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Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by Jeremy
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So you’ve come across an AD that reads this: Find things to do in Hawaii over Spring Break
The first thing you do is click on it and it leads to a reputable website known as Viator, a trip advisor company. Then you think to yourself Why Hawaii? Why not Kauai? What to do in Kauai for a week? you ask yourself. Perhaps it is spring break, or maybe you’re celebrating a birthday trip with a group of 6, or just getting around to going on a honeymoon. Whatever the scenario, Kauai is the place to go.
Honeymoon Airport Lei Greeting on Lihue Kauai – $73.30 |
Kauai, which is spelled by the Hawaiian natives as Kaua’i (pronounced Kah-Wah-ee) and labeled as the 4th largest island of 8 Hawaiian islands. What translates to “the garden isle”, Kauai is home to 73,298 people (as of 2020) and is known for its economy of tourism. This makes it a great destination for people interested in vising this island, as you’d get to take in breath-taking views such as this aerial view of the island:
By Ivtorov – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
So in planning for your next destination to this majestic island, here is what to expect during a week visit:
- Tropical climate (Average of 17-26 degrees Celsius)
- 10 waterfalls and 14 stream systems
- 24 towns and villages
- Thousands of moa or feral chickens
- A Hindu Monestary
- Many Shave Ice shops
- More than 25 places of interest
- Sandy Beaches
- Surfing, Snorkeling and Stand-up Paddle Boarding
- Helicoptor tours, Catamarans and Ziplining
- Day Trips to the other Hawaiian islands
What to do in Kauai for a week? – Preparation for a Trip to Kauai
So the first thing you’re going to want to do in preparation for a trip for a week is to research your must-see attractions. Thankfully, I will enlist a few of them a little further into this article, so don’t wander too far away.
You have to include in your above searches whether you want to experience these attractions in the daylight, or during the nighttime. As you do your research, you’ll also want to take into account whether they have specific time frames to visit. As an example:
The Moir Gardens are botanical gardens located within the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation on the island of Kauai. They are open daily without charge.
The second thing you’ll want to do in preparation for your week long trip is to make a packing list. Like anything, packing lists are essential to get yourself from point A to point B, and back to point A again with the least amount of supplies as possible.
Packing your suitcase can be a daunting task on its own, so assuming you’re a professional, you won’t have any issues here. My advice, pack 1 suitcase inside of another with enough clothes for 3 days, plus your essentials. On the way back, you have room to declare whichever souvenirs you want, so long as you don’t go overweight on your luggage.
Also, be respectful in knowing your airport rules and flights. Your packing list should include details of such things so you know what you have when you arrive back to your native soil.
Experiencing Kauai’s Natural Beauty
Here’s where the fun begins, and what you should take in on your week visit to Kauai.
Exploring Na Pali Coast State Park
By Dcrjsr – Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link
The Na Pali coast is a breathtaking scenic tour not accessible by vehicle. Na Pali which translates into high cliffs, stands a whopping 4000 feet above the Pacific Ocean on the Northwest side of the island. You can see these so called cliffs via a hiking trip, kayak or paddle board trip, or a helicopter.
Na Pali Coast Kauai Snorkel and Sail – $229.48 |
Strolling Through Waimea Canyon State Park
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Take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, or check it out from a viewpoint accessible by car. This is a very popular tourist attraction on the island, as it has numerous hiking trails and a wilderness area.
Another reason it’s so popular? You may remember Waimea Canyon from box-office movie films from Jurrasic Park (1993) or Jurrasic World (2015).
Swimming at Ha ena State Park
By The original uploader was MattWright at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY 2.0, Link
Another popular Kauai destination to explore is what is known as the end of the road. According to Wikipedia –
The park provides access to beaches, trails, and several ancient Hawaiian sites, including sea caves estimated to be more than 4,000 years old.[mfn]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauai#Places_of_interest[/mfn]
Eating Delicious Local Cuisine
Walking Food Tours on Kauai – $110.00 Hele Mai (Come join us) while we share food, absorb scenic Kauai, and learn some of the history of Hanalei! |
When we think of all the delicious foods one could enjoy on this Hawaiian island, there is a variety of choices in local cuisine one could attempt to try out. From enjoying certain seafood dishes to trying tropical fruits, the decisions are endless.
