Kauai, United States

Kauai Travel Guide

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Island

Facts and practical information

Alternative names: Area: 554.06 mi²Maximum elevation: 5243 ftCoordinates: 22°3'30"N, 159°30'0"W
Location

HawaiiUnited States

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Kauai Top Attractions

Kauai Attractions - What to See and Explore

Kauai offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Fern Grotto, Hanakapiai Falls, Hofgaard Park, Wailua Falls. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

  • fern grotto kauai
    Natural attraction • Cave • Park

    Fern Grotto

    Fern Grotto is a fern covered, lava rock grotto located on the south fork of the Wailua River, which is on the eastern side of Kauai in the Hawaiian archipelago. Several boat companies give river tours which lead to the grotto.

  • hanakapiai falls kauai
    Natural attraction • Waterfall • Park

    Hanakapiai Falls

    Hanakapiai Falls or Hanakapi'ai Falls is an approximately 300 feet high waterfall located in Hawaii, United States on the Na Pali side of the island of Kauai. It requires a hike of approximately 2 miles from Hanakapi'ai Beach. The waterfall is described as "gorgeous but challenging".

  • hofgaard park kauai
    Park • Waimea Ahupua`a

    Hofgaard Park

    Hofgaard Park is a narrow park between Kaumuali'i Highway and Waimea Road in the town of Waimea. The park was named after Judge Christopher Blom Hofgaard who was a resident in Waimea. It features a statue of Captain Cook, which is a replica of an original statue in Whitby, England.

  • wailua falls kauai
    Double waterfall in lush surroundings

    Wailua Falls

    Wailua Falls is a waterfall on the island of Kauai, part of the US state of Hawaii. The 173 foot falls are located on the South Fork Wailua River near Lihue.

  • allerton garden kauai
    Majestic gardens with guided tours

    Allerton Garden

    Allerton Garden, also known as Lāwaʻi-kai, is a botanical garden, originally created by Robert Allerton and John Gregg Allerton, located on the south shore of Kauai, Hawaii.

  • opaekaa falls kauai
    Natural attraction • Nature • Waterfall

    ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls

    ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls is a waterfall located on the ʻŌpaekaʻa Stream in Wailua River State Park on the eastern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is a 151-foot waterfall that flows over basalt from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

  • limahuli garden and preserve kauai
    Botanical garden • Hä`ena Ahupua`a

    Limahuli Garden and Preserve

    The Limahuli Garden and Preserve is a botanical garden and nature preserve on the north shore of Kauaʻi island, Hawaiʻi. It is one of the five gardens of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden.

  • wailua river state park kauai
    Park • Wailua Ahupua`a

    Wailua River State Park

    Wailua River State Park and the Wailua Complex of Heiaus, which it includes, are located on the eastern side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The park consists primarily of the Wailua River valley, which is the only navigable river in Hawaii. Visitors to this park can kayak, take riverboat cruises and explore the rainforest.

  • baby beach bungalow 2 kauai
    21°52'47"N • 159°28'19"W

    Baby Beach Bungalow 2

    Beach • Outdoor activities • Park

  • moir gardens kauai
    Botanical garden • Garden • Park

    Moir Gardens

    The Moir Gardens are botanical gardens located within the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation, 2253 Poipu Road, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii. Just to the east is Poipu Beach Park. They are open daily without charge.

  • kauai national wildlife refuge complex location map
    Protected area • Kilauea Ahupua`a

    Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex

    Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a National Wildlife Refuge complex in the state of Hawaii, US.

  • iraivan temple kauai
    Temple • Wailua Ahupua`a

    Iraivan Temple

    The San Marga Iraivan Temple is a Chola-style Hindu temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva located on the Kauai island in the state of Hawaii, USA. "Iraivan" means "He who is worshipped," and is one of the oldest words for God in the Tamil language.

  • national tropical botanical garden kauai
    Botanical garden • Lawai Ahupua`a

    National Tropical Botanical Garden

    The National Tropical Botanical Garden is a Hawaii-based not-for-profit institution dedicated to tropical plant research, conservation, and education. It operates a network of botanical gardens and preserves in Hawaii and Florida.

  • russian fort elizabeth kauai
    Walking tours and scenic ocean views

    Russian Fort Elizabeth

    Russian Fort Elizabeth is a National Historic Landmark and is administered as the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park just southeast of present-day Waimea on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi.

  • sleeping giant kauai
    Natural attraction • Nature • Mountain

    Sleeping Giant

    Sleeping Giant, also known as Nounou Mountain, is a mountain ridge located west of the towns Wailua and Kapaʻa in the Nounou Forest Reserve on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi.

  • tunnels beach kauai
    22°13'27"N • 159°33'36"W

    Tunnels Beach

    Beach • Hä`ena Ahupua`a

  • cook landing site kauai
    Memorial • Historical place

    Cook Landing Site

    The Cook Landing Site in Waimea on Kauaʻi island in Hawaii, is where Captain James Cook landed at the mouth of the Waimea River on January 20, 1778.

