Kauai Full Island Guide
Kauai Full Island Guide
Victoria Baldwin
Kauai is often a favorite of the Hawaiian islands, given its range in landscape, geography and activities. Outside of the capital of Līhue, there are four main regions - the East Side, the North Shore, the South Shore and the West Side.
This guide will include activities and recommendations for the East, North and South. While the regions are easy to travel between, we recommend staying on the island for at least one week to really explore them all.
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The North Shore
Kauai’s North Shore is unique and diverse, full of rugged mountains, waterfalls, beaches, lush jungles and an overall laid back culture. While on the North Shore, you’ll want to visit towns like Hanalei, Princeville and Kilauea and explore the coastline by relaxing on white sand beaches and hiking in Ha’ena State Park.
The furthest west of the towns, Hanalei, is a beautiful hour drive from Lihue, with many lookouts and small towns along the way to stop as you venture north. In particular, the drive from Princeville down to Hanalei on the Kuhio Highway is a route you’ll want to repeat over and over again - it’s that magical.
The North Shore can do it all, from luxury hotels to more affordable accommodations, nicer restaurants to food trucks, golf courses and spas to stunning landscapes and hikes.
Where To Stay
The Palmwood
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A short drive from Kilauea, this secluded bed and breakfast oasis is perfect for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.
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The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
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For family-friendly accommodations in the Marriott Bonvoy family, Princeville is a great home base for exploring the North Shore.
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1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
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If you're looking to splurge on a luxurious stay, check out this sustainable wellness resort, which was previously the St. Regis.
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What To Do
Hanakapiai Falls
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This nearly eight mile rigorous hike within Ha’ena State Park is well worth the planning and effort. With stunning views and surprises throughout (like the powerful smell of lilikoi), the rugged and slippery route is full of adventure and beauty. Despite being challenging, you don’t need to be an expert hiker to take this on and experience the Na Pali coast from land.
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Hanalei Pier
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With nearly two miles of beachfront, this bay is surrounded by mountains and beautiful views - not often can you visit a beach with mountains as the backdrop. The bay is full of boats, is relatively calm and given its size, is typically not crowded. Hanalei Beach is a quick drive from the town of Hanalei, making it easily accessible with ample parking in the mornings.
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Tunnels Beach Access
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If you’re looking for a more active environment, this secluded beach is highly recommended for snorkeling and scuba diving. Lava tubes have formed underwater caverns that make the reef a magical place for exploring. This beach is further away from town and parking is limited, so you’ll want to head there early to get a parking spot.
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Ke'e Beach
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Another popular beach in Ha’ena State Park, Ke’e is a protected reef, making it another perfect spot for snorkeling and swimming. Given its right next to the Kalalau Trailhead, you can make a reservation and take the Kauai North Shore Shuttle to access and avoid any parking struggles.
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Kilauea Lighthouse
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The northernmost point of the main Hawaiian islands, the lighthouse offers beautiful cliff and ocean views.
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Queen’s Bath
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If you’re looking for a shorter hike (this one is near Princeville) to a beautiful pay off, check out Queen’s Bath, a unique tidal pool surrounded by a rocky landscape. The trail is a 0.8 mile out-and-back, considered an easy route, but can be dangerous after rain. Be sure to check out the recent reviews on AllTrails or track the tides to ensure a safe visit.
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Where To Eat
While on Kauai, we went all-in on the laid back culture, enjoying nearly all of our food from food trucks, food stands and grocery-store windows. This made for incredibly relaxing meals that we enjoyed from picnic tables or back on our lanai at The Palmwood.
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Da Fazenda
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Da Fazenda specializes in Brazilian cuisine - which was a unique option on the island.
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Holey Grail Donuts
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The perfect post-food truck meal snack, Holey Grail specializes in vegan taro donuts and offers the best seating in the food truck park under a canopy.
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Pat's Taqueria
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This taco truck is a fixture at Black Pot Beach in Hanalei Bay - make sure you check their hours before making a trip out there to visit.
