Kauai at a glance
The list is a selection, not a ranking. It starts on the north coast, moves to the west side, then south and east, and ends with a flight and a luau. Prices are for adults in 2026 and can change.
Current status (20 October 2026): Hāʻena State Park reopened on 15 October after the September storms. The Kalalau Trail beyond the 2-mile point and overnight camping are closed. Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Parks are closed with no reopening date. Secret Falls on the Wailua River is closed, and individual kayakers cannot reach Fern Grotto. Check the current DLNR park notices before you go. Entries below describe what applies once a place is open.
The north coast and Na Pali (1 to 4)
The wall of cliffs on the north and northwest coast is the main reason people come.
1. Take a Na Pali boat trip
No road runs along this coast, so a boat is the easiest way to see it. The Lucky Lady catamaran is listed year-round at $215 for ages 13 and older and $195 for ages 3 to 12. It takes 5 to 5.5 hours and leaves from ʻEleʻele (Port Allen). Snorkeling depends on the sea, and the trip depends on the weather.
Boat tours guide →2. Spend a morning at Hāʻena and Kēʻē Beach
Hāʻena State Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Non-residents need a reservation in advance, with entry of $5 per person and free entry through age 3. From the parking lot or shuttle stop it is about 0.33 miles (0.5 km) on foot to the beach. The sea is rougher from October to April.
Hāʻena State Park guide →3. Walk to Hanakāpīʻai Beach
This is the first stretch of the Kalalau Trail, 4 miles (6.4 km) round trip, which an operator puts at 3 to 4 hours. It is a day hike you can do without a camping permit, but it is not a swimming beach. The remote coast has dangerous surf and currents and no lifeguards.
Kalalau Trail guide →4. Hike to Hanakāpīʻai Falls
The falls are 8 miles (12.9 km) round trip from the park, and the operator estimates 6 to 8 hours. The path crosses streams. Never cross a flooded stream, and wait for fast, muddy water to drop.
Trail safety and closures →Our picks: things to do
An air tour over Na Pali, a catamaran trip and an evening luau.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Na Pali power catamaran, 4.5 hours
Juice, soft drinks, water, snacks, fruit and a dry bag are included. Snorkelling gear is provided if conditions allow it.
Check availability →
Luau with buffet dinner and show
A lei greeting, open bar, dinner buffet and show. Tips are not included, and the hotel transfer costs extra.
Check availability →
65-minute air tour of Na Pali and the whole island
Commentary through a two-way headset, with landing fee, fuel surcharge and local taxes included. Tips are not included.
Check availability →Kauai tours and day trips
Na Pali boat trips, helicopter flights, kayaking and more, with live prices and availability.
The west side (5 and 6)
Both stops are closed at the moment. Normal rules are listed so you can plan.
5. See Waimea Canyon
The state park is closed after storm damage, and no reopening date is published. Normally non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 per private car, children through age 3 are free, and the ticket also covers the Kōkeʻe parking areas. In normal conditions the drive from the airport takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Waimea Canyon guide →6. Look into Kalalau Valley from Kōkeʻe
The park describes the valley views as being at about 4,000 feet (1,219 m). Kōkeʻe State Park and Kōkeʻe Road are closed until further notice. In normal conditions the Kalalau Lookout is about 1 hour 40 minutes from the airport. Fees are $5 per person and $10 per car for non-residents.
Kōkeʻe and the lookouts →Hanalei and the south shore (7 to 9)
A town on the north coast, then a beach park and a blowhole in the south.
7. Stroll Hanalei Town and the pier
Hanalei lies west of Princeville and is reached over a one-lane bridge where traffic takes turns. The state tourism office dates the pier to 1892. The taro fields are private land, so enter only on an allowed farm visit.
Hanalei guide →8. Relax at Poʻipū Beach Park
The park has parking, lifeguards daily, toilets, showers and picnic tables. It is about 30 minutes from the airport. Monk seals and turtles sometimes rest on the sand, and there are distance rules for both.
