There is no secret that Kauai is one beautiful Island. This is my favorite to visit out of them all. Lush green mountain peaks, super color canyons, protected reef and pristine beaches makes this the most attractive of the archipelagos.
I have yet to discover everything about this Island but I will make it back and hopefully stay longer.
Here are the top things I discovered while here.
North Shore
Ke’e Beach near the town of Wainiha is a surreal place. This was the first place where I found myself feeling so small surrounded by such amazing mountain peaks. The beach itself is amazing, although the day we were here it was rough.
To get here from Lihue take HI-56 North all the way to the end. Take the HI-560 West to the end.
Along side the beach is the Kalalau hiking trail. Do not wear flip flops like I did, you will end up walking barefoot. It is a steep and muddy climb but well worth it. The view is amazing. This trail is 11 miles long taking you to Kalalau Beach. Now we didn’t have time for this but if you have a couple days and are in good shape this is a must. If you do plan the longer trail you will need a permit
Kilauea Lighthouse is another great stop on the way back. Take HI-56 to Kilauea Rd turn left.
This lighthouse opened in 1913 and is now also part of a Wildlife Refuge. This is one of the few places you can see the red footed booby, Laysan albatross, a Wedge-tailed shearwater. The coastal front also provides a safe haven for the endangered ‘Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua (Hawaiian monk seal), Honu(Green sea turtle), and Koholā (Humpback whale).
There is also a small entrance fee. The views and Refuge are worth it.
South Shore Waimea Canyon
The grand Canyon of Hawaii. Not going to lie it’s a much nicer. This is a must do when coming to Kauai. To get here from Lihue take HI-50 East about 25 miles out of town.
I wish I had a better camera as these pictures do not capture the true beauty and colors. There are so many lookout points to stop at and each one has radiant views. There are 4 different trails in the park each one offering something. If you are here for a week, spend a couple days here.
- Cliff trail- You can do this in about 30 minutes
- Canyon trail- This is at the fork of Cliff trail but takes about 3 hours to complete. This trail also has a 800 foot waterfall
- Black pipe trail is 11 miles and will take you the better part of the day
- Kukui trail- one day I will do this one. This is for experienced hikers and should not be done unless you are qualified and can navigate
I could have sat here for hours taking in the pristine beauty of the Canyon.
Here are the four main lookout spots. You can always find others but be careful if you are going to take pictures at the edge of any cliff as they can give away.
- Waimai Canyon Lookout- mile marker 10
- Puu Hinahina Lookout- mile marker 13
- Kalalau Lookout- Mile Marker 18
- Puu o Kila Lookout- Mile marker 19
These ladies are the best and we had such an amazing day here. This Picture was one for the books.
Mahalo