Kauai
THE AMERICAS · ISLAND · PACIFIC
The oldest and greenest of the main Hawaiian islands, with a coastline so vertical that 25km of it has no road at all. Kauai is where you come for the Nā Pali cliffs, a canyon Mark Twain called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and rain — it holds a world record for it. Quieter than Maui, wilder than Oahu, and there are more chickens than people.
The plan
Nā Pali Coast by boat or helicopter
No road reaches it. Catamarans from Port Allen in summer, helicopters year-round — the helicopter is the one people remember.
Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe
A 900m-deep red gorge with lookouts along the rim road, and trails at the top into cloud forest.
Hanalei Bay and the north shore
A 3km crescent under green mountains, taro fields inland, and the best swimming on the island in summer.
Kalalau Trail, first two miles
Permits are needed for the full 18km, but Hanakāpīʻai Beach is a hard, spectacular day hike with a day pass.
Poʻipū and Spouting Horn
The sunny south shore for reliable weather, monk seals on the sand and a blowhole at sunset.
Book before you fly
Hāʻena State Park & Kēʻē
Parking, entry and the shuttle are all reserved — the Kalalau trailhead is inside it.
Kalalau Trail past Hanakāpīʻai
A camping permit is required beyond the two-mile mark and they are limited.
Nā Pali boat & helicopter tours
Weather-dependent; book early in your stay so you have spare days.
Getting there
Fly Līhuʻe (LIH)
Direct from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Dallas, plus frequent interisland hops.
Fly Honolulu (HNL) and connect
A 35-minute hop on Hawaiian or Southwest, usually the cheapest routing from the mainland east of the Rockies.
Getting around
One road goes three-quarters of the way around and stops at both ends. You need a car; there's no realistic alternative.
When to go
Best time to go
April to June and September to October — driest months, warm water and shoulder prices.
Cheapest months
May and September, when flights drop and the north shore is still swimmable.
Priciest & busiest
Mid-December to March, which is peak rates and also the wettest season on the north shore.
If you've got one day
Morning
Nā Pali Coast by boat or helicopter
Late morning
Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe
Lunch
Hamura Saimin
Afternoon
Hanalei Bay and the north shore
Evening
Dinner at Bar Acuda, then Kalalau Trail, first two miles
If you've got a week
Day 1
Arrive, settle in around 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, and take it slowly — Hamura Saimin for dinner.
Day 2
Nā Pali Coast by boat or helicopter.
Day 3
Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe. Dinner at Bar Acuda.
Day 4
Day trip — Oahu →.
Day 5
Hanalei Bay and the north shore. JO2 Natural Cuisine at some point.
Day 6
Kalalau Trail, first two miles.
Day 7
Poʻipū and Spouting Horn. Finish with Ishihara Market.
Staying longer?
Nearby & day trips
Thirty-five minutes by air.
Niʻihau
Visible from the west shore — privately owned, and only reachable on a limited helicopter tour.
An hour by air via Honolulu.
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