Best Things To Do in Kauai in 3 Days – Hawaii’s Hidden Gem

When one thinks about Hawaii, most will conjure thoughts of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, The picturesque Maui, or the volcanic Big Island.  That’s 3 islands of Hawaii and you haven’t even thought about my favourite island out of all them – Kauai.

I’m turn about telling you about this island because I really hope Kauai continues to be a secret for the select few that knows about its wonders.  Thing is, if you’ve been to Honolulu and Maui, you know that there are A LOT of tourists.  On the other end of the spectrum you have the sheer raw beauty of Kauai, an island that doesn’t take itself too seriously and likes to be under the radar.  Here are my picks for things to do in Kauai in 3 days if you’re short on time.

Why Kauai?

Kauai’s laid-back atmosphere, endless strips of beach, lack of big commercial areas, rich culture, dramatic scenery, and world-class hiking are the reasons why we keep going back to this island for vacation.  The allure is the fact that I can do some of the crazy adventurous outdoors but also slow the clock down to do a whole lot of nothing at one of the many secret beaches or watch another brilliant sunset.

They don’t call it the “Garden Island” for nothing.

The emerald valleys that twist and fold like accordions towards the Na Pali Coast present a jaw-dropping landscape.  Then factor in the tropical rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and jagged canyons weathered by time and you really start wondering where you actually are.

In the small towns, you’ll find an ABC store here and there and of course a Foodland is never too far away but after that you’ll encounter small local restaurants, and trendy upstarts.  It feels like a place for locals.  You can just take your time and not be troubled with the trappings of everyday life and material things.

At the end of the day, Kauai is an island where you’ll never see large tour buses, locals are friendly, towns are small, and beaches will call your name.

For those that are driving, make sure to get the best deals on car rentals by using a car rental coupon code.  Also, if you’re love to learn about the island as you drive, make sure to pick up the Kauai audio guide app.

If you only had 3 days in Kauai

If you only have 3 days in Kauai, this is a great list of top things to do that’ll give you a head start in your itinerary planning.  Now it’s possible to do all of them if you plan strategically but it’s totally okay if you leave a few things out too.

1 – Kalalau Trail

The Kalalau Trail is a famous 11 mile (22 miles round trip)trek that starts from Ke’e Beach in the North Shore and runs along the Na Pali Coast (often called Napali Coast as well).  The full hike zig-zags you through lush jungle, valleys, steep cliffs, and unexpected streams.

For most people that come to Kauai, the Kalalau Trail is a perfect day trip where you hike in 2 miles to get to Hanakapi’ai Beach, detour up to the 100-foot Hanakapi’ai waterfall which is perfect for a refreshing dip.  This alone will be quite the journey as you switchback through the contour of the start of the jagged coast and includes a stream that you will have to leap frog over with the helps of rocks that lead your way.  It’s all worth it though because it’s one of the few ways by foot that you can truly enjoy the grandness of the coast.

The full epic-ness of this hike doesn’t happen until you do the full multi-day hike which requires a permit from the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.  It’s an arduous trek that isn’t for the feint of heart as you’ll have to scale sketchy full drop off ridges but you are rewarded with completely isolated beaches, dramatic mountains and seaside caves.

Ke’e Beach – If you plan on doing Kalalau as a day hike, make sure you start early and plan to spend time at the beach that is right in front of the trailhead.  It’s a great place to snorkel and also has some of the most incredible sunsets on the island.

2 – JoJo’s Shave Ice

Shave ice is a staple on Hawaii and when it comes to the best, I have to recommend JoJo’s.  While I still think Maui’s Ululani’s and Oahu’s Matsumoto’s are better overall (primarily because of mochi), I loved JoJo’s combination flavours which comes with their own mac nut ice cream which is absolutely to die for.

Make sure to read my piece on the best Honolulu shaved ice if you’re headed there as well.

Even if you only have 3 days in Kauai, you’ll be coming here every day if you’re sweet tooths like us!

3 – Waimea Canyon

The call Waimea Canyon the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and having done hikes around there twice, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is accurate.  I think the mind blowing part about all of this is that you have to remember that this is a small island that we’re talking about and to have the magnitude and colourful beauty that the canyon puts on display is amazing.

