Curator’s statement
Kauaʻi quickly became one of my favorite Hawaiian islands because it gave our family exactly the mix of adventure and downtime we were hoping for. Some of my favorite memories were flying doors-off over Jurassic Falls and the Nā Pali Coast, hiking through Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park, boogie boarding at Poʻipū Beach, and watching sea turtles come ashore in the evenings. Staying in Poʻipū at Koloa Landing Resort was the perfect home base for our family—we loved the incredible pools, nearby beaches, great food, and having so much of the island within reach. By the end of our week, I understood exactly why Kauaʻi is called the Garden Isle, and it's an island I would happily return to.
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Things to do in Kauaʻi
The breathtaking North Shore of Kauaʻi from above—a doors-off helicopter tour offers an unforgettable perspective of the island's dramatic coastline, emerald mountains, and hidden beaches.
Doors-off helicopter tour of the Nā Pali Coast
Our doors-off helicopter tour was hands down one of the most unforgettable experiences of our entire trip. Flying over Kauaʻi's lush interior, seeing Jurassic Falls from above, and then soaring alongside the dramatic cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast was absolutely breathtaking. If you're going to splurge on one adventure in Kauaʻi, this is the one I would choose—and I would absolutely do the doors-off experience again.
Spend the day at Poʻipū Beach
Because we stayed in Poʻipū, we spent quite a bit of time at Poʻipū Beach, and it quickly became a family favorite. We boogie boarded, relaxed on the beach, and loved coming back in the evening to watch the Hawaiian green sea turtles resting on the sand. Seeing the turtles up close—while giving them plenty of space—was one of those simple Kauaʻi experiences we looked forward to again and again.
Explore Waimea Canyon & Kōkeʻe State Park
We dedicated a day to exploring Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park, stopping at overlooks and getting out on the trails along the way. The scale and colors of Waimea Canyon are incredible in person, and continuing farther into Kōkeʻe gave us an entirely different perspective of Kauaʻi's mountains and the Nā Pali Coast. I highly recommend allowing plenty of time for this day rather than simply driving up for one viewpoint and turning around.
Visit Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls was an easy addition to our day of exploring and one of those stops that delivers a lot of scenery without requiring a major time commitment. After seeing so many of Kauaʻi's waterfalls from our helicopter, it was fun to experience one from the ground, and the lush setting surrounding the falls is exactly what you picture when you think of the Garden Isle.
Take a scenic drive to Hanalei
One of our favorite days was driving from Poʻipū to Kauaʻi's North Shore and spending time exploring Hanalei. We wandered around town, grabbed something to eat, and spent time at Hanalei Bay watching the surfers with those incredible green mountains in the background. The North Shore feels noticeably different from Poʻipū, which is exactly why I think it's worth dedicating a day to experiencing both sides of the island.
Relax at Koloa Landing Resort
With all of the adventures we packed into our week, some of our best family time was actually spent right at Koloa Landing Resort. The pools were a huge hit with our entire family, and we intentionally made time to enjoy the multi-level pools, waterslides, and hot tubs rather than treating the resort as simply a place to sleep. It was the perfect home base for our family and gave us a great balance between busy adventure days and relaxing pool time.
Tour Kauaʻi Coffee Company
We stopped at Kauaʻi Coffee Company while exploring the South and West sides of the island, and it was a fun change of pace from our beach and adventure days. We walked through the coffee farm, learned more about how Kauaʻi's coffee is grown and produced, and, of course, sampled the locally grown coffee and the coffee ice cream. It's an easy stop to combine with other sightseeing and a great place to pick up a little taste of Kauaʻi to bring home.
Places to eat & drink in Kauaʻi
Puka Dog is a Kauaʻi favorite, serving Hawaiian-style hot dogs with tropical fruit relishes and island-inspired sauces just steps from Poʻipū Beach.
The Beach House
The Beach House was one of our favorite dinners of the trip, and the oceanfront setting really is as beautiful as everyone says. I recommend making a reservation around sunset so you can enjoy the views before or during dinner. I also appreciated how easy they made dining gluten-free, with plenty of options that didn't feel like an afterthought.
Puka Dog
Puka Dog was one of those places we knew we had to try while we were in Poʻipū, and it was such a fun, casual Kauaʻi experience. You choose your tropical fruit relish and sauces to create your own Hawaiian-style hot dog, and it's an easy lunch to pair with time at nearby Poʻipū Beach. They do not have gluten-free options.
