8 Must-Do Things on Kauai: So You Don’t Leave With Regrets

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Articles on things to do are long and overwhelming. So, we have a shortlist for you! Here are your must-do things on Kauai. No fluff, just the good stuff.

You have a bucket-list vacation planned for Hawaii. As a first-time Kauai visitor, you fear you’re going to miss an iconic adventure, tour, or sightseeing. We won’t let that happen!

As a frequent Kauai visitor, here are our favorite, can’t-miss activities for your Kauai itinerary!

Itinerary Full of Must-Do Things on Kauai

We share a lot of free advice on visiting Hawaii. Our website has hundreds of articles, but it can feel like information overload. So, we get asked by newsletter readers and viewers to distill the information.

We succinctly share these details and more in our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary. It has all of our best stuff, nothing held back, all in one download. It is so much better than a guidebook.

Yes, I’m trying to sell you on our one product. But it is good, and it has everything you need to avoid regrets without the fluff. Let us answer your doubts: Is a Hawaii Itinerary Worth the Money?

3 Must-Do Things on Kauai

Here are our must-do things on Kauai. Remember! If you want to know how to put these in perfectly planned-out days, plus see more sights, then grab our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary. We have a free sample to resolve your doubts.

These are not tours, they are experiences. Kauai, like all the Hawaiian islands, doesn’t require you to pay a lot to see the best stuff.

The beaches, hiking trails, and wayside parks are free or have low parking fees. All is making for a great trip. Here is our short list of must-do things on Kauai.

Here we go!

1. Hanalei Bay and Hanalei Town

If you’re a first-time visitor to Kauai, this should be your first stop (after leaving Lihue Airport). Welcome to Hanalei Bay with the charming town of Hanalei.

Why visit? Drop into Hanalei Valley, go across Hanalei’s one-lane bridge, drive past the taro fields, and enter a town surrounded by cliffs (pali) drenched in mist and waterfalls. It all spills into the famous Hanalei Bay with a huge beach and Hanalei Pier.

What is there to do?

• Play, relax, and swim on Hanalei Bay’s three beaches. Warning: Hanalei Bay experiences large swells and currents during the winter.
• Grab shave ice at Wishing Well Shave Ice or Jojo’s
• A walkable town with free parking at the town center
• Local shopping and surf stores abound
• Great local grindz (food) from fine dining to a large Hanalei food truck park.
• Napali Coast boat tours depart from Hanalei Bay (a convenient, shorter route) during the summer.
• See our 12 Things to Do in Hanalei

2. Poipu Beach

Most visitors choose to stay in Poipu vs Princeville in the north. The South Shore destination offers resorts, great food, and plenty of activities. But our favorite places are Poipu and Kiahuna Beaches.

Why visit? Poipu Beach is the main destination on the South Shore. The double-crescent beach is large, calm, and has everything you need for a full beach day. Just to the northwest is Kiahuna Beach. We enjoy this beach too, as it is less crowded but can have a stronger shorebreak.

What is there to do?

• Poipu Beach has a playground, covered picnic benches, showers, and toilets
• Two lifeguard towers are on the beach. Speak to the lifeguards to understand the conditions that day.
• Surfing lessons are available at Kiahuna and Poipu beaches.
• You can see Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles resting on the beach during the day. It is a popular place to visit at sunset for the turtles and the view. Reminder: You must stay 30 ft away, and touching or disturbing Green Turtles is a federal crime.
• Explore all of our Poipu Things to Do
• Our Best Beaches Kauai article and video is one of our most popular!

3. End of the Road Drive

Drive the Kuhio Highway till you run out of road. Drive past Hanalei for a drive similar to the Road to Hana on Maui. I have four favorite drives in Hawaii, and this one is my second favorite!

Why visit? Drive through Kauai’s lush jungle for coastal views, secluded beaches, one-lane bridges, and numerous stops.

What is there to do?

• Haena Beach with Tunnels for snorkeling is a gem!
• Maniniholo Dry Cave is full of history.
• Limahuli Botanical Garden is my favorite botanical garden and a place to take in an authentic Hawaiian vacation.
• Ha’ena State Park is at the end of the road. Reservations for entry and parking are required to visit Ke’e Beach and hike a bit of the Napali Coast Trail.
• See our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary for tips on getting tickets to Ha’ena State Park and how to turn this into a perfect day out!

More Kauai and Hawaii unique experiences and tips!

