Kauai, Vacation Paradise. Things you don’t want to miss!
Hello loves!
Hope you are doing well! So, you’re planning to visit Kauai and trying to find things to do? Well, if you love hiking and exploring new places this is definitely a place to explore! There’s so much to do in this small island. I call it, “Hiking Paradise” or simply, “Paradise.” For reals, this place is full of adventurous things to do from helicopter rides to kayaking, you will definitely have a blast.
We visited Kauai from November 27th to December 7th. A good amount of time to do a lot if you ask me. Of course, I would’ve loved to stay longer. Yes, it was raining most of the time due to the winter season, but surprisingly we had a lot of sunshine. The best time to visit Kauai is September and November or from April to June. The weather is pleasant and of course, airfare and hotel rates drop.
We only paid $306 for each flight roundtrip. That was the cheapest flight we could find and it was a good deal for us. We like to use Kayak.com because we love kayaking. Just kidding, we do love kayaking but the reason we use it is because it compares most airline prices and you can filter prices.
We stayed at Point of Poipu Resort in the southern part of Hawaii. Because my husband’s parents have a timeshare, we didn’t stay at an airbnb, or else we would’ve. However, if you can afford to stay at The Grand Hyatt, please do! I wish we could afford it because IT IS SOO NOOICE! Please don’t judge us, but we fell in love with their pools so much that we sneaked in and went in their lazy river. Sadly, one of the workers asked if we had our bracelets, yes you need a bracelet to enter the pools, so we had to leave. I don’t recommend doing that. But I do recommend looking at the pictures of the place because it is to die for. Maybe it’s a good thing we didn’t stay there or else we would’ve spent our whole vacation in the pools. Anyway, we also had to rent a car to get to places faster. We usually use Kayak.com to compare different rental companies for cars too.
Alright, here are some important steps you will NEED to take in order to travel to Hawaii safely. Let’s go!
STATE OF HAWAII COVID REGULATIONS TO ENTER KAUAI
****Important! The state of Kauai opened for tourist back in October 2020 with specific regulations. However, on our third day there, they closed again. I recommend that you consistently check their website because they can close the state for tourist at any time (hawaiicovid19.com/travel/ ).
First things first, we had to make an account at travel.hawaii.gov. There we added our trip information such as our names, date of birth, flight number, travel dates, etc.
We had to take the COVID Test within 72 hours of our flight. Meaning we had to have our Negative Test Results prior to boarding. The state of Hawai‘i will ONLY accepts certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab test results from: Trusting Testings and Travel Partners. So, make sure you choose a place from their list. Because we flew with Alaska Airlines, they administered quick testing results at the airport a couple days before our flight. Sadly, our insurance didn’t cover it so we had to pay out of our own pockets. We got our results the next day!
After we received our Negative Test Results, we had to upload them to our Travel Hawaii Account, print a hard copy and download our QR code to our phones. I recommend you have both a hard copy and the QR code just in case they ask you for a hardcopy. I had to do this whole process for both of my parents as well. Talk about tedious work. However, if it means safe traveling, I’m all for it! By the way, you will NOT, I repeat, you will NOT be able to board the flight if you don’t have your Negative Test Results. So, make sure you have them ready to go.
24 hours before your flight, you will NEED to fill out the Health Questionnaire in your Travel Hawaii Account. Make sure you don’t forget this step before you leave.
One more thing, I recommend you have your Negative Test Results handy wherever you go because you will need to show them when you arrive at the Lihue Airport, when you check in at your hotel, if you go on tours, and even some restaurants may also ask for them.
I know it may seem like a lot. I felt that way when preparing everything for our trip, but I honestly felt very safe traveling in this pandemic and I felt even safer in Kauai. They don’t have many COVID cases because of all the preventive steps they’re taking. All in all, I’m very proud of the State of Hawaii for taking care of their residents and tourists.
