Hawaii · the United States

Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

The oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, covered in vegetation: the sea cliffs of the Nā Pali coast, the Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay and the sunny beaches of Poʻipū.

Hawaii

In the photo: The sea cliffs of the Nā Pali coast, on Kauai

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Kauai is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, formed about 5 million years ago, and the northernmost of the inhabited archipelago. Millions of years of erosion carved deep valleys, cliffs and canyons. In the island’s center, Mount Waiʻaleʻale is among the wettest places on Earth, and that water feeds rivers, waterfalls and the vegetation that earned Kauai the nickname Garden Isle.

On the northwest coast, the Nā Pali has cliffs more than a thousand meters high that drop straight into the sea, with no road. The coast is seen by boat, by helicopter or on foot via the Kalalau Trail, which begins at Hāʻena at the end of the north coast road. Hanalei, on the same coast, sits in a crescent bay ringed by mountains and taro fields.

In the west, Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, opens a deep cut of red and green walls into the plateau. At the mouth of the same river, the town of Waimea preserves the memory of the arrival of the British navigator James Cook in January 1778.

In the east, Lihue has the airport and the port, and nearby the Wailua River runs up a valley with sacred sites to the Fern Grotto. The south, around Poʻipū, is the sunniest coast, with beaches where Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles often rest on the sand.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Līhuʻe, Hanalei, Waimea.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

✈ Lihue Airport (LIH) · 2 km to Līhuʻe

The island airport is in Lihue (LIH), with routes to the U.S. West Coast and short hops to Honolulu, Maui and the Big Island. Cruise ships stop at Nāwiliwili, adjacent to the town. A single road circles most of the island but does not complete the loop because of the Nā Pali coast.

Suggested arrival point: Līhuʻe

Havaí · Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea Suggested arrival point

Līhuʻe

County seat of Kauai on the east coast, with the island’s airport and the Nāwiliwili harbor. It has plantation-era buildings, shopping centers and Kalapakī Beach next to the harbor. It’s about half an hour both from the south, where Poʻipū Beach is, and from the Wailua River, where boats go up to the Fern Grotto.

Havaí · Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

Hanalei

A village on Kauai’s north coast, behind the bay of the same name, with low wooden houses, surf shops, old churches and taro fields in the valley. It is the base for Hanalei Bay, Hāʻena State Park and the start of the Kalalau Trail at the end of the road. Frequent rain keeps the landscape green and the mountains dotted with waterfalls.

Havaí · Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

Waimea

Small town at the mouth of the Waimea River on the west side of Kauai, where James Cook’s expedition first set foot in Hawaii. Do not confuse it with Waimea (Kamuela) inland on the Big Island or with Waimea Bay on Oahu. It has old wooden buildings, a statue of Cook and the ruins of a Russian fort from 1817. It is the base for Waimea Canyon and for the boats that go to the Nā Pali coast.

The local experience

Things to do in Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

Hanalei · Hawaii · Beach

Hanalei Bay

A crescent bay of about 3 km on Kauai’s north coast, with light sand, a wooden pier and green mountains in the background, which fill with waterfalls in winter. The sea is usually calm in summer and receives large waves in winter.

Waimea · Hawaii · Canyon

Waimea Canyon

A canyon about 16 km long and up to 900 meters deep on west Kauai, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, with layered lava walls in red, ochre and green. The main lookout is on the road that climbs from Waimea town.

Līhuʻe · Hawaii · River

Wailua River and Fern Grotto

The river that flows from central Kauai to the sea near Lihue, through a valley with ancient Hawaiian temples. Boats travel about 3 km upriver to the Fern Grotto, a lava cavity draped with hanging ferns.

Waimea · Hawaii · Coastline

Nā Pali Coast

About 27 km of green cliffs over 1,000 meters high on Kauai’s northwest coast, with no roads, featuring valleys, waterfalls, sea caves and isolated beaches. It is seen by boat, helicopter or via the Kalalau Trail.

See 2 more places in Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

Hanalei · Hawaii · State park

Hāʻena State Park

The park is at the end of Kauai’s north shore road, with Kēʻē Beach, a shallow-reef beach, and the start of the Kalalau Trail that runs along the Nā Pali coast cliffs. Visitors from outside Hawaii must reserve parking or a bus.

Līhuʻe · Hawaii · Beach

Poʻipū Beach

A crescent-shaped double bay on Kauai’s south coast, separated by a sandbar that connects the shore to a small islet. It has a protected natural pool for children, a reef for snorkeling and frequently monk seals and turtles resting on the sand.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

It’s warm year-round, with highs between 25 °C and 29 °C near the sea. From April to October rainfall decreases and the north coast seas calm; in winter, north swells grow and rainfall increases. The south, in Poʻipū, is usually dry in almost every month.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Five days allow splitting the island between the north coast (Hanalei and Hāʻena), the west (Waimea Canyon and a boat trip to the Nā Pali) and the south (Poʻipū). With a week you can include the Wailua River, more hikes and beach days.

Which city to stay in

Poʻipū, in the south, has beaches and dry weather. The east coast, between Lihue and Kapaʻa, sits mid‑way between north and south. Hanalei and Princeville, in the north, are near Hāʻena and the Nā Pali but receive more rain in winter. Waimea and Kekaha, in the west, serve as bases for the canyon.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

How many days should you plan for Kauai?

Five days for the north coast, the west with Waimea Canyon and the Nā Pali coast, and the south at Poʻipū. One week lets you go without rushing.

Can you see the Nā Pali coast by car?

No. The road does not follow that coast. It’s seen by boat, by helicopter, on foot from Hāʻena or from overlooks in the west.

Do you need a car on Kauai?

Yes, to get around the island. The island buses connect coastal towns but do not reach Waimea Canyon or Hāʻena, which has its own reservation bus. Drive on the right.

What time zone is Kauai in?

UTC−10 year-round: Kauai, like the rest of Hawaii, does not observe daylight saving time.

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Kauai (United States): Lihue (Līhuʻe); Hanalei; Waimea

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip