Free things to do · Kauaʻi · United States
8 free things to do in Kauaʻi
Kauaʻi without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Hanalei Bay, Kauaʻi · Photo: Jawed Karim, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Kauaʻi without paying an entry fee: Hanalei Bay, Hanalei Valley Lookout, Poʻipū Beach Park and Spouting Horn are all free. Choose a condo with a kitchen and shop at supermarkets and farmers markets.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Very expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- April–May and September–November
Plan a trip to Kauaʻi
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Free sights and experiences
Beach · Hanalei
1.Hanalei Bay
Swim in summer near the pier, and in winter watch the surf from the sand; the shorebreak and currents can be dangerous.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Princeville
2.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.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Nature
Beach · Poʻipū and Kōloa
3.Poʻipū Beach Park
Give resting monk seals plenty of space and follow any roped-off area set up by volunteers.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Poʻipū and Kōloa
4.Spouting Horn
Visit when the surf is up for the biggest spouts, and keep behind the railings; the lava shelf is very dangerous.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Līhuʻe
5.Wailua Falls
Visit in the morning for rainbows in the spray, and stay at the viewpoint: the scramble down is dangerous and closed.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
Nature · Poʻipū and Kōloa
6.Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail
Start early, bring water and a hat, and keep away from the cliff edges; there is no shade.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Neighbourhood · Waimea and Hanapēpē
7.Hanapēpē
Come on a Friday evening for the art night, then catch sunset at nearby Salt Pond Beach Park.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- After dark
Nature · Kapaʻa and Wailua
8.Nounou (Sleeping Giant) Trail
Hike early in the morning, before heat and clouds, and wear shoes with grip; the trail is muddy after rain.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Hanalei | Hanalei Bay | Half a day |
| Princeville | Hanalei Valley Lookout | 15 minutes |
| Poʻipū and Kōloa | Poʻipū Beach Park, Spouting Horn and Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail | Half a day + 30 minutes + 2–3 hours |
| Līhuʻe | Wailua Falls | 20 minutes |
| Waimea and Hanapēpē | Hanapēpē | 1–2 hours |
| Kapaʻa and Wailua | Nounou (Sleeping Giant) Trail | 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Viewpoint · Waimea and Hanapēpē
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.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Hanalei
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.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Kōkeʻe
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
Nature · Kīlauea
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Bring binoculars; the albatross nesting season in winter and spring is the best time to visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Museum · Līhuʻe
Kauaʻi Museum
It is a good rainy-day stop near the airport, before or after your flight.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
More ways to save
- Choose a condo with a kitchen and shop at supermarkets and farmers markets.
- Many beaches, waterfalls and trails are free; budget for state park fees and reservations.
- Travel in May, September or October for lower room and car rates.
- Food trucks and poke counters are much cheaper than resort restaurants.
- Book hire cars as early as possible; island supply is limited and rates rise sharply in peak seasons.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kauaʻi expensive to visit?
Kauaʻi is very expensive for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Kauaʻi?
Hanalei Bay: Swim in summer near the pier, and in winter watch the surf from the sand; the shorebreak and currents can be dangerous.