KAUAI 6 Days
This itinerary visits the Poipu resort area, Kalalau Lookout, Polihale State Park, and the beautiful
Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon.
Kauai, the "Garden Island," is the oldest and northernmost Hawaiian island. It has green valleys, steep mountains, and rugged cliffs carved by wind and rain. Lush rainforests and many waterfalls cover the island. Outdoor options include kayaking the Wailua River, snorkeling at Poipu Beach, and hiking in Kōkeʻe State Park.
<Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the Photo Gallery>
ℹ️ Essential Tips:
Kauai Travel Guide - great website with excellent resources.
Kauai’s busiest months are mid-December to mid-April and again from mid-June to mid-September.
Packing Tip: Bring proper hiking shoes with good traction; Kauai’s red mud is famously slippery!
Open-Jaw flights: fly in and out of different islands – Maximize your time on the islands.
🚗 Traffic Tip: Kauai has essentially one main road. Traffic "bottlenecks" are common during morning and evening
rush hours, so always build in extra travel time.
DAY 1
Arrive at Lihue airport and transfer to your condo or hotel.
🚗 Renting a car is the most convenient way of enjoying the island.
Where to Stay: South vs. North
Poipu (South Shore): Known as the "sunny side." Best for steady beach weather, upscale resorts, and a more developed feel. [map]
North Shore (Princeville/Hanalei): Arguably the most beautiful region on Kauai. It is lush and green, though it receives more rain. Summer months offer the calmest waters here. [map]
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Advantages of a Hawaii Condo vacation rental:
💵 A better value for money spent, especially when family and friends share a condo.
Dining in Hawaii is very expensive. Kitchens can significantly reduce meal costs, and a washer/dryer comes in handy.
Kid-friendly environment with more space to play.
There are many condos to choose from. Many are within walking distance to the beach & shops in the resort areas.
Each condo is custom furnished differently.
Tips for a Hawaii Condo vacation rental:
There are excellent vacation rental companies as well as excellent individual owners who rent their units directly.
Plus check out VRBO and Airbnb. There are many condos in a resort atmosphere.
Check for fees pertaining to cleaning, security deposit, resort fees, damage waiver. Fees can vary significantly with different condos.
This can be especially troublesome for shorter stays.
Generally, there is no daily housekeeping. It may be offered if desired but at a daily fee.
Consider trip insurance for prepaid, non-refundable costs.
Advantages of Hawaii hotels:
Great for short stays and late arrivals.
Rooms vary by size, but theme, furnishings, and decor are consistent.
Brands offer even more of a homogenized experience.
You get daily housekeeping.
Generally no security deposit or cleaning fees.
Room service, on-site concierge, restaurant and other facilities, depending on property.
Tips related to a Hawaii hotel:
Check terms carefully. You may still find fees that are hidden until you’re near the end of the reservation process.
Check whether there is a daily resort fee.
Consider trip insurance for any pre-paid, non-refundable costs.
Check for other amenities. Free WiFi, breakfast, and exercise room.
When staying at chains, check booking via their loyalty program. You’ll often either pay less or have better terms.
Try checking in later in the day for best upgrade chances.
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South Shore (Poipu area)
Big Save | 5516 Koloa Rd | Koloa | 808-742-1614
Lihue Stores
Safeway | 4454 Nuhou Street | Lihue | 808-246-0290
Costco | 4300 Nuhou Street | Lihue | 808-241-4000
Times Market | 3-2600 Kaumualii Hwy (Kukui Grove) | Lihue | 808-245-7777
Wal-Mart | 3-3300 Kuhio Hwy | Lihue | 808-246-1599
Kapaa Stores (East Shore)
Big Save | 1105 Kuhio Highway (Kapaa Shopping Center) | Kapaa | 808-822-4971
Foodland | 4-771 Kuhio Hwy (Waipouli Town Center) | Kapaa | 808-822-7271
Safeway | 4-831 Kuhio Hwy (Kauai Village | Kapaa | 808-822-2464 Open 24 hours
North Shore
Big Save | 5-5172 Kuhio Hwy (Ching Young Village) | Hanalei | 808-826-6652
Foodland | 5-4280 Kuhio Hwy | Princeville | 808-826-9880
Largest Kauai grocery store on the North Shore with Pharmacy. Located at Princeville Center.Harvest Market Hanalei | 5-5156 Kuhio Hwy | Hanalei | 808-826-0089
Parrish Kauai, Suite-Paradise and Kauai Vacation Rentals are leading island vacation rental companies.
