Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii things to do
Home
Travel Styles
Beach Destinations

30 Things to Do in Kauai Hawaii

Sherianne Higgins·
Last updated:
Skip Ahead show

Top Things to Do in Kauai Hawaii

If you are planning a trip to Kauai Hawaii and looking for the best things to do, see, and eat while visiting, you are in the right place. Kauai Hawaii was the first of the Hawaiian Islands to be settled. It is the smallest and Northernmost island. Kauai gets 460 inches of rainfall per year; it is green and lush. Kauai is famous for its Na Pali Coastline, Waimea Canyon, and Weeping Wall Waterfalls. Beautiful does not begin to describe Kauai. Elvis filmed Blue Hawaii (1961) and Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) here.  Since then 100+ films and 250+ TV shows have been filmed on this Garden Island, including Jurassic Park. Remember Peter, Paul, and Mary’s Puff the Magic Dragon? It appears Peter spelled Honnah Lee wrong and Puff actually lives above Hanalei Bay! Browse the list of must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Kauai Hawaii bucket list. A helicopter ride over Kauai’s many waterfalls, Waimea Canyon, and Na Pali Coastline is money well spent. A zodiac boat ride into the Na Pali Caves with snorkeling is also a great excursion. Plan the itinerary for your Kauai Hawaii trip with these top things to do, see and eat. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ Things to Do on the Big Island Hawaii
READ Things to Do in Maui Hawaii

Hanalei Pier Kauai Hawaii things to do
Hanalei Pier

Things to Do in and Around Kauai Hawaii

Take a waterfall tour

Check out the Kilauea Lighthouse

Watch the sunset at Hanalei Valley Overlook

Walk the famous Hanalei Pier and locate Puff the Magic Dragon

Attend Luau Kalamaku

Tour a chocolate farm

Drive under the tree tunnel

Spend an afternoon at McBryde & Allerton Gardens or Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens

Search out some treasures at Glass Beach

Explore Ahukini Pier

Snorkel with sea turtles

Watch Hawaiian monk seals at Po’ipu Beach

Explore the coconut grove at the Coco Palms

Gaze at Opeaka’a Falls and Waimea Falls

Kauai Hawaii Waimea Canyon
Waimea Canyon

Walk the rim of Waimea Canyon

Sample coffee at Kauai Coffee Plantation

Check out the 88 mini Buddhist shrines lining a hillside path at Lawai International Center

Lounge in the Queen’s Bath during low tide

Explore Kauai’s Open-Ceiling Sea Cave by zodiac boat

Hike the 11-mile Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast

Kayak the Na Pali Coast

Visit Polihale Beach, Hawaii’s longest beach

Snorkel Ke’e Beaches reef

Kayak the Wailua River

Go for a swim in the Uluwehi Falls

Shop in Old Kapaa Town and stop for shaved ice

Stop in Koloa Rum Company for a tasting

Tube through the forest along the old sugar cane canals

Take a Hawaii Movie Tour

Chase waterfalls with a helicopter tour

Check the Hawaii Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

My Favorite Booking Resources

  • Discover Cars Search, compare and save on car rentals.
  • Trainline Explore effortlessly by train and bus.
  • Booking.com Search Booking.com to find the perfect property.
  • Hostelworld Hostelworld has great inexpensive options.
  • Get Your Guide Don’t chance it, the best attractions sell out.
  • Tiqets Get your tickets now, relax when you arrive.
  • Big Bus Tours Hop-on Hop-off at all the iconic landmarks.
  • Go City Card Save up to 50% on attractions, tours and activities.
  • Welcome Pickups Airport and port transfers.
  • Visitors Coverage Pick the right travel insurance for you.
  • Use code SAVE10 to pick up a travel guide from Lonely Planet to browse on the plane.
  • Shop my Amazon travel essentials and have them delivered to your home. 

Bookmark and Pin Things to Do in Kauai Hawaii

Related Posts

17 Responses

  1. Mahalo for such a great list!. I l would love to go snorkeling with sea turtles and see the seals. Sounds so cool. However, they main thing I want to see are waterfalls. LOVE them. Thanks for telling me about the Gaze at Opeaka’a Falls and Waima Falls. I will definitely check them out when we make it there.

  2. Mahalo for such a great list!. I l would love to go snorkeling with sea turtles and see the seals. Sounds so cool. However, they main thing I want to see are waterfalls. LOVE them. Thanks for telling me about the Gaze at Opeaka’a Falls and Waima Falls. I will definitely check them out when we make it there.

  3. You missed most of my favourites: tubing down the old irrigation canals, the Spouting Horn blowhole, the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge, sailing and snorkeling the Na Pali Coast and seeing the dolphins and sunset, watching whales breach from the shore in Waimea Bay, snorkeling with fish, turtles and a monk seal at Lawa’i Beach and a fun and relatively cheap game of golf at Kukuiolono Park & Golf Course (rental clubs are available but bring your own tees and balls)

  4. So much to do in this gorgeous place Sherianne. It caught my eye in Jurassic Park, then I heard from a few folks who lived on Kauai how it was the must visit island of the Hawaiian islands. For good reason as it seems to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

    Ryan

  5. With so many options it would definitely take a month to do all right?
    Hard for me to choose just a couple of them.

  6. I’ve been to Oahu, but not Kauai. It looks so amazing, and your list proves there is so much to do there. I love the deep green cliffs along the water and all the waterfalls. And tubing through the forest on old sugar cane canals sounds like a blast!!

  7. Interesting. Never heard of this famous place. 460 inches of rain every year has made it such a fabulous place. Loved to stand at that light house for hours. Walking on the pier must be a great feeling. Would love to explore it some day.

  8. I love Hawaii but have never visited Kauai. It looks stunning. I’d love to plan a trip and check off every item on your list!!

  9. Those are really nice places!!! I want to go but I’m afraid cost is an issue… Time to save up!

  10. Kaua’i is one of the greatest destinations I’ve ever visited. I did most of the things on your list, but I had NO IDEA that Puff the Magic Dragon lived in Hanalei! We had Jojo’s Shaved ice and even though it was bigger, we preferred Wishing Well – so delicious!

  11. Is the first picture from a drone? Thats really glorious. Love how you caught the rainbow too! Kauai is kinda must see in this part of the world I guess!

  12. I would love a chance to get out to Hawaii, I had the chance a few years ago to go for my Birthday but I opted to go to New Zealand for a 2nd time to spend it with friends. Reading through this post I wish I went to Hawaii. – This post has gone into my Hawaii folder, I’m already picturing myself Walking the rim of Waimea Canyon

  13. My husband and I spent a week in Kauai this year and while we used it as a “restful” vacation where we didn’t do much, we still did a few things on your list, a long with eating a lot of poke and drinking a lot of Koloa rum! I will definitely keep this list in mind for my next trip!

Comments are closed.