Hawai’i is the dream destination par excellence for many people. And indeed, the island world in the Pacific has many beautiful spots and numerous peculiarities. Of course, Hawai’i is not just Hawai’i. Each island is something very special in its own right. Here we reveal our personal favourite places and hotspots on Kauai.
Poipu Beach
Located on the South Shore, Poipu Beach is truly no insider tip. But it’s still very beautiful! The small beach offers very little shade, but the water is shallow and crystal clear. Monk seals also regularly come to the beach here. As soon as they approach the sand, a member of the volunteer team runs to fence them off from the bathers. This ensures that the animals can rest. It’s nice that the fences are respected by everyone. But taking photos is allowed! Brennecke’s Beach Broiler is just across the road. Here you can eat very good burgers and fresh seafood with a view of the sea.
Lava Lava Beach Club
We stick to eating and drinking. The Lava Lava Beach Club is also a wonderful place for a sundowner with the occasional seal sighting. It can be found in the newly renovated Kauai Shores Hotel in Kapa’a. The spots are popular because you can eat with the sound of the waves in your ears and your feet in the sand. That’s why there’s a kind of “first come, first served” reservation system: on arrival, you indicate the number of guests at the front desk. If there is no table available at the moment, leave your mobile number and in the meantime try your hand at the games on the lawn or take a walk on the beach. As with all culinary hotspots on Kauai, we can recommend the Lava (LAVA) Flow, the Sizzling Shrimps and the Chicken Pineapple fried Rice Bowl as must-tries.
Donkey Beach
The fact that Donkey Beach is often quite lonely may have something to do with the fact that it is not so easy to reach (by American standards). To get there, park your car to the right of Highway 56 if you are travelling north towards Analoha. Then you descend for around ten minutes. The paved path winds its way down through a rather romantic perennial tunnel. The donkeys used to travel here, transporting the sugar cane from the now closed plantation. Today, luxurious private residences are being built all around, but there are no facilities on the beach itself. No lifeguard either. Because the sea here can be very wild, you should really only get into the water if you are a good swimmer and are familiar with currents. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking a look, the photos that are taken here are spectacular.
Nā Pali Coast
Certainly not an insider tip on Kauai, but still something we can give you real experience of: a visit to the Nā Pali Coast. The iconic rocks are familiar from the opening scene of Jurassic World. It serves as the backdrop for Isla Nublar. There are several ways in which you can explore them. The easiest way to drive along the Kuhio Highway Scenic Drive is by car. It leads directly into the nature park. This is quite a pretty tour, where you should get out and take photos every now and then. Another option is a helicopter flight. The experience is spectacular, but also quite expensive. Bear in mind that here on the coast, fog can come in quickly – and then you won’t be able to see anything from the helicopter. Or you can book a catamaran trip. Do this as far in advance as possible, because then the morning spots are still available. You have the best chance of spotting dolphins on these tours.
Nounou Forest Reserve
Of course, we don’t want to deprive you of one of the hotspots on Kauai for active nature lovers: the Nounou Forest Reserve. The large natural area on the east coast of Kauai is lush and green, separated by the Wailua River from the nature reserve of the same name. While the Wailua River is known for its canoe trips to the waterfall, the Nounou Forest Reserve is ideal for hikers. Nine different routes of varying degrees of difficulty await you. We decided to climb from the Wailua House Lots up to the Sleeping Giant. The tour is not very long, but you do need to be sure-footed and in good physical condition. Some sections of the path are a real climb. At the top, however, you are rewarded with wonderful views. The tour to Uluwehi Falls is easier, but also very beautiful.
Tree Tunnel Maluhia Road
It only takes a minute to drive through this attraction on Kauai – but it’s worth it. The Tree Tunnel on Maluhia Road consists of 500 eucalyptus trees. They were planted by plantation owner Walter McBryde in 1911. So most probably he didn’t plant them himself. But to this day, the beautiful trees grow and thrive, attracting marvelling people from all over the world. The tunnel is not only pretty, it is also the entrance to the Koloa Heritage Trail with its historically significant stops.
Old Koloa Town
This hotspot on Kauai is located about 20 minutes west of Lihue. This is a small street of historic houses that are now home to small shops and boutiques. The small town came into being when the first sugar cane mill went into operation in 1835. The many immigrants who came for the prospect of a job in one of the plantations had an influence on the multicultural population that still characterises Kauai today. A stop at Lappert’s for an ice cream should be included, as should a detour to Porky’s. Here they serve very tasty hot dogs with pineapple-studded sausages! Certainly one of the culinary hotspots on Kauai!
