Kauai attractions

With a natural wading pool for young swimmers, soft sand, and lifeguards, Poipu Beach Park is one of Kauai’s most popular family-friendly beaches. Beyond the sun and sand, you'll want to visit Poipu Beach to try to spot one of Hawaii’s endangered monk seals, which often sunbathe on the shore. In winter, you might spot humpback whales off the coast, too.

A must-see for nature enthusiasts and photographers, Kauai’s Fern Grotto is a fern-covered lava cave on the south fork of the Wailua River. Once off-limits to all but Hawaiian royalty, the natural geological formation is now accessible, but only by boat as part of a river cruise. Boats dock at the Fern Grotto landing, where a short nature trail leads through the dense rainforest to the grotto viewing platform.

Perched on Kauai’s rugged northern coastline, the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding cliffs. This historic beacon has guided ships since the early 20th century, but today it draws travelers with its panoramic vistas, dramatic seascapes, and abundant birdlife. Watch for red-footed boobies and wedge-tailed shearwaters, or look out to sea to spot humpback whales breaching offshore in season.

Located high in the mountains above the Kalalau Valley, Kokeʻe State Park is one of Kauai’s most popular hiking destinations. The park offers over a dozen trails for all ages and ability levels from gentle bird watching trails to strenuous cliff edge trails. First time visitors to Kauai won’t want to miss the panoramic views of the Kalalau Valley and Waimea Canyon from the park’s lookouts.

Anini Beach is a tranquil coastal stretch on Kauai’s North Shore known for its calm, reef‑protected waters and excellent snorkeling. With Kauai’s longest fringing reef forming a natural barrier, the bay often enjoys gentle surf even when nearby beaches are rough. It’s a favorite spot for swimmers, snorkelers, paddle‑boarders, and those simply seeking a peaceful beach day away from tourist hubs.

On the northernmost point of Kauai, the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place to see seabirds such as the Laysan albatross, the red-footed booby, and the Hawaiian goose, the state bird. While birding is the main attraction for many people, there's plenty more to do at the refuge, from whale-watching to photography.

Situated where the Waimea River meets the Pacific Ocean, Pā'ula'ula State Historical Park protects what remains of the last Russian fort in Hawaii, which was built in 1817 by the Russian-American Company. Visitors can explore its red stone walls, which combine Russian and traditional Hawaiian designs while taking in ocean views.

Nicknamed for its reef full of lava tunnels, the North Shores' Makua Beach (Tunnels Beach) offers soft sands hemmed in by rocky cliffs. Its extensive reef system makes it a great place to spot tropical fish—you may also spot sea turtles, dolphins, or even Hawaiian monk seals.

Southeastern Kauai’s’ Huleia National Wildlife Refuge is one of the island’s two national wildlife refuges. It provides a haven for endangered birds, including the Hawaiian moorhen, the Hawaiian coot, and the Hawaiian goose. The refuge is closed to human visitors, but you can see it from a few nearby spots.

The Kauai Cruise Part is located in Nawiliwili, southeast of the main town of Lihue, in the southeastern part of the island. Most major cruises to the Hawaiian Islands make a stop here, usually just for the day, and the cruise ship terminal is within walking distance of souvenir shops, eateries, and Kalapaki Beach.

Home to endangered plants and birds only found within its 17 acres (7 hectares) of botanical gardens and tropical forests, Limahuli Garden and Preserve is a natural wonderland. Visitors here can marvel at the verdant Limahuli Valley, one of the most biodiverse corners of the Hawaiian islands, and learn about the native flora and fauna.

Housed in a historic former library near Lihue Airport, this museum offers insights into Kauai’s history and ecology, along with workshops and cultural events focused on Hawaiian art and traditions. While you can stop in to view local art and learn about the island’s history, the best experiences include joining one of the museum’s hands-on educational offerings, such as painting, hula, or lei-making classes.

Situated on Kauai’s South Shore, Allerton Garden is a fantastic spot to familiarize yourself with the fauna of the Garden Island. As part of the stellar garden design, you'll see swirling banyan trees, tropical fruit trees, and all sorts of tropical flowers, from fiery orange heliconia to blossoming ginger.

Enjoy an evening of live Hawaiian entertainment and traditional food at Luau Kalamaku, an island tradition staged on the grounds of Kauai’s historic Kilohana Plantation. Stroll the plantation grounds—or take a train ride—before heeding the call of the conch shell and sitting down to fire dancers, hula dancers, live music, and storytelling of epic proportions. What’s also in epic proportions? The fresh, local Hawaiian fare.

Kauai’s most spectacular hiking route, the Kalalau Trail traces the Na Pali coastline along a sinuous—and challenging—route that scales steep slopes and descends into lush valleys for 11 miles (17 kilometers). Most visitors don’t take on the entire route, but instead enjoy a shorter day hike to Hanakapiai Beach, just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the trailhead.

This network of sinkholes and limestone caves—including the largest in Hawaii—is rich in fascinating fossils and home to a complex underground ecosystem of flora and fauna. Spread across acres of forest, wetlands, and dunes, the reserve is a habitat for dozens of native plants, waterbirds, and tortoises, and offers spectacular views of the the Maha’ulepu Valley and Kauai’s southern coast.

Picture the ideal Hawaiian hike, and the short trek to Hoʻopiʻi Falls near the town of Kapaʻa in Kauai might just be it. These twin falls along the Kapa’a Stream are so photogenic, filmmakers used them in the first Jurassic Park movie—today the falls are a little-known destination, but are easy to reach and great for taking a dip.

At Hanakapi’ai Falls, a cascade plunges 300 feet (91.5 meters) down a sheer cliff into a swimmable pool surrounded by unspoiled flora and fauna. It’s an ideal spot for a break or a dip along the challenging Kalalau Trail—or a scenic destination in its own right, offering a shorter segment of the much longer full trail on Kauai’s north shore.

Located behind the Waiʻoli Huiʻia Church in Hanalei, the Waioli Mission House offers a glimpse into how early missionaries lived in Kauai. This clapboard house, built in 1837, is among the oldest Western-style homes on the island.

If you want to see what life was like, or at least how the architecture looked, on Kauai in the 19th century, Old Koloa Town is the place to go. Established in 1835, this former plantation town features a long thoroughfare lined with red-painted buildings occupied by gift shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

The lush confines of McBryde Garden contain the largest collection of cultivated native Hawaiian flora in the world. This 50-acre (20-hectare) botanical paradise is bursting with palms and coral trees, flowering Rubiaceae and heliconias, and tropical orchids, as well as staple crops ancient voyagers introduced to the islands.

This modest museum in Koke’e State Park has a lot to offer any nature enthusiast. Highlights include botanical prints, wood samples, mounted birds and animals, and exhibits on everything from forest deities to early conservationists. Stop in to learn about the region’s unique natural history, pick up information on popular hiking trails before you set out, or browse the well-stocked gift shop before heading out.