Kauai Travel Story

Hi! It’s been a minute since I’ve done a new post, but I am back on it! If you follow me on IG, you know I was just in Kauai and I am now finally back home and ready to share with you guys my Kauai travel story. When I was looking to plan my next trip I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to go, but my sister and her BF wanted to do Hawaii and my BF and I thought it would be really fun if we all went together. So that is how we came to picking Hawaii as our next destination. Originally we had planed to do Oahu and Kauai, but some last minute things came up and my BF and I could only go to Kauai. With that being said, I was SO excited to go to Kauai because I have heard so many amazing things about the island. I have been to Maui before and loved it but a lot of my friends mentioned Kauai as their favorite island, and a lot of you messaged me saying the same! So I was very excited for this trip. So let’s get straight to the overview of my trip.

I always want to be 100% honest with you guys so I am going to share my honest opinion about this trip. Overall, I had so much fun. It was great spending time with my sister and our boos! My problem with this trip really came down to the weather. I think we just got unlucky because it was cloudy, cold, and rainy for most of our trip. I don’t mind that at all if I’m going to a city where that is expected.. but on a tropical island.. I was not prepared for that weather at all. I was expecting tropical showers here and there, partly cloudy but for the most part the same weather you expect when you go anywhere tropical. That wasn’t really the case. Yes, I did check the weather forecast before hand, and it showed partly rainy, scattered showers, you know..the usual for a tropical island. So I didn’t make much of it, I just thought it was those “tropical showers.” If you guys aren’t too familiar with Kauai then you  need to know that there is not a whole lot to do. There are a lot of hikes, A LOT of driving, outdoor activities, scenic points, and beaches. There is no “night life” or city scene. Which I’m totally fine with. I love quiet places because I get to just sit back and relax. But the problem was we couldn’t really sit back and relax at the pool or beach, or enjoy activities such as swimming in the waterfalls. So the only option was the hotel lobby or room haha! The damn weather!!

Now I don’t want to sound like I’m just complaining about this trip, because it was still a lot of fun and we saw a lot of beautiful places! It really just came down to the weather I guess, especially since I am one of those people who’s mood is heavily reflective of the weather. I like it sunny and warm! Aside from this I think it is important to highlight the fact that if you like to be super busy, active, out and about, at fun and busy spots, Kauai is not the place for you. You go here when you want peace and quiet and want to explore nature. They have so many beautiful hikes and waterfalls and I wish I was able to hike them all/swim in the waterfalls but because of the weather we couldn’t. Sorry if that was just one big complaint, oops! I did enjoy Kauai, don’t get me wrong, I just needed to get that off my chest haha! Now here is a basic and quick run down of what we did, what we ate, places to see, and everything else you need to know before you visit Kauai.

WHERE I STAYED:

• We decided to stay Koloa, which is on the opposite side of Princeville. We picked this side because it is known as the dryer side of the island. The area we stayed was really close to a popular beach, Poipu and about only 15 minutes away from the airport which made it very convenient. If you stay in Princeville, expect about an hour drive from the airport.

PLACES TO SEE:

• Waimea Canyon State Park: Also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. A long scenic drive takes you to the top of this gorgeous canyon. Perfect for some insane photos! You can also spot some waterfalls in the distance. It is breathtaking!

• Wailua Falls: One of the many falls in Kauai, it is a very simple drive up and there is a place where you can park and view the falls from above. Some people hike down to the bottom but there isn’t really a pathway down, you just have to kind of make your way down the hill to get there. We tried for a little and turned around because it was way too slippery and muddy sadly!

• Queens Bath: This is a beautiful scenic spot in Princeville. You have to hike downhill to get to the spot and since it was raining and muddy, it took us longer than usual. After a 30 minute hike in mud and rain, we finally made it to the spot. YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL HERE! First off, if it has been raining the hike down will be difficult since it’s not a “real” trail. There is a lot of mud and puddles, we had to use large branches/sticks to help make our way down so make sure you grab one (they have a ton at the beginning of the hike). Secondly, many people have drowned in this spot because the waves can get a bit crazy depending on the time of year you go. They were pretty crazy when we were there so we couldn’t get anywhere near the water. Do not enter the water unless the waves are extremely calm. I think Summer is the best time to be here.

