island.
From Bali to Bermuda — compare islands by vibe, season, language and cost.
Kauai
No road crosses the Nā Pali Coast; its twenty-seven kilometres are reached on foot, by boat or by air.
Kauai's ring road does not close. Highway 560 stops at Keʻe Beach in the north and Highway 50 ends at Polihale in the west, and between the two lie roughly twenty-seven kilometres of cliffs with nothing built across them. The Kalalau Trail covers eighteen of those kilometres on foot; the rest of the coast is seen from a boat or a helicopter.
It is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands at around five million years, which is long enough for water to have cut Waimea Canyon nearly a kilometre deep. The rain doing the cutting falls on Waiʻaleʻale near the centre, one of the wettest places ever measured at roughly 9,500 millimetres a year.
Quick facts
Currency
USD
USD accepted
Language
English
Power
—
Driving
Right
US-style
Airport
LIH
Lihue
Emergency
—
Police · Fire
When to go
Monthly breakdown
Storm risk: LowJan
Rain
Feb
Rain
Mar
Rain
Apr
Best
May
Best
Jun
Best
Jul
Best
Aug
Best
Sep
Best
Oct
Best
Nov
Rain
Dec
Rain
Major events
Waimea Town Celebration
A week in Waimea marking the meeting of Hawaiian and Western history at the point where Cook first landed in the islands, with canoe races, rodeo and a long-distance run.
Kauai Mokihana Festival
A week of hula competition, Hawaiian music and lei-making named for the fragrant berry found only on Kauai.
Coconut Festival
Kapaa marks the coconut with cooking competitions, husking and tree-climbing contests over a weekend at the start of October.
Hidden gems
Polihale
Where the west road ends, at the foot of the Na Pali cliffs; four-wheel drive on the last stretch and no shade for miles.
Hanapepe
A plantation town with a wooden swinging footbridge over the river, rebuilt after Hurricane Iniki flattened the original in 1992.
Waipoo Falls
A two-stage fall into Waimea Canyon, seen from the rim lookout or reached by a muddy trail that ends at the top pool.
Local food
Laulau
Pork and salted butterfish wrapped in taro leaf, then in ti leaf, and steamed until the greens go silky.
Lilikoi chiffon pie
dietary_tags.vegetarianPassion fruit folded into a light set filling; lilikoi grows wild along the roadsides here.
Kauai shrimp
Farmed in brackish ponds on the south shore and usually served garlic-fried from a truck with two scoops of rice.
Safety tips
Water-Safety
The trail to Hanakapiai Beach ends at water that has drowned dozens of people, with a tally board at the trailhead. There is no safe swimming there at any time of year.
Nature
Streams along the Na Pali coast and in Waimea Canyon flash flood from rain falling miles inland. If the water turns brown or you hear a change in the sound, get to high ground.
Transport
Haena State Park, the gateway to the Kalalau Trail, requires an entry and parking reservation booked ahead. Without one you cannot park anywhere near the trailhead.
Sustainability
Eco rating
Reef: At riskNa Pali coast left roadless; access permit-controlled
Plan Your Trip
Curated tools to book your island getaway. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Best rates on resorts, villas & apartments
Snorkeling, island hopping, volcano hikes & more
Compare prices across 100+ airlines
Travel medical insurance from $45/month
Free trip budget calculator — plan lodging, food & activities
Free daily-budget tracker — protect every dollar
