Kauai stands apart from its Hawaiian siblings. The “Garden Isle” nickname barely hints at what visitors encounter. Your hiking boots can be just as essential as flip-flops. Frequent rainfall (particularly on the north shore) creates those impossibly dramatic green mountains that can dominate almost every photo of yours. Roughly 90% of the island is inaccessible by road. This geographical reality forces most of the 1.5 million annual visitors to explore just a fraction of what exists, while vast wilderness areas remain untouched.
Kauai has everything you need to do, from heart-pounding indoor activities to outdoor activities. From relaxing to exploring lush rainforests and waterfalls and visiting famous film locations like Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones, you’ll have all the fun things to do in Kauai you’ve chosen to visit. In this comprehensive guide, we’ve covered everything you need to do in Kauai, encouraging you to have a great trip and lots of fun. So, let’s start with some top things to do in Kauai.From budget-friendly adventures to splurge-worthy experiences, consider this the ultimate cheat sheet to experiencing the authentic Kauai – the version locals hope visitors will discover and respect.
The Na Pali Coast is why most people come to Kauai. Those massive green cliffs plunging straight into the ocean are Hawaii’s version of the Grand Canyon, except wetter and greener. Hollywood loves this place too, those cliffs you saw in Jurassic Park, that’s Na Pali.
There are three ways to see this natural wonder, including the following:
Whoever nicknamed Waimea Canyon the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” wasn’t exaggerating. This 14-mile-long gash in the earth reveals layers of red, brown, and green that’ll have you burning through your phone’s memory with photos. What they don’t tell you in the brochures is that the canyon was formed not just by the Waimea River carving through rock, but by a massive volcanic collapse. The whole western chunk of the original volcano fell into the ocean.
Here are some of the best ways to see it:
Kauai’s beaches should come with a warning label: “May cause permanent dissatisfaction with beaches elsewhere.” Each coast has its personality:
Beach access is free, making this one of the best free things to do in Kauai. However, north shore beaches can be dangerous in winter (roughly November-April).
Kauai’s beaches should come with a warning label: “May cause permanent dissatisfaction with beaches elsewhere.” Each coast has its personality:
Beach access is free, making this one of the best free things to do in Kauai. However, north shore beaches can be dangerous in winter (roughly November-April).