Kauai at a Glance

Languages:

English

Currency

US dollar

International Airports: 

  • Lihue. Connections nonstop to many west cost cities (Oakland, SF, LA, Portland, Seattle) Many daily flights from Honolulu

Airlines  

All major US airlines fly here but consider (for deals and/ or superior experience):

  1. Hawaiian (they still serve meals)
  2. Southwest (about to start – NOW you can use those reward miles for somewhere you really want to go)
  3. Alaska

Best Rental Car Companies

All of the major car rental agencies are on Kauai

You might consider a jeep to get to some of the more remote trailheads in which case consider Alii car rental instead of the major ones

Driving – there is not a single freeway on the island. roads are easy but you can run into traffic around Lihue. Driving is generally easy

Best Guidebook

Hawaii revealed Ultimate Kauai

Grocery Stores

  • Safeway – Lihue
  • Costco – Lihue
  • Foodland – Princeville
  • Fish Express  3-3343 Kuhio Hwy, 3-3343 Kuhio Hwy, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii (more Poke than fish)
  • Koloa fish market 5482 Koloa Rd, Koloa, HI 96756 (more Poke than fish)
  • Kilauea fish market 4270 Kilauea Rd, Kilauea, HI 96754
  • There are farmers market every day somewhere: http://www.kauai.com/kauai-farmers-markets

Not-to-Miss Local Food, Beer, Drink

Water

Drinking tap water is perfectly fine. Bring your reusable water bottle – always carry water – it can be hotter than you think. Don’t drink from streams without treating – even in the wilderness

Food:

  • Fish
  • Poke
  • Spam (the national dish of Hawaii)

Local Beer

There are two breweries on Kauai

  • Kauai Beer company 4265 Rice St., Lihue; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday 
  • Kauai Island Brewery 4350 Waialo Rd., Port Allen Marina Center; daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m

Not-to-miss Kauai Activities

Hiking—Famous for hiking – among best in the world

Waimea Ko’kee trails

Kalalau Trail – unique and iconic

Na Pali coast boat trips

Snorkeling at Tunnels and Ke’e

Body surfing at Brennecke’s

Movies / Books

  • South Pacific (yes that old 1958 musical – filmed here
  • The Descendants – filmed and set here
  • Many others

Beach Rental

You don’t need to bring everything for the beach as it can be rented there. We recommend Snorkel Bob (Koloa and Kapaa)

Don’t screw it up

The first time we came here was around 1973. It was awesome and some of the best things were the waterslides – at the time there were two – one was a natural waterslide that you drove up a cane road to get to. The slide was a natural lava one – through wild ginger to a gorgeous pool. Magical. The other was near Kilauea and had been built part of the set of South Pacific with a slide into a large pool near a small waterfall. Full of local kids frolicking. You won’t find them anymore. Both have been closed and fenced after drowning, accidents, and lawsuits. Kipu falls – same.

There are still amazing wild and scenic areas, but that won’t last if people continue to do stupid stuff, die, and sue. PLEASE pay attention – this is wild land- use your head. If the sea is high stay out. If the water is roaring down the falls stay out. If the trail is on a ridge and to footing is treacherous from rain – don’t go.

Or in other words – don’t be stupid!