Kauai Revealed Guidebook - a “must get” gold standard. Best Seller!
Download the All-Trails app to enhance your hiking experience.
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1) Hanalei Beach
The half-moon bay of Hanalei Beach is naturally beautiful. High sea cliffs, sheer volcanic ridges, and golden sand surround the ancient sunken valley. Hanalei Bay stretches two miles from point to point and indents the coast a full mile inland. There are coral reefs are on either side of the two points, and in the middle of the bay. Due to a nearby sunken ship, Hanalei has a great snorkeling environment. Black Pot, near the pier, is one of the best areas for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. Swimming is excellent here year round, making it a popular choice for visitors and locals alike. <directions>
2) Poipu Beach
The most popular beach on the South Shore is Poipu Beach, which is fronted by Poipu Beach Park, and a few resorts. Poipu Beach was named America’s Best Beach by The Travel Channel, ranking top among the 10 “best” beaches selected nationwide. This beach is a series of golden sand crescents.
3) Ke’e Beach State Park
Located on a reef-protected Cove, Ke’e (pronounced Kay-ay) Beach attracts swimmers and snorkelers. Take note, though, to stay inside the reef area. Outside of the reef, conditions are unstable and the waters can be dangerous. Be sure to take a short walk towards Ha’ena for a panoramic view of the Na Pali Coast. <directions>
4) Tunnels Beach
Easily one of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches, Tunnels Beach is excellent for swimming year round and provides excellent snorkeling conditions as it is protected by a fringing coral reef. Surrounded by the peaks of Bali Hai, Tunnels Beach is one of the best locations to watch the sunset on Kauai. <directions>
5) Anini Beach
Although unguarded by attendants, Anini, a famous beach spot on the northern shore of Kauai, is one of the most protected beaches in the county, thanks to the adjacent reef that runs along the whole two-mile-long stretch of Anini’s coastline.
Home to Hawaii’s longest and widest fringing reef, Anini provides some of the best weather and water conditions that are suitable for almost all kinds of water-related activities. <directions>
6) Polihale State Park
Polihale State Park is a remote wild beach on the western side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is by far the lengthiest beach in Hawaii, Polihale Beach is a 17-mile-long stretch of glistening white sand and remarkable dunes. Access to the beach is down an unsurfaced old cane trail road which makes it appear like a desert highway rather than a coastal island. <directions>
Trail Map 🔍
DAYS 2 - 5
🏖️ Relax and wander at the beautiful beaches.
Kauai Beach Bucket List (detailed information for each part of the island)
Tip: the north side of Kauai gets more cloudy and rainy than the south side.
[Monthly water temperature] What to expect at the beach.
ℹ️ The North Shore:
Hike the Kalalau Trail, part of the Na Pali State Park, and one of the top 20 world treks.
The trail is an eleven-mile one-way, consisting of waterfalls, green valleys, sea caves, and gorgeous vistas.
⛰️The trail takes 2–3 days to hike, so you must camp. The Kalalau Trail is very hard; be well prepared and have hiking experience. Know its difficulty before you go.
Most visitors choose a day hike. The popular route is from Kee Beach to Hanakapiai Beach — about two miles each way (4 miles round trip).
Even this short section is worth it for the stunning views.⚠️ IMPORTANT: Completing the full round-trip hike to Kalalau Beach in one day
is not possible.—To hike the entire trail, a camping permit is required, and obtaining one is crucial before starting the journey.
This rule makes sure people follow the trail's guidelines and management and stay safe.Proper footwear with good traction is essential. The trail can be slippery or muddy in spots.
IMPORTANT ENTRANCE CHANGES AT “NA PALI COAST”
Hāʻena State Park, home to Kēʻē Beach, Kalalau Trail, and Hanakāpīʻai Beach, is now subject to daily visitor limits.
⚠️ Visitors are REQUIRED to purchase a Park entry reservation and an online car parking reservation PRIOR TO ARRIVAL.
All non-Hawaii resident visitors must purchase both an Entrance and Parking reservation.
For example, if two people ride in one vehicle, they buy two entry reservations and one parking reservation. [Learn more]
Visitors who choose to walk-in, bike-in, or arrange private drop-off (friend, Uber, Lyft) are still REQUIRED to make an online reservation to enter the park.
If you are planning on camping, a valid Camping Permit for Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park is required separately.
⚠️ RESERVATIONS are available for purchase UP TO 30 DAYS in advance.
