular, albeit on a smaller scale. A mile wide, 3,600 feet deep, and 14 miles long, depending on whom you ask, this counterpart to…West Side - Historic site/museum
Waioli Mission House Museum and Church
Many visitors passing through Hanalei pull over for a photo of Waioli Huiia Church (www.hanaleichurch.org; 808/826-6253), a 1912 American Gothic wooden church with a steep roof, forest-green walls, and belfry reflecting the shape and hues of the mountains behind it. Nearby is the…North Shore - Museum
West Kauai Technology & Visitor Center
Although its hours are limited, this center’s two free weekly activities and the small but well-curated cultural exhibitions merit a stop here before or after your Waimea Canyon expedition. The “Keepers of the Culture” displays include vintage photos, artifacts, and panels on…
More About Kauai Attractions
Kauai Shopping
Kauai Shopping
Kauai has more than a dozen open-air shopping centers and historic districts well suited to browsing, so souvenir and gift hunters are unlikely to leave the island empty-handed. To find something unique to the Garden Isle, look for the purple KAUAI MADE logo. The image of a ho‘okupu, the ti-leaf wrapping for special presents, means the county certifies that these handicrafts and food items were made on the island using local materials where possible, and in relatively small batches. Search for them by type of product or region at http://kauaimade.net.
Below are some of the island’s more distinctive shopping stops.
East Side:
Lihue
The island’s largest mall, Kukui Grove Shopping Center, 3-2600 Kaumualii Hwy., makai side at Nawiliwili Road (www.kukuigrovecenter.com), attracts locals with department stores such as Macy’s and Kmart; visitors on a tight schedule or budget should browse the competitively priced, locally made foodstuffs (coffees, jams, cookies, and the like) at Longs Drugs (808/245-7785). The mall’s family-run Déjà Vu Surf Hawaii (www.dejavusurf.com; 808/245-2174) has a large selection of local and national brands.
Anchor Cove (3416 Rice St.) and Harbor Mall (3501 Rice St.), two small shopping centers near Nawiliwili Harbor, mostly offer typical T-shirts, aloha wear, and souvenirs; Harbor Mall has a free trolley for cruise ship passengers. Find tropical-print fabrics and clothes, batiks, and Hawaiian quilts at Kapaia Stitchery, 3-3351 Kuhio Hwy., mauka side at Laukini Road (www.kapaia-stitchery.com; 808/245-2281).
The Shops at Kilohana lie within the graceful 1930s mansion of Kilohana Plantation, 3-2087 Kaumualii Hwy., mauka side, south of Kauai Commuity College (http://kilohanakauai.com). It’s a handsome setting for a half-dozen boutiques selling locally made, Hawaiian-inspired artwork, jewelry, clothing, and vintage Hawaiiana. Don’t miss the handmade guava and sea salt caramels at Kauai Sweet Shoppe (808/245-8458) or the stand-alone Koloa Rum Co. (www.koloarum.com; 808/246-8900), which carries six kinds of its locally made rum, rum-based treats, and nonalcoholic goodies.
Coconut Coast
At press time, Coconut MarketPlace, 4-484 Kuhio Hwy., makai side (at Aleka Loop), Kapaa (www.coconutmarketplace.com), was nearly done with renovations. It remains a haven for free entertainment (see website for calendar) and low-cost gifts. Check out Auntie Lynda’s Treasures (www.hawaiianjewelryandgift.com; 808/821-1780) for an eclectic collection of woodcarvings, jewelry, and tchotchkes. In Wailua, Pagoda (4-369 Kuhio Hwy., makai side (across from Kintaro restaurant; www.pagodakauai.com; 808/821-2172), ably fills its niche with Chinese antiques and curios, Hawaiiana, Asian-inspired decor, candles, soaps, and other gifts. Note: It’s closed Sun and Mon.
The historic (and hippie) district of Kapaa offers an intriguing mix of shops, cafes, and galleries. Hula Girl, 4-1340 Kuhio Hwy., makai side, at Kauwila St. (808/822-1950), not only sells women’s resort wear (much of it made in Hawaii), but also aloha shirts, boardshorts, and other menswear, plus tiki-style barware, island-made soaps, and accessories. Natural fibers rule the day at Island Hemp & Cotton, 4–1373 Kuhio Hwy., mauka side (at Huluili St.; www.islandhemp.com; 808/821-0225), featuring stylish men’s and women’s clothing lines.
