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Things To Do In Kauai For Couples – From whale watching to snorkeling to hiking to hidden waterfalls, there are so many exciting and adventurous things to do in Kauai!
But where to start? With all the blogs and information brochures, it can be overwhelming to plan your trip to Kauai!
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Well, we’re making this part easier for you by sharing the most adventurous things to do in Kauai, Hawaii!
Day Kauai Itinerary • Things To Do For A Week In Kauai • Amanda Wanders
We’re breaking this post down by part of the island (North Coast, East Coast, South Coast + Adventure), sharing a Kauai map, directions to each location, and tips on how to plan your trip to Hawaii!
Our favorite non-touristy things to do on Kauai are hiking to secret beaches, including hiking to hidden waterfalls and stunning Kauai viewpoints!
Kauai’s north coast is famous for its rain. It receives more rain than most of the island, but this means that the north coast is incredibly lush and green!
There are plenty of beautiful beaches to explore, waterfalls to see and ways to relax on the North Shore. Keep reading for our favorite things to do on Kauai on the North Shore!
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Personally, we think some of the best hotels on Kauai are located on Kauai’s North Shore in Princeville and Hanalei. You’ll find that the area has lush and remote-feeling locations and plenty of privacy for a relaxing trip to Kauai.
*Note* – This part of the island is closed due to Hurricane Lane until September 2018. Check road openings for the latest news.
If you love adventure, you can’t leave Hawaii without trying at least part of this trail on Kauai’s North Shore.
The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile path that takes hikers along the wild Na Pali coast, from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach, with no land access other than on foot.
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In doing so, you’ll experience lush valleys, traverse rugged coastlines and see some of the most spectacular views Kauai has to offer. Here are some variations of this hike:
Queen’s Bath is a unique tide pool on Kauai’s North Shore. It is technically a sinkhole, surrounded by igneous rock. Here, the water is semi-protected from the waves of the Pacific Ocean.
During Kauai’s summer months (May to October) the tide pool water is relatively calm, but during the cooler months (November to April) ocean waves can crash into the pool, making it quite dangerous.
Be careful when visiting here. Check the surf report on the day of your visit, and try to go at low tide for the best swimming opportunities.
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There are plenty of warning signs on the way to these tide pools – just use your best judgment when deciding to enter. Swim or don’t swim, the pools look great!
Here, on a beach called Black Pot Beach, there is a 100-meter dock that extends into the ocean. It was once used for shopping crops like paddy and sugar. **(Updated December 2018, Black Pot Beach is still under recovery efforts from the April 2018 flood to Hanalei Bay)
We recommend packing a picnic and heading down to the beach to watch the sailboats lazily drift by as the sun sets.
This bay has calm waves and is also ideal for paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkeling. You can even set up a hammock between the rows of tall coconut trees!
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Bertie and I like to get up early for sunrise, so our Airbnb host suggested we check out this east-facing Kauai beach for some great views.
On this sunrise ride, we drove a short distance on a dirt road and arrived at the beach trailhead after about 5 minutes.
We stopped to watch the sunrise at the top of the trailhead and then headed down to an overgrown path under the water.
Larsen’s Beach is a long stretch of beautiful white sand and a little hard to reach for the general public – meaning you can have it to yourself on a calm day!
What To Do In Kauai, Hawaii: Beaches, Snorkeling, Hiking, And More
Our host told us that it is considered a nude beach! We didn’t see anyone this morning, but they warned us that if we went later in the day, we would definitely see some people undressing. Ha!
Kilauea Lighthouse is located on the north shore of Kauai. It is part of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge that protects Kauai’s seabird population.
Admission is $10.00 per person, but it’s an incredible way to experience a historic part of the island of Kauai.
A “wet” cave refers to a cave filled with water, formed by years of heavy waves eroding the rock walls. A “dry” cave means it was formed the same way, but there is no longer a source of water to continue eroding the walls.
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Some of the most popular caves on Kauai are Waikanaloa Cave, The Blue Room and Maniniholo Dry Cave.
Princeville is a resort community on Kauai’s North Shore. Here you can stay in beautiful condos, resorts and enjoy the luxurious life of North Kauai. Princeville also has access to many beautiful beaches, including Hideaways Beach and Puu Poa Beach.
Hawaii’s East Coast is a great hub for finding delicious restaurants, beautiful hotels, and fun gift shops.
Be sure to grab a shaved ice cone from the Wailua Shave Ice Truck on the Main Strip!
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Check out some of our favorite hotel recommendations in Kauai’s Kapa’a area on the East Shore. You’ll find that the area has the most amenities (gas, food, transportation, etc.) and many hotels can help you plan fun activities on Kauai.
Wailua River State Park is located on the east shore of Kauai, Hawaii. It’s an incredible park for water sports, hiking, and even exploring cultural heritage sites!
The state park is easily accessible from Kauai’s east coast. If you live in Kapa’a, this is an incredible adventure hub not far from your home base!
The name of the trail and the mountain comes from the “sleeping giant” that the mountain forms from the viewpoint of the town of Kapa below.
Kauai North Shore Travel Guide
We started hiking at 5:00am with headlamps to reach the top for sunrise. The trail was slippery (no surprise – October), there were lots of switchbacks and we had to turn around at times because the trail went wrong.
However, despite all these setbacks, it is worth the effort – the sun revealing itself over the ocean to illuminate the city below is something we will cherish forever.
Take a “food adventure” around Kapaa’s main commercial street and within seconds, you’ll stumble upon a delicious restaurant.
This city has food for everyone’s taste and budget. For Bertie and I, we especially like going to food trucks like Wailua Shave Ice and Chicken in a Barrel Barbecue.
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We made our morning (and afternoon…) trip back to the delicious Java Kai and Ha Coffee Bar.
While most of Kauai’s waterfalls are inaccessible (either no trails or roads lead to them or they are on private land), there are several stunning waterfalls that are accessible for all levels of adventure.
Some waterfalls are easy to get to, such as Opaeka’a Falls and Wailua Falls. Some require extra effort, such as Secret Falls (you must kayak the river!), and others require extreme effort, such as Hanakapaia Falls or the Blue Hole hike on Mount Wailea.
If you take a Kauai helicopter tour, you can see many inaccessible waterfalls. Most of the island’s waterfalls are found in deep crevices of aging mountains, all sourced from rainfall!
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Kauai’s east shore beaches are known for their general accessibility and proximity to condos and hotels. They’re usually upwind, but it’s fun to play in the waves! Here are some of Kauai’s recommended and popular East Shore beaches:
It boasts family-friendly beaches, tons of beautiful resorts, and easy access to epic locations like Waimea Canyon and Wailua Falls!
Located on the south shore in Poipu, Kauai, this beach has wild waves perfect for an adrenaline junkie.
Bertie and I had fun getting knocked around by the big waves, but we didn’t really “swim” much. We probably got up to our knees deep!
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Besides playing in the water, you can climb the rock formations next to the beach for great views of the ocean and surfers catching the waves.
If you want some calm Hawaiian waves, drive west along the south coast of Kauai to reach Paipu Beach Park.
The water here is protected by a wall, has a lifeguard on duty 7 days a week, and ranks as one of the safest beaches in the US!
Waimea Canyon is commonly called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” for its dramatic scenery and colorful landscape.
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In some parts of the canyon it can go up to 3,000 feet deep! Along Waimea Canyon Road (Hawaii State Route 550) there are plenty of overlooks to pull over and check out the views.
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