35 Kauai Bucket List Ideas (We Go Often – These Rock!)

Over the years we’ve vacationed on the Hawaiian islands, the Garden Isle of Kauai has snagged a special spot in our hearts. It’s so picturesque!

For one, the beaches of Kauai are stunning. You can easily spend days (maybe weeks!) beach hopping or just lounging on one. (Bonus: It’s free!)

But with immense canyons, serene rivers, emerald rainforests and Eden-like gardens, there are oodles of other great things to do in Kauai beyond the beach. That’s a big part of the whole Kauai experience!

Indeed, if this is your first time to Hawaii and you’re torn between Kauai or Maui, Kauai wins by a hair for adventure, thanks to its diverse landscape.

Here’s where to go and what to do in Kauai, Hawaii.

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Note: Prices are in U.S. dollars.

Adventurous things to do in Kauai

There are no roads accessing this coastal stretch, so the only way you can visit these wildly jagged shores is by boat. (Or you can see them from above on a helicopter ride; see #12).

(Just take precautions if you’re prone to seasickness, as the swells can be wicked, especially in winter.)

2) Hike the Kalalau Trail

The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile trekking path fringing the Na Pali Coast cliffs in northern Kauai. You join the trail at Ke’e Beach.

If you do the whole hiking trail, you end up at Kalalau Beach, which can only be reached by foot – it’s difficult but epic!

Note, however, that you need time (a minimum of two days) and camping permits to hike the Kalalau Trail.

Most people just tackle the first two miles to Hanakapi’ai Falls (where we enjoyed the beach), then retrace their steps to go back.

If you love hiking, this shorter section at the start of the Kalalau Trail makes for a great day trip – the views of the dramatic sea cliffs are stunning!

Expect to get dirty, though, as the trail can be muddy and slippery.

One time we went, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t wash the red dirt out of our socks and shorts (scrambling = bum contact), so we ended up tossing these clothes.

3) Kayak the Wailua River

Here’s something else to put on your adventurous Kauai to-do list.

The island of Kauai has the only navigable rivers in Hawaii. That makes for great kayaking in Kauai!

The Wailua River is a popular place to paddle. Kayaking trips here usually also include a 2-mile roundtrip hike through lush greenery to Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls).

The 120-foot falls aren’t exactly a secret anymore, but hey, a cool dip in the freshwater pool at the base is still a treat.

Note: Wear running shoes or hiking sandals that can get wet. Our Keens got wet and muddy (but they cleaned up pretty well afterwards).

4) Try SUP

An ancient Hawaiian sport, stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP for short) has been revived and is now the world’s fastest growing watersport.

It’s great core exercise, as you stand on a specially-designed surf board and paddle through the water.

There are several great places to go paddleboarding in Kauai.

A popular spot is the calm Wailua River (covered above in #3). If you’ve ever wanted to try SUP, one of the must-do things in Kauai is to take a board out on this river.

SUP is easy to learn here. You’re a little wobbly at first, but soon you’ll be happily gliding along, as the river water is calm. (Even George – who calls this sport “fall-down paddleboarding” – stayed upright.)

For ocean paddling, Kalapaki Beach is a good choice. In summer, Anini Beach and Hanalei Bay are also usually tranquil.

5) Walk the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail

The seaside Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail is a four-mile roundtrip trail following Kauai’s rugged coastline from Shipwreck Beach to Maha’ulepu Beach.

The scenery is spectacular – soaring ochre-colored cliffs, sand dunes, tide pools and crashing blue waves. Gulls cry overhead, and fortunately, the wind cools you down.

Maha’ulepu Beach itself is wild and isolated, and we don’t recommend it for swimming. But, on the other hand, you may see Hawaiian monk seals sunning on the sand.

We never tire of walking the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail and it’s one of the best things to do in Kauai for free.

6) Learn to surf

It’s no secret that Hawaii and surfing go hand-in-hand. So learning to surf is one of those cool things to do in Kauai to make like a local!

A good place to start is by booking a surf lesson with Hawaiian Surfing Adventures at Hanalei Bay on the North Shore.

The beach in Hanalei is known for having smaller waves that don’t reach much past waist- to chest-high, with no coral or rocky bottoms to worry about. It’s the perfect place for beginners.

You probably won’t be ready to enter the Pipe Masters competition after one lesson, but you’re sure to have 90 minutes’ worth of pure Hawaii-style fun!

If you’re down on Kauai’s South Shore, you can also pick up some wave-riding skills with this 90-minute lesson from Hoku Water Sports.

