Things To Do in Kauai

Kauai's canyon, coastline, and tropical beauty set it apart from the other islands in the Hawaiian chain. Visitors have a multitude of vacation options to enjoy on this beautiful island. From the miles of pristine beaches and the soaring Napali cliffs to the many chasms of Waimea Canyon and the verdant mountains and valleys, Hawaii’s fourth-largest island enchants visitors like no other. It's no wonder that movie directors have chosen the beautiful Garden Isle as the setting for scores of films for over six decades. We hope this Things To Do in Kauai post inspires you. 

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Things To Do in Kauai

An Abundance of Beaches

According to the Kauai Visitors Bureau, Kauai contains more miles of beach than any other island in the Hawaiian chain. Some popular spots are the serene Anini Beach in the north, family-friendly Poipu Beach in the south, and Lydgate State Park Beach on the east side, a great spot for novice snorkelers. One cannot go more than a few miles in either direction without finding a postcard-perfect stretch of sand. There is more than just sunbathing, however; visitors can also enjoy kayaking and scuba diving along the many reefs protecting these beaches.

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A Canyon Worth the Visit

Visitors willing to endure a thirty-minute drive up a tortuous mountain road will be rewarded with spectacular views of the aptly named “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Waimea Canyon is a 10-mile long, 3,567-foot deep gorge formed millions of years ago on Hawaii's oldest island. Many lookouts allow visitors to observe the ever-changing ocher and sienna hues that contrast with green vegetation. The canyon forms part of Kokee State Park, which offers hiking opportunities for the more adventurous. These range from easy, half-hour walks to all-day hikes along narrow, heart-stopping trails. Other inland activities include riding zip lines from treetops and riding horseback past cascading waterfalls.

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Things To Do in Kauai

A Coast Unlike Any Other

Called the Jewel of Kauai, the Napali Coast is a breathtaking landscape of prehistoric mountain ridges that drop majestically to the Pacific. At one point, part of the emerald-green cliff revealed the lush Kalalau Valley, which extends miles inland to plunging ravines from its isolated beach. Indeed, this northwestern coast of Kauai is inaccessible to most visitors unless one joins a whale-watching and snorkeling cruise or takes an hour-long helicopter ride over the island.

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Discovered by Hollywood

While the natural beauty of Kauai made it a popular tourist destination, it also enticed movie directors to make the five-hour flight from the mainland to film on its shores. The lush, tropical scenery, for example, was deemed perfect for location shots in each of the three Jurassic Park films, and for parts of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Outbreak, and Tropic Thunder. The Kauai beaches have been home to scenes from The Thorn Birds and Six Days/Seven Nights, among many others. Lumahai Beach, in particular, is well-known as the spot where Mitzi Gaynor tried to “wash that man right out of my hair” in the South Pacific.

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Things To Do in Kauai

Unlike the more popular and crowded Hawaiian islands, the nightlife is not a priority in this laid-back locale. Instead, it is the beauty and allure of Kauai that make it such a popular vacation destination, and a place worth discovering. Direct flights to Kauai’s airport in Lihue are available daily from Los Angeles or San Francisco. 

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