Now Waimea Canyon itself is a bit of a generalized name because this covers a massive area on the west side of the island.  It’s the part of the island that is impassable by car which is a common question when anyone comes to Kauai which is “why can’t I drive around the whole island?”.  Once you leave the town of Waimea, it’s a steady uphill climb into the clouds as the soil turns red the lookouts become more and more glorious and you enter into the deep of Waimea Canyon State Park, Koke’e State Park, and then end off at the Kalalau Lookout.

To me, Waimea Canyon is a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place.  It’s probably the only place on the island where you will see tour buses and along the road, you’ll encounter a number of easy to access lookouts where all you’ll have to do is get off your car, walk up to the railing and take in the beauty of the canyon and Na Pali Coast.  On the other hand, if you’re down for a little adventure, there are a ton of hikes to do that range from easy to challenging.  Depending on what you’d like to see, how much time you have, and your physical fitness, it’s really up to you which one you want to do.  Just make sure you decide beforehand and have instructions on where to find your trailhead because trust me, things aren’t particularly well marked on the island.

I personally have done the Canyon Trail and Awaawapuhi Trail on two separate trips and I would highly recommend both.  The Canyon Trail is a great one that rewards you with serious overlooks deep inside the canyon while the Awaawapuhi Trail is a trail that takes a little patience but once you get to the end you’re suddenly on the ridge-top with dramatic views of the coast and the Pacific Ocean.  If I had to pick one with only 3 days in Kauai, I’d go for the Canyon Trail so you won’t be exhausted and will have more time to do other things on the island.

I’ve also heard really good things about the Alakai Swamp Trail which is once-in-a-lifetime.

4 – Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail in Poipu

As the last stretch of undeveloped coastline on the south shore, this heritage trail is both special in that locals have fought hard to preserve these areas and also that it’s so unique with its sand-dune cliffs and limestone formations compared to the more jungly and rainforest hikes that you find on the rest of the island.  This hike is one where you can go as far as you want and turn back but it is 2 miles in each direction and is classified as “Easy”.

What’s really different about this trail is that a good part of it is a sand dune.  Sure it makes it your steps a little bit more challenging but take that and the backdrop of the crashing ocean into sharp limestone cliffs that is something that feels quite unusual on a island like Kauai that is known for it’s dense rainforest and mountainous ridges.

Where we had trouble with coming here last time was finding the parking lot to start the hike.  I think one of the main gripes I have with hikes on Kauai is that there aren’t exactly huge signs to point you in the right direction.  It’s a bit of an insider’s club but hopefully I won’t lead you astray.  The key when you head into Poipu and drive towards the massive Grand Hyatt is to pass it as you drive East and immediately before pavement turns to dirt road and you see signs for the Poipu Bay Golf Course, turn right and go all the way down until you see a parking lot.  From there you’ll be at Shipwreck Beach and the trail starts to your left where you’ll see people jumping off the cliff.

5 – Secret Beaches of Kauai

As much as I’m all about the adventure, let’s be honest, Kauai is a place to relax and soak in some sun.  What I love about Kauai is just how the beaches here aren’t all the kind where you drive your car up to the parking lot and the beach is right there.  No, in Kauai, you need to do your research or you need to be with a local.  Especially up in the North near Hanalei and Princeville, every other beach seems to be a secret beach.  They’re never marked, there is barely any parking, and you have to hike down a seemingly treacherous (okay I’m exaggerating a bit here) path.

So why go through the trouble of going to a hidden beach than to go to one of the easy-to-access public beaches?  The main advantage of these beaches are that they’re completely secluded.  While it’s not as secret as it was before the internet came along, you’re going to be dealing with less crowds and will be by its nature more peaceful than the non-secret types.

You’ll notice most of the best beaches are actually located in Princeville which is why I recommend staying there as opposed to on the south end.

Sealodge Beach

Located in Princeville, this was one of the beaches we went to because of it’s close proximity to the house rental we had.  When I looked this up online, there weren’t many clear instructions to get there and when we walked to the area it was still almost impossible to find but luckily a local pointed us in the right direction.

Along the way down, there are great views of the ocean crashing into volcanic rock before descending down into the hidden cove where the beach lay.  It’s fairly small and the sand is coarse but the water is protected by reef further out and so it makes for a great spot for snorkelling and swimming.  There is also a good amount of shade here by the cliff or by shadow as the sun gets covered by the crescent cove at certain angles.

