Drew and Kara's Guide to the Garden Isle
One of eight main islands in the state of Hawaii, Kauai is known as “The Garden Island” due to its beautiful scenery, limited development, and laid-back culture. This island is known for its easy access to some of the best hikes, beaches, and vistas in the world. We’ve put together this little guide to help you identify some of the must-see attractions during your time here.
What to know before you go:
You can see the whole island in one week - and we recommend taking two. The 2nd week is when you start to truly relax and operate on “island time”. There is only one highway on Kauai. And it doesn’t even circle the whole island. We recommend splitting your trip into 3-7 days on the North Shore (Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea) or East Side (Anahola, Kapa’a, Wailua), and 4-7 days on the South Shore (Poipu, Koloa).
Bring sunscreen and reapply it often. Hawaii shares the same latitude as Mexico City and the Sahara Desert. The ocean breeze can fool you into thinking you’re fine, but the Hawaiian sun will turn overconfident vacationers into lobsters in as little as 30 minutes. You really do have to be diligent about applying sunscreen!
There are chickens everywhere. The story goes that the chickens escaped their coops after Hurricane Iniki hit in 1992, and they’ve run wild since, crowing at all hours. Please do not feed the chickens!
All shoreline, and therefore all beaches, in Hawaii are public, so go and explore different beaches! We talk about our favorites in our guide below.
One of Kauai’s features is the striking red dirt. When going on hikes, please know that your shoes will probably get stained.
Because of the red dirt, it is expected that you remove your shoes (or “slippers”) and leave them on the stoop before entering a house.
Shops and restaurants tend to shut down earlier or have unpredictable hours on Kauai. Be sure to check times (or call!) before making plans.
Try the local foods! We've provided lots of recommendations, but two that stand out are poke (salad of marinated raw tuna or other fish) and shave ice (not shaveD ice). Whenever you get shave ice, it’s worth paying extra for the “real fruit” juice!
Here are some island-wide events and resources:
Sunshine Markets - Most Kauai towns host a local farmers market. Three that are pretty fun:
Kauai Community Market - Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Kauai Community College Campus, Lihue
Kukuiula “Tasting” Market - Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m. - The Shops at Kukuiula, Poipu
Hanalei Farmers Market - Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to noon - Just outside downtown Hanalei
Bon Dance Festivals - Traditional Japanese celebration at Buddhist temples throughout the summer, featuring local foods, dancing, performances and more. Guests are welcome!
Outdoor activities and equipment rentals:
Outfitters Kauai - Equipment and tours for kayaking, biking, hiking, zip lines and more
Snorkel Bob's - Rentals and tours for snorkeling, surfing, helicopter trips and more
Port Allen - Departure point for many boating excursions