7) Hike in Koke’e State Park

Drive along Waimea Canyon Drive (Highway 550) and you come to Koke’e State Park.

At more than 3,200 feet above sea level, the park is blanketed by rainforest and wild flowers and offers some 45 miles of beautiful hikes.

Pop into the cute Koke’e Natural History Museum for trail information and hiking maps.

If you’d prefer to go with a guide, Kauai Hiking Adventures offer private hiking tours.

Be sure to dress warmly, as it can be cool at this higher elevation!

8) See the wettest spot on Earth

For experienced hikers, trekking to the Mount Waialeale Blue Hole, located in the center of the island, is a challenging but phenomenally beautiful hike.

The mountain is more than 5,000 feet tall and receives an average of 450 to 500 inches of rain per year – making it one of the wettest spots on the planet.

At the mountain’s base, a series of waterfalls cascade down a crater wall, the so-called Blue Hole or Weeping Wall.

To reach the Blue Hole, fit hikers must follow a rocky, seven-mile roundtrip trail that starts at the parking lot at the end of Kuamoo Road (Highway 580).

(Or, as an easier alternative, you could get a bird’s eye view of Mount Waialeale from a helicopter! See #12.)

Calling all thrill seekers! You’re going ziplining.

With breathtaking views and the wind whipping past, you’ll be soaring at pulse-racing heights – get ready for an adrenaline rush!

Near Poipu, Koloa Zipline features three of the longest ziplines on the island. Try some ziplining acrobatics with their hands-free harness, like the Superman, Upside Down and Spinning.

More ziplining fun can be had at Kipu Ranch with Outfitters Kauai. They operate Kauai’s longest and fastest zipline, which is 3/4 of a mile long!

10) Go horseback riding on a beach

Saddle up for a Kauai horseback riding adventure on the island’s South Shore!

CJM Country Stables offers rides on beautiful healthy horses through the historic Maha’ulepu area, as well as “Secret Beach” picnic rides.

11) Hike up the Sleeping Giant

For hikers, another great activity is trekking up the Sleeping Giant Trail (Nounou East Trail). This 3½-mile (roundtrip) moderate hike climbs up Nounou Mountain.

Looking up from the town of Kapa’a below, the mountain looks a little like a giant sleeping on its back, thus its name.

The trail ascends gently through forested mountains at first, then rises quite steeply as you start to switchback up the mountain.

There’s a bit of rock scrambling at the end, and the trail can be muddy and slippery in places, depending on the conditions.

Your reward? Knock-your-socks off views of mountains and the coast in the distance.

To access the trailhead, follow the Haleilio Road to the parking lot, found almost at its end.

Best things to do in Kauai for couples and adults

12) Take a Kauai helicopter tour

For a megadose of the island’s beauty, a scenic helicopter tour is especially appealing for adults and couples.

In 50 minutes, you can see the whole island from the air with top-rated Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

To the west, you’ll soar over Manawaiopuna Falls (aka Jurassic Park Falls) and the famous 14-mile-long Waimea Canyon, incised with dramatic red, purple and ochre cliffs.

To the north, gape at the unspoiled Na Pali Coast, where 3,000-foot-high emerald mountain cliffs rise up from the ocean floor.

Or choose a “no doors” chopper for awesome pictures and even more thrills – a truly bonding experience!

Whatever. Once you start soaring over the island, you’ll understand why an island flight should be on your Kauai bucket list.

13) Gape at the Waimea Canyon

Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon State Park is not only one of the top Kauai attractions everyone should visit. It’s one of the best sights to see in all of Hawaii, period!

If you have a rental car (recommended for exploring Kauai), plan a driving day trip to see this craggy mile-wide canyon with its dramatic red and ochre cliffs.

There are lots of scenic lookout points on Waimea Canyon Drive (Highway 550) for gazing at the natural wonders here.

14) Visit the Allerton-McBryde botanical gardens

What should you not miss on Kauai? Its beautiful botanical gardens.

There’s a reason this Hawaiian island is known as the garden island!

Two of the most stunning examples are Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden, side-by-side tropical gardens on the island’s South Shore.

“Hang out with shady characters, do-gooders and beauty queens.” So says the van’s sign on the drive into them.

Even if you lack a green thumb, you’ll love these 350-acre conservation grounds.

On a guided tour, stroll through a cool bamboo forest and outdoor “rooms” with fountains and rippling pools.

Also learn about some unique Hawaiian fruits – like the blue-cheese-stinky noni fruit (studied for its medicinal cancer-fighting properties) – and “canoe” plants brought to Kauai by early Polynesians.