Alright, enough of this. As long as you’re prepared and have done everything they asked for, you are good to go! So, let’s get to it! Here are all the fun activities we did during our stay. Hope you enjoy everything beautiful Kauai has to offer!
1. WAIMEA CANYON LOOKOUT
Location: 22°04'18.7"N 159°39'41.7"W
Parking: $10 per vehicle for the day
This is a great place to park your car and take great photos. Sadly, because of COVID, part of the lookout was closed. However, it was great seeing the place pretty empty. Honestly, this place was amazing, the view of the canyon was insane. If you’re lucky and get a clear day, you can see the waterfall! I highly recommend it. Also, along your drive up Waimea there are a lot of places where you can stop and take pictures. So be on the lookout for those pit stops because they will leave you speechless!
2. WAIPO’O FALLS TRAIL
Miles: 3.3 miles (5.31 km) roundtrip
Location: 22°06'32.9"N 159°39'48.8"W
Elevation gain: 1210 Feet
Level: Moderate
Fee? No
These views were extraordinary! We parked right across the trailhead. The hike itself was not as hard, but there were some parts where the trail was steep, especially hiking back a very muddy and slippery trail. The first part was a gravel road. Since we didn’t have a 4X4, we had to park right by the trailhead. If you do have a 4x4, I am low-key jealous by the way lol, you can save yourself a mile or so. After the gravel road, the trail becomes narrow, muddy, and slippery, not too crazy though, don’t you worry. I do advise that you wear the right type of shoes because you will need traction. I wore my Blundstone boots, but I prefer wearing my Lowa’s when hiking in muddy trails. You can check out My Hiking Gear if you’re interested in buying hiking boots.
The weather in Kauai changes drastically, therefore always be mindful and prepare for anything. We arrived at the falls and they were oh so beautiful, not as big as we had expected but still wonderful. My father-in-law had high expectations and was a little disappointed, but he was still very glad we hiked to the falls. What caught MY attention the most were the canyon views. Being so close to the ridges was astounding! Also, did I mention there’s an a small arch? If you have a clear sky, you will definitely see it so keep an eye out.
3. AWA’AWAPUHI RIDGE TRAIL
Miles: 6.3 miles (10.13 km) | 3 hrs
Location: 22°08'29.5"N 159°38'54.9"W
Elevation gain: 2125 Feet
Level: Moderate to Hard
Fee? No
You must hike this trail!!! No lie, one of my favorites! We woke up before sunset and drove about 45 minutes from our stay to the trailhead. We love hiking in the morning, but the real reason we hiked at 7:30am was because of the rain. During winter time, the clearest time of the day is in the morning and afternoon. Since we read that this hike could get dangerous when it’s raining, we decided not to risk it and start hiking early. You will find a parking lot right at the trailhead. You don’t have to pay for parking.
It took us approximately 3 hours to hike the whole trail. We took a 2 liter water hydrapak and 2 water bottles for two people. Check out My Hiking Gear to see the backpack and hydrapak we used. It was enough water for us. Throughout the whole trail, you will not see any views, you will be walking amongst trees, roots and greenery. To be honest, the roots helped out so much with all the muddiness. We definitely slipped though. Be ready to get dirty! There will be trail markers with miles on them telling you how far you’ve been. When you arrive to the viewpoint, you will be in awe! Honestly, you will not believe your eyes. I urge you to be careful as you hike down the ridge. It does get very narrow! We are definitely not afraid of heights, but I did get a little nervous because you are literally walking in the middle of a canyon, cliffs on both sides! Don’t get intimidated by it, because it’s absolutely incredible. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I don’t recommend you go down this ridge when it’s raining because it will get slippery. Please check the weather conditions before you plan your hike, for it can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.
4. HANAPEPE TOWN
Location: 21°54'38.3"N 159°35'18.0"W
We did not know this town was what inspired the producers of Disney’s movie Lilo & Stitch! We visited JoJo’s shave ice and saw a sketch of Stitch with a note from the producers. I had to ask if it was real and the worker said yes! I got super excited. She told us about the Lilo & Stitch mural so we had to make a pit stop. So, if you’re a Disney Fan, make sure you visit Hanapepe, take a photo with the mural, buy some delicious cookies, and buy yourself a souvenir. I bought my little niece a Stitch doll and she loved it.
