Lihue, HI Road Trips

The major regions of Kauaʻi can be defined by their location on the island relative to the prevailing trade winds. The north and east sides of the island are on the "windward" side of the island, where the winds blow onto the shore. These parts of the island tend to get the most rain, and as a result, are the greenest and most tropical parts of the island. The south and west sides of the island are on the "leeward" side of the island, which receive less rain since most clouds have already dropped their rain on the windward side of the island. The word "city" might be an exaggeration for an island of almost 70,000 people, but here's some information on the towns of Kauaʻi. Lihuʻe, on the island's southeast side, is the civic and commercial center of the island, host to the island's main airport, county offices, and largest shopping mall (Kukui Grove Center). The Kauaʻi Museum, in the old part of Lihuʻe, is the island's best museum on the history, geography, and people of Kauaʻi. Kapaʻa, on the east side, about a 20-minute drive north of Lihuʻe, is the largest population center on the island. It anchors what is known as the Coconut Coast, which hosts many inexpensive to moderately priced resorts and much commercial activity with many strip malls along the highway. The corridor between Lihuʻe and Kapaʻa is the island's most congested. Anahola Beach is on the east shore of Kauai and is dominated by Kalalea mountain. Ironwoods, coco palms and broadleaf trees shade widely spaced beach cottages.

1 Lydgate State Park. On route 56, north of the airport. There's a park with a play area for kids with the usual swings, slides etc. There's an excellent swimming area for kids. The swimming area is separated by big rocks from the ocean, which helps break up the strong current. 2 Old Koloa town. On route 520 on the way to Poipu. The small, rustic town has a grocery store, ice cream parlor, and some souvenir shops. There's also a small museum about the lives of the Japanese immigrants who worked on Kauai's sugar plantations. In the field across from the grocery store there's a monument to them as well. 3 Huleia National Wildlife Refuge. Offers stunning scenery and a great place to photograph native birds and animals. 4 Wailua Falls. This elegant and pristine waterfall looks like a double waterfall from the viewing area but is actually a triple waterfall, once the site of thrilling cliff diving. It's a short drive from Lihue on a dead end road. 5 Opaekaa Falls. 1.3 miles from the start of Route 580. There is a vista point on Route 580 to see the falls with plenty of parking for cars. People usually spend about ten minutes here, as there is nothing to do except to walk over to the waterfall and peek through the vegetation for a moment. Right across from the road is another view point for the Wailua River. Get a receipt, because you can use that to avoid paying again if you visit any other other Wailua River State Park locations later that day. $10 per vehicle plus $5 per occupant (e.g., $20 per couple, $30 for a family of four). 6 Hanalei Valley and Bay.

People come to Kauai primarily for one thing: the beaches with their great snorkeling, surfing, swimming, and sunning. But Kauai also boasts more navigable rivers than the other Hawaiian Islands making kayaking very popular as well as the cool, higher elevation of Koke'e. If the surf is calm you can even combine a river run with time paddling the bays and ocean shoreline. You'll find kayak rentals near the mouth of the most popular rivers. Many will also rent roof-top strap-on kayaks for travelers interested in trying one of the several smaller river runs. Kauai has great hiking and mountain biking trails as well. Outdoor adventurers will find the guidebook Kauai Trailblazer to be helpful for comparing various locations for hiking and biking (as well as snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing). The Waimea Canyon area has extensive hiking trails both into the canyon itself as well as great overlooks of the Na Pali cliffs. Check with the park office on trail conditions and weather before starting your hike. The Koke'e Museum has a listing of trails . Warning: Kauai's famous red dirt is very slippery when wet, as it often is, making some trails too slippery to use, particularly those along steep drop offs. There are many commercial tour guides that offer various land and sea adventures such as guided hikes, downhill bike tours, back-country ATV trips, river tubing adventures, and more, but hiking areas and water access are free. There are no private beaches anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands. Other recommended activities are listed below by region.

Like the rest of Hawaii, the plate lunch is ubiquitous in Kauai (see the Eat section in the main Hawaii article for more information). However, many of Kauai's beaches and natural attractions (like Waimea Canyon) have no amenities nearby. Pack a lunch and bring enough water for the day - then stop at the restaurants for dinner. For a tasty snack, pick up some red lychees from a roadside stand or a farmer's market. Waimea Canyon visitors can drive a few miles further up the road to the Koke'e Lodge, located in the Koke'e State Park next to the museum. It serves breakfast and lunch. For foodies visiting Kauai, the Tasting Kauai Food Tour is an easy way to sample some of the island's most popular dishes. Hamura's Saimin Stand, 2956 Kress St, Lihue (behind the Salvation Army), ☏ +1 808 245-3271. M-Th 10AM-10:30PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight, Su 10AM-9PM. Saimin is Hawaii's contribution to noodle cuisine, and Hamura's does it better than anyone else; it won a James Beard Award in 2006. Seating is first-come-first-served with communal tables. Bowls come in sizes from small to extra large. Order the extra fixings - vegetables, hard boiled egg, roast pork, and wontons - and try the Lilikoi pie for dessert. Less than $10; credit cards not accepted. (updated Jul 2019) Mariachi's Authentic Mexican Grill, 3501 Rice St # 205, Lihue, ☏ +1 808 246-1570. Good service, native Mexican staff, atmosphere is relaxing, and the food is fantastic. The meals are a good value for the price, especially on weeknights. The super burrito is a favorite!