Secret Beach

This one is not so secret anymore as there’s literally a pin on Google Maps that calls it Secret Beach.  It’s originally called Kauapea Beach and to get there, follow Highway 56 about a half mile past Kilauea. Turn right onto Kalihiwai Road and right on the first dirt road. Follow the road to the end, where you can park and find the trailhead.

This is a huge golden sand beach that is so good that it’s worth spending a full day here.  In the summer it’s a great place to watch dolphins and even has a small waterfall on the hillside at the back of the beach.  You’ll find lava rocks that dot the beach and tree cover closer to the hill.  In the summer it’s swimmable for non-novice swimmers but does tend to have strong currents and big tides so you definitely need to be careful.

Hideaway Beach

This is a fan favourite for anyone that has spent time in the North.  To get there, you have to take a steep path between the Pali Ke Kua Condos and St. Regis (now Princeville Resort) that includes metal hand rails.  At the bottom you get to a crescent shaped shore that is great for snorkelling and seeing sea turtles.  Just make sure you do it during low tide.

Tunnels Beach

This beach connects to the larger Ha’ena State and Beach Park so it’s perhaps the least secret of all.  What I love about this wide-sweeping beach is that it has easy tides, great views of the mountainous coast to the left, an overall great spot for suntanning, and a long stretch of beach where you can run for miles.  Since it is also easy to access since there is no hiking through a jungle or forest to get to, it is also very family friendly.  I personally come to Tunnels beach for the snorkelling so make sure you pack your gear with you.

What makes it a bit difficult to get to is the somewhat secretive parking lot that is sandwiched between two properties which you can tell is a point of contention for locals in the area where you’ll find “No parking” signs all over.

6 – Kilauea Lighthouse

AYou’ll find this lighthouse standing tall on the North which used to be beacon for travelling ships.  It’s since been decommissioned but has now been restored to its original condition and is also a refuge for many birds including the albatross, shearwater, and red-footed booby. This is called the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

Parking is a bit challenging here and once it is full, the rangers will control the flow of cars coming in and out of the lighthouse.  It also costs $5 per person in admission and once in, you’ll have high chances of seeing all the various birds that call this area home either flying or resting.  There’s also a gift shop, information centre, free rentals for hand-held binoculars, and also fixed binoculars that are also free.

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7 – Mountain Tubing

If there’s something active and unique that you want to do in your 3 days in Kauai, this is it.

Back in the late 1870s, there were sugar cane plantations all over Hawaii including Kauai and as part of the irrigation system, they built open canals and tunnels to flood fields.  They’ve since shut down and today, Kauai Backcountry Adventures has taken over this 17,000 acre plantation and converted it into a park for eco-tourism activities including mountain tubing and zip-lining.

There aren’t too many places that you can tube through the lush green interior of Kauai and 5 hand dug tunnels.  While it may not be high speed adrenaline rush, think of this of a lazy river where the canals are narrow, there’s a lot of (safe) bumping and spinning and you get to go through stone tunnels.

The guides are super professional and ensure the safety of guests the entire time while sharing stories about the plantation.  At one of the tunnels, we even got a chance to turn off our headlamps to float in complete darkness while they told a ghost story.

It’s a unique experience that you really can’t find anywhere else.

8 – Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay is many things.  To some it’s a great place to grab a morning cup of Joe at The Hanalei Bread Company, to others it’s the perfect place to catch some surf, and for someone like me, it was the perfect spot for photography during sunset.

This is the main happening spot in the North Shore so you’ll find yourself here quite a bit.  The views here are absolutely stunning with the jagged green mountains in the background and the water that comes in from the ocean to form this bay.

Activity wise, it’s actually a really good place to learn how to surf and you can also rent kayak’s here to get you through the river that runs through or if you want to follow the coastline to get to say Hideaway Beach.

My favourite area to shoot here is by the Hanalei Pier which makes a perfect backdrop to the sunset which always drops right behind the mountain to create glowing beams of light.  The colours are always so vivid here so stay patient even after the sun falls behind.