Brennecke's Beach Broiler
We loved the location of Brennecke's directly across from Poʻipū Beach—it makes an easy lunch or casual dinner after spending time at the beach. The atmosphere is relaxed, there are ocean views, and I found it very easy to navigate the menu gluten-free, which made this one I'd happily recommend to other gluten-free travelers.
Keoki's Paradise
Keoki's Paradise was such a fun lunch because you really feel like you're in Hawaiʻi from the moment you walk in, with tropical landscaping and a relaxed, open-air atmosphere and live music. We enjoyed the fresh seafood and island-inspired menu, and I was impressed by how many gluten-free choices I had here. It's a great option when you want a nice lunch that still feels casual and very Kauaʻi.
Tony's Catch Food Truck
Tony's Catch was exactly the kind of local food truck we hoped to find on Kauaʻi—casual, unpretentious, and all about fresh seafood. It's a great option when you don't want a sit-down restaurant but still want something fresh and local, and I'd absolutely add it to a South Shore day.
Holey Grail Donuts
Holey Grail Donuts was a fun treat and definitely not your typical donut stop. Their donuts are made fresh to order using taro and come in creative, rotating flavors, so part of the fun is seeing what's available that day. Go hungry and eat them while they're hot!
Eden Coffee Poʻipū
Eden Coffee became one of our go-to morning stops while we were staying in Poʻipū. It's an easy place to grab coffee before heading out for the day, but my personal recommendation is the Eden Freeze—I'd order it again in a heartbeat.
Hanalei Bread Company
We stopped at Hanalei Bread Company while exploring the North Shore, and it fits perfectly into a day in Hanalei. It's a charming, laid-back spot for coffee, breakfast, or lunch, and a great place to slow down for a bit before heading back out to explore Hanalei and the surrounding beaches.
Island Taco (Waimea)
Island Taco was the perfect casual stop to pair with our day exploring Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park. The tacos were fresh, flavorful, and filling, and I especially appreciated how easy it was to order gluten-free here. I'd recommend working it into your Waimea Canyon day rather than making a separate trip.
The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant
We loved ending part of our North Shore exploring with a meal at The Hanalei Dolphin, especially with its relaxed setting along the river. Fresh seafood & poke bowls are the star here, and I found it easy to find gluten-free options without feeling limited. It's one of those places that just fits the Hanalei experience—good seafood, a beautiful setting, and a laid-back atmosphere.
Need to know
Rent a car and explore beyond your resort. We stayed in Poʻipū but drove all over the island, from Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park to Hanalei and the North Shore. Having our own car gave us the freedom to stop when something caught our eye and made exploring Kauaʻi one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Don't let a little rain ruin your plans. We experienced rain almost every day during our week on Kauaʻi, but we quickly learned to embrace it rather than change our plans. Showers often passed, the sun came back out, and all that rain is part of the reason the island's mountains, vegetation, and waterfalls are so spectacular.
Poʻipū was a fantastic home base for our family. We loved being close to Poʻipū Beach, where we could boogie board during the day and return to watch sea turtles in the evening. We also had plenty of restaurants nearby, and the pools at Koloa Landing were such a hit with our family that we made sure to leave time in our itinerary simply to enjoy the resort.
Balance adventure days with downtime. Some of our favorite days were packed with exploring, whether we were flying doors-off over Jurassic Falls and the Nā Pali Coast or hiking and stopping at overlooks in Waimea Canyon. But we were equally happy spending an afternoon at the pool or heading down to the beach, and I wouldn't recommend filling every hour of a Kauaʻi itinerary.
Make the trip to the North Shore. We drove from Poʻipū up to Hanalei and loved experiencing a completely different side of the island. Between the scenery along the drive, exploring Hanalei, and spending time at Hanalei Bay watching the surfers, it was absolutely worth dedicating a day to the North Shore.
Book the experiences you're most excited about before you arrive. Our doors-off helicopter tour was one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip, and it's an experience I would plan around rather than leave to chance. I'd do the same with any must-have dinner reservations, particularly if you're hoping for a sunset table.
And finally, don't try to see everything. Kauaʻi is the kind of place where some of the best moments happen when you slow down—a spontaneous beach stop, watching turtles come ashore in Poʻipū, lingering over a meal, or deciding the resort pool is simply too good to leave. After a week here, my biggest advice is to give yourself enough time to actually enjoy where you are.
Travel Advisor
RoamWell Journeys
Brittany O’Brien
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