Home to sugar cane plantations, resident artists, and the magnificent Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Park, the West Side has a certain old-town charm not found elsewhere on the island.

(Must-sees are marked with an *asterisk!)

Waimea Canyon* and Koke’e State Park* are absolutely must-sees for any visitor. Waimea Canyon is referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, and Koke’e boasts an elevation of over 4200 feet. You can drive up into the mountains along the canyon rim for spectacular views at multiple turn-offs and viewing platforms right off the road. The hikes have magnificent payoffs too!

Keep in mind:

• The curvy roads up the mountain are slow. Allocate most of your day to visiting the park.

• This is a very popular destination and parking can be very tight. The best times to visit are early morning or late afternoon.

• Aside from a cafe and giftshop at the Koke’e visitor center, there are no places to find food and water. Make sure to pack a lunch!

• If you fancy a hike, there are many options. One of the best is the Cliff Canyon Trail, walking along a ridge of Waimea Canyon for stunning views of the canyon floor and ending with a view of Waipo’o Falls. 

• A notable feature of Kauai (the dry West Side in particular) is its visually striking “red dirt.” Be aware that this dirt will definitely stain your shoes — shops even dye shirts with it! 

Waimea Quick Hits: 

• Grab a bento lunch or some poke at Ishihara Market in the morning on the way to Kokee.

• Make sure to stop by Aunty Lilikoi's to buy passion fruit (lilikoi) mustards, butters, and jellies.

• Jo-Jo’s is the best shave ice on the West Side, and Porky’s has some pretty delicious Hawaiian hot dogs.

Hanapepe

A cute little downtown with excellent art galleries and cafes, Hanapepe is a great place to spend some time. It is widely believed that Hanapepe was the inspiration for the setting of the Disney movie, “Lilo and Stitch”! 

Make sure to visit some of our favorite shops: Banana Patch Studio, Aloha Spice Company, and Blue Umi. There are some amazing food options in Hanapepe, including breakfast at Midnight Bear Breads, a fancy dinner at Japanese Grandma’s, and Reggie Rings at Ku’uleis Gourmet.

Go behind the Aloha Spice Company to check out Hanapepe’s classic “swinging bridge.” Walk across it and snap a quick photo! 

Don’t miss Hanapepe Art Night, every Friday from 6-9 p.m. along main street. There are food trucks, performers, and all the art galleries are open!

Neither abnormally salty nor a pond, Salt Pond* is by far the best beach on the West Side, and our personal favorite on the entire island. Super laid-back with a wave-break area for the kids to explore, this beach is popular with locals. It’s never too crowded, and is great for picnicking, catching some rays, and floating on the waves. Not very good for snorkeling and occasionally windy.

Port Allen

Stop for some bar food and locally brewed beer at Kauai Island Brewery & Grill.

For beachcombers, take a look at Glass Beach, where water and time have smoothed discarded glass into beautiful pebbles.

For those of you partaking in boat adventures around the island, Port Allen is a common point of departure.