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Kauai Island in Hawaii is a lush green valley with coral reefs, beautiful beaches, and mist-shrouded volcanic peaks. For those who love adventure and the majestic beauty of nature, the Na Pali coast, Honopu Valley, Kalalau, Hanalei Bay, Mana Waipuna Falls, and more on Kauai promise to be memorable stops when visiting Hawaii. It is the oldest island, over five million years old, the fourth largest in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest in the United States. Kauai boasts a thriving culinary culture and a rich, long-standing artistic heritage.
Here are some suggestions.New York Times TravelThings you should do in 36 hours exploring the island of Kauai:
Friday:
6 PM:to visit theart galleryKauai is a small island, but its artistic community is vibrant, with numerous galleries located in buildings along Hanapepe Street, established by Asian immigrants in the 20th century, reminiscent of the American Wild West. On Fridays, galleries and shops stay open late, a time known as Hanapepe Art Night. You can enjoy art exhibitions at galleries such as the Island Art Gallery at 3876 Hanapepe Street and Amy-Lauren's Gallery at 4545 Kona Street, where works inspired by local artists and the landscape and culture of Kauai are showcased.
If you're hungry, look for street vendors selling Hawaiian barbecue and tacos, along with a variety of other food items at the small shops along the street. Or you can spend time shopping for crafts and browsing interesting books at the island's only bookstore, Talk Story, located at 3785 Hanapepe Road.
8 PM:Go out to eat and stayGaylond restaurantLocated at 3-2087 Kaumualii, Lihue, this luxurious restaurant sits in the courtyard of a jewelry and porcelain shop, situated on a 4,876-square-meter Kilohana plantation. You can enjoy a $14 Capri salad or a $29 classic Hawaiian seafood platter. Guitarists in brightly colored shirts strumming beach rock songs will give you a truly glamorous Hawaiian vibe.
Enjoying the local specialties of Kauai is something you shouldn't miss. Photo: DukeKauai.
Saturday:
8:30 AM:Enjoy a plate of rice, vegetables, and eggs for about $10 at the company's cafe.Kalaheo coffeeLocated at 2-2560 Kaumualii, Kalaheo, you can then enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee and learn about the origins of the local coffee by visiting the 1,240-hectare Kauai coffee plantation near the sea. You can also sample all the different coffee varieties at the tourist counter.
10:30 AM:Go explore the caves. Kauai is over five million years old – a period of time during which nature has left many marks.Waimea CanyonThe landscape, stretching over 3,000 meters, is a tapestry of browns, greens, and reds. Following Highway 550 to Kokee National Park, and continuing to Milestone 9, the scenery is truly magnificent. Far in the distance, Kauai blends the colors of dry, dusty forests to the south with the lush green to the north. The Rocky Mountain Trail near Milestone 14 is a 3-kilometer hike offering expansive panoramic views.
1:30 PM:viaPrinceville Resortof the town of Hanalei, following the road leading tocoastThe landscape is a stunning expanse of golden sand and turquoise, with pristine beaches and, in the distance, a range of green mountains. Enjoy a salad, chicken, and salmon sandwich for under $10 at Hanalei Gourmet, located at 5-5161 Kuhioss Road, Hanalei; a picnic bag is also provided. A snorkel can be purchased for $7 at the Wainiha general store outside of town. Further down the highway is the beginning of...Na Pali coastClean and over 19 km long, you can see Kee Beach, like a walled niche surrounded by coral reefs, incredibly colorful underwater life, and gentle waves within the bay. This is an ideal diving spot.
6 PM:Sit back, sip a $15 cocktail, and watch the sunset over Hanalei Bay from the rooftop terrace.St Regis restaurantLocated at 5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville is more beautiful than you can imagine. The Regis Princeville Resort opened in 2009 on the site of the former Princeville Resort.
Hanalei Bay boasts stunningly beautiful turquoise waters. Photo: hawaiilife.
6:30 PM:You can enterAcuda barAt 5-5161 Kuhio Road, in the bustling Hanalei Street food court, you can enjoy honeycomb cake and grilled scallops for $12 each. Reservations are recommended at this restaurant.
8:30 PM:Dinner at a very welcoming bar.Tahiti NuiLocated at 5-5134 Kuhio Road, Hanalei, this place features unique murals. Live music is played every evening by Hawaiian-style guitar musicians, creating a warm, family-like atmosphere, rather than a typical performance. The ambiance here is the envy of any Hawaiian-themed establishment worldwide. Note that locals go to bed very early in Kauai.
Sunday:
8 AM:Enjoy a quick cup of coffee at Hanalei Wake Up Café at 5-5144 Kuhio Road, and you'll be ready to take on the game.surfingSurfing, a sport originating from Hawaii, has grown globally over the past decade. With a concise learning method, you can learn to surf in just one morning.Hanalei BayWith the young men. Anyway, you have to go far enough out to watch how the professional surfers catch the waves. If the sea is rough, you can play on...Hanalei RiverThere are hourly courses starting at $55 each.
11:00 AM:enterMoloaa Sunrise Juice shopAt 6011 Koolau Road, Anahola, you can relax or enjoy a bowl of acai for $7.25. The ingredients are sourced directly from the fields surrounding the wooden cabin. On the outskirts of Kapaa,Pacos' Tacos restaurantThey sell fish tacos for $4.85 from a food truck with picnic tables set up right on the beach. Next to it are coconut trees where you can enjoy delicious coconut water and flesh.
12:30 PM:go onehelicopter tourTo get a panoramic view of Kauai, in addition to using helicopters for tours, aircraft using alternative fuel extracted from helicopter fuel are also utilized. AirVentures Hawaii, located at 3651 Ahukini Road, Lihuecung, specializes in 70-minute flights costing $125 to visit islands inaccessible by car, including...Na Pali coast, numerous mountain peaks, valleys, and countless waterfalls.
The Na Pali coastline as seen from above. Photo: fineart.
2 PM:Visit Koloa, a town that sprang up to serve the island's first sugarcane plantation workers, established in 1835. Visitors can stop at shops that were formerly worker residences to buy souvenirs. The ukulele shop at 5330 Koloa Road is a branch of Larry's Music in Kapaa, offering many discounted Hawaiian instruments. If you're feeling hungry, you can stop by TomKat's Grille – a popular garden restaurant in the area.
Accommodation
- Aston Waimea Plantation (9400 Kaumualii Road, Waimea), starting price from $199 per room.
- The St Regis Princeville resort is located at 5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville. It has 252 rooms, with prices starting at $1,100 per room per night, but you can find rooms for around $400 lower if you book online.
- Hanalei Surfboard Apartment (5459 Weke Road, Hanalei), with three rooms, prices start from $325 per night, plus a one-time cleaning fee of $95.
