Fun Things to Do in Kauai
There are plenty of exciting activities and experiences for everyone to enjoy in Kauai. If you’re looking for reliable, quality discount tours, we recommend Kauai Vacation Tours. Here’s an extensive list of adventures for you to explore.
NOTE: Please check each vendor/activity current schedule via links below, as some have been on temporary hold or have modified hours/entrance requirements due to COVID-19.
Thrills
There are many different companies that provide wonderful Na Pali Coast boat trips! No matter which you choose, you can enjoy an exciting journey, featuring beautiful scenery and even the option to snorkel. Be careful of the weather from November to April, as the water can be extremely choppy.
Helicopter trips are a thrilling experience! When choosing a helicopter tour, we recommend asking each service a few questions to figure out if it suits your needs.
Things to ask about:
- Their cancellation policy, in case the weather goes wild
- If they provide noise-cancelling headphones (which you can use to listen to calming music if you’re nervous)
- If every guest will have a window view
- If the helicopter has doors — some don’t have doors, in order to provide a better viewing experience
Outfitters Kauai has a variety of kayaking tours, such as Wailua Waterfall or Hidden Valley Falls. They also offer zipline tours, safari tours, hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, and plenty of other energized activities.
Enjoy an off-road adventure in the unseen backcountry of the south shore with Kauai ATV tours. Fly through 22,000 acres of historic farm terrain in state of the art Polaris UTVs. Choose from single, double, or four passenger buggies. This is a bumpy and dirty ride, so be prepared to get grimy! Kauai ATV will provide you with clothes to wear on your ride. There are many different tour options, from visiting the filming locations of famous films, such as Jurassic Park, to cave tours, to waterfall tours, and more.
You can always kayak the Wailua River and hike the waterfall trail, but consider going with a guide for safety. If it has recently rained, be aware that it will be very muddy, and it is relatively unpleasant to walk in deep mud.
Snorkeling is always lots of fun as well, and our favorite spot on the south shore is at Lawai Beach (no lifeguard) or Poipu Beach Park (has lifeguards, bathrooms, outdoor showers and picnic areas). We recommend staying where the lifeguards are, and always paying attention to signs and postings about water conditions. You can also rent any gear you need from Snorkel Bob’s. This activity is a wonderful way to explore the (literal!) depths of Hawaii’s beautiful oceans and marine life.
Sights
The National Tropical Botanical Garden has several different tours and gardens, for all interests. We recommend the McBryde and Allerton Gardens! Close to our properties, and a wonderful experience, you can register online today, since tours can fill up quickly.
Visit the Island Soap and Candle Works in Kapa’a. This store is where we buy beautiful handmade soaps and shampoos to provide to you in all our homes. Not only do they have a wide range of interesting scents for soap, including soap you can use to wash your pets, they also have candles, lotions, body creams and butters, perfumes, bath salts, and more.
A fun tourist activity is to browse the gift shop and Museum at the Koke’e Lodge in Koke’e State Park north of Waimea Canyon. They also have hiking trails and camping options!
Every Monday at 5pm, enjoy a free hula show at the Poipu Shopping Center. Explore a thousand years of rich tradition through the music, stories, and Hula dance of Hawaii.
If you drive past Princeville, you can see the fascinating wet and dry caves, or drive out to the lighthouse past Kilauea (closed Sunday and Monday) and view wonders of nature, such as birds and cliffs.
For walking, consider walking the grounds of the Hyatt Hotel, especially when they are lighting the torches at night. A peaceful walk along the water in the evening can also be a beautiful and relaxing way to wind down.
Eats
If you’re a foodie, you’ll love Tasting Kauai, a rich guided experience that celebrates food inspired by Hawaii’s diverse cultures. There is quite the selection of tour options, such as Downtown Lihue, Hanapepe, Hanalei, South Shore, and Kilauea. Learn about the food of the island and connect with the local community through this unique experience.
Lappert’s Ice Cream, in the Kukui’ula Shopping Center, features both delicious ice cream and delicious coffee. We recommend their Iced Café Latte! You can even buy pints of ice cream and bags of coffee.
We highly recommend the breakfast pizza from Living Foods! They also offer other breakfast items, crepes, pizzettas, salads, sandwiches, and a selection of restaurant quality takeout.
Having been here for quite a while, we’ve tried a wide sampling of shave ice options. For our money and convenience, we enjoy Koloa Mill Ice Cream & Coffee, next to the Chevron Station. One of the most popular options is Waikomo Shave Ice.
Find authentic, local, fresh fish at the Koloa Fish Market in Old Koloa. Enjoy a lunch to go, such as poke, bento, and desserts.
Dinner at The Beach House Restaurant is something you won’t want to miss. Their carefully crafted menu features a wide variety of exquisite dishes.
If you’re into shrimp, go to Savage Shrimp, also in the Kukui’ula Shopping Center. What used to be a local iconic food truck is still a fun and funky place to go for casual fare, and it’s great for takeout. If you don’t enjoy shrimp, we also love their fish tacos!
These are just a few of the many amazing things to do in Kauai. The abundance of options provides never-ending fun, from exciting adventures to peaceful activities.
Photos by Robin Gotfrid.
