The plan was to spend 7 days on the island, including one day each for arrival and departure. Accommodation was booked in an Airbnb in Kapaa, about 20 minutes from the airport.

Activities

Anini Beach

Anini Beach was the place where the first sea turtles were spotted. It is worth watching the reefs carefully. Larger groups of divers often indicate that a turtle has been seen nearby.

For snorkelling, the full face masks from Decathlon are a practical recommendation. They may look a little odd, but they avoid the usual mix of separate mask and snorkel. They also offer better all around visibility underwater than traditional masks.

Kayak Tour to Wailua Falls

The tour was booked through the Kayak Wailua website. The guided tour lasted around 4 hours and cost about 65 dollars per person. In total, the route covers about 5 miles by kayak, plus roughly 2 miles on foot to the waterfall and back.

Before the tour, it is worth picking up non slip water shoes at Walmart for around 7 to 10 dollars. A good level of fitness is definitely helpful, especially on the way back when paddling upstream.

Wailua Falls surrounded by dense tropical vegetation
Wailua Falls surrounded by dense tropical vegetation

Waimea Pier

Waimea Pier was the only pier found on Kauaʻi. A short stop is enough for this beautiful photo spot.

Waimea Pier stretching out into the Pacific
Waimea Pier stretching out into the Pacific

Waimea Canyon Lookout

For the drive to Waimea Canyon Lookout, having a rental car, plenty of time, and a strong stomach is very helpful. The navigation may show relatively few miles by US standards, but the route is still demanding. Depending on where the accommodation is located, the drive can easily take one and a half hours or more. From Kapaa on the eastern side of the island, it took even longer. The strong stomach is especially useful because of the winding road.

View from Waimea Canyon Lookout across Kauai’s green landscape
View from Waimea Canyon Lookout across Kauai’s green landscape

Queens Bath, Princeville

Despite the name, this is not a place for swimming, at least not without taking a serious risk. The walk there is still worth it, especially with non slip water shoes, ideally the same pair already used for the kayak tour. Once there, rough waves crash powerfully against the cooled lava rock.

Rough waves crashing against black lava rock at Queens Bath
Rough waves crashing against black lava rock at Queens Bath

Kilauea Lighthouse

The lighthouse is a beautiful photo subject. Anyone wanting to get closer needs to drive into the park, since walking there is not allowed, and pay the entrance fee.

The Kilauea Lighthouse on the cliffs above the Pacific
The Kilauea Lighthouse on the cliffs above the Pacific

Food

In General

Buying food in Hawaii can get expensive very quickly. The most expensive salad seen cost around 8 dollars, while the most expensive yoghurt was about 2 dollars.

Porky Pork

Porky Pork is known for its award winning pulled pork hot dogs. Justin, the owner, appreciates friendly customers. If the mood is off, it may be better to come back later. A stop at Porky Pork can easily be combined with a visit to Waimea Pier and Waimea Canyon Lookout.