Poipu guide →9. Watch Spouting Horn
Waves push seawater through a lava tube and out of a hole in the rock. The spray can reach up to 50 feet (15 m), but not at every visit. A viewpoint with parking is nearby. Fees and hours can change, so check before you go.
Spouting Horn →
Wailua and the east side (10 to 13)
A river, a boat ride and two waterfalls near Līhuʻe and Kapaʻa.
10. Paddle the Wailua River
Kayak Kauai lists a river-only paddle for $95, Monday to Friday at 8:00 and 11:30, lasting 2.5 to 3 hours. The hike to Secret Falls is closed, so the program stays on the water.
Wailua guide →11. Take the boat to Fern Grotto
Smith's runs a boat to the grotto for $35 per adult and $17.50 per child. The round trip takes 1 hour 20 minutes, with departures at 9:30, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:30 and a short walk from the dock. Individual kayakers are not allowed to land at the moment.
Fern Grotto and the river →12. Look at Wailua Falls
You see the falls from a roadside viewpoint, with no hike needed. The drive goes up Maʻalo Road, about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Hanamāʻulu. Sources give different heights, so treat any figure as approximate. Do not count on a legal way down to the water.
Wailua Falls →13. Stop at ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls
The signed viewpoint is on Kuamoʻo Road (Route 580), about 2 miles (3.2 km) inland. The tourism office gives the drop as 151 feet (46 m). Check that this part of the Wailua park is open before you drive up.
ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls →From the air and at night (14 and 15)
A doors-off flight and an evening show.
14. Fly over the island by helicopter
Jack Harter's doors-off flight lasts 60 to 65 minutes for up to four guests aged 10 and older. It costs $460, including a $50 fuel surcharge, and the online booking fee is extra. Anyone over 250 lb (113 kg), or a couple together over 400 lb (181 kg), needs a second paid seat. A separate Jurassic Falls product lists a landing at Manawaiopuna Falls for $449.30 per person, weather permitting.
Helicopter tours guide →15. Go to a luau
The Smith Family Garden Luau in Wailua costs $150 for adults, $45 for ages 7 to 13 and $35 for ages 3 to 6, with park entry extra. Check-in is at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m., a quarter hour earlier from November to February. Lūʻau Ka Hikina at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach in Kapaʻa lists $189 for general seating for ages 14 and older, before taxes, fees and tips.
Luau guide →Plan the rest of your trip
Where to go next on the island.
The Na Pali Coast
Boat, trail and helicopter compared.
Weather and best time
Rain by region and month.
Where to stay
Poipu, Princeville or Kapaa.
Visiting more than one island? Things to do in Maui and things to do in Oahu have their own guides.
Things to do in Kauai: frequently asked questions
Which of these places are closed right now?
As of 20 October 2026, Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe are closed, the Kalalau Trail is closed beyond the 2-mile point, and Secret Falls is closed. Hāʻena reopened on 15 October. Conditions change, so check the current DLNR notices before you go.
Do I need reservations?
Yes for Hāʻena State Park if you are not a Hawaii resident. Boat trips, helicopter flights and luaus also need a booking. Waimea Canyon has no extra reservation requirement for a normal day visit, but it is closed right now.
Can I see the Na Pali Coast without hiking?
Yes. No road follows the coast, so you see it from a boat or a helicopter. The only way on foot is the Kalalau Trail, which is closed beyond the 2-mile point.
How long does it take to drive to the sights?
From the airport in Līhuʻe, the tourism office lists about 15 minutes to Wailua, 25 minutes to Kōloa, 30 minutes to Poʻipū and 1 hour to Princeville. Waimea Canyon is normally about 1 hour 15 minutes. Allow extra time for one-lane bridges.
Can I get around without a rental car?
The county bus runs, with $2 for the main line, $0.50 for local shuttles and a $5 day pass. Regular fares returned on 1 October 2026. The county lists Sunday service as suspended until further notice, so do not plan on it.