Kauai Travel Forum

The things to see I have found are:

-National Tropical Botanical Gardens
-Fern Grotto
-Wailua Falls
-Waimea Canyon
-Wet/Dry Caves


Is there anything else that I am missing thats a must in Kauai?

What about hiking the Na Pali trail 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Beach?

I hadnt heard of that! Thank you. I will have to look it up! Do you need to rent a car to get there or what are other means of transportation?

Depends on where you're staying. The trail begins at the end of the road just past Hanalei Bay.

I am staying at the Sheraton Kauai Resort

That's in Poipu, on the opposite side of the island. A rental car would definitely be needed. I don't know about buses.

ok. do you know of the cheapest rental car place?

I flew three times with Safari Helicopters and it is a great trip. Good safety record. http://www.safarihelicopters.com

awesome! thanks

so i looked up this trail hike you were telling me about. on the site it says something about a $10 permit. i believe thats only for camping. is that correct? is there a fee for this hike or for parking?

The fee is if you hike the whole trail to Kololau Beach, 11 miles in. If you only take the day hike to Hanakapi'ai Beach there's no fee. It's a beautiful hike. Sorry, I don't know about parking.

thank you. we arent gonna go that far because we have a lot of things we want to do =)

Skip the fern grotto. It's a tourist trap. It is a small cave with a few ferns. Maybe it was impressive before hurricane Iniki trashed in the 90's, but now... heck, I have more green stuff growing in my fridge.

Waimea canyon is a must see. So is the Na Pali coast.

And, yes, you really need a car to get around.

You can see my Kauai Page. But I think you have a pretty decent list! I would definitely add snorkling! The fish are just absolutely beautiful!

I agree--skip Fern Grotto. It isn't what it used to be, before Iniki. How much time do you have on the island? If it's just a couple of days and you want to stay on the South and West shores: Waimea Canyon (take a few extra minutes a go a bit further up on Hwy 550 to get some amazing views of the Na Pali coast line), Spouting Horn, Poipu Beach Park for snorkeling, and if you're up for an adventure-Polihale Beach on the West Shore.

If you have a week or more, venture up to the East and North shores. East Shore sights: Wailua Falls, Kipu Falls, 'Opaeka'a Falls, Lydgate Beach for snorkeling, Kalapaki Beach for gorgeous views and boogie boarding, Moloa'a Bay for a beautiful secluded swimming beach, and Kilauea Lighthouse (NE corner of the island). North Shore: Secret Beach and the Secret Lava pools (highly recommend for snorkeling and sheer beauty), Queen's Bath for snorkeling, Hanalei Bay for the raw beauty, and Ke'e Beach for swimming, snorkeling, and the trailhead for the Kalalau Trail. If you want to hike the Kalalau trail, it is free, as is the parking, as long as you don't camp.

To get from Poipu to the Kalalau Trail it will probably take you an hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. Take a look at my Kauai page to see a couple of the recommended sites--I'm not finished with it, so bear with me!

Both Alamo and Dollar rent cars on Kauai. You can usually get a good deal from either one.

thank you all! we will be in maui from the 11-16, kauai 16-19, and oahu 19 and depart on the 22 late afternoon. so 3 days in kauai. not sure what we can do in those three days but from what we were told this is more of s scenic, laid back island.

Kauai doesn't have the nightlife that the other islands do, and is quite laid-back. But, don't let that fool you. There is so much to do on this island. There's hiking, snorkeling, biking, kayaking, excellent golfing (according to my husband--I prefer the shopping), kiteboarding, horseback riding .... the list is endless. I've spent over 4 weeks on this island, and I still haven't done everything that I want to do. I cannot wait to get back.

You can squeeze quite a bit in, in three days. Depending on what time you get in, you may want to explore some of the East Shore sights before heading to your hotel on the South Shore. I'd combine Waimea Canyon, the Pu'u o Kila lookout (views of the Na Pali cliffs), and Polihale Beach for one day. Then I'd combine Spouting Horn, Poipu Beach Park, and Maha'ulepu Beach for another day.

I hope this helps!

yes it definately does considering i dont know the layout of the island or where things are located. is it recommended to definately have a car on this island or are there other means or getting to these beautiful places? by the way, i looked at your page and its quite amazing! im an totally psyched!

Yes, you do need a car on this island. Unlike Oahu, there is no public transportation. You could hitchhike, but it is illegal, and you're at the mercy of strangers. With such a short amount of time on the island, why waste the time waiting for a ride? The island is easily navigable and the car rental company will give you a good map of the island.

Thanks for the kudos on my Kauai page. I'm still adding to it, but it will be a while before it's complete.