Kauai Island

Wow, Kauai was something else! It's officially my favorite island in Hawaii. It was so peaceful and lush, I definitely fell in love the minute I landed. I recently went to Kauai with my cousins and we stayed 4 nights on the island, honestly I don't even think 4 nights was enough, we could've easily stayed longer! If you like nature, chill vibes, and some epic adventures, Kauai is your island!

Where to Stay:

Princeville Airbnb

I absolutely loved staying North Shore of the Island in Princeville! Our Princeville Airbnb was a dream, I never wanted to leave. The condo property is located at the Alii Kai, we stayed in 7203. The condo comes with an unobstructed oceanfront view balcony and ocean views from every room, you can hear the waves from your room and even dolphin watch! Another great feature is that it includes AC (which a lot of Kauai Airbnb's do not include). The condo complex is super well kept, has little areas to go down and explore the cliffs, and a community pool as well. Sunsets and sunrises here were gorgeous! Not to mention it's pretty close to Hanalei Bay and Hideaway Beach! This Airbnb was literal paradise, the views were unbeatable, highly recommend staying at this Airbnb or any oceanfront Princeville property for that matter! (*Tip: if staying in Princeville, make sure to stock up on groceries at Foodland, there aren't too many options for late night dining, most places close around 9-10pm) Also, I highly recommend renting a car for your trip! Most places are either on the North side or South side of the island and it's about 1.5-2 hour drive.

What to Do:

Hanalei Bay Beach:

Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauai, the beach goes for about 2 miles and is surrounded by the lush mountains. It was a great spot to swim and relax, it also wasn't too crowded! There are no set hours for the beach, it's free to visit, and offers everything except for snorkeling. Make sure to bring some chairs, boogie boards, and towels.

Wailua Falls:

Wailua Falls is an epic 173 ft waterfall located South near Lihue Airport. The waterfall is a great viewpoint, or you can be adventurous and head downhill to the waterfall itself. The way down is at the south end of the parking lot, It's a pretty crazy steep 0.3mile climb and there are danger signs, so if you do decide to go down, be careful.

Wailua Beach:

After Wailua Falls, go and check out Wailua Beach! It's a half mile long beach that's great for surfing and boogie boarding! It was such a beautiful beach. Apparently, it's also a piece of land where the Polynesians first arrived and that Hawaiian Ali`i (royalty) later made their own. Native Hawaiians consider this area to be one of the most sacred and culturally significant places in the islands.

'Opaeka'a Falls:

Another epic viewpoint was Opaeka'a Falls, which is a 5 minute drive up Kuamo'o Road. This was so cool to see, it really looked like Jurassic Park, it was so majestic! All that was missing was the dinosaurs. There were people kayaking on the river as well, it seemed fun and I would love to do that next time!

Na Pali Coast:

Hands down, the most epic activity was the all day Raft Expedition with Captain Andy's. I've been wanting to see the Na Pali Coast for a long time and this was the most badass way to do it! Captain Andy's offers a bunch of cool activities like yacht tours, sailing catamarans, and the raft expeditions. I highly recommend doing the raft expedition! It's a 6 hour all day expedition full of adventure. It was so awesome to boat right next to the coast, see some dolphins, cave exploring, snorkeling, and doing a mini hike on the Na Pali Coast Beach. Definitely make sure you are ready for a wild and bumpy ride, it was so much fun. I felt like I channeled my inner James Bond.

Where to Eat/Drink:

Keoki's Paradise:

Located on the South Side of the island, Keoki's Paradise had really nice open air dining, tropical surroundings and live music. The food was pretty good here and the drinks were stiff! It's a bit more upscale but it's worth the vibes. Make sure to make a reservation as it could fill up.

Lava Lava Beach Club:

The Lava Lava Beach Club was an amazing place to grab drinks, walk on the beach, listen to live music, and play some corn hole on the lawn. I would recommend coming at sunset and ordering their version of the Lava Flow drink. It's first come, first serve so plan accordingly!

Trucking Delicious:

Yum, I am still drooling over the scallop plate I had at Trucking Delicious. It was so good, they also had amazing breakfast burritos too! They used to be a food truck but now have a brick and mortar. Located in Princeville, this was a great place to grab breakfast/lunch (they close at 12pm).

Tahiti Nui:

Mai Tai's are a must at the Tahiti Nui! This laid back bar was a great spot to get some drinks. There was live music and a friendly atmosphere. Located at the heart of Hanalei, make sure to sit outside to get the full experience.

Jojo's Shave Ice:

When in Hawaii, you have to get shave ice! Jojo's Shave Ice was a spot we found randomly while walking around, it was super good. We got the mango and guava with the macadamia nut ice cream at the bottom. It was a great refreshing snack during our hot and humid day.

JO2:

If you like thoughtfully Hawaiian food with Japanese and French influence, JO2 is the spot! This was probably my favorite restaurant we had in Kauai. The fish was amazing and definitely the highlight. They use the freshest ingredients with amazing plating. Make sure to make a reservation and they are closed on Tuesdays!

With only 4 days in Kauai, we wanted to make sure to have plenty of time to relax. I would've loved to stay longer and do some ATV'ing, kayaking, and more hikes! But I would definitely come back to this island. It's truly breathtaking and I miss it already. If you are trying to figure out which island to visit and have done Oahu already and are looking for more nature and adventure, I highly suggest Kauai!

<3,

Laura C.