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Aloha Juice Bar
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This juice stand serves up acai bowls, smoothies, dole whip and more, but if you’re searching for a solid cold pressed juice, they had unique daily specials.
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Nourish Hanalei
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By far the most popular of our stops, this food stand was created by three North Shore sisters and serves up fresh, healthy bowls with incredible views. We absolutely loved the Ha’ena and Nourish Acai Bowls. They have limited hours, so be prepared to plan your weekday afternoon around a stop here.
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Wishing Well Shave Ice
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A Hanalei staple, this truck serves up unique, fresh combinations (you can even add macadamia nut ice cream). I opted for the special of the day, which featured lilikoi, strawberry guava and hibiscus lime, topped with lilikoi drizzle - the perfect mid-day treat.
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Hanalei Bread Company
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This organic bakery and coffee house located in the heart of Hanalei was the place to be in the mornings. They serve a full breakfast menu, along with their bread and pastry selections and have a walk-up window for coffee.
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Sushi Girl Kauai
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A tucked away food truck in Kilauea town with delicious sushi options. There are plenty of seating options nearby, or you can easily take it to go.
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Kilauea Fish Market
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Deli and market serving daily catches, plate lunches and poke, a Kilauea staple.
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Kilauea Bakery & Pizzeria
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This charming spot in Kilauea town is a staple for unique baked goods and espresso in the mornings and pizzas in the evenings, with outdoor seating perfect for people watching.
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Bar Acuda
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This tapas restaurant was on every Kauai guide I referenced before our trip, but it was difficult to snag a reservation. If you’re looking for a nicer restaurant during your stay, check it out!
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Tahiti Nui
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Another mainstay on every Kauai guide, this spot has live music and performances. You won’t miss it on the main street.
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Anaina Hou Farmers Market
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Java Kai Bar Coffee Roasters
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Java Kai has two locations on the island, one in Kilauea and one in Kapa’a. They have an extensive breakfast menu, with frozen coffee, acai bowls, burritos and more.
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Kauai Juice Co Kilauea
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This juice shop has three locations around the island and we frequented all three at least once. In addition to offering cold pressed juices, they also had kombucha on tap and gave you discounted refills if you returned the glasses.
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Other restaurants in the area that we did not try, but were highly recommended and looked to be quite popular are The Hanalei Bay Dolphin, Postcards Cafe, Palate Wine Bar and The Bistro. We also loved Java Kai and Kauai Juice Co., which had multiple locations throughout the island.
The South Shore
The South Shore of Kauai is known for its beaches, amazing resorts and great restaurants. Whereas the North Shore is more secluded, lush and laid back, the South Shore is a bit more touristy and commercialized.
The South Shore is the perfect gateway to many Kauai adventures, including Waimea Canyon and accessing the Na Pali coast by boat. Popular towns along this portion of the coast include Poipu, Koloa and Lawai.
While on the South Shore, expect more luxury accommodations and high-end restaurants and less food trucks and jungle hikes.
Where To Stay
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
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Located near Poipu in Koloa, this luxury oasis spans 50 oceanfront acres of a former sugar plantation. While the nightly rate can be pricey, you can strategically use Hyatt points or transfer Chase points to cover your stay.
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Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection
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For the Marriott Bonvoy members out there, this 25-acre resort is also in a prime location with great amenities.
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The Lodge at Kukuiʻula
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For a major splurge and flex, check out The Lodge near Koloa for a truly unforgettable stay on the South Shore.
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The Kauai Inn
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Looking for a budget friendly option? The Kauai Inn is a super affordable home base if you plan to spend your days exploring the South Shore.
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What To Do
Waimea Canyon State Park
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An hour drive from Poipu, the park is full of incredible hikes, panoramic views and some of the most unique landscapes you’d imagine to see on the island that is also home to the wettest place on Earth. If you have limited time, stop at the Waimea Canyon Lookout for scenic views (without the hike) or check out one of the longer hikes like the Kalepa Ridge Trail.