North Shore:
Kilauea
On the way to Kauapea (Secret) Beach and the lighthouse, Kong Lung Historic Market Center, 2484 Keneke St. (http://konglungkauai.com), deserves its own slot on the itinerary, with a bakery, bistro, and a half-dozen chic shops in vintage buildings with historical markers. Of the stores, the flagship Kong Lung Trading (www.konglung.com; 808/828-1822) is a showcase for Asian-themed ceramics, jewelry, books, and home accessories, including hand-turned wood bowls. Souvenir seekers can find less pricey options at the factory store of Island Soap & Candle Works (www.islandsoap.com; 808/828-1955), famed for its Surfer’s Salve, tropical soaps, and soy candles in coconut shells.
Princeville
Although Princeville Center, 5¬–4280 Kuhio Highway, makai side, north of the main Princeville entrance (www.princevillecenter.com), is mostly known for its inexpensive dining and resident-focused businesses, the Hawaiian Music Store kiosk (no phone) outside Foodland grocery has good deals on a large selection of CDs. Magic Dragon Toy & Art Supply (808/826-9144) has a compact but cheery array of rainy-day entertainment for kids.
Hanalei
As you enter Hanalei, look for Ola’s Hanalei, 5–5016 Kuhio Hwy., makai side, next to Dolphin restaurant (http://olashanalei.com; 808/826-6937). Opened in 1982 by award-winning artist Doug Britt and his wife, Sharon, this small gallery features Doug’s whimsical paintings, wooden toy boats, and furniture made from objets trouvés, plus engaging jewelry, glassware, and other works by Hawaii and Mainland artisans.
The center of town reveals more of Hanalei’s bohemian side, with two eclectic shopping and dining complexes in historic buildings facing each other on Kuhio Highway. In the two-story rabbit warren of Ching Young Village Shopping Center (www.chingyoungvillage.com), Divine Planet (www.divine-planet.com; 808/826-8970) brims with beads, star-shaped lanterns, silver jewelry from Thailand and India, and Balinese quilts. On the Road to Hanalei (808/826-7360) stocks unique gifts from Kauai rooster figurines to Japanese pottery and African masks.
Across the street, the old Hanalei Schoolhouse is now the Hanalei Center, with two hidden gems: Yellowfish Trading Company (www.yellowfishtradingcompany.com; 808/826-1227) and Havaiki Oceanic and Tribal Art (www.havaikiart.com; 808/826-7606). At Yellowfish, retro hula girl lamps, vintage textiles and pottery, and collectible Hawaiiana mingle with reproduction signs, painted guitars, and other beach-shack musts in ever-changing inventory. The owners of Havaiki have sailed across the Pacific many times to obtain their museum-quality collection of gleaming wood bowls and fishhooks, exotic masks, shell jewelry, and intricately carved weapons and paddles; they also sell CDs, handmade cards, and other less expensive gifts.
South Shore:
Koloa
Between the tree tunnel road and beaches of Poipu, Old Koloa Town (www.oldkoloa.com) has the usual tourist trinkets, but also some well-made local items and the island’s best wine shop. The factory store of Island Soap & Candle Works (www.islandsoap.com; 808/742-1945) is awash in fragrant, brightly hued wares, while the Koa Store (www.thekoastore.com; 808/742-1214) showcases boxes, picture frames, and other small pieces by local woodworkers. The Wine Shop (www.thewineshopkauai.com; 808/742-7305) lives up to its name but also sells high-quality, locally made treats such as Monkeypod Jam.
Lawai
On the road between Koloa and Kalaheo, Warehouse 3540, 3540 Koloa Rd. (https://warehouse3540.com), provides a rustic-industrial space for moderately priced, pop-up style boutiques selling gifts, jewelry, home decor, and art. Hours vary, with additional vendors and produce at the Friday market from 10am to 2pm. Just up the road, Lawai Trading Post, 3427 Koloa Rd., at Kaumualii Highway (808/332-7404), looks kitschy on the outside (and has a fair amount of kitsch inside), but also sells black pearls, Niihau shells, and other well-made jewelry, gifts, and clothes at decent prices; shop carefully, since returns are not allowed.
Poipu
Poipu Shopping Village, 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr. (www.poipushoppingvillage.com), hosts gift shops, independent boutiques, and Hawaii resort and surfwear chains; it also presents a free hula show at 4:30pm Monday and Thursday. The Shops at Kukuiula, just off the Poipu Road roundabout (www.kukuiula.com), has even more intriguing—and often expensive—boutiques spread among plantation-style cottages and flowering hibiscus. Amid all the high-end chic, surfers will feel right at home in Poipu Surf (www.poipusurf.com; 808/742-8797) and Quiksilver (run by Déjà Vu Surf Hawaii; www.dejavusurf.com; 808/742-8088). The Shops at Kukuiula is also home to the flagship store of Malie Organics Lifestyle Boutique (808/339-3055; www.malie.com), renowned for its bath and beauty products based on distillations of island plants, including mango, plumeria, and the native, lightly spice-scented maile vine.