—Because spots vanish quickly, [Reserve your spot] as soon as you can.If the car parking is full, the North Shore Shuttle service from Princeville will also be available. [Learn more]
FAQ’S regarding Hāʻena State Park and the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park.
Kilauea Lighthouse - located on Kīlauea Point on the north side of the island. It’s a photographer’s hotspot.
Ke Ala Hele Makalae Bike/Walk trail - route map. This 7.3-mile path starts at Lihi Park in Kapaa and follows the coast north, ending at Ahihi Point, just past Donkey Beach.
This path is available to walkers, joggers, and bikers, and is safe for families. The path goes along the ocean.
Source: Adventurous Pair by Kory Christensen
ℹ️ The Dramatic West Side:
Koke State Park:
Waimea Canyon -includes nice photo ops at many roadside lookouts!
Canyon trail - branches off of the Cliff Trail and is a four (4) mile round trip that takes 2 to 3 hours to complete and enjoy.
—Level of difficulty: moderate.
Iliau Nature Loop trail - an easy 15-minute, quarter-mile nature walk. You will find enjoyable views of Waimea Canyon.
Kalalau Lookout - one of Hawaii’s most photographed valleys. The lookout sits at 4,000 feet above sea level.
The Best time to go is morning (8 am-11 am). Clouds and mist keep moving, but mornings are much better. Treat 11:00 AM as a firm deadline.
Kalalau Lookout is located at mile marker #18 on Waimea Canyon Road.
A little further at the end of the road is Pu'u o Kila overlook, which is also the start to the Pihea Trail (2.3 mi. RT).
⚠️ The best spot for a photo is here.
Kalalau Valley has been the setting for many films, including the original "King Kong" and "Jurassic Park."
Polihale State Park:
Polihale State Park is a remote wild beach on the western side. About a 1-hour drive from Poipu. The state park
sits below the Na Pali Coast ridges to the north. Its sunsets are often stunning.Driving tip: the last seven miles to the park is an unpaved dirt road. It can flood and become impassable in rain; otherwise, it's a bit bumpy but fine. [GPS coordinate] ⚠️ Rental cars cannot be driven on dirt roads, though some people do so
at their own risk.
Discover various trails - www.kauai.com/hikes gives you a list of Kauai’s most popular hikes.
ℹ️ The Sunny South Shore:
Old Koloa Town - a quaint plantation village consisting of shops, restaurants & exhibits about Koloa's sugar history. Located in the Poipu area.
If your accommodations are in the Poipu area, relax at its beautiful beaches.
In Poipu, the Mahaulepu coastal trail is the BEST hike, which starts at Shipwreck Beach (next to the Hyatt hotel) along sand-dune cliffs, Kiawe trees, limestone formations, and rocky inlets. An easy hike for all ages.
Take a day cruise up the breathtaking Na Pali coastline. It’s spectacular! (boats typically depart from the southern harbors)
ℹ️ Suggested Summary: how to break down the above activities each day:
Day 2: The Sunny South Shore & Mahaulepu Trail
Day 3: The Dramatic West (Waimea Canyon & Polihale Sunset)
Day 4: The North Shore (Hāʻena State Park & Hanakapiai Beach Hike)
Day 5: Na Pali Coast Boat Cruise or Helicopter Tour
DAY 6
Depart Kauai for your flight home or discover another Hawaiian Island.
Map - North Shore
Kauai Island Map
Map - Poipu area
Driving time around Kauai:
Poipu <—> Waimea Canyon, 1 hr.
Poipu <—> Na Pali Coast, to end of the road (Ke’e beach). 1.5 hr. <Rush hour can add additional time>
Poipu <—> Polihale State Park, 1 hr.
Poipu <—> Princeville, 75 min.
Average cost:
(EXCLUDING AIRFARE)
$$$ USD for two (2) people
Budget: $2,400
Moderate: $3,300
Luxury: $4,500 +
🌤️ Climate Guide:
On average, the temperatures are always high...80's during the day, 60's at night
Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in December and January.
Kauai has dry periods in May through September.
The warmest months are June, July, and August.
The coolest months are December through February.
In general, the rainfall is greater on the Windward side of the islands.
The rainy season does NOT pose a real issue for visiting the Hawaiian Islands.
Kauai Gallery
🎥 Video
Sources: Hawaii style organization LLC. wikipedia.org, Jack Harter helicopters, Adventurous Pair by Kory Christensen, Shaka Guide.
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