Kauai is known as The Garden Island due to its beautiful, rugged rainforests, waterfalls, and mountains. It’s a small island with a building code of “no higher than a palm tree”. Outdoor vs night life is what you’ll find here. There are numerous beaches, trails, boating excursions, helicopter tours, gorgeous gardens, lazy tubing, zip lining, chocolate farms, a coffee farm, and a rum safari! … it all immerses you in the lush beauty of this stunning place. Check TripAdvisor to book many of these experiences. The Napali Coast on the Northwestern edge is a must see by foot (Kalalau Trail), air (helicopter or plane), or boat (sail or rafting into sea caves!). The road ends at The Haena State Park (see info below. The access to this area is crowd-controlled.). Tunnels Beach and Haena Beach Park have snorkeling, surfing, and dry sea caves to explore. The drive along the winding North Shore is gorgeous. Check out local farmer’s markets with our favorite being in Hanalei on Saturday mornings. The Waimea Canyon is the South West side of the Napali Coast and is also a must see. It is about a 2 hour drive from Princeville to get to the Kalalau Lookout at the very top of the canyon, and is worth making a full day of exploring the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. Stop at a coffee shop at the base of the canyon and a food truck afterward. It’s an amazing view you won’t regret. Most local bars close fairly early, so think outdoors and exploration for this trip! A few restaurant favorites are posted here too. Hiking the Kalalau Trail requires a permit secured online 30 days before your planned hiking day. See link below
Reservations For Ke'e Beach And Kalaua Trail
Advance reservations required to see this gorgeous beach and hike any of the KalalauTrail. Reservations are difficult to get as this is a coveted place and it’s worth every penny if you are a hiker. The $40 per person shuttle+pass is your best bet to get a reservation and must be booked 30 days ahead. The shuttle picks up in Hanalei only, so you drive to the shuttle lot just North of town. The inexpensive parking and entry passes sell out immediately when they go on sale at midnight. The shuttle from Princeville or Waipu(a park in Hanalei) are $40 and usually available 30 days out without worrying about the midnight sell out. They do get fully booked up though so don’t wait! Please check out the website if this is on your bucket list to get the feel of it before your “30 days ahead reservation” needs to be secured. You won’t regret it. You need a pass even for Ke’e beach in the Haena State Park. This Northern-most area is crowd controlled to protect the natural beauty.
The Napali Coast is a must see. This boat departs from the North shore of Hanalei in the summer which is close to the Napali mountain range. The majority of trips depart from the South side of the island and this particular trip is a time saver if you are staying North.
No trip to the North Shore is complete without at least a Mai Tai at Tahiti Nui. Often they have traditional Hawaiian music live. A very small place. Go early - it’s always packed. The second half of the movie “The Descendants” with George Clooney was filmed here and around Hanalei.