Kalaheo
The crisp, tropical-flavored butter cookies of the Kauai Kookie Kompany are ubiquitous in Hawaii. Even better than a trip to the factory store in Hanapepe (1-3529 Kaumualii Hwy., makai side) is a stop at the Kauai Kookie Bakery & Kitchen complex in Kalaheo, 2-2436 Kaumualii Hwy., makai side (808/332-0821). One storefront is a small cafe selling specialty baked goods as well as a variety of “kookies”; the other is a vast gift shop with more fresh treats to consume on the spot.
West Side:
Hanapepe
Known for its Friday-night festival (see “Kauai Nightlife”), the historic town center of Hanapepe and its dozen-plus art galleries are just as pleasant to peruse by day, especially the cheery paintings at the Bright Side Gallery, 3890 Hanapepe Rd. (www.thebrightsidegallery.com; 808/634-8671), and the playful tiles at Banana Patch Studio, 3865 Hanapepe Rd. (www.bananapatchstudio.com; 808/335-5944). The courtyard passage next to Little Fish Coffee leads to MoonBow Magic Gift Gallery, 3900 Hanapepe Rd. (www.moonbowmagic.com; 808/335-5890), which stocks a whimsical potpourri of colorful gifts and baubles, including beaded geckos, Niihau shells, and other jewelry.
If the door is open, the store is open at tiny Taro Ko Chips Factory, 3940 Hanapepe Rd. (808/335-5586), where dry-land taro farmer Dale Nagamine slices and fries his harvest—along with potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, and breadfruit—into delectable chips for $5 a bag (cash only). The wares of Aloha Spice Company, 3857 Hanapepe Rd. (www.alohaspice.com; 808/335-5960), include grill-ready seasonings with a base of Hawaiian sea salt, and Hawaiian cane sugar infused with hibiscus, vanilla, or passionfruit. Talk Story Bookstore, 3785 Hanapepe Rd. (www.talkstorybookstore.com; 808/335-6469), boasts the island’s biggest trove of new, used, and out-of-print books.
Port Allen
Chocolate fiends need to try the luscious handmade truffles, fudge, and “opihi” (chocolate-covered shortbread, caramel, and macadamia nuts in the shape of a shell) at Kauai Chocolate Company, 4341 Waialo Rd. (808/335-0448). You can watch them being made on-site, too.
Waimea
Spice of Life Collectibles and Fine Junque, 9821 Kaumualii Hwy. (mauka side, next to the fire station), sell North Shore honey, nursery plants, and solar-powered camping provisions amid vintage Hawaiiana, antiques, and ephemera. Like Kauai Kookies, the passionfruit products of Aunty Lilikoi—including jelly, butter, and salad dressing—are often found around the state, but the factory store at 9875 Waimea Rd., across from the Captain Cook statue (www.auntylilikoi.com; 808/338-1296), offers shipping and in-store-only delicious baked goods, such as scones, bars, and fudge.
In Kokee State Park, the Kokee Museum (www.kokee.org; 808/335-9975) sells Kauai- and nature-themed books, maps, and DVDs, while Kokee Lodge (www.kokeelodge.com; 808/335-6061), offers a few souvenirs, island foods, and locally made crafts.
Kauai Farmers Markets
A trip to one of the county-sponsored Sunshine Markets is a fun glimpse into island life, with shoppers lined up before the official start—listen for a yell or car honk—to buy fresh produce at rock-bottom prices. Markets end within 2 hours; arrive in time for the start, especially in Koloa and Kapaa. Among the best for visitors:
* Monday: noon, Koloa Ball Park, off Maluhia Rd., north of Old Town Koloa.
* Wednesday: 3pm, Kapaa New Town Park, Kahau St. at Olohena Rd.
* Thursday: 4:30pm, Kilauea Neighborhood Center, Keneke St. off Kilauea (Lighthouse) Rd.
* Friday: 3pm, Vidinha Stadium parking lot, Hoolako Rd. (off Hwy. 51), Lihue. For an even bigger farmers market, with many prepared foods, head to Kauai Community College, 3–1901 Kaumualii Hwy., Lihue, 9:30am to 1pm Saturday.