  • queens bath kauai
    22°13'45"N • 159°29'17"W

    Queen's Bath

    The Newly Recognized Queen's Bath is a unique tide pool on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaii. The pool is a sinkhole surrounded by igneous rock. It is located on the north shore of Kauaʻi in the town of Princeville, at 22°13′44.9″N 159°29′15.0″W.

  • puu poa beach kauai
    22°13'2"N • 159°29'49"W

    Pu'u Poa Beach

    Beach • Hanalei Ahupua`a

Kauai plan & book

Unleash the traveler in you — discover the cheapest flight deals, find the perfect hotel or hostel nearby, and search for the best car rental prices. Travel at your own pace to discover new places and enjoy your journey.

Things to See and Do in Kauai by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Kauai.

Shopping

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Beach

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Natural attraction

  • fern grotto kauai

    Fern Grotto

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionCaveParkWailua Ahupua`a
  • hanakapiai falls kauai

    Hanakapiai Falls

    Kauai
    Natural attractionWaterfallPark
  • wailua falls kauai

    Wailua Falls

    Kawaihau, KauaiDouble waterfall in lush surroundings
    Natural attractionNatureWailua Ahupua`a
  • opaekaa falls kauai

    ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureWaterfallWailua Ahupua`a
  • sleeping giant kauai

    Sleeping Giant

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureMountainWailua Ahupua`a
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Nature

  • wailua falls kauai

    Wailua Falls

    Kawaihau, KauaiDouble waterfall in lush surroundings
    Natural attractionNatureWailua Ahupua`a
  • opaekaa falls kauai

    ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureWaterfallWailua Ahupua`a
  • sleeping giant kauai

    Sleeping Giant

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureMountainWailua Ahupua`a
  • ka loko reservoir kauai

    Ka Loko Reservoir

    Hanalei, Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureLakeLepeuli Ahupua`a
  • kawaikini kauai

    Kawaikini

    Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureMountain
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Botanical garden

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Outdoor activities

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Waterfall

  • hanakapiai falls kauai

    Hanakapiai Falls

    Kauai
    Natural attractionWaterfallPark
  • wailua falls kauai

    Wailua Falls

    Kawaihau, KauaiDouble waterfall in lush surroundings
    Natural attractionNatureWailua Ahupua`a
  • opaekaa falls kauai

    ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionNatureWaterfallWailua Ahupua`a
  • hoopii falls kauai location map

    Hoʻopiʻi Falls

    Kawaihau, Kauai
    Natural attractionWaterfallHiking trailKapa`a Ahupua`a
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Garden

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Mountain

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Other categories

Park
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Day trips

Kauai – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Kauai, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Kilauea Light (Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge), Waioli Mission District (Hanalei), Makauwahi Cave (Koloa).

  • kilauea light kilauea point national wildlife refuge14 milesNE
    Gear rental, Outdoor activities, Lighthouse

    Kilauea Light, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

    Kīlauea Lighthouse is located on Kīlauea Point on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi in the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

  • waioli mission district hanalei9.8 miN
    Museum, History museum, Gothic Revival architecture

    Waioli Mission District, Hanalei

    The Waiʻoli Mission District at Hanalei Bay, on Route 560 along the north shore of the island of Kauaʻi, is the site of a historic mission. The first permanent missionaries to the area arrived in 1834, and the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

  • makauwahi cave koloa13 milesSE
    Natural attraction, Park, Trail

    Makauwahi Cave, Koloa

    The Makauwahi Cave is the largest limestone cave found in Hawaii. It lies on the south coast of the island of Kauaʻi, in the Māhāʻulepū Valley close to Māhāʻulepū Beach, and is important for its paleoecological and archaeological values.

  • kipu falls lihue9 miSE
    Nature, Natural attraction, Outdoor activities

    Kipu Falls, Lihue

    Kīpū Falls is a waterfall in East Kauaʻi, Hawaii. Kīpū Falls has a dangerous reputation due to drowning deaths of five people in a five-year span, as well as numerous other injuries.

  • poipu beach park koloa13 milesS
    Beach, Park, Outdoor activities

    Poipu Beach Park, Koloa

    Poʻipū Beach Park is located in the community of Poʻipū on the southern coast of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii. The beach is a park has lifeguards provided by county of Kauaʻi.

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Best Time To Visit Kauai

Learn when is the best time to travel to Kauai weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

JFMAMJJASOND

May and June are the busiest months in this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in March and July.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in June, July, August, September, October and November. While the coldest is in January, February, March, April and December.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in June and July. Most of it rains in March.

Length of day in hours

JFMAMJJASOND

We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Kauai?

The top attractions to visit in Kauai are:

What is the best time to visit Kauai?

May and June are the busiest months in this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in March and July. The highest air temperature is in June, July, August, September, October and November. While the coldest is in January, February, March, April and December.

Where to next? Visit hawaii Hawaii region page or discover the top tourist attractions in United States.

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