According to Trip Advisor, some of the top rated restaurants on the island of Kauai to try out are:
- Kauai Juice company
- Porky’s Kauai
- Russels By Eat Healthy
- Pono Market
- Hukilau Lanai
- Kountry Kitchen
- Japanese Grandma’s Kitchen
- Gaylord’s Restaourant
- JO2 Natural Cuisine
- Bar Acuda
This gives you one week of trialing out different cuisines on the island for a week, as the ethnic options to choose from range from Polynesian, Japanese, American, Hawaiian, and even Asian.
Participating in Outdoor Activities
If you still have things to accomplish on your trip to the garden isle, you’ll want to research what kind of outdoor activities you’d like to participate in. Taking part in water sports is a good starting point and many attempt to start with surfing.
A second option would be that of going on an adventurous hike in one of the state parks you could visit. Or how about taking in a snorkeling adventure to see all of the Pacific Ocean fish species?
Let’s not forget to mention zip-lining, rafting, stand up paddle boarding, or even a back road adventure with an ATV.
There are plenty of options of activities to participate in and one that Viator mentions on their website is that of a private tour on the Northern part of the island:
Private Kauai North Shore Tour – $270.00 * Price displayed is based on a party of four to six passengers |
Shopping in Local Stores
Just when you think there’s absolutely NOTHING to do on the island of Kauai, you’re learning more and more that there is almost 2 weeks worth of things to accomplish, or more. We haven’t even touched base on the shopping you could do on the island.
For starters, visiting farmers markets give you access to some delicious pineapples and other unique foods, or perhaps it’s time to do some exploring of the souvenir shops so you can bring back as many fridge magnets to your family and friends.
Conclusion
As we look on all of the possibilities and options one could actually do on this Hawaiian island, I think it’s safe to say you won’t be wondering to yourself what to do in Kauai for a week.
Reflecting on the experience you could have, we see that it all starts with preparation and a packing list. Once you have prepared your epic trip, you go out and experience the garden islands natural breathtaking scenery by adventuring out to one of the mentioned state parks.
Don’t stop there, as you still have meals to plan, and having a bite to eat at one of the recommended restaurants should be on your list things to do, as well as participating in any of the many outdoor activities available.
Remembering about souvenirs would earn you some brownie points with friends and family, if you added local store shopping to your day planner. But the last, most important thing you need to plan for is a return trip! After all, you only had a week right?
Are there any more things you could do on this island? Absolutely!
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Ultimate Kauai Adventure – $309.00
Tour Waimea Canyon, dubbed by Mark Twain as the ” Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Although Mark Twain never visited the island, he must have seen enough of it to judge the unparalleled grandeur of this famous Kauai landmark. It is truly a spectacular sight. |
Do you have a comment about this island? Would you like to know more? Drop a message below and I’ll answer you right back.
Earth is Heart!
I’m shocked to learn for the first time that there are 8 different Hawaiian islands. I knew about two of them, but eight? I’m mind blown. The Na Pali park looks like a perfect imagery taken from a movie. Visiting that beautiful place will be overwhelming – in the best possible way. What an amazing creation nature has given us. The crystal clear waters seems so dreamy. I can only hope one day I’ll be able to dip my toes in such an adventure.
Stephanie, you must be only thinking about Hawaii and O’ahu as your two Hawaiian Islands, would I assume correctly?
As someone whom lived there once upon a time, I can admit that it is a little piece of paradise, no matter which island you visit.
Strangely enough, each island packs their own punch of tourism with things to do. Although I’ve never visited that island myself, I do plan to return one day and go take in all of the sights, including my mentions throughout the article. There are reasonably priced, and well worth it in my opinion.
Thanks for the comment!
Very useful article to learn about things to do in Kauai. I love the pictures showing all the beauty in the island’s nature, the restaurants recommendations, tours and that it even tells me how to prepare for the trip – very thoughtful. I would love to visit the Canyon State Park.
Also, in my opinion, the information provided in the post is very useful, I like the fact that it mentions restaurants of different cuisines for tourists o try out. I also think that the links to the different experiences are very valuable for someone visiting the island.
It seems the island is very adventure oriented, do you think it is suitable for a kids vacation?
Thanks for this post!
It is absolutely adventure oriented and suitable for a kids vacation! If your kids like Jurassic Park movies, you need to go here just for that reason alone! Thank you for taking the time to comment and your interest in visiting Kauai for a week!