North Shore farmers’ markets offer the most organic produce. In Kilauea, that includes the privately run Namahana Farmers Market (www.anainahou.org; 808/828-2118) at Anaina Hou Community Park in Kilauea, mauka side of Kuhio Hwy., Sat 9am–1pm and Mon 2pm–dusk. In Hanalei, the popular Waipa Farmer's Market (www.waipafoundation.org; 808/826-9969) takes place every Tuesday at 2pm in a field just west of Hanalei, mauka side of Kuhio Hwy., between the Waioli and Waipa one-lane bridges. Some vendors also sell baked goods, jewelry, and other crafts, as they also do from 9:30am to noon Saturday at Hanalei’s Hale Halawai ballpark (www.halehalawai.org; 808/826-1011), Kuhio Hwy., mauka side at Mahimahi Rd., next to the green church.
Kauai Nightlife
Local nightlife is more suited to moonlight strolls than late-night partying, but if you’re simply searching for live Hawaiian music, you’re in luck. Most nights virtually every hotel lounge presents a slack key guitarist singing Hawaiian mele, while many off-resort restaurants offer live Hawaiian music and other genres Thursday to Saturday.
Of the resort nightspots, Duke’s Barefoot Bar (www.dukeskauai.com; 808/246-9599), inside the Kauai Marriott Resort, has long drawn a crowd of visitors and locals, especially at pau hana (end of work) on Friday. The downstairs bar has live Hawaiian music Thursday through Monday 4 to 6pm, and Friday and Saturday 8:30 to 10:30pm.
The appetizers are tastier and the music more varied at the lounge of Hukilau Lanai (www.hukilaukauai.com; 808/822-0600) inside the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, 520 Aleka Loop, Kapaa; top musicians playing Hawaiian, jazz, country, and blues perform Tuesday through Sunday from 6 to 9pm. The Grand Hyatt (www.grandhyattkauai.com; 808/741-1234) presents contemporary island music from 8:30 to 11pm nightly at Stevenson’s Library, a book-lined lounge and sushi bar; the Hyatt’s Seaview Terrace offers live Hawaiian music from 5 to 8pm nightly, along with sunset views.
You’ll meet more locals—and pay a good deal less for your drinks—by leaving the resorts. Here are highlights from around the island:
East Side—A combination sports bar, family restaurant, and nightclub, Rob’s Good Times Grill, in the Rice Shopping Center, 4303 Rice St., Lihue (www.kauaisportsbarandgrill.com; 808/246-0311), bustles with live music Tuesday through Friday and DJs for club dancing Friday and Saturday 10pm to 2am. Mahiko Lounge, the vintage living room of the Kilohana Plantation mansion, mauka side of Kaumualii Hwy. in Lihue (www.kilohanakauai.com; 808/245-5608), makes artisan cocktails, served with live jazz 7–10pm Friday and $5 happy-hour specials (Mon–Sat 4–5:30pm). In Kapaa, Trees Lounge, 440 Aleka Place (www.treesloungekauai.com; 808/823-0600) showcases island music from 6pm nightly Mon–Sat. The first Saturday of the month, Old Kapaa Town’s party-like Art Walk includes live music from 5 to 9pm.
North Shore—Tiki Iniki (www.tikiiniki.com; 808/431-4242), tucked behind Ace Hardware in Princeville Center, is a cheeky tiki bar/restaurant owned by Michele Rundgren and her rock-musician husband, Todd. Opened in 1963, Tahiti Nui, 5-5134 Kuhio Hwy., Hanalei (www.thenui.com; 808/826-6277), morphs from a kid-friendly restaurant into a locals’ lounge with nightly live music at 6:30pm. In the Old Hanalei Schoolhouse, Hanalei Gourmet, 5–5161 Kuhio Hwy. (www.hanaleigourmet.com; 808/826-2524), cranks up live music at 6pm Sun and 8pm Wed. The Kilauea Night Market, from 4 to 8pm the last Saturday of the month at Anaina Hou Community Park, percolates with live music, food, and art vendors.
South Shore—Keoki’s Paradise, a popular restaurant in Poipu Shopping Village (www.keokisparadise.com; 808/742-7534), offers nightly live music in its dining room and on Fridays in its Bamboo Bar. The Shops at Kukuiula (http://theshopsatkukuiula.com) hosts a kani kapila (jam) from 6:30 to 8:30pm Friday, plus live music and vendors at the Kukuiula Art Walk, 6 to 9pm the second Saturday of the month. Don’t miss island icon Larry Rivera Sundays at Koloa’s Garden Island Grille, which features music nightly from 6 to 8pm.
West Side—The tutu (granddaddy) of local art events, the Hanapepe Friday Night Festival and Art Walk (www.hanapepe.org) features food trucks and live music every Friday from 6 to 9pm along Hanapepe Road.
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