Marvel too at the towering Moreton Bay fig trees, whose gigantic roots hid the dinosaur eggs in the Jurassic Park movie.

We were totally blown away by these gorgeous gardens. (And they were a nice shady break from the beach.)

15) Play a round of golf

For avid golfers, hitting the links is unquestionably one of the best outings in Kauai.

The island isn’t teeming with golf courses.

But at any one of the nine courses that Kauai does have, you’ll enjoy a very satisfying round of golf on your Hawaiian island vacation.

Imagine taking in the cool ocean breeze as you tee up against a backdrop of green-covered cliffs that drop down into the vast Pacific Ocean, like at the Ocean Course at Hokuala.

16) Watch hula dancers

The hula dance is an art form that’s totally unique to Hawaii. Its roots go back to ancient times when dance was used to preserve and tell the stories and traditions of the islands.

The graceful undulating moves of hula have stood the test of time and continue to be an honored tradition in Hawaiian culture.

Watching hula dancers perform and being seduced by the peaceful rhythm of Hawaiian music – all the while taking in the glorious sunset! – is one of the more romantic things to do in Kauai.

If you attend a luau on Kauai, you’ll get to see hula dancing. You may also be entertained by a fire dancer.

17) Cruise up to Fern Grotto (see Wailua Falls too)

If you’re not up to kayaking the Wailua River (see #3), how about a mellow Wailua River boat cruise to see the Fern Grotto instead?

A natural lava-rock grotto, Fern Grotto gets its name from the hanging ferns that grow upside down from the roof of the cave.

At one time, only Hawaiian royalty were allowed to go there.

The Smiths, a local Hawaiian family, are caretakers of the sacred land. For four generations, they’ve been offering Fern Grotto river cruises.

Board a long flat open-air river boat (with a roof for shade) for the ½-hour cruise. Musicians onboard strum ukuleles and sing local Hawaiian songs.

After disembarking, it’s a short walk on a cement path and boardwalk through picturesque gardens to a viewing platform overlooking the famous grotto.

You can’t go inside the cavern, but you can still appreciate it from the viewing area.

18) Indulge your green thumb at Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Along with the Allerton and McBryde Gardens (see #14 above), the Limahuli Garden and Preserve is also part of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden collection.

Built on a terraced mountainside on Kauai’s North Shore, it’s home to native Hawaiian plant species not found anywhere else in the world, along with special archaeological sites that give you a deep appreciation for Kauai’s early human history.

Complimentary walking sticks are offered.

The gift shop also sells wonderful books, artwork, locally-made Hawaiian throws and other items.

19) Shop at Kukui’ula shopping village

What to do in Kauai when it rains? Shop!

The Shops at Kukui’ula are tasteful, upscale and blend in with the south Poipu landscape.

Discover several art galleries plus interesting shops selling surfboards, Roxy sportswear, Hawaiian sea salt, unique jewelry and gourmet foods (fresh-baked pie anyone?).

You’ll find some great restaurants here too, including Merriman’s Fish House (for seafood) and the much-loved Bubba’s (a local eatery serving old-fashioned burgers).

Unique things to do in Kauai

Don a helmet with headlamp and jump into a big inflatable tube. You’re going tubing!

Kauai Backcountry Adventures has exclusive access to the historic ditches and canals once used to irrigate Kauai’s sugar cane plantations.

You float down gently-flowing waters on former plantation lands in the island’s lush remote interior.

Feel like a kid again as your tube bumps into the lava rock canal walls and twirls about.

21) Take a shelter dog on a field trip

If you’re a dog lover, why not do a good deed for a four-legged friend and take in the amazing Garden Isle sites all at the same time?

The Kauai Humane Society offers a brilliant program where you can pick up a shelter dog and take him or her out on a field trip for the day!

The Humane Society staff is happy to offer day trip suggestions depending on what you want to do and the furry friend you’ve been paired with.

Common recommendations include Kalapaki Beach, the Moalepe Trail, the Kuilau Ridge Trail and other dog-friendly destinations.

22) Count the chickens on Kauai

One of the oddball fun things to do in Kauai is to count how many wild chickens you see on your holiday.

Say what?

Yep, there are thousands of wild chickens running around on the island.

They cross the roads, wander around people’s gardens, squawk about in parking lots. They’re sometimes even on the beaches!

So why are there so many chickens in Kauai?

Locals say the Kauai chickens descended from birds that escaped coops when Hurricane Iwa (1982) and Hurricane Iniki (1992) tore through the island.

Anyway, it’s quite hilarious to see all the wild roosters and chickens in unexpected places.