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Kālepa Ridge
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Not for the faint of heart, this is an unauthorized, unmaintained trail, but is highly touted as having the best views of Kauai. The nearly two mile hike is along the Kalepa Ridge line, meaning tight pathways. It is recommended to go early to avoid the cloud cover that occurs in the mountains during afternoons on Kauai.
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Capt Andy's
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With one of the most unique coastlines in the world, Kauai is a treasure that has to be experienced from as many different viewpoints as possible. This means it is time to view the Na Pali Coast from the water. Capt Andy’s was highly recommended and offers catamaran sails and raft expeditions.
We opted for the 5.5 hour Na Pali Star Snorkel BBQ Sail on their 65’ catamaran and had a memorable day out on the water, spotting plenty of dolphins and really enjoying the staff on board, who really made our trip special.
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Spouting Horn
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Part of the 10 mile long Koloa Heritage Trail, which can be accessed along the coastline, this natural blowhole is a tourist favorite. The area is also popular for spotting sea turtles.
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Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
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This two-mile coastal trail runs from Shipwreck Beach to Punahoa Point and features rugged sea cliffs, secluded coves, dunes, tide pools and native plants.
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Warehouse 3540
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Located in a former glass factory, this community center is filled with local boutiques and food trucks and also hosts a farmers market and live music.
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Where To Eat
After spending a few blissful days on the North Shore eating at food trucks and enjoying casual meals as we explored, the South Shore is a different beast. While we still kept at it, there were a variety of restaurants and sit-down options to enjoy near Poipu.
Little Fish Coffee Poipu
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This popular spot in Poipu had a line down the sidewalk minutes after opening and is a staple for coffee and acai bowls in this resort area. This was my favorite acai of the trip.
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Kauai Juice Co Poipu
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This juice shop has three locations around the island and we frequented all three at least once. In addition to offering cold pressed juices, they also had kombucha on tap and gave you discounted refills if you returned the glasses.
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Craving Thai Food Truck
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One of my favorite meals of the trip, you cannot miss the yellow curry at this food truck located in Old Koloa Town.
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Chalupa's
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Next to Craving Thai, this truck touted the best fish tacos in Hawaii and they might be onto something. I had the blackened fish tacos and they were melt in your mouth delicious.
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Eden Coffee
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Located in the same food truck park as Craving Thai and Chalupa's, Eden served inventive espresso beverages.
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The Fresh Shave
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Just around the corner in Old Koloa Town, this all-natural, modern take on shave ice was incredibly refreshing. We opted for the daily special with coconut and guava.
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'Anakē's Juice Bar
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A popular staple for smoothies and acai bowls, this juice bar is located inside the Kukui’ula Grocery Market.
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La Spezia
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This modern and cozy Italian spot was recommended by locals and I wish we had visited.
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Living Foods
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The Erewhon of Kauai, this grocery store features local produce and has a takeaway or sit-down option for lunch.
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Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company
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If you need a quick meal on the way to Waimea Canyon (or on the way back), this cafe is one of the most popular diners on the island.
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Lappert's Hawaii
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Looking for a sweet treat that isn’t shave ice or an acai bowl? Head to Lappert’s in Hanapepe for fresh baked cookies and ice cream.
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Koloa Fish Market
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This family owned spot specializes in fresh fish, poke, bento and plate lunches.
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There are plenty of other high-end restaurants available in the Poipu area - I cannot vouch for the quality or experience as they were not personally recommended or mentioned by any locals.
If you’re looking for more upscale options on the South Shore, popular ones include Eating House 1849, Beach House and Merriman’s.
The East Side
Sometimes referred to as the Royal Coconut Coast, Kauai’s East Side is known for its groves of coconut palms and used to be home to a coconut plantation.