5. OPAEKAA WATERFALL AND WAILUA FALLS VIEWPOINTS
Locations: Opaekaa Falls 22°02'53.7"N 159°21'43.4"W
Wailua Falls 22°02'04.4"N 159°22'44.7"W
Fee? No
These viewpoints are definitely worth the drive. My husband and I wanted to hike these two trails but when we researched them, they were considered dangerous and very steep. Also, both trails had signs stating “No Trespassing;” therefore, we decided to respect their rules and enjoy the falls from afar. However, these viewpoints were worth it! Kauai is just too gorgeous and trust me, you don’t want to miss a thing! Oh, I almost forgot! We drove to Wailua Falls before sunset and the drive was extraordinary! We had to stop to take photos, as you can see above. The colors were breathtaking! A must do.
6. THE BLUE DOLPHIN CHARTER BOAT RIDE
Location: 21°54'07.2"N 159°35'12.2"W
You have to take a boat ride in Kauai! I highly recommend The Blue Dolphin Charter Boat Tours! The staff and captain were beyond friendly and very attentive! The boat ride cost us around $172.97 per person for 6 hours. It included breakfast, drinks, and lunch. We drove to Port Allen where we checked in at 8:00am. We were around 30 people on the boat, but don’t worry they followed all the COVID guidelines to keep us safe and comfortable. We absolutely enjoyed ourselves. The first thing we did was snorkeling! They provided the snorkeling masks and fins. All very cleaned and sanitized. I finally was able to swim with turtles! After snorkeling, they sailed us to the marvelous Na pali Coast where we witness the majestic ridges and mountains. The captain was nice enough to stop to see whales and dolphins every time they were spotted! I have never seen so many in my entire life. It was truly beautiful. Alsoooooo, many movies and shows were filmed here because it’s simply majestic! No wonder filmmakers and locations scouts use Kauai! We enjoyed this tour to the fullest and we had so much fun! Highly recommend going with Blue Dolphin Charter Boat Tours!
7. HELICOPTER RIDE WITH ISLAND HELICOPTERS KAUAI
Location: 21°58'58.0"N 159°20'38.5"W
Price: $190 per person
This was my very first helicopter ride ever! We went with Island Helicopters Kauai and it was amazing! By the way, they have a partial list of the celebrities that have flown with them on their wall, it was fun seeing familiar faces. Can you name the celebrities? I was super excited because I am in love with Harrison Ford. Correction, young Harrison Ford. Anyway, the pilot was very informational and very fun. There are several tours you can do like the Jurassic Park Landing, where they land at the waterfall from the famous helicopter landing scene in the first movie. Sadly, we didn’t do that one because it was a bit more pricey. I must admit, I was very nervous but I overcame my fear and enjoyed it to the max! It cost $190 per person for an hour. For me, it was more than enough because we literally got to see the whole island. If you haven’t done a helicopter ride, you must do it in Kauai! 6 of us were able to ride in one helicopter. When we arrived, we had to sign a consent form and also verify our weights because they have a weight limit per group. Thankfully, we didn’t go over the limit, but we did hear everyone’s weights which for sure made some uncomfortable and embarrassed. Anyway, I’m pretty sure that can be confidential if you ask lol. Please, make sure you take advantage of this tour! You will love it. Check it out their website to get more information: Island Helicopters Kauai.