• 17 Underrated Hawaii Experiences
• Kauai with Kids Ultimate Guide
• Best Kauai Honeymoon Resorts
• Kauai in June

5 Must-Do Tours on Kauai

E komo mai (welcome) to our shortlist of favorite tours on Kauai. Put one or two of these on your must-do things on Kauai list.

For Kauai first-time visitors, we recommend one tour on the water and a luau. A luau isn’t required, but Kauai offers friendly and intimate luaus.

1. Napali Coast

Add a Napali Coast boat tour to your Kauai bucket list. Kauai is 70% inaccessible. That is due to the rugged interior volcano, Waimea Canyon State Park, and the Napali Coast Wilderness Area. The latter is worth a tour!

Hop aboard a raft, sailboat, or powerboat to snorkel, see the cathedrals, enter sea caves, explore hidden waterfalls, enjoy a sunset and dinner, and more. This tour is a can’t-miss Kauai experience.

Explore our favorite tours, watch our experience, and see which tour is right for you. We also provide information on avoiding sea sickness and departure locations.

• Best Napali Coast Boat Tours – snorkeling, sunset, dinner cruise, and more.
• How to Visit the Na Pali Coast: full guide to hiking, boating, helicopter, and more

2. Wailua River Kayaking + Secret Falls

We have such happy memories of this Kauai tour. We took our son on a kayaking and waterfall-hiking trip we won’t soon forget.

This is a popular tour on Kauai, but also quickly overlooked. Depart from the mouth of the Wailua River near Kapa’a for a short kayak and hike to a secluded waterfall. You won’t regret this can’t-miss thing to do on Kauai.

Explore a full guide and list of our favorite Wailua River Kayaking Tours and Rentals.

3. Helicopter or Airplane Tour

The Napali Coast is best seen from the sea or the air. Our readers and viewers enjoy emailing us pictures from their helicopter and airplane tours. Book this for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• Kauai Helicopter Tour Reviews
• Airplane Tours over Kauai – a safer option for seeing Kauai by air

4. Luau on Kauai

We keep an exclusive shortlist of our favorite luaus on Kauai. These are unique for their unmatched experience. They are located near the resort areas, so pick the one closest to you; you can’t go wrong!

• 3 Best Kauai Luaus!

5. Mountain Tubing

You won’t find this tour on any other Hawaiian island! Get inland on Kauai to tube through century-old plantation irrigation tunnels. The water isn’t cold (not that cold, especially in the warm air), and the thrills are worth it.

Learn more and book a spot here: Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure.

Don’t let my ranking as #5 make it fall off your radar. This is easily one of the must-do things on Kauai.

Map for Things You Must Do on Kauai

Kauai is the furthest north of the major Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii has 137 islands!). Locals on the other islands view it as “being out there,” and historically, Hawaiians spoke a slightly different dialect and were the last to be conquered by King Kamehameha the Great.

On the must-do list for Kauai, most of our favorite activities are on the North Shore. You can stay in Hanalei (a few hotels) or Princeville (lots of hotels and vacation rentals). But you can also drive up for the day from the South Shore.

Kauai is a small island, so it is easy to get around. To save on driving time, we like to split our stay between the north and south shore. It makes it easier to do these can’t-miss activities on Kauai.

Yes, You Want a Rental Car on Kauai

If you want to see the island, the best way is with a rental car. Public transportation on the island is limited and slow, and hiring a taxi or Uber will get expensive, quickly.

To fill your itinerary with these must-do things on Kauai, book here for a discount rental car: Discount Rental Cars Hawaii.

Where to Stay on Kauai for Things to Do

I recommend staying in the North Shore, East Side, or South Shore to experience these must-do things on Kauai. Staying in these areas will reduce your driving time.

Here are our best articles to help you decide where to stay!

• Where to Stay on Kauai
• 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay (luxury) Review
• Hanalei Bay Review (value hotel)
• Where to Stay in Hawaii with Points
• Kauai Camping Options
• We have more! See our Where to Stay Directory for Kauai vacation rentals and hotels.

Click the links for our full review of these last-minute Maui hotels.

Jordan’s Take on the Best Things to Do on Kauai

You may have noticed that I didn’t include Waimea Canyon State Park in our list of must-do things on Kauai.

We have nothing against the state park. It’s worth a visit. It is an all-day trip due to the drive, so fill the day with other memorable stops!

These can’t-miss things on Kauai are our favorite. We make an effort to do one or two of them on every trip.

We are always exploring Kauai, looking for the best stops, tours, and places to eat. We put our absolutely best stuff in our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary. It is worth every penny! Mahalo!