(Mind you, it’s less amusing if you’re woken up early by crowing roosters outside your window).

23) Visit a tortoise sanctuary

Talk about unusual things to do in Kauai!

Just a stone’s throw from the parking lot for Makauwahi Cave (see #28 below), you’ll stumble upon Lida’s Field of Dreams.

It’s a quirky sanctuary for hulking Giant African spurred tortoises. Yes, you read that right – massive tortoises hanging out in their own tortoise playground!

They actually serve a purpose. The tortoises are the gardeners of this unique patch of land, munching on weeds to help native endangered plants flourish.

Admission is free to see them. But there’s a donation box where you can part with a few dollars.

24) Take a dip in the Queen’s Bath

If you’re looking for more unique Kauai experiences, check out the Queen’s Bath.

It’s a natural tide pool of sea water, carved into the lava rock shoreline in Princeville, on Kauai’s North Shore.

The size of a swimming pool, this rock pool was once used in ancient times by Hawaiian royalty to bathe and relax.

The water is usually calm in the summer months, and this is the best time to visit the Queen’s Bath.

Fun things to do in Kauai for families

25) Eat shave ice

We bet that one of the top things to do in Kauai for your little ones is to dig into some shave ice. On a hot day, nothing tastes better!

There are several cool little shave ice stands in Kauai.

And don’t think just fresh pineapple or strawberry flavors (though we love these). You can get the fluffy colorful scoops with sweet condensed milk or macadamia nuts on top.

Wailua Shave Ice

At Wailua Shave Ice (in Kapaa), the coconut foam topping is popular. Or maybe go bold and ask for your shave ice with whipped cream and fruit nuggets.

Waikomo Shave Ice

Waikomo Shave Ice (in Poipu) uses all-natural ingredients (and you can even get yours in an actual half coconut). Get it topped with home-made coconut cream sauce and local honey.

26) Check out the Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens

Visiting the Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kilauea should be on your list of family-friendly, non-beachy Kauai Island activities.

The lush gardens are gorgeous and offer a splendid variety of exotic flowers in all colors, shapes and sizes. The 120+ bronze sculptures are also a pleasant surprise.

Kids, especially, are drawn to the 16-foot “Jack and the Beanstalk” fountain in the children’s garden.

The venue offers tour options including a self-guided walking tour, a seasonal bird tour, a family tour and several others.

27) Ride an antique train at Kilohana Plantation

Kilohana, an historic 150-acre plantation built in the 1930’s, is the island’s most famous plantation estate and one of the best places to visit in Kauai.

A highlight is hopping aboard one of the classic mahogany passenger cars on the plantation train for a full tour of the Kilohana grounds.

Along the way, you see over 50 varieties of the plantation’s fruit tree orchards, vegetable gardens, tropical exotic flowers, and resident animals.

The train will even stop to let you feed the goats and wild pigs!

The Kilohana Plantation is a lovely place to stick around for a while.

Enjoy a chef-prepared meal at a table with garden views at the renowned Plantation House restaurant. Adults can also book a rum tasting at the Koloa Rum Company Tasting Room.

28) Crawl into the Makauwahi Cave

One of the most interesting Kauai adventures – especially for kids – is a bit of a Kauai secret known mostly only to locals.

Discovered by a couple of paleoecologists in 1992, the Makauwahi Cave Reserve is a 17-acre ancient archaeological site that’s home to fossils and the largest limestone cave in Hawaii.

You have to bend down to enter the cave entrance. But after crawling a few feet, you can stand up inside a fabulous, open, garden-like ampitheater, where you’ll discover two caves.

The North Cave has a freshwater lake.

29) Visit the Kilauea Lighthouse

Built in 1913, the Kilauea Lighthouse is part of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

Located on the North Shore of Kauai, the 52-foot-tall structure stands on a rocky peninsula 180 feet above the Pacific Ocean below. (You can look around inside its ground level.)

And if the lighthouse looks like it’s straight out of a Disney flick, that’s because it is! Fans of Lilo and Stitch will recognize it from the original movie and its follow-up, Stitch! The Movie.

As well as offering panoramic views, the area is a nesting site and haven for large populations of migratory seabirds, including red-footed boobies, Laysan albatross, wedge-tailed shearwaters and great frigate birds.

From the bluff, you may also spot dolphins and humpback whales breaching in the distance in winter.

Admission is $10.00 per adult to visit the Refuge (children 15 and under are free). There’s an additional online reservation fee of $1.

30) Sway on the Hanapepe Swing Bridge

If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Kauai with kids, the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge is a winner!