8. KAMOKILA HAWAIIAN VILLAGE
Location: 22°02'45.6"N 159°21'35.4"W
Price: $20
We went to this cute village to kayak. One of my favorite activities to do. This village has a lot to offer, from experiencing a Hawaiian village to kayaking, it’s a must see. However, due to COVID, most of it was closed. Luckily, we were at least able to kayak for an hour. We kayaked to the Fern Grotto and it was absolutely amazing. We even got to witness a hula dancer and a singer while enjoying the view. We did have to park our kayak in order to walk to the garden. It was a bit hard and almost slipped and landed in the river. Thankfully we managed to make it work and get back to the kayak safely. However, if you don’t wish to kayak, you can take a boat tour. Check out their website for more information: www.smithskauai.com/fern-grotto/.
9. KALALAU TRAIL TO HANAKĀPĪ’AI FALLS
Miles: 8 miles roundtrip (12.87 km)
Location: 22°13'13.8"N 159°34'57.5"W
Elevation gain: 2404 Feet
Fee: $20 for the full day | www.kalalautrail.com
This hike was a hard one and we didn’t even do the 22 mile one! We woke up really early to drive to the national park. It took us about an hour and 45 minutes. When we arrived, there was a ranger at the entrance asking for ID and permit (you can get your permit here www.kalalautrail.com). You will not be able to enter without a permit so make sure you do it days in advance because it does get packed. After checking, she directed us to the gravel parking lot where we parked and got ready for our hike. We packed our 2 liter Hydrapak and 3 water bottles, snacks and headed to the trailhead. I highly recommend taking some protein bars, fruits, etc. The elevation was definitely pretty high and steep making the hike seem longer, so you will need food to energize. Even in the midst of its longevity, hiking near the ocean was in particular very beautiful and you honestly forget all about it.
We definitely had to stop to rest because there was a lot of uphill and downhill. For the first time, my husband and I ended up getting lost. We kept hiking along the trail thinking it would lead us to the falls. We weren’t the only ones, there were others hiking on the river because they lost the trail. We ended up by a lot of trees! Thankfully, my husband upgraded to the Pro All Trails App where it tracks your location on trail as you hike. We were able to get back on the trail because of the app, so I highly recommend it. It’s only $30 for the whole year. A definite need if you hike a lot. Anyway, the reason we got lost was because we kept going straight instead of turning right at the fork and crossing the river. Please, keep your eyes on the trail and follow the trail markers at all times (they are pink/orange ribbons tied on trees). When we arrived at the waterfall, we were dripping from sweat from the heat so we decided to jump in! The water was definitely cold but it was more than refreshing! One of the hikers we met stated that we were lucky to be there with no crowds. Apparently it’s a very busy hike to the waterfalls. The way back absolutely kicked out butts! This hike was definitely tiring but it was definitely worth it! If you love hiking, this is the trail for you!
9. KALEPA RIDGE TRAIL AND KALALAU LOOKOUT
Miles: 2 miles (3.21 km) roundtrip | 2-4hrs
Location: 22°09'04.9"N 159°38'45.7"W
Elevation gain: 610 Feet
Fee: $10 parking fee
Kalepa Trail is located at Kalalau Lookout. For those who don’t want to hike, this view is still amazing to visit. There’s plenty of parking and you have access to bathrooms. Now, if you wish to hike the trail, which I highly recommend, you will need to either jump the green fence or go through the opening near the start of the fence. We took our 2 liter Hydrapak and a few extra water bottles. We finished all the water. It’s not a long hike but because it’s steep, you will need water to stay hydrated. We had a blast hiking it.
There are orange ribbon markers on tree branches leading the way and there are points of the trail where it gets very narrow. I had read that the trail was not well maintained after a hurricane hit Kauai, so I was expecting to get lost. However, we didn’t and it seemed that it was well-kept. I do recommend you wear hiking boots for it does get muddy and long pants because there was a lot of shrubbery that wasn’t cut on narrow parts of the trail.
Another thing, you will be hiking close to the edge of the cliff so if you are afraid of heights, this might not be for you. My husband’s parents were able to hike it and they loved it. Of course, it took us longer than expected because it was steep in two parts of the trail, so you will need good traction shoes. Also, make sure you plan ahead and check the weather. You do not want to hike this while it’s pouring rain! Other than that, we enjoyed it and I hope you do too! By the way, don’t be intimidated by this hike. I know I was from reading blogs on it. On our way to the viewpoint, we saw children hiking with their parents in regular shoes. So if they can do it, you can as well!
