Hanalei
The green clapboard Wai‘oli Hui‘ia church stands on a huge manicured lawn just west of central Hanalei, against a beautiful mountain backdrop. It was…
Must-see attractions in Kauaʻi
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
Ever since a landslide altered this once-obvious landmark, the puka (hole) in Puʻu Konanae has been a mere sliver. From slightly north of mile marker 15…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
The Westside is renowned for its unrelenting sun and vast beaches. At the west end of Kekaha town, this long stretch of sand is best for beachcombing and…
Poʻipu
The surf jets through like a mini-geyser through these two blowholes in the lava-rock reef. The spurts are typically less than 30ft and last only seconds,…
Poʻipu
For such a tiny beach, this snorkeling and surfing spot gets lots of attention. Just west of the landmark Beach House, it’s not particularly scenic or…
Hanalei
West of Hanalei in Waipa, not far beyond Waikoko Beach at Mile 4 on the makai (ocean) side of the road is a small, scrubby parking area. Walk along the…
Wailua
Sitting prettily at the top of Kuamoʻo Rd around seven miles from Wailua, this arboretum has grassy fields, a gurgling stream and groves of rainbow…
Lihuʻe
Accessible from the grounds of the Ocean Course at Hōkūala, this gorgeous beach is perfect for a picnic (but bad for swimming because of sometimes rough…
Wailua
While not a showstopper, these 150ft-high waterfalls make for an easy roadside stop, less than 2 miles up Kuamoʻo Rd. For the best photographs, go in the…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Sitting at 4284ft, atop a ludicrously steep and slippery little hillock, this high-arching lookout provides great views down across the valleys. To reach…
Lihuʻe
You don't want to swim here (the surf is often too rough), but the water is pretty and there are some good tide pools nearby. Access is by a very steep…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This canyon-edge lookout, across from a picnic area equipped with restrooms and drinking water, is a superb vantage point from which to admire the 800ft…
Wailua
Other gardens might have fancier landscaping, but you can’t beat Smith’s for value. Take a leisurely stroll along a mile-long loop trail past a serene…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Serving the local Japanese community for more than a century, this sect of Buddhism practices a form of chanting meditation. The original temple, on the…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Hawaii’s sugar industry, once the largest element in the islands’ economy, started with the construction of the first mill in Koloa in 1835. This memorial…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
This small open-air museum traces local history through photos and historic artifacts such as old barber chairs, kerosene dispensers, plows, yolks, saws…
Waimea State Recreational Pier
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Flecked with microscopic green crystals called olivine, this wide, dark-tinged beach stretches between two scenic rock outcroppings and is bisected by the…
Kapaʻa
Nicknamed 'Baby Beach' because an offshore reef creates a shallow, placid pool of water that’s perfect for toddlers, it's located in a modest neighborhood…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This staggering viewpoint perches high above the Na Pali Coast at the far end of the 3.8-mile Nu‘alolo Trail. The last few hundred yards of the hike run…
West Kauaʻi Technology & Visitor Center
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Waimea’s friendly visitor center holds modest but interesting exhibits on Hawaiian culture, Captain Cook, sugar plantations and the US military. Its gift…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
The first lookout as you climb Waimea Canyon Dr offers a good introductory view to the canyon, stretching to the east. Cross the road (carefully) to check…
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
Hanalei Bay & the North Shore
This historic stone church and cemetery date from 1924. Sunday services are held in its humble chapel, glowing with stained glass, while mossy tombstones…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This overlook marks the end of the Canyon Trail. Enjoy epic canyon and waterfall views as you rest at the picnic table.
Poʻipu
This gigantic lithified sand dune towers east of Shipwreck Beach, overlooking Keoneloa Bay. Resist the urge to jump off the cliffs; people have died.
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Walk east from this roadside lookout for amazing views of the verdant canyon below.
Poʻipu & the South Shore
You’re only likely to visit this little park if you’re staying in Kalaheo. It’s worth a quick stop, though, to stroll through its fascinating Hawaiian…
Wailua
This 4-acre site along the Wailua River has reproductions of traditional Hawaiian structures amid thriving gardens of guava, mango and banana trees. While…
Na ʻAina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park
Hanalei Bay & the North Shore
While undeniably pretty in parts – how could it not be, in this clifftops-to-ocean setting? – this private garden holds disappointingly few Hawaiian…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
While certainly not a swimming beach, this little cove lures visitors to pick through the well-worn debris along the shoreline. The glass hasn’t come far;…
Waimea United Church of Christ
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
What’s now the Waimea United Church of Christ was originally erected in 1847 by Reverend George Rowell. Protestant missionaries had lived in Waimea for…
Lihuʻe
Hawaii’s oldest Lutheran church is a quaint clapboard house, with an incongruously slanted floor that resembles a ship’s deck and a balcony akin to a…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Kaua‘i’s first Catholic church was constructed in 1854 using lava rock and coral mortar to build walls 3ft thick. It was plastered over when enlarged in…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Waimea’s plantation-era core offers some interesting architecture. Take a short stroll to admire the neoclassical First Hawaiian Bank (1929), the art deco…
Kapaʻa
Tucked down a little path off the main drag is this orchid nursery and butterfly garden. The owners have been here for over 20 years. They sell orchids…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Sunday’s Hawaiian-language mass at this simple low-slung church makes an interesting way to connect with local culture. Waimea’s first Christian…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Well before you reach Hanapepe as you approach from the east, shortly after Mile 14 on the highway, this roadside lookout offers a view deep into Hanapepe…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
It’s a telling reflection of how locals feel about Captain Cook that the beach where he first landed is named not for Cook but for Waimea’s first Native…
Lihuʻe
Surrounded by rugged coastal scenery, this slender whitewashed lighthouse was built in 1906. It's been automated, so alas, no lighthouse keeper. You can…
Poʻipu
On the grounds of Outrigger’s Kiahuna Plantation complex, this diverting, if modest, cactus and exotic flower garden established in the 1930s boasts…
