Kauai Things to Do

 
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  • Fern Grotto
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

See Waimea Canyon

by AprilT

Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon in the Pacific. The canyon measures 10 miles long, 1 mile wide, and more than 3,500-feet deep. There are numerous trails that lead through and above the canyon. You can take the stairs to the view point, but there is also a ramp for the disabled. Also, there are carts where vendors sell delicious dried pineapple, sweet coconut flakes, and other various snacks and drinks. On the way up, stop on the side of the road and take a look at the red dirt. There's a company called "Red Dirt Shirts" that uses this dirt to dye tshirts, hats, etc.

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Spouting Horn

by AprilT

Water rushes under a lava shelf and bursts through a small opening at the surface. Every wave produces another spray. Spouting Horn frequently spurts salt water 50 feet into the air. There are a lot of vendors that sell hand made crafts and jewelry. Also, hopefully you're not afraid of chickens, because they are everywhere! They roam all over the island, but there seems to be a big crowd of them at Spouting Horn.

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Visit the Maniniholo Dry Cave

by AprilT

Maniniholo Dry Cave (Maniniholo means "swimming Manini fish") is about 300 yards deep, and reaches to a small exit hole on the side of the mountain. The cave interior used to be larger than now, before a 1957 tsunami half-filled it with sand. Down the road a bit, you can also visit the Waileapaloa and Waikapela'e Wet Caves.

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Kilauea Point

by AprilT

The Kilauea Lighthouse served as an aid to ships on the Orient run since 1913. Today, it is one of Kauai's most visited sights. There are some great views of the bluest ocean I've ever seen. You can borrow binoculars for free and scan the area and even purchase a personalized brick where the funds go to help support the restoration of the lighthouse.

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Wailua Falls

by AprilT

You can visit Wailua Falls just a short drive from Lihue and the Fern Grotto. There is a natural pool people were swimming in way down at the bottom, but you have to climb through the holes in the fences and hike down...looks like fun :) Around the falls, it is so green and lush...beautiful! The whole island is like this, I guess that's why it's called the Garden Island

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See the Rare Birds at Kilauea Lighthouse

by AKtravelers

Kilauea Lighthouse used to be an important navigational beacon for ships plying the north Pacific but it is now just as important as a refuge for some of the remaining members of two endangered species. Now a federal wildlife refuge, the peninsul protects the nesting grounds of Laysian albatrosses and nenes. Kilauea Point is also home to many other seabirds as well, such as boobies, frigates and shearwaters. During this visit, I saw my first nene, a flightless Hawaiian goose whose survival on other islands is threatened by the mongooses introduced by farmers hoping to eradicate rats (a futile effort made worse by the fact that the mongooses were diurnal and the rats nocturnal!). During our last visit, we saw two Laysian albatrosses within 10 feet of us. Of course, there is also a lighthouse here, which is no longer operational. About 100 years old, it at one time had the largest of some...

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Watch the Sunset at Poipu Beach

by AKtravelers

In the winter, Poipu Beach provides a great vantage point for watching the sun set behind local surfers. The beach itself is one of the finest on Kaua'i, though, unfortunately, it is also one of the most developed. But the sun makes its departure far out to sea, so you can leave the hotels outside of your gaze and just concentrate on the surfers as they catch their final waves of the night.

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History and Beach by ATV or horse

by jelw

Just between Poipu and Koloa town there are magnificent old sugar cane field trails. You can go take a nice horse trail ride or an ATV tour through this area. Just some things to experience/see here are a wonderful old sugar mill, mountains, sugar cane fields, beaches a river and an old crater.

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A Top Beach & Some History: Salt Pond Park

by AKtravelers

Salt Pond Park on the southern shore of Kauai' (near Hanapepe) is a beautiful crescent of sand cupping a calm turquoise bay protected by reefs. it's a great place for snorkeling or taking the family to swim (there are lifeguards on duty). Given its location on one of Kaua'is driest spots, it's a good place to visit when it seems like it is raining everywhere else on the island. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at any of the county park beaches, but the park conveniently ends before the crescent, so if you head to the far eastern edge of the beach you can enjoy the sand and sun with your pet. Carmen is not much of a beach dog, but she enjoyed this surf-less stretch of beach (she hates the waves). Salt Pond Park also boasts pools in which generations of Hawaiian families evaporated sea water to produce salt. In fact, it is still possible to see Hawaiians working the salt pans today, I'm...

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Beaches on the South Shore

by jelw

There are a number of wonderful little towns with fantastic beaches along the south shore. Poipu is the most well know of the towns. The beaches tend to be known by the "surf break" names, such as Left Left and kiddies. You can enjoy the magnificent sight of whales, sea turtles and monk seals.

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Fun things to do in Kauai

Top 3 Hotels in Kauai

The Villas at Poipu Kai  Poipu

 63 Opinions

 Hotels in Poipu

Hale Ho`o Maha Bed & Breakfast  Hanalei

 109 Opinions

 Hotels in Hanalei

ResortQuest Islander on the Beach  Kapaa

 2 Reviews and 725 Opinions  The Islander is an unpretentious, comfortable resort hotel with a little funky edge but certainly... 

 Hotels in Kapaa

149 Hotels in Kauai
 
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Reviews and photos of Kauai attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Kauai sightseeing.

Experience Kauai
Things to Do: Cities in Kauai
  1. Kapaa Things to Do
  2. Poipu Things to Do
  3. Lihue Things to Do
  4. Hanalei Things to Do
  5. Nawiliwili Things to Do
  6. Haena Things to Do
  7. Kilauea Things to Do
  8. Hanapepe Things to Do
  9. Waimea Canyon State Park Things to Do
  10. Wailua Things to Do
  11. Waimea Things to Do
  12. Lehua Things to Do

More Cities in Kauai

 

Questions and Answers

kellinwood profile photo

Q:  My wife and I leave tomorrow for a 7 night stay in the Lihue area of Kauai. We've booked a rental car and will be touring the... 

atufft profile photo

A: See my tip for the Luau on Kauai. That's a dining experience you can't miss, and there are several of them which provide some kind of discount ticket. 

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