With direct flights into Hawaii – at least from Australia – only taking you to Honolulu on the island of Oahu, many guests to the closest American State to our country don’t take the opportunity to explore the surrounding islands. Or at least don’t go further than Maui. In fact, it took me more than 30 years of visiting the Hawaiian Islands to finally make the trip to what may be its most beautiful spot – the island of Kaua’i.
The fourth largest island in Hawaii, Kaua’i is often referred to as “The Garden Island”, thanks to the significant rainfall of the area. In fact, Mount Waialeale – the highest point on the island – is one of the wettest place on earth. In 1982, with 683 inches of recorded rainfall, it was the wettest place on the planet.
Though that doesn’t mean you’re only looking at vibrant green terrain. You can go from vast canyons to wide open green plains within minutes. That’s common of many of the islands of Hawaii, but here the ecosystem here is notably as varied as it is vibrant – especially for its size.
One of the most popular spots to visit on the island is the Waimea Canyon State Park, which is often referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. A quick look at a photo from the destination will leave little doubt as to why.
Another reason it’s known as The Garden Island is likely due to the fact that so much of it (some 90%) is inaccessible by car. So to truly experience the island, you need to combine a number of different transport and sightseeing options. Here’s a look at the best ways to discover everything that Kaua’i has to offer.
By Car
Though only 10% of the island is accessible by car, a car rental remains the best way to get to and from many of the main attractions on the island – as well as some of the other transport options on this list. Kaua’i is an island that is pushing towards being a net-negative carbon emitter by 2045.
We rented an electric car, a Tesla, through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. This was picked up from the Avis at the Lihue International Airport.
You’ll be able to get around the island a few times over on one charge, but as there are no superchargers on the island as of the time of our visit – at least none anyone could locate for us – it was challenging to charge the car and return it with the battery level it came with, as is required. We left it charging overnight at our hotel and only saw it return a fraction of its power. So do keep that in mind if you opt for the electric option.
A drive up to the Kulalau Lookout is a must, and unless you are on a guided tour of the area, a rental will be the only way to get up there. There’s a number of lookout points en route, not just looking into the canyon, but back out into the Pacific Ocean as well. Just be prepared for wind and potholes on the drive – we wouldn’t have wanted to be driving around up there after dark. But it was well worth the trip.
Driving from out hotel at the Royal Sonesta Kaua’i we also passed the historic town of Hanapēpē, which is where Lilo and Stitch was set. In fact there’s a mural dedicated to the iconic film and series (soon to be transformed into a live action feature) that you’ll find on the main street of the town.
Unsurprisingly, there’s plenty of amazing food around the island – including Poke from the Kaua’i Poke Co., which sits alongside the Poipu Bay Golf Course.
As you journey around the island, also look out for popular photo spots like the naturally formed tree tunnel. Not that it’s an easy shot to get while the car is moving…
By Boat
Though only 10% of the island is accessible by car, a car rental remains the best way to get to and from many of the main attractions on the island. And this includes making your way to one of the island’s many boat tours.
There are a number of operators who take guests around the perimeter of the island. We rode with Holo Holo Charters, who took us to the northwest side of the island, the Nāpali Coast. Here, we saw some of the breathtaking scenery which has played host to films including the Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Jurassic Park, Fast & Furious series, and more.
Arriving from our hotel at 7am, we first checked in at Holo Holo’s brick and mortar establishment near Port Allen, where we were briefed about the day ahead. As a group, we walked from there down to the dock, removing our shoes and leaving them in a container before boarding for our “Snorkel Sail“.
Leila was the name of our boat, and we were joined by about 40 people for the voyage. Breakfast was served not long after we left.
Donuts, cheesy eggs with veggies, fruit salad, tea and coffee were all on the menu.
En route to the Nāpali Coast – which is without question the highlight of the adventure – we were taken on a brief snorkeling odyssey in a small inlet off the island. Sadly, visibility was pretty poor the day we went, and there wasn’t too much to see – bar a sea turtle or two in the distance. This isn’t indicative of the experience offered on every trip of course, though Holo Holo also offer a trip that leaves an hour earlier, which takes you to the island of Ni’ihau. I’m told the snorkeling there is much better, should that be more of a focus of your adventure.
They supplied to all guests goggles, fins and the option of pool noodles. They even had prescription goggles for those of us who require glasses, which was very thoughtful. As was the fact that they offered reef safe sunscreen on the boat.
After we were finished with our snorkel, we continued to head along the coast. From 9am they also offered alcohol, including Kewalo’s Cream Ale from Honolulu Beer Works, which was delicious. And it wasn’t long after this that we came across a pod of spinner dolphins.
The chance to see wildlife, as well as the more turbulent conditions later in the day, is why this is designed as an early morning adventure.
