Travel guide · United States
Kauaʻi travel guide
The Nā Pali cliffs, Waimea Canyon and the green Garden Isle
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The original uploader was Ulfl at German Wikipedia ., Public domain
Quick answer
Kauaʻi is the oldest and greenest of the main Hawaiian islands, nicknamed the Garden Isle. Its interior rises to Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest places on Earth, whose rain has carved the Waimea Canyon and the fluted sea cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast. There is no road around the whole island: the highway runs from Kēʻē Beach on the North Shore round the east and south to Polihale on the west, leaving Nā Pali to boats, helicopters and hikers. Most visitors base themselves on the sunny South Shore at Poʻipū or the lush North Shore around Hanalei and Princeville. Plan 7 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 7 days
- Main airports
- LIH
- Mid-range daily budget
- US$280–480 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay and Kalalau Trail
Plan a trip to Kauaʻi
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Why visit Kauaʻi
- The Nā Pali Coast's 1,000-metre cliffs can be seen by boat from the West Side, from the air, or on foot along the Kalalau Trail.
- Waimea Canyon, about 16 km long and up to around 900 metres deep, has roadside lookouts along the drive to Kōkeʻe.
- Hanalei Bay's wide crescent of sand and the taro fields of Hanalei Valley are classic North Shore scenery.
- Poʻipū's beaches have reliable sunshine, and Hawaiian monk seals and green turtles often haul out on the sand.
- No building on Kauaʻi is taller than a coconut palm, keeping towns low-rise and the landscape dominant.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Nature · North and West Shores
Nā Pali Coast
Roughly 27 km of fluted green cliffs, hanging valleys, sea caves and waterfalls run along the island's north-west shore with no road access.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- Views
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Waimea and Hanapēpē
Waimea Canyon State Park
Often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, this gorge of red, green and ochre cliffs is carved into the old volcano by the Waimea River.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Hanalei
Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach
The end of the road on the North Shore, with Kēʻē Beach's reef-protected lagoon and the trailhead of the Kalalau Trail.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
Beach · Hanalei
Hanalei Bay
A wide crescent of sand about 3 km long, backed by mountains streaked with waterfalls after rain.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Kōkeʻe
Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout
At the top of the canyon road, around 1,200 metres up, Kōkeʻe has cool forest trails, a natural history museum and the Kalalau and Puʻu o Kila lookouts, which look straight down into the Kalalau Valley to the ocean.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
Viewpoint · Princeville
Hanalei Valley Lookout
Just past Princeville, this roadside lookout faces a patchwork of wetland taro fields in the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, with the river winding through and steep green mountains behind.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Nature
Where to stay
Poʻipū and Kōloa is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, beach and luxury
Poʻipū and Kōloa
Sunny South Shore resorts, beaches and the island's first sugar town
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Princeville
Clifftop resort community above Hanalei Bay
$$$$ · Best for beach, couples, solo travellers and quiet stays
Hanalei
Surf town of taro fields, food trucks and a long bay beach
$$$ · Best for budget, families, food lovers and solo travellers
Kapaʻa and Wailua
East Side towns of the Coconut Coast, Wailua River and a coastal path
What to eat
- Poke — Raw ʻahi tuna or octopus (tako) cubed and dressed with shoyu, sesame oil, sweet onion and limu seaweed, sold by the pound and served in rice bowls.
- Saimin — Hawaiʻi's plantation-era noodle soup: thin wheat noodles in a light dashi broth topped with green onion, kamaboko fish cake, char siu pork or Spam.
- Plate lunch — Two scoops of rice and one of macaroni salad with a main such as kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu or garlic shrimp.
- Poi and taro — Kauaʻi grows much of Hawaiʻi's wetland taro, especially in Hanalei Valley; it is pounded into poi or used in taro rolls, chips and smoothies.
- Kalua pork — Pork shoulder slow-cooked in an imu (underground oven) with banana leaves until smoky and tender, often served with cabbage.
- Shave ice — Snow-fine ice soaked in tropical syrups such as lilikoʻi, mango and guava, sometimes topped with haupia cream or over ice cream.
When is the best time to visit Kauaʻi?
The best times to visit Kauaʻi are April to June and September to October, when the weather is drier, seas are calmer and prices are lower than in peak periods. Summer is best for Nā Pali boat tours and North Shore swimming, while winter brings whales, big surf and more rain.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–February | Rainy spells, huge North Shore surf and humpback whales; the South Shore stays sunnier, and prices peak around the holidays. |
| Spring | March–May | Rain eases through the season, waterfalls flow strongly and crowds thin after spring break. |
| Summer | June–August | Drier, warmest weather with calm seas, the best Nā Pali boat conditions and the busiest family season. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm seas and fewer visitors in September and October, with rain and winter surf returning in November. |
Getting there and around
Līhuʻe Airport (LIH) is about 3 km from Līhuʻe town. Driving takes about 30 minutes to Poʻipū, 20 minutes to Kapaʻa and about 45–60 minutes to Princeville and Hanalei. Most visitors collect a hire car at the airport.
A single highway runs from the North Shore round the east and south to the West Side, so there is no loop road. A hire car is essential; plan around one-lane bridges on the North Shore and traffic through Kapaʻa.
How many days do you need in Kauaʻi?
Four days covers Waimea Canyon, a Nā Pali boat trip, a North Shore day and a beach day in Poʻipū. A week lets you add the Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai, Wailua River kayaking and slower days; splitting nights between the South and North Shores saves long drives. How to split your days.
Planning a trip to Kauaʻi from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones, airport coordinates and local power standards. Time differences can shift by an hour for a few weeks a year while daylight saving starts or ends on different dates.
Time difference
5 hours behind New York in January, 6 in July; 2 hours behind Los Angeles in January, 3 in July
Distance from the U.S.
5,020 miles (8,090 km) from New York (JFK); 2,620 miles (4,210 km) from Los Angeles (LAX)
In a straight line between the airport and the city centre, not a flight route.
Plugs and voltage
U.S. plugs fit (Type A and B sockets). Power is 120 V (120 V at home).
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Hawaiian
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; stream water on trails is not, because of the risk of leptospirosis.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and tips for boat crews, tour guides and hotel staff.
The main risks are the ocean and the trails: strong currents and shorebreak, especially on the North Shore in winter, slippery muddy paths, and streams that rise fast in heavy rain. Swim at lifeguarded beaches, heed warning signs and do not leave valuables in parked cars.
Flights to Kauaʻi
Questions travellers ask
+What is Kauaʻi known for?
Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay, Kalalau Trail, Lush rainforest, Film locations and Poʻipū beaches. The Nā Pali Coast's 1,000-metre cliffs can be seen by boat from the West Side, from the air, or on foot along the Kalalau Trail.
+Is Kauaʻi expensive?
Kauaʻi is very expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly US$280–480 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Kauaʻi?
Yes. Sights are spread along a single highway with limited bus service; a car is the only practical way to reach Waimea Canyon, the North Shore and most beaches.