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.

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.

With its gorgeous cliffs, deep valleys, and pearlescent beaches, the Na Pali Coast is considered among the most scenic spots on Kauai, if not all of the Hawaiian islands, but getting there requires some serious effort—no roads directly access the coast. Fortunately, this beautiful stretch of Hawaiian nature is easily visible from Kokeʻe State Park's Kalalau Lookout, which overlooks the Kalalau Valley to the ocean beyond.

On an island brimming with natural beauty—and state parks, for that matter—Koke‘e State Park stands out for its high-elevation hiking trails, a small natural history museum focused on native plants and local history, and the great highlight: sweeping views of Waimea Canyon, often called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

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.

Few landmarks in the Hawaiian Islands convey their eclectic history like this state park, home to the ruins of a star-shaped basalt fort. Designed by a German doctor in 19th-century European style, for both Russian overseers and King Kaumualiʻi of Kauai, and built using local materials, the fort sits across the river from the town of Waimea. A short walking trail around the structure offers views of Waimea Bay and the surrounding landscape.

Makua Beach, better known as Tunnels Beach, is a crescent‑shaped North Shore gem fringed by palms and backed by lush mountains. The nickname “Tunnels” comes from the underwater lava tubes, caverns, and tunnels within the reef that create a mesmerizing marine landscape. With the beach’s clear water, abundant marine life, dramatic reef formations, and backdrop of Bali Hai, it’s a go‑to for snorkelers, divers, photographers, and anyone seeking one of Kauai’s most gorgeous coastal views.

Waterfowl and endangered birds such as the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck), ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), ‘alae ‘ula (Hawaiian gallinule), ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), and the nēnē (Hawaiian goose) make their home in the wetlands of Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, a swath of protected land on Kauai’s southeast side. Visit the surroundings of the refuge to spot the water birds, in a lush area historically used for taro cultivation, a cornerstone of Hawaiian agriculture.

This trail is the only way on foot to a wild, rugged stretch of the already remote Nāpali Coast, one of Kauai’s most untouched places. Towering sea cliffs, valleys overflowing with lush plants, and a coastline free from human civilization make it a hiker’s dream. Among the most adventurous hikes anywhere, the trek has beauty at every turn, but it requires some planning.

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.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve feels like stepping into a living postcard of Kauai’s North Shore. Tucked between emerald mountains and the sea, this peaceful valley is home to endangered plants and birds only found within its 17 acres (7 hectares). One of the most biodiverse corners in the Hawaiian Islands, it’s a place where nature and Hawaiian culture come together seamlessly.

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.

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.

On the northeast side of Kauai, these falls along Kapa‘a Stream rank among the most beautiful on the island—and the least visited. Enclosed by dense tropical foliage, the area’s cinematic scenery even appeared in Jurassic Park. However, the falls are difficult to access; there’s no official trailhead, and the route crosses private land where locals discourage casual hikers.

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.

The first of five gardens in the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Allerton Garden is also one of the most vibrant. Flowering plants such as anthuriums and plumeria grow alongside Moreton Bay fig trees, their human-sized roots rising from the ground near the Lawa‘i Stream. The garden is also home to the Corypha, or Talipot palm, which flowers only once in its lifetime, producing the largest known flower cluster of any plant.

With its white shingle siding and a broad front porch straight out of the American South, Waioli Mission House marks the point where the story of mainland missionaries and Kauai intertwine. Built in 1836 by a Kentucky reverend for the area’s first missionaries, the carefully preserved house-turned-museum offers visitors a time-capsule glimpse into 19th-century island life—when Western influences reshaped traditions and daily life on Kauai’s North Shore.

McBryde Garden is bursting with Hawaiian plant life. From the endemic Brighamia insignis, of which only one is known to live in the wild, to dozens of “canoe” plants brought to the island by the first Hawaiians, the rare plants are more than worth seeing in a lush, manicured setting. You could spend days searching for Kauai's unique tropical blooms on your own—or view them here in just a few hours.

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.

Many travelers to Kauai’s South Shore stop to browse the plantation-style storefronts of Old Koloa Town, once the site of Kauai's first sugar mill. While shopping for artisan crafts and local fare is easy and enjoyable, more adventurous visitors can follow the Koloa Heritage Trail—a 10-mile (16-kilometer) route through one of the island’s most historic areas. Along the way, you’ll find more than a dozen landmarks, including Hawaiian temples and the remains of the sugar mill.

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.