9 – Kuilau Ridge Trail

If you find yourself in the Kapa’a or Wailua area and are looking to do good hike, Kuilau Ridge Ridge is a trail that takes you deep into the forest which not only gives you a chance to see a lot of different plants and a variety of trees but there’s a big lookout that offers sweeping views of lush valleys and Mount Waialeale and the Makaleha Mountain Range.

If you’re looking for a hike that takes you to a peak, this one isn’t it however as the picnic table area with the panoramic views is as good as it gets.  As you go further into the trail, it eventually connects at a bridge to the Moalepe Trail which eventually just leads to the parking lot of that trail.

When you finish your hike here, make sure to check out Wailua Falls!

10 – Queen’s Bath

This is one of the popular summer attractions in the Princeville area of Kauai as natural tide pools form from the volcanic rock right along the coast.  This natural geological formation is a great place to wade around and cool off.

To get there, there’s a pleasant hike down past a stream and waterfall before the rocky landscape of lava rock begins.  From there, it’s just a 5 minute trek over these rocks to get to the actual Queen’s Bath.

Your experience at Queen’s Bath will largely depend on the time of year that you go.  In my case, I was there in February and during the winter months, this spot is exposed to some seriously big surf.  We were able to walk up near the edge but dared not stay out there too long as there’d be periodic huge crashes of water that would come out of nowhere.  We were also very cognizant of the danger here as there were signs laid out everywhere about past drownings.

In the summer, you’ll be able to experience the true Queen’s Bath experience with much calmer waters and safer conditions.

Map

Here’s a handy map of all the major locations mentioned in this guide on the top places to visit in Kauai in 3 days.  To make a copy for yourself, you can maximize this map, make a copy on your Google account and be able to access it through the Google Maps app as long as you have data.

Travelling In A Large Group?

One of the big differences for my latest trip to Kauai is that I was there with a large group.  Doing the math, it didn’t make sense for each couple in the group to book a hotel.  As a result, I started looking at my favourite home sharing site – Homeaway (now VRBO).

With a group of 12, I was laughing my way through my search because even though properties in Princeville were at least $500 a night, we were still talking about $60 USD per person per night.

The property we had was this beautiful house in Princeville and it was the perfect place for all of us to situate ourselves in Kauai and I daresay may have been an even better than when we moved over to the Princeville Resort (formerly St. Regis Princeville).

You’re probably think I’m crazy for saying so.

Now I’m not saying that the St. Regis Princeville isn’t nice.  In fact, it’s an incredible resort with top notch service and impressive rooms with bar none some of the best views of Hanalei Bay.  It’s really nice.  

All that said though, it’s great to be with all of your friends and family under one roof with the ability to just hang out in a living room to chat or play boardgames.  The house also had the added benefit of having its own BBQ, the ability to cook your own breakfast in the morning, brew your own pot of coffee, and do a little suntanning in the backyard.

Best places to stay in Kauai

Okay so let’s say you’re a small family or travelling as a couple or small group, where should you look at booking when it comes to finding the perfect place to stay in Kauai?

Read next: The best place to stay in Kauai – a neighborhood guide

Princeville

Let’s start off with my favourite area to stay in Kauai.  While you know I’m not always one for high-luxury, this posh neighbourhood is a great choice because of the selection of properties that are available, proximity to Hanalei Bay which is absolutely amazing, the secret beaches along the coast,

Waimea Canyon

On the opposite side of the this Hawaiian island is the gateway into the gorgeous mountain gorge that is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”.  The advantage of staying here is that you’d be close to the state park which would normally take 2 hours to drive to from Princeville but of course that would put you equally as far from the other side.

Poipu/Koloa

On the southern part of Kauai is a popular neighbourhood where you’ll find Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail, Shipwreck’s Beach, and Sprouting Horn Park.  Second to Princeville, this is neighbourhood that is a great place to stay because it puts you closer to Waimea Canyon.

If you’re lucky, you might spot humpback whales from Poipu Beach.

Lihue/Wailua/Kapaa

On the eastern shores of Kauai are these three neighbourhoods that you can string together that starts with the airport and up to Kapaa, with Wailua River in between.  This is the most commercial part of the island and as close to a “downtown” as you’ll find with strip malls and chained restaurants and stores.  An advantage of staying here is that you’re essentially in the middle of the island so it’s close to equidistant to either Princeville or Waimea Canyon.

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