6 Day Itinerary In Kauai

Kauai is the 4th largest island in Hawaii and is known as the “Garden Isle” because of its lush tropical rainforest and waterfalls. For many people. this is the tropical paradise you are looking for. How long should you spend in paradise? The island’s not that big (you can drive from one end of the island to the other in just over 2 hours), so if you are really pressed on time, 4-5 days in Kauai will be sufficient to experience the highlights of the island. On my recent trip, I decided to spend 6 full days (+2 travel days) to give myself plenty of time to relax. To reduce drive time, I stayed in Princeville on the north shore for the first nights and then moved to a hotel in Kapa’a on the east side for the last nights.

Day 1 in Kauai: Explore north shore

Start the day in Princeville and head towards Ha’ena State Park, located at the end of the road on the north side. Along the way stop by some key sights including:

• Queen’s Bath – closed in the winter because it is too dangerous
• Hideaway Beach – a secluded beach that you have to hike down to. The hike was challenging because of the steep rocks and terrain, but there are handrails and ropes to hold on to for those who want to explore. It was pretty fun getting down, but make sure to wear good shoes
• Hanalei – small town along the way to grab some breakfast at Hanalei Bread Company
• Hanalei Pier and Black Pot Beach

• Hanalei Beach
• Hanalei Valley Lookout

• Tunnels Beach (you might see some monk seals there!)

After some driving, you will reach the end of the road, the farthest point you get drive to on the north shore – the main road around the island starts here and ends in Koke’e State Park on the west side. At the end of the road you will enter Ha’ena State Park. To get in you will need to make a parking reservation in advance here if you are visitor (Hawaiian residents are free). Cost for parking is $10 per vehicle and it will give you access to Ke’e Beach and the first part of the world famous Kalalau Trail. During peak times reservations are hard to come by so make sure you plan in advance!

After a quick walk through some taro fields, you will find the trailhead for the Kalalau Trail (it is very clearly marked).

The full trail is 11 miles long each way, and it is the only land access to the rugged Napali Coast of the island. It is also known as one of the world’s most dangerous hikes because of its steep, muddy terrain and river crossings. Most people hike the first 2 miles of the trail (4 miles round trip) to Hanakapi’ai beach and another 2 miles (8 miles round trip) up Hanakapi’ai Valley to Hanakapi’ai Falls. Anyone wanting to hike beyond Hanakapi’ai Falls will need a permit.

The trail offers breathtaking views of the Napali Coast and it was one of my highlights of my trip to Kauai.

I was lucky enough to have hiked this trail when it was relatively dry, and there were only a few spots that were muddy but were manageable. I cannot imagine hiking it during wet periods as some areas were quite steep and would be pretty slippery when wet. Please do make sure to check conditions before you head out! I hiked to the Hanakapi’ai Beach and back in 3 hours, and this includes time exploring and relaxing on the beach.

After a good hike, enjoy some time at Ke’e Beach. There are shower and bathroom facilities there for you to enjoy.

If you still have the energy to explore after the hike, here are a few more sights to explore on the north shore:

• Kilauea Lighthouse
• Secret Beach (AKA Kauapea Beach)

Day 2 in Kauai: Beach day on the north shore

After a full day of sightseeing, enjoy the second day by exploring the beaches on the north shore.

• Anini Beach/Wyllie Beach – a good swimming/snorkeling beach on the north shore. The two beaches are next to one another. You can either drive on dirt roads to get to Anini Beach or hike down from the public access parking lot next to the Westin in Princeville. If you decide to hike make sure you bring good shoes because the hike can get quite steep.
• Tunnels Beach – good place for snorkeling/diving. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Kauai, in my opinion. It is located in a residential area so parking is very hard to find. Here are the Google Maps coordinates of parking nearby the beach, but the spots are very limited. If you cannot find parking in the side streets near Tunnels Beach, you can park at the nearby Ha’ena Beach Park and walk towards Tunnels.
• Hanalei Beach is always a good option for beach activities

Day 3 in Kauai: explore east side and south shore

After a relaxing day on the beach(es), go sightseeing/hiking/beaching on the east side and the south shore.

East Side:

• Wailua Falls – a quick drive by stop

• Opaeka’a Falls – a quick drive by stop

• Hike the Sleeping Giant Trail – get a 360 degree view of of the east side of Kauai

South Shore:

• Spouting Horn – a quick stop to check out this blowhole, complete with sound effects to support the Hawaiian legends

• Poipu Beach – a popular beach for swimming and snorkeling

Day 4 in Kauai: explore west side

Drive to the other end of the road on the west side and explore Koke’e State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park. Entrance is free, but parking for the entire area is $10 a day. This area is usually foggy and rainy, so it’s good to start early to try and avoid the fog/rain. If you want to do some hiking and have some time, I would recommend breaking this up into 2 days to enjoy each park.

• Red Dirt Waterfall, on the way into Waimea State Park
• Koke’e State Park
  • Drive to the end to see the Napali Coast at the Kalalau Lookout and Pu’u O Kila Lookout. The Pu’u O Kila Lookout is known is one of the wettest spots on earth. From here you can hike the Pihea Trail (~1 mile each way) to get other perspectives of the Napoli Coast.
  • Hike the Awa’awapuhi Trail (6.7 mile round trip) to get a panoramic view of the Napali Coast
• Waimea State Park, dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific
  • Waimea Canyon Lookout
  • Puu Hinahina Lookout
  • There are also popular hiking trails such as the Cliff Trail and the Canyon Trail if you still have the energy (or plan for another day!).

On the way back from the west side, stop by Kauai Coffee Company for some free coffee samples and a self guided tour.

Also on the way, visit Glass Beach to check out the sea glass (not much left but you can find them if you look closely) and the beautiful sunset. Word of caution – lots of crime there targeting tourists so make sure you take your valuables with you.

Day 5 in Kauai: hike the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail on south shore

Spend time hiking the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail on the south shore and visit the Makauwahi Cave Reserve. The trail is an easy hike along the coast and was one of my highlights of the trip. At the end of the trail you can find the biggest limestone cave in Hawaii – the Makauwahi Cave Reserve.

Day 6 in Kauai: relax on the east shore

• Bike/walk along the Ke Ala Hele Makalae Path (The Path that Goes by the Coast). There are many access points and you can find bike rentals along the way. For me, I started at Kapa’a Beach and ended up at Donkey Beach. There is plenty of parking at both beaches so it’s easy to drive to and start there.

• Hikinaakala Heiau – believed to be one of the early sacred sites to worship the sun

• Enjoy your last day on the beach. There are many options, but I liked the Lydgate Beach area because of its enclosed ponds that make it safe for swimming and snorkeling in a protected area.

Enjoy your trip!