A lunch was served just before 1130pm, with build your own sandwiches, and pasta salad, as we traversed the stunning Nāpali Coast, and back again; watching as the mist from the crashing waves formed a eerie fog against the huge mountains, and sitting in awe at the majesty of it all.
The Holo Holo staff were wonderful hosts, always checking in – and they were not stingy on drinks. They shared a lot of facts about the area as we travelled, and we soaked in all the beautiful scenery. And it wasn’t bad to be able to lay on the net at the bow of the catamaran as we travelled along.
This is one experience no trip to Kaua’i would be complete without.
For more details about the Holo Holo Charters services, head HERE.
By Air (Helicopter!)
Though the most expensive option to see the island, it’s undoubtedly the most memorable. We were lucky enough to get to see the island with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, with a 50 minute trip around the Island that showed us many of the places we would also see from the water – except this time we’d fly right into the ranges. There were moments that I felt like I could reach out and touch the mountains that surrounded us.
Hollis Brunt talks more about this experience HERE, though to speak on it from my own experience – this was the best helicopter ride I’ve ever taken. The company’s attention to detail was notable, with a great deal of knowledge imparted and an experience so rich that it instantly became a core memory. I’ll never forget lifting off from Lihue International Airport, as the Hawaii Five-O theme played through our headphones, and the six passengers embarked on a journey none of us will never forget. Shout out to my neighbour on the journey, who also happened to be named Larry. It truly is a small world.
For more about Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, the tours they offer, and the two locations they fly from in Kaua’i, head to their official website.
On Foot
Don’t let the size of the Island fool you – this is not a place to be getting around on foot. However, there are plenty of hiking options throughout the Island. Some are easily accessible via car or tour operator – while others may require a boat to access and are strictly limited to the amount of annual guests. We spotted a few such trails while we were on our helicopter ride. Those with the most limited of capacities will reportedly run out of room quickly each year. So if hiking is your thing, make sure to get on top of that before you make tracks to Kaua’i.
A guide to hiking trails in Kaua’i can be found HERE.
By Public Transport
The Kauaʻi Bus offers limited service around the Island, with most rides costing $2 for adults. I didn’t take any rides with them, but you can learn more about their routes HERE.
We were also staying at the Royal Sonesta Kaua’i, right near the airport in Lihue. The hotel offers complimentary transport to and from the airport, and – while we didn’t take them up on it – we were told they’d be happy to take us to some of the nearby restaurants. One we were recommended is Hualani’s, which we’re putting on the list for our next visit.
By Uber
While we certainly couldn’t have done everything we had if it wasn’t for our car, Ubers are available on the island. If you’re staying closer to Port Allen, where most boats depart, or if you have limited destinations on the island that you need to get to yourself, this may be a more affordable option than renting. However where we were staying – out by the airport at the incredible Royal Sonesta resort – we definitely couldn’t have done it any other way.
…and with Dog?
One of the most unique offerings on Kaua’i is made possible thanks to the Kaua’i Humane Society. Their dog fostering program allows you to take one of their dogs, currently looking to be adopted, out for a day of adventure. There are some restrictions on where you can take the dogs, but for the most part, you’re free to bring the pup with you on your adventure for the day.
The Humane Socitety has been operating here since the 1950s, though the program to allow the temporary fostering of their pups – which helps to stretch their legs and give them a variety of human and scenic interaction – has been going for about 15 years.
The other advantage is that plenty of families fall in love along the way, and they have 3-5 adoptions each week. Thanks to a kind donation, the costs to ship the dogs to the mainland of the US are between $100 and $200, depending on where you’re located.
At the time we visited, they had about 40 puppies, with anywhere between 10 and 25 of the dogs taken out every day. They can be picked up anytime between 10am and Noon, and need to be returned by 5am.
We took out Iko Iko for the afternoon, and were given a bag with everything we needed – treats, water, poo bags, and a towel for our rental car. All the animals are from Kaua’i, and Iko Iko was a real sweetheart. We hope he’s been given a home since. As he’s no longer listed on their website, this may very well be the case. Good boy!
Learn more about the Kaua’i Humane Society HERE.
Getting To Kaua’i
These are just some of the ways to explore the incredible Island of Kaua’i. The rest of the journey, I leave to you.
Hawaiian Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar offer direct flights to the Honolulu on the island of Oahu from the east coast of Australia. From Honolulu (HNL), connections to Lihue (LIH) on the island of Kaua’i are available with Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines. If you’re flying to Kaua’i from mainland USA, there are direct flights available out of San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA) with airlines that include United, Delta and Alaska Airlines.
To learn more about Kaua’i, head to the Go Hawaii website.
While in Kaua’i, we stayed as a guest of the Royal Sonesta Kaua’i, near the International Airport. Support for this article was provided by Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Holo Holo Charters, Discount Hawaii Car Rental, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Thanks as well to the Kaua’i Humane Society. Photos by the author unless otherwise listed.
