Kauai Travel Guide
Kauai is unlike the other Hawaiian islands. It stands out for its raw beauty and adventurous opportunities. Here you won’t find thousands of people reclining on the beach reading a book. On Kauai you will find unpretentious lovers of nature actively pursuing a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, surfing, snorkeling, ATVing, fishing, ziplining and much more.
This island paradise boasts a famously wet and tropical climate. And that's a good thing, because waterfalls and rainbows just add to the magic of Kauai. Though the rains fall mostly in the inaccessible interior, you'll want to be prepared with our line of Kauai Surf Co. waterproof backpacks and dry bags. This is our core competency, developed to meet the challenges of this wet environment.
If you're not already here on Kauai we urge you to get here as soon as you can. You'll discover an enchanted place that you will crave to return to again and again.
Featured
Kauai Attractions
Club Med Ruins
Hanalei Pier
Hanapepe Swinging Bridge
Kauai Tree Tunnel
Kilauea Lighthouse
Luau Kalamaku
Spouting Horn
Wai'oli Hui'ia Church (Green Church in Hanalei)
Kauai Beaches
Kauai has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Many are backed by the stunning greenery of Kauai’s tropical forests and mountains, others by soaring sea cliffs. Some are so remote they require an 11-mile hike or a kayak trip on the open ocean to get there. Others you can drive right up on the beach. With so many beaches, there’s a beach for everyone on Kauai. Most if not all of Kauai’s beaches are not crowded. In fact, you may be wondering why there aren’t more people at the beach. Whether you’re looking for snorkeling, surfing, body boarding, camping or just having a picnic with the family, a Kauai beach is calling you. Below you will find a list of Kauai beaches. They are organized by general geographic areas, starting with the Na Pali Coast and working clockwise around the island.
Na Pali Coast Beaches
Set against a backdrop of stunning green mountains and dramatic sea cliffs, Na Pali Coast beaches are rugged, remote and breathtaking. You can’t drive to any of these beaches, only a hike, kayak or swim will get you there. But your efforts will be rewarded with some of the most insanely gorgeous settings in the world where you will find solitude and oneness with nature.
Milolii Beach
Honopu Beach
Kalalau Beach
Hanakapiai Beach
North Shore Beaches
Kauai’s North Shore beaches are exotic and tropical like you might find in the South Pacific. In fact, the movie South Pacific was filmed on Kauai’s North Shore beaches. North Shore beaches are home to legendary surf haunts, quaint surfer towns and unmatched beauty.
Ke'e Beach
Haena Beach Park
Tunnels Beach
Lumahai Beach
Waioli Beach
Hanalei Bay Beach
Black Pot Beach Park
Puu Poa Beach
Hideaways Beach
Sealodge Beach
Anini Beach
Kalihiwai Beach
Secret Beach
Rock Quarry Beach (Kahili Beach)
Waipake Beach
Larsen's Beach
Moloa'a Beach
East Shore Beaches
Kauai’s eastern shore beaches, near the island’s population centers of Kapaa and Lihue, have good waves, good sun and are popular with locals and their families.
Aliomanu Beach
Anahola Beach
Donkey Beach
Kealia Beach
Baby Beach
Wailua Beach
Lydgate Beach
Kalapaki Beach
South Shore Beaches
It’s (almost) always sunny in southern Kauai! Rain is what makes the Garden Island green, but there’s less of it on Kauai’s South Shore. If you’re a sun and beach worshiper, you’ll want to stay near one of these beaches. If you’re on the North Shore and it’s raining or cloudy, head down to Poipu or as far as Polihale Beach and you probably won’t be disappointed.
Haula Beach
Mahaulepu Beach
Gillin's Beach
Shipwreck Beach
Poipu Beach
Glass Beach
Salt Pond Beach
Waimea Beach
Kekaha Beach
Polihale Beach
Kauai Hikes
Alakai Swamp Trail
Pihea Trail
Kaluapuhi Trail
Kalepa Ridge Trail
Awaawapuhi Trail
Water Tower Trail
Poomau Canyon Ditch Trail
Canyon Trail
Iliau Nature Loop Trail
Kukui Trail
Mahaulepu Trail
Wailua Falls Hike
Sleeping Giant Trail
Kuilau Ridge Trail
Hoopii Falls Trail
Moloaa Bay Ranch Coastal Trail
Wai Koa Loop Trail
Okolehao Trail
Hanakapiai Trail
Kalalau Trail
Kauai Waterfalls
Hanakapiai Falls
Hoopii Falls
Red Dirt Falls
Manawaiopuna Falls (Jurassic Falls)
Opaekaa Falls
Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls)
Wailua Falls
Waipoo Falls
Kauai Historical Points of Interest
McBryde Sugar Plantation Cemetery
More Kauai
Pu'uwanawana Volcanic Cone (Poipu)
Secret Honu Road in Princeville
Articles
Is Kauai the Wettest Place on Earth?
Kauai Chickens Are Everywhere!
Top Ten Instagram Spots on Kauai
What is the best month to go to Kauai?