Kauai is known as the "Garden Island." It is a stunning tropical paradise in Hawaii with its lush rainforests, dramatic cliffs, and pristine beaches and it is also the rainiest of the islands but don’t fret as it doesn’t last long and when it is raining on one side of the island it is not on the other.

This island is also not as industrialized as the others with locals seeking to preserve its beautiful nature and culture. If you see wildlife at the beach or anywhere else, you are encouraged to leave alone. Most beaches have signs warning against engaging with the animals which we whole heartedly respect. It is best to admire from a short distance, so they remain at peace. Same cannot be said for the chickens and roosters on the island because they are ALL around and unavoidable LOL.

Below are our recos & tips for Beaches, Entertainment, Restaurants, etc. based on our one time there and info I’ve gotten from some Kauai Facebook groups which I highly recommend joining for more ideas.

No matter where you’re staying on the island though, your first stop should be Costco! It’s the most cost effective place to stock up on alcohol and snacks for your stay. And one of the best things David and I did, was take our membership card pics there as they have a cute tropical backdrop and now when they scan our IDs at home, employees always want to know where we got that pretty background!

Beaches

Beach Hopping from South to North along the Eastern coast is a must!

Shipwreck Beach – my favorite by far with the amazing cliffs! There is a trail there as well with breathtaking views that I really want to do if there is time.

Tunnels Beach – picturesque beach that can get a little crowded but all you have to do is walk down to a quitter spot and enjoy the beautiful homes along the way. Parking can be an issue so get there early.

Larsen’s Beach – a very beautiful and quiet beach. It’s about a 5-8 minute hike down with a some overgrown areas but it is worth it!

Black Pot Beach / Hanalei Bay – another popular tourist spot but you can get some great shots of the mountains at the pier and of the pier.

Queen’s Bath – we didn’t get to visit here but the hike to see is apparently not for the faint of heart and locals advise against swimming in the area because rouge waves can appear out of nowhere and there have been many that have perished because of that.

Entertainment

Captain Andy’s Cave Raft Tour – we highly recommend this tour as it was the best part of our trip! It’s a fast-paced, bumpy, and exhilarating ride along the Napali coast and through some amazing caves with lots of dolphin sightings! Whales at this timeframe have already migrated out and are only there for the winter months. This raft tour is not recommended for people with back, neck or knee issues though. I believe they also have Cave Catamaran boat tours which wouldn’t be as bumpy.

Drive through Waimea Canyon – make sure you have plenty of Gas and drive though Waimea Canyon and be prepared to make lots of stops to take LOTS of amazing photos of the canyons, waterfalls and the ocean!

Kilauea Point Lighthouse – be prepared for some amazing views with Boobies all around! Yes I said BOOBIES! They are protected seabirds and you need to make a reservation online to access the lighthouse and refuge. But there are still some viewpoints right outside the refuge if you don’t get to make reservations.

Kalaulau Trail – this is the most popular and dangerous trails but the one that offers the best views. It’s an all day hike. You should checkout the youtube videos to get the idea if interested. We have not done this trail but David would love to!

Mountain Tubing – Another fun activity we would love to try on our next visit there.

Local shops – there are no major shopping malls on this island but there are lots of cute local shops all around.

Waterfalls – there are waterfalls all around but two that are easy to access for viewing are Wailua Falls & Opaeka’a Falls.

Restaurants

Tidepools – high end restaurant at Grand Hyatt Resort with fresh fish and delicious steak offerings and it borders Shipwreck beach. Reservation required.

Puka Dog – these hotdogs definitely rival our fave Costco dogs with their tasty sauces! It was once featured Anthony Bourdain’s show on the Travel Channel. No reservations needed but we hear the lines can be pretty long to get in. There was no line when we visited on a weekday though.

Beach House – looks to have amazing views and delicious food. We have yet to visit but it is on our Kauai bucket list.

LOTS of food trucks and local restaurants people rave about so do your research in advance!