The East Side encompasses Lihue, Wailua and Kapa’a. Because there is only one road around the entire island (how have I not mentioned this yet!), this area can get congested during rush hour, so avoid it if you can. This area connects the North and South shores, so you can absolutely get away with not spending ample time here and sticking with your other accommodations, but there are a few activities that are well worth it!
While we had limited knowledge of the East Side, we were delightfully surprised at the charm of the town of Kapa’a and appreciated the convenient location to explore Wailua and Lihue.
Where To Stay
Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
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Conveniently located near Kapa’a town, this Marriott property offered us easy access to all the things we wanted to do in this area. Use your Bonvoy points here to easily extend your stay on Kauai.
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Timbers Kauai - Ocean Club & Residences
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Another major splurge, The Timbers are private residences on the water near Lihue.
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What To Do
Air Kauai
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If you are traveling to Kauai, you cannot miss out on seeing the island from above. After repeated recommendations that a helicopter ride is a must do, I booked this as a surprise anniversary gift the week before our trip.
Feeling adventurous (and bound to capture great content), I opted for the doors off option and Air Kauai had a perfect safety record, which made me feel confident booking with them.
Air Kauai was excellent. They operate out of a shipping container near the airfield and provided a great safety briefing, providing jackets, headphones and goggles to ensure you have a comfortable ride. From briefing, to the golf cart ride, to boarding the helicopter and enjoying the ride - everything was seamless.
During the 45-minute tour, our guide provided a full history of the island as we explored it all - the Na Pali coast, Hanapepe Valley, Waimea Canyon, Mount Waialeale and more. This is hands down the best way to experience the dramatic coastline the canyons and the waterfalls.
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Shipwrecked Kauai
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Perfectly curated boutique along the main strip in Kapa'a, Shipwrecked carries a great selection of swimwear, casual basics and accessories that fit the laid back vibe of Kauai.
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KIKO
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KIKO offers a great selection of gifts, housewares and jewelry and the owner is an absolute delight - offering tons of recommendations for the island.
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Monkey Palm Mercantile
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Bright and airy boutique, filled with handcrafted goods and great brands.
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Where To Eat
Java Kai
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Java Kai has two locations on the island, one in Kilauea and one in Kapa’a. They have an extensive breakfast menu, with frozen coffee, acai bowls, burritos and more. Located on the main street in Kapa’a, Java Kai was always busy.
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Sunrise Coffee
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We stopped at this coffee truck before our helicopter tour and loved it so much, we made another stop at the end of our trip. Enjoying your daily coffee or latte with macadamia nut milk is a real treat.
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Aloha Roastery
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This cute, modern coffee shop was perfect for a mid-day espresso and it took everything in me not to purchase their cute merch.
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The Musubi Truck
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I had never tried spam musubi before and could not wait to visit this spot, just a short walk away from the main street in Kapa’a. They have a prime location and the Deep Fried OG (panko crusted, deep fried spam musubi) was so good.
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Mermaids Cafe
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Tucked into the buildings next to Java Kai is Mermaids, a local favorite that offers tacos, salads and vegetarian friendly options.
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Anatta's Thai Street Food (Kapa’a)
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We enjoyed an incredible amount of Thai and Indian curries while in Kauai and Annata’s was one of our favorites. Their location in Kapa’a has plenty of picnic tables and is just steps away from the water.
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Kauai Gourmet Nuts
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I loved this clean, modern, nut shop on the streets of Kapa’a. The staff was so incredibly friendly and the incredible smells radiate through the entire street so you won’t be able to stay away from here for long.
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Shakalafel
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After a recommendation from a local shopowner, we stopped here for the Falafel bites, which were magnificent and I have been trying to recreate them at home.
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Fillo's Kauai
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A mainstay on many Kauai food truck guides, Fillo’s did not disappoint. I had the most incredible birria tacos and was sad to catch them when they were closed when we tried to return for more.
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Fish Bar Deli
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You won’t miss this spot on the corner. They have an incredible selection of fine foods and cooking, along with a fish market, full bar and sandwich shop.
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