A natural wonder with white sandy beaches, majestic sea cliffs, deep canyons, and a rainforest filled with waterfalls, Kauaʻi is the northernmost and oldest island in the Hawaiian chain. Renowned for romantic Kauai vacation activities, mild adventure, rare sites, locally produced goods, and Hawaiian cultural experiences, Kauaʻi is the ideal tropical holiday spot.
Pā‘ani (Play) for Couples
The backdrop for many exciting and unforgettable Kauai vacation activities is Kauaʻi’s natural setting. Among the more than seventy amazing beaches in Kauaʻi, one finds the longest beach in Hawaii. Keeping water safe first, swim only at the beaches under lifeguard supervision. For everyone else, stroll leisurely on the shore with a loved one.
Thanks to a rich island interior best seen from above, Kauaʻi is perfect for zipline (flying fox) trips. Kauaʻi ATV has improved this action with the Sky Bike. Instead of flying in a harness, participants can peddle bicycles side-by-side along parallel zip lines hung above the Waita Reservoir. These are just some of the thrilling Kauai vacation activities available to visitors.
Try riding the Ke Ala Hele Makalae trail across Kauaʻi’s east side if you want your bike wheels to touch the ground. Pick up beach cruisers at Hele. Rent a Kauaʻi bike at Kapaʻa and enjoy the lovely seaside paved trail, another example of Kauai vacation activities that make the island special.
Of the navigable rivers of Hawaii, only the Wailua River is almost 20 km across Kauaʻi; this river fits perfectly for tandem kayak trips. Plan a guided eco-adventure with Ali Kayaks, which combines a muddy trail walk over a rainforest and river kayaking, highlighting yet another of the unique Kauai vacation activities.
Feel Maika‘i (Good)
Across the island of Kauaʻi, there are a variety of feel-good Kauai vacation activities. Kauaʻi is the ideal location for personal relaxation; practically every resort on the island boasts a complete-service spa! Wellness packages, including body treatments and massage therapy, are available at exceptional spas such as Anara Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and The Spa at Koa Kea Hotel & Resort.
Three wonderful green areas on Kauaʻi—Allerton & McBryde Gardens and Limahuli Garden & Preserve—make up the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. To discover more about native plant species in Hawaiʻi, let an interpretative guide travel with you around each tropical paradise. These gardens are integral to Kauai vacation activities that emphasize nature and tranquility.
With a fantastic beachside yoga practice, travelers may help their mind, body, and soul to be in harmony. Daily sunrise yoga on the oceanfront grass at Kauaʻi Beach Resort and daily mid-morning yoga on the sands of Kauaʻi Shores Hotel are offered by Kauaʻi Yoga on the Beach, adding to the list of relaxing Kauai vacation activities.
Hōkū (Star) Attractions
Kauaʻi has some amazing attractions; get ready with your camera and explore these Kauai vacation activities. Kauaʻi’s west side boasts an amazing coastline, with 27 km of soaring sea cliffs rising up to 1.2 km from the ocean. A catamaran, sailing boat, or ocean raft trip will let one see this amazing Nāpali Coast landscape. Look for humpback whales (Dec., Apr.).
Called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon is among Kauaʻi’s most arresting geological settings. There are plenty of picturesque viewpoints and hiking paths in this big red granite canyon. See the Kōkeʻe Natural History Museum to get a general picture of the past of the area and enjoy more enriching Kauai vacation activities.
Kaua’i offers the only tubing activity in Hawaii. Mountain Tubing Adventure, provided by Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures, runs down the ditches and tunnels of the former Līhuʻe Plantation. Enter an inflatable ring and float among the rivers that were originally used for irrigation on sugar plantations, making this one of the more adventurous Kauai vacation activities.
Most Kauaʻi is rural territory unreachable by vehicle; hence, helicopter trips are an excellent method to see the island’s beauty, particularly with regard to all the waterfalls. Over the breathtaking Manawaiopuna Falls, sometimes known as “Jurassic Park,” Blue Hawaiian Helicopters Kauaʻi Eco Adventure can carry you, offering one of the most scenic Kauai vacation activities.
Taste of Kaua‘i
Savor some of Kauaʻi’s finest native cuisine and drinks to really taste the culture as part of your Kauai vacation activities. On a cuisine tour guided by a native foodie, see the actual Kauaʻi. Through a gastronomic lens, Kauaʻi Food Tours seeks to provide visitors with an intimate look into the island’s history and culture. Tours include sampling at food trucks, well-known nearby eateries, and specialist food stores.
If you enjoy rum, you will love Kauaʻi! Using locally grown materials like Hawaiian cane sugar and pure mountain rainwater, Kōloa Rum Company, the sole distillery on the island, produces luxury rum. Sample it on a two-hour rum safari, in the tasting room, or at Kilohana Plantation as part of your culinary Kauai vacation activities.
Without a tropical beverage from a tiki bar, no visit to Kauaʻi would be complete. Order the Hawaiian Typhoon, created with three kinds of Hawaii spirits, from the eccentric outdoor bar Mamahune or the world-famous Tahiti Nui Mai Tai, as depicted in The Descendants movie. This is just one more of the many memorable Kauai vacation activities you can enjoy.
Kauaʻi boasts plenty of Hawaiian shave ice, a treat created with fine ice block shavings, syrups, and other sweet toppings. Make your own flavored cup at one of three JoJo’s Shave Ice outlets on Kauaʻi, in Waimea, Hanalei, or Kapaʻa, rounding off your Kauai vacation activities with a sweet finish.
Hawaiian Highlights
Discover native Hawaiian roots via Kauaʻi’s museums, holy places, and cultural events. From the displays and galleries at Kauaʻi Museum, the history of Kauaʻi—including the royal family of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau—is thoroughly recorded. Plan this visit in Lhue for ideally Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at 10 a.m. to attend a guided tour as part of your cultural Kauai vacation activities.
Starting from Shipwreck Beach and finishing at Punahoa Point in Kauaʻi’s south, the 3.2 km coastal trail known as the Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail traverses The trail will unveil Makauwahi Cave, one of Hawai’s most significant archeological sites, along with a heiau, an ancient Hawaiian holy site, adding depth to your Kauai vacation activities.
The Kāneiʻolouma Heiau & Hawaiian Village Cultural Site lies just a short walk from Kauaʻi’s Poʻipū Beach. Look for this old Hawaiian complex to discover a natural amphitheater, fishponds, taro patches, aqueducts, and irrigation systems, making it a significant stop in your Kauai vacation activities.
A luau, a Hawaiian celebration and feast, is the most often attended cultural event in Hawaii. Two very remarkable choices are the Smith Family Garden Lūʻau in Wailua River State Park or the Lūau Ka Hikina at Sheraton Kauaʻi Coconut Beach, capping off the ultimate Kauai vacation activities experience.
