Kauai / Hawaii

Kauai – an island of pure magic in the middle of the Pacific. Hardly any piece of earth has fascinated me as much as this one: the Na Pali Coast with its dramatically steep cliffs, turquoise water where you swim with turtles almost every day, and hidden natural pools. Kauai is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers!

Climate and when to go

On Kauai it’s pleasantly warm all year round, at about 24 to 29 degrees. The driest period is from April to September, and October to March is the rainy season. Even so, the main travel season is usually December to April.

We were there at the beginning of May and it rained briefly almost every day – but in between we always had glorious weather and could enjoy the holiday to the full.

Good to know: the island has a microclimate. The north coast is often greener and wetter, the south coast usually drier and sunnier.

How long to stay – and where?

Many people want to see several islands in Hawaii at once. We had already spent two weeks travelling in the USA and then spent 10 days on Kauai . I’d recommend at least one week to experience the island’s variety.

Rental car

Definitely get a rental car – without one it’s much more complicated (but not impossible). Prices vary enormously: between the German and the US website of the same company we found a price difference of €700! So compare a bit, maybe you’ll land a bargain. In the end we paid 650 € .

Accommodation in Princeville

Quite spontaneously – one day before arriving – we decided on an Airbnb in Princeville , and it was an absolute bullseye. Our host lent us bikes, snorkelling gear and everything for the beach, and had the best tips. Princeville is an absolute dream spot with great beaches and tasty restaurants.

Things to do in Kauai

Here’s my list of everything we did on Kauai. Of course a lot depends on your budget – but even if you skip one thing or another, this island will enchant you.

Kalepa Ridge Trail

Probably the best-known trail on Kauai – because of its breathtaking view. At just 3 km and a good 200 metres of climbing it’s super easy. Officially, though, the trail is closed, even if pretty much everyone walks through a gate in the fence.

Kalalau Trail

A stunningly beautiful trail along the Na Pali Coast – but at 17 km (one way) and 1,000 metres of climbing also much more demanding. I can absolutely recommend camping a night at Kalalau Beach.

Snorkelling with turtles

At Anini Beach you have the best chance of swimming with turtles in the morning – an unforgettable experience! Please don’t touch the animals: firstly they don’t like it, and secondly you can pass diseases on to them.

A little tip for underwater photos: don’t use the GoPro Max like we did – unfortunately the quality was horrible. Other GoPros apparently work much better. I’ll try next time!

Morning run through Princeville

Right in the middle of town there’s a beautiful golf course – a walk or run is a great way to explore Princeville. Because of the high humidity, best early in the morning.

Enjoy a day at the beach

Snacks packed, snorkel and fins in hand – a relaxed beach day is a must. These are the beaches we went to most often:

• Tunnels Beach – beautiful for snorkelling. Further out there’s a reef in the sea where you can watch lots of marine life.
• Anini Beach – early in the morning you’re very likely to meet turtles here.
• Hanalei Beach – paradise for surfers (or for watching surfers, like us, haha). Also beautiful at sunset.
• Kalalau Beach – by far the most secluded beach, we often had it all to ourselves. No wonder: it’s only reachable on foot via the 17 km trail.

Discover the island by helicopter

For a one-hour flight at approx. €300 I think the price is totally fair by comparison. Seeing the incredible nature from above, flying into the deep, steep valleys of the Na Pali Coast and circling the whole island was an absolute highlight of this holiday.

We booked with Jack Harter Tours. My tip: definitely take the doors-off tour – without doors the feeling is completely different!

Swimming in Queens Bath

The natural pool is in Princeville and easy to find on Google Maps (Queens Bath Trailhead). This spot is officially closed too – but according to our host, the sign is there more as a deterrent. The path is an experience in itself: around 10 minutes seemingly right through the jungle down to the cliffs – and down there it’s simply magical!

Boat tour to the Na Pali Coast

A 6-hour expedition by boat with a super tasty lunch, lots of fun and snorkelling in between. We booked with Captain Andy’s – our guides were a highlight in themselves and everyone on board had just the right vibe. We were even lucky enough to see a humpback whale !

Lunch was in a bay that can only be reached by boat, and along the way we learned quite a bit about the island. Cost: approx. €250 per person – worth every cent. With that, we’d pretty much completed the Na Pali Coast: on foot, from the air and from the water. Done ✅

Food & drink on Kauai

Dinner & drinks at the 1 Hotel

What a hotel, what a location – and what prices, haha! Dinner at the 1 Kitchen restaurant was absolutely fine for the quality and really tasty. The room rates, on the other hand? Ooh la la – broke just from looking. But for a drink, the 1 Hotel is definitely worth it: for me it’s the most beautiful location on the whole island.

Healthy bowl at Nourish Hanalei

Locally grown, cooked with lots of love and an absolute highlight taste-wise – unfortunately only discovered on our last day. Nourish Hanalei is run by three sisters from Kauai, and you eat surrounded by chickens. 🐓

Sweet treats from Kilauea Bakery

Kilauea Bakery probably has the tastiest treats on the island – simply divine, and the location is lovely too. The pizza … well. Stay on the sweet side of the force and you’re safe!

Satay wrap at Mermaids Cafe

We’d barely left the plane when Tom insisted we go straight to Mermaids Cafe – he’d eaten a wrap there four years earlier and had been raving about it ever since. And yes: it was worth it! The owner is a highlight in himself. A small, unassuming gem.

Mai tais with the locals

Tahiti Nui supposedly serves the best mai tais. We can’t compare, but they were strong. Very strong, in fact. And tasty. So that works! The food won’t blow you away – but you’ll meet lots of locals here and there’s often live music.

Princeville Market

Fresh coconut milk, freshly pressed juices, handmade jewellery and fresh fruit – exactly how I imagine the perfect market. Tom drank what felt like the entire coconut milk supply and I couldn’t walk past a single jewellery stall. The market takes place every Saturday from 9:30 am to 12 noon . You’ll find all the other markets on Kauai here.

Cost of the trip

Hawaii isn’t cheap – eating out and groceries in particular are much more expensive than at home. At some point you get used to it, and back home everything seems cheap. But only briefly, haha.

This is roughly what you should budget for 10 days (excluding flights):

And for 4 glasses of wine you seem to pay €60 everywhere – lol.

My verdict

Kauai is the greenest of all the Hawaiian islands and is therefore also called the Garden Isle . There’s no big city and it’s rather quiet, but countless trails and beautiful beaches await. We barely visited the south – but my recommendation is to book your accommodation in the north , because the island is even greener there.

I’m totally in love with this beautiful piece of earth and will definitely come back one day. I hope I could give you a little overview and some inspo for your next holiday. Feel free to write to me if I’ve forgotten something important!

❤️ Anna