The oldest and northernmost of the islands, Kauaʻi’s dramatic, rugged coastline, lush green valleys and secluded beaches make for the perfect romantic escape.
The island’s stunning natural beauty is the primary reason more than one million visitors vacation on Kauaʻi every year. Laid back, tranquil and largely undeveloped, the Garden Isle provides the perfect contrast to neighboring Oʻahu’s vibrant, cosmopolitan experience. For this reason, tourists visiting the archipelago often choose to divide their time between these two islands.
Where To Eat
Although better known for its majestic scenery than its culinary credentials, Kauaʻi offers a diverse range of dining options with food trucks and fruit shacks well represented, alongside a host of upscale options centered around the main resort areas. Fresh, local ingredients and traditional Polynesian dishes are championed across the board, and most restaurants favor a casual ambiance and dress code in keeping with the island's vintage Hawaiian charm. Use our restaurant filters to help you find your new favorite place to eat on the Garden Isle, or check out the popular options below...
Where To Sleep
Despite being the least visited of Hawaiʻi’s four main islands, Kauaʻi boasts an impressive range of accommodation ready to serve as a consummate home away from home for the duration of your stay. From luxury resorts offering high-end experiences and every amenity you can imagine, to quaint country cottages, characterful bed & breakfasts and one-of-a-kind vacation rentals far off-the-beaten-track, this enchanting isle’s splendid selection of sleeping options will leave you spoilt for choice. Use our innovative search tools to help you find your perfect Kauaʻi hotel match, or check out some of our favorites below...
How To Get Around
Due to the island’s rural landscape, the remote locations of some of its most popular attractions and the relative limitations of alternative forms of transport, renting a car is an absolute must to make the most of your time on Kauaʻi. With this in mind, Lihue airport - the island’s primary gateway for both international and inter-island flights - has a choice of rental car companies offering online booking, multi-day offers and accelerated pick-up, with many customers able to skip the counter altogether and go straight to their car!
Should you decide not to rent a car for whatever reason, the Kauaʻi public bus system is a budget-friendly option for long-distance travel connecting major towns and some attractions, whilst taxis and ride share services such as Uber and Holoholo (a local company operating on the four main islands) are generally preferred for shorter trips. Additionally, guided tours are available even to remote areas like Waimea Canyon, and many of the island’s high-end resorts offer local shuttle services as part of their guest packages.
These options may prove sufficient for vacation-makers content to relax within the confines of a resort or those looking to spend most of their time in one area of Kauaʻi, but renting a car is highly recommended for anyone wanting to explore the length and breadth of the island on their own terms.
Best Times to Visit
Whilst temperatures on Kauaʻi are generally warm year-round, the island's reputation as one of rainiest places on the planet can make the winter months unfavorable for touring. With this in mind, the dry seasons of spring, summer and early fall are preferable for most visitors. Sun worshippers will likely favor the peak summer months of July and August, but for many, the trade off of often significantly higher prices and bigger crowds, just isn't worth a few degrees hike in temperature. On the contrary, Kauaʻi’s spring and early fall - whilst offering fewer tourists and generally lower prices - also boasts perhaps the best weather for the often adventurous explorers this island attracts.