• Princeville: I wish we could have spent more time on this side of the island but it was quite far from where we were staying. This side is known to be the “wetter” side so take that into consideration when booking your stay. That’s the main reason why we picked the other side of the island. I recommend visiting the St. Regis for sunset drinks here!

• Hike the Kalalau Trail: Unfortunately we weren’t able to hike this trail due to weather (again) and not really preparing for this hike. We had no idea how long of a hike it was. If you hike the entire trail it is about 22 miles, and many people do it in a couple days and camp out in the middle of the hike. To get to the Hanakapi’ai falls I believe it was about a 2 mile hike each way but we weren’t able to do it sadly. I recommend doing this hike to the falls if you can, but wake up very early and do it so you don’t stuck hiking back in the dark. The 22 mile is not for everyone! However, during this hike you will get as close as you can by foot to the Na Pali Coast (which can only be scene by boat or helicopter). Check out this article here which is all about this hike!
• Lihue: If you’re looking for an area with cute shops and cafes, head to Lihue. This is where you will find Wailea Shaved Ice and Tiki Tacos (see below).

WHERE I ATE:

• Gaylords (Island Influenced Dishes)
• Tiki Tacos (Tacos + Mexican)

• Wishing Well Shaved Ice (Shaved Ice, Smoothies, Acai Bowls)

• Eating House 1849 (Contemporary American + Hawaiian Regional Cuisine)
• Pizzetta (Italian)
• Lava Lava Beach Club (American)
• Seaview Terrace @ The Grand Hyatt (American Bar)

• Stevensons Sushi & Spirits (Sushi)

• Wailua Shaved Ice (Best Shaved Ice!)

ACTIVITES:

• Helicopter ride over the island. I didn’t do this because I am terrified of flying but my sister, boyfriend, and her boyfriend did this and they said it was quite the adventure. They were scared but said it was a great way to see the island + the Na Pali Coast! Some popular companies are Island Helicopters, Mauna Loa Helicopters, and Blue Hawaiian. Jack Harter is the option for doors off.
• Kayak
• ATV Tour + Off Road
• Zipline
• Surf + Swim
• Hike… lots of hiking!
• Sunset dinner cruise or a boat ride around the island. Another way to see the Na Pali Coast!
• Snorkle or Scuba Dive

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

• Kauai is very quiet, not for everyone, especially those who enjoy busy spots with a lot to do!
• Bringing proper outdoor clothes + hiking shoes and sneakers. There are a lot of intense hikes and you need the proper clothes and shoes for these hikes.
• RENT A CAR! I can’t stress this enough. You can’t do anything on this island without a car. We got a Jeep and loved it because it was roomy and comfortable, plus you could take the top off if you want to.
• If you have a macadamia nut allergy like me, make sure you know what you’re eating at all times. Hawaii is macadamia nut HEAVEN! They put it in everything so make sure you ask about anything you’re unsure of!
• Bring bug spray and sunscreen.
• Everyone is dressed very casual – no need for heels and fancy outfits!
• There are taxis on the island and Uber/Lyft as well. If you’re booking an Uber/Lyft, book about 20-25 minutes before the time you want to leave as there are only a few on the island.

Got some questions about my spray tan and I got mine from The Tannery in Newport Beach. I love spray tans for so many reasons and always like to get them before trips or events. I highly recommend them!!

 

Overall, even though the weather was not what we had expected and we weren’t able to do all the activities we wanted to, I still had a such a great time! If you’re looking to book a trip here in the future, I would suggest booking for a summer vacay 🙂 As always, thanks for reading! xx, S.

 

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