A slice of Paradise - Kauai!

Aloha folks, I'm back with another travel story about Hawaiian Islands. A place that reminds me so much of my birthplace, Kerala, India. The lush greenery surrounded by coconut trees, the tropical climate, roosters in every street that woke us up in the morning and the island vibes made us so happy and relaxed. We've been to Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, and they're all awe-inspiring. But today I’d like to share with you experiences from our recent trip to Kauai, the garden island, and a slice of paradise! We visited Kauai some years ago with a newborn (for a change of location 😊) and stayed at a beautiful resort in the north shore and did not venture far from our base for most part of that trip. Regardless, that was a relaxing trip and I had always wanted to come back to Kauai and explore more.

This time, we stayed on the East side of Kauai at Kapa'a which worked out well for us. The location was super convenient to get around the island and explore all the amazing sights. Plus, we saved money by choosing a budget-friendly Airbnb on an oceanfront (not a fancy resort), a bargain I found at the last minute luckily! The only downside was that our condominium didn't have air conditioning, but we didn't care about it that much because we had a gorgeous ocean view, enough fans, and a nice breeze to keep us cool at night. We visited Kauai around kids’ spring break, which was a wonderful time to go because it wasn't that hot or super crowded.

Lush valleys at Kauai!

Keep in mind, Hawaii is one of the most expensive states in the USA to live or travel to and, it can get swamped and more expensive during peak seasons, such as around summer or winter breaks or school holidays. If you want to save money and avoid crowds, try to book your flight and accommodation several months in advance, or look for last-minute deals if you're flexible. You can also use websites like Airbnb or vrbo to find condos or timeshares that offer amenities like housekeeping and swimming pool, which can be great for traveling with kids. Usually, I book condos with full kitchen that provides extra square footage and the flexibility to cook quick meals (breakfast & dinner) daily and leverage the dollars saved for other activities (‘money saved is money earned’😊)

Our trip spanned over 6 nights and 5 + days and we ended up covering the following places of interest across Kauai:

Beautiful Smith's Tropical Paradise!

East side

Kauai Hindu Monastery, Smith Topical’s Paradise, Kauai Plantation Railway.

We landed at Kauai by late evening, so we started our expedition the next day with a visit to Kauai Hindu Monastery. This was such a beautiful and tranquil place with statues of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva to worship in the middle of the forest surrounded by lush greenery and listen to the relaxing sounds of the birds chirping. Our next step was at Smith Topical’s Paradise which I’m thankful to run into by chance as my kids had a blast here (we ended up going there twice). For $10/person entrance fee and $1-2 to feed the birds, this place