10. TRY WAIKOMO’S NATURAL SHAVE ICE!
Location: 21°53'05.9"N 159°28'04.5"W
Website: www.waikomoice.com
You NEED to try Wiakomo Shave Ice! We absolutely loved it. It’s all natural and they have cute coconut bowls with spoons and bamboo straws you can take with you! I love this healthy shave ice alternative. It’s a small trailer located in Poipu and the owner was the sweetest. Super fun and chill. It's so delicious, and tasty it honestly doesn’t seem like it’s all natural! Nothing artificial in their shave ice. You can’t leave Kauai without having this shave ice in your taste buds!
11. TRY PUKA DOGS
Location: 21°52'25.8"N 159°27'10.8"W
Website: www.pukadog.com
Since you’re going to be in Poipu eating Shave Ice, might as well try their famous Puka Dogs, Hawaiian Style Hot Dogs! Located right by the Poipu Beach, these yummy Puka Dogs are a great snack for your hungry self. They have pork and vegetarian options with many sauces you can choose from. Gotta try them! I highly recommend them because they are oh so yummy!
12. KAUAI COFFEE COMPANY
Location: 21°53'59.4"N 159°33'41.0"W
Website: www.kauaicoffee.com
For all ye coffee lovers, you must take a self or guided tour of Kauai’s coffee farm! It’s a very interesting and informational place where you can learn how they make their delicious coffee. Also, did I mention they have tastings for free? Yes! You can taste the coffee before you buy it. It’s a great place to buy souvenirs for your family and friends too. We definitely bought a lot of bags to take home to our loved ones. They also have restaurant where you can buy yourself a good meal and drink a cup of coffee. The staff was very friendly and warm. Please make sure you stop by and spend a good hour or two sipping on their tasty coffee.
13. KEOKI’S PARADISE
Location: 21°52'44.1"N 159°27'35.6"W
Menu: www.keokisparadise.com
If you’re looking to go out for a nice dinner, I recommend Keoki’s Paradise. We didn’t have many options to eat out because a lot of restaurants were closed due to COVID. Thankfully, this one was opened. It’s a super cute decorated Hawaiian restaurant where the environment is super chill. Plus, they have live music and hula dancing. A great place to enjoy time with your friends and family. Check out their menu! I ordered their fish tacos and they were very delicious.
14. SALT POND BEACH PARK
Location: 21°54'01.3"N 159°36'26.3"W
This beach is definitely beautiful but the great thing about it is that it’s a family beach! It’s definitely safe and calm. Perfect for children.
The reason we went was because my dad doesn’t know how to swim. I know, crazy right? He’s afraid of deep waters. Well, HE LOVED IT because it was shallow and no huge waves! My husband was able to teach him and he even tried snorkeling for the first time. Too cute huh? Anyway, locals call it “baby pond” because the waves break on the underwater reef making the beach calm and shallow. The baby pond is located to the right of the beach as you can see on the photo above. It’s literally like a pool. The water was oh so clear and uber warm. Talk about a place to relax. Plus, did I mention it was not as crowded as other beaches? I highly recommend you visit this beach. Sadly, when we went to Kauai, there were red flags on the beaches warning people to stay out because of the dangerous currents, so Salt Pond Beach was the perfect place for a swim. So pack your beach towels and sunscreen and head out to the baby pond.
Well loves, thank you so much for reading my blog. It means so much to me. Feel free to ask me anything about our trip on the comments below, I love reading them. I hope you have as much fun in Kauai as we did. We explored most of the Island and loved every bit of it. Take advantage of your time there and do as much as you possibly can.
Love you all and happy traveling!
Watch our adventures in Kauai! ↓
