5 days in Kauaʻi

Day by day

1. Day 1: Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon State Park

   Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon State Park, then Hanapēpē in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Nā Pali Coast

      Book a morning boat tour from Port Allen, when seas are usually calmer, and take seasickness tablets beforehand if you need them. (Half a day, expensive).

   2. Late morning

      Waimea Canyon State Park

      Go in the morning before clouds fill the canyon, and stop at the main Waimea Canyon Lookout and Puʻu Hinahina Lookout on the way up. (Half a day, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Poke

      Fish markets, supermarket poke counters and casual shops in Kapaʻa, Līhuʻe and Kōloa.

   4. Evening

      Hanapēpē

      Come on a Friday evening for the art night, then catch sunset at nearby Salt Pond Beach Park.

2. Day 2: Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach and Hanalei Bay

   Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach and Hanalei Bay, then Sunset at Hanalei Pier in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach

      Do not swim at Hanakāpīʻai Beach, which has dangerous currents; enjoy the view and turn back unless you have a permit to continue. (Half a day, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Hanalei Bay

      Swim in summer near the pier, and in winter watch the surf from the sand; the shorebreak and currents can be dangerous. (Half a day, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Saimin

      Long-running saimin counters in Līhuʻe and local diners across the island.

   4. Evening

      Sunset at Hanalei Pier

      Watch the sky colour over the bay and mountains from the historic pier.

3. Day 3: Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout and Hanalei Valley Lookout

   Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout, Hanalei Valley Lookout and Poʻipū Beach Park, then Nā Pali sunset sail in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout

      Clouds often roll in by late morning; if the lookout is fogged in, wait 15 minutes, as it can clear quickly. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Hanalei Valley Lookout

      Stop in the late afternoon, when the light picks out the taro patches, and look for endangered nēnē geese and wetland birds. (15 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plate lunch

      Drive-ins, lunch counters and food trucks in Kapaʻa, Līhuʻe and Hanalei.

   4. Afternoon

      Poʻipū Beach Park

      Give resting monk seals plenty of space and follow any roped-off area set up by volunteers. (Half a day, free).

   5. Café break

      Café break: Kauaʻi coffee

   6. Evening

      Nā Pali sunset sail

      Some catamaran tours sail the Nā Pali cliffs in the late afternoon light.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe drive

   About 1 hour 15 minutes each way from Poʻipū each way. Getting there: Hire car.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe drive

      About 1 hour 15 minutes each way from Poʻipū (Hire car); about 60 km.

   2. Day

      Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe drive

      Drive west through Waimea town and up Waimea Canyon Drive past a series of canyon lookouts to Kōkeʻe and the Kalalau Lookout at the end of the road. Best for first-timers and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Kauaʻi

      Dinner: try Poi and taro.

5. Day 5: Spouting Horn and Allerton and McBryde Gardens

   Spouting Horn, Allerton and McBryde Gardens and Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail, then Helicopter over the island in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Spouting Horn

      Visit when the surf is up for the biggest spouts, and keep behind the railings; the lava shelf is very dangerous. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Allerton and McBryde Gardens

      Allerton is visited on guided tours; book a slot and wear insect repellent. (2.5–3 hours, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Poi and taro

      Hawaiian food restaurants, lūʻau and North Shore stands selling taro products.

   4. Afternoon

      Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail

      Start early, bring water and a hat, and keep away from the cliff edges; there is no shade. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Snack

      Snack: Tropical fruit

   6. Evening

      Helicopter over the island

      Fly over Waimea Canyon, Nā Pali and the waterfalls of the interior.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon State Park, Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach and Allerton and McBryde Gardens before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Poʻipū and Kōloa keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Princeville ($$$$) suits luxury, couples and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 23–32 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.8 hours in December to 13.5 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Kauaʻi
• 2 days in Kauaʻi
• 3 days in Kauaʻi

Questions travellers ask