Once built as a bridge for residents in the 1900s as a way to get across the river, the suspension bridge has become a thrilling delight for adventurous young tikes.

It sways and rocks enough to make anyone squeal, including adults.

Tasty things to do in Kauai for food lovers

31) Savor seafood at Red Salt

Produce is locally sourced (the resto’s Kailani Farms mixed green salad is tossed with Big Island hearts of palm, roasted macadamia nuts and avocado vinaigrette).

The setting – creamy travertine floors and granite tables – is spare, though sophisticated and welcoming.

32) Try poke

If you’re looking for a truly authentic culinary treat of the islands, it doesn’t get more Hawaiian than poke (pronounced “po-kay”).

Poke is a Japanese word that means “to cut into small pieces” – which aptly describes this traditional dish, made up of raw fish (usually ahi tuna) that’s cut up into cubes.

It may be seasoned with salt or soy sauce, green onions, onions, seaweed, chopped macadamia nuts or other condiments.

What’s now a staple of the Hawaiian diet originated back when fishermen prepared snacks from leftover cuts of the day’s catch.

Nowadays, you find many varieties of poke that include squid, crab and salmon – in all forms from small appetizer plates to meal-size poke bowls.

For some top-notch poke, try the Fish Express in Lihue and the Koloa Fish Market in Poipu.

33) Taste chocolate on a chocolate farm tour

Because… How can you go wrong with chocolate?

A fascinating fact about Kauai is that – as one of the oldest of all the islands of Hawaii – it has the most fertile soil.

This translates into prime conditions for cultivating the highest-quality cocoa that makes for some mouth-watering artisan chocolate.

You can taste this delicious chocolate at Lydgate Farms, a picturesque 46-acre farm that sits above the town of Kapa’a.

Book a 3-hour tour of the farm for an interesting and informative tour of the chocolate-making process. It includes strolling their lush gardens and tasting fresh tropical fruit and their award-winning honey along the way.

For chocoholics, especially, this chocolate experience is one of the best things to do on Kauai.

It’s worth dining at Bar Acuda in Hanalei for the chance to taste lots of creative dishes.

Serving a Hawaiian take on tapas, the dishes are meant to be shared. Delight in the local cucumber salad with crispy garbanzo beans and feta, seared scallops with butternut squash and Hanalei bison-and-pork meatballs.

The setting is casual, but reservations are a must.

35) Tour the Kauai Coffee Estate

The Kauai Coffee Estate is the largest coffee farm in the U.S. And touring the farm is a Kauai must-do for coffee lovers!

Stroll through the coffee orchard. Learn from guides about how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted on the island. And sample different estate-grown Hawaiian coffees.

Self-guided walking tours are free. Or you can book a personalized coffee walking tour (cost $25).

What about Kauai’s beaches?

Of course, you can’t visit this beautiful island and not go to any beaches. After all, relaxing on a beach is probably the absolute best thing to do in Kauai, right?

Don’t worry. Kauai has lots of gorgeous beaches.

So in case you missed it, head on over to our post on the top Kauai beaches for swimming and hanging out.

Here’s a sneak preview:

Poipu Beach

Tunnels Beach

In summer, when the water is calm on the North Shore, Tunnels Beach is idyllic. Its underwater lava tubes and caves offer great snorkeling and scuba diving.

Hanalei Bay

Then there’s the two-mile crescent of Hanalei Bay, also on the North Shore.

Fringed by palm trees, it’s postcard-pretty. And with wide soft sand beaches and gentle water, it’s ideal for easy swimming (in summer).

Kauai travel tips and FAQs

When is the best time to visit Kauai?

September to early December and also April to early June are the best months to visit Kauai for great weather, fewer people and good hotel prices.

Mid-June to mid-August is the peak summer season and a popular time to visit Kauai, both for honeymooners and families. So expect more people and higher resort rates.

The winter high season is December to the end of March, when visitors like to escape the cold in North America and elsewhere. This is also a busy time for the island. Be sure to reserve your accommodations in advance.

How many days should you spend in Kauai?

We’ve never had a problem spending two weeks in Kauai. (That’s how long we usually go for.)

There are more than enough activities on Kauai to keep you happily busy for two weeks!

But if you have two weeks of vacation, you may want to enjoy one week in Kauai and one week on another island, say Maui or the Big Island.

A one-week Kauai itinerary is totally doable.

To comfortably explore Kauai in a week, devote four days to exploring the North Shore, Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Park. Then spend the other three days on Kauai relaxing on beaches and exploring the South Shore.

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