Getting around · Kauaʻi · United States
Getting around Kauaʻi
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Poʻipū Beach Park, Kauaʻi · Photo: Polihale, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
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. Yes.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- LIH
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Plan a trip to Kauaʻi
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Ways to get around
Car
Hire cars are available at Līhuʻe Airport. Poʻipū to Hanalei takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and Poʻipū to the Kalalau Lookout about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Leave early or travel after the afternoon commute to avoid queues through Kapaʻa.
Bus
The Kauaʻi Bus runs a limited service along the main highway between towns; it is cheap but not practical for most sights.
Cycling
The Ke Ala Hele Makalae coastal path from Kapaʻa north is good for easy rides, and bike hire is available in Kapaʻa.
Boat
Boat tours to the Nā Pali Coast leave from Port Allen and Kikiaola on the West Side.
Taxi
Taxis and rideshare are available around Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa and Poʻipū, but sparse elsewhere and expensive for long trips.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe drive | About 1 hour 15 minutes each way from Poʻipū | Hire car |
| North Shore to Hāʻena | About 1 hour each way from Līhuʻe | Hire car, or the North Shore shuttle to Hāʻena |
| Nā Pali boat tour from Port Allen | About 4–6 hours on the water | Catamaran or raft tour |
| Hanapēpē and the West Side | About 30 minutes from Poʻipū | Hire car |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Kauaʻi?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Kauaʻi?
Car: Hire cars are available at Līhuʻe Airport. Poʻipū to Hanalei takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and Poʻipū to the Kalalau Lookout about 1 hour 15 minutes.