A great place to watch the sun set behind Bali Hai at cocktail hour is the "Library" at the St. Regis Hotel, in the Princeville Resort on the North Shore. At the end of Ka Haku Road. Sunset from The Point bar at the Sheraton Poipu--sit on the patio and nosh some bar food, sip a Lilikoi Lemonade, and watch the sun set behind Niihau and Spounting Horn. 1 Nani Moon Meadery and Tasting Room, 4-939 Kuhio Hwy D, Kapaʻa,, ☏ +1 808 651-2453, [email protected]. W-Sa Noon-5PM. Hawaii's only meadery. Small-batch mead locally brewed from Kauai honey. A tasting of 6 types of mead is $10, light snacks are available along with some locally made chocolates. (updated Nov 2021) Kauai Beer Co, 4265 Rice St, Lihue, ☏ +1 808 245-2337, [email protected]. M-Sa Noon-9PM. Small brewery and restaurant. (updated Nov 2021) Kauai Island Brewing Co, 4350 Waialo Road, Port Allen, ☏ +1 808 335-0006, [email protected]. Noon-9PM (happy hour 3:30PM-5:30PM). Kaua'i's oldest brewery and the world's western most brewery. (updated Nov 2021)

Before making lodging reservations it's best to review a map of the island and plan ahead. Think about the activities and sightseeing you want to do. While it's true that you can drive to any part of the island within an hour or two you'll spend less time in the car if you book your lodging in a spot that's closest to the places you'll spend most of your time. The one main highway is only two lanes *one each way* and tends to get fairly congested at times. The "windward" side, especially the north coast can get up to twice rain than the sunny south coast. If you come from a cold and rainy region looking for a sunny Hawaiian vacation you could be disappointed if you stay on the lush, green, tropical - and wetter - north coast. Yes, it will still be warm but more with more cloud cover and showers. Location and setting also affects lodging prices. There can be a sizable price difference between ocean view and non-ocean view units - the so-called 'garden' or 'mountain' view rooms - all within the same resort. Also, resorts or condo properties set inland - even a block or two - can sometimes be 10-20% cheaper than properties that front or connect directly with the beach. Yes, you'll have to walk a bit or bike or even make a short drive but if helps to fit Kauai into your budget it may be worth the walk. Make your reservations early to get the best choices for unit type, location, and price. Larger condo resorts often have multiple owners so search the Web by resort name and compare prices.

1 Lihue Airport (LIH IATA). The main aviation gateway for the island of Kauai. A small terminal served with inter-island flights by Hawaiian and Southwest. Alaska, American, Air Canada, Delta, Southwest, United and Westjet offer non-stop service from the West Coast of the US and Canada. Tip when flying into Lihue: for the best incoming view, select a window seat on the left side of the aircraft. More often than not you'll be landing to the north thanks to the trade winds. From that angle you will see a dramatic cliff view off the left side on the final approach. (updated Sep 2022) There is now also a deep water port at Nawiliwili for cruise ships. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers cruises year-round between the islands that start and end in Honolulu. Princess Cruises also offers occasional cruises from Long Beach.

Despite the island's relatively small size and the fact that most traffic and sites to visit are concentrated along one main highway, motorized private vehicles are the most common form of transportation on Kauai. If you don't mind traffic (especially in Lihue, Wailua and Kapa'a) and driving yourself, rental cars are a convenient way to visit the island. Most major rental car companies have offices at the Lihue airport or nearby by shuttle bus. Car rentals are available in a large variety of makes and models and provide travelers flexibility and freedom to explore the island and crowd the roads. While there are numerous rental car locations right outside of the Lihue airport, some hotels also offer onsite car rental services which can be used as needed. Most rental car companies have restricted areas, notably Polihale beach. Check before you go, or take the risk of paying yourself out of trouble if your rental car breaks down or gets stuck. The red dirt that Kauai is so famous for is also highly concentrated around this area and adventurous travelers could track this stain-able substance into their rental cars. Many tour companies offer alternatives to rental cars with hotel pick-up in more adequate vehicles such as mini-vans, four-wheel drive vehicles or even tour buses to access more remote parts of the island. The Kauaʻi bus is perhaps the only other way to get around, but will not go to some rural attractions, such as Kokeʻe.

Leptospirosis - a serious bacterial infection. The bacteria is spread by the waste of animals and is found in all fresh water outlets as well as the muddy trails. It is more common on Kauai than other islands, and should be treated promptly with antibiotics. Symptoms are flu-like, and mainland doctors may not recognize the disease as readily. It is very important to treat any water you gather while camping or backpacking with pills or a filter to ensure you kill all bacteria found in it, not just leptospirosis. Rip tides, currents, and high surf - Rip tides and ocean currents on Kauai can be treacherous. Unlike the other Hawaiian islands, Kauai can be especially dangerous because of the lack of a protective reef around many beaches. Many popular swimming areas can be extremely dangerous. Visitors are especially cautioned to not enter the sea from any beach on the Na Pali Coast, which has been the site of multiple drownings. Sunburn - The UV index in Hawaii often exceeds 12 in the summer. People with lighter complexions can receive serious sunburns in as little as 15 minutes. Always wear a good sunblock and/or UV-blocking clothes. Sunburn can easily ruin a vacation. If you get a bad sunburn, however, the Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue can prescribe medication to alleviate the symptoms. Prepare for the area you are visiting. Kaua'i has a few different climates in its boundary, so you will visit many different areas. For instance, you may wear flip flops and bikinis at Poipu; however, you would want a jacket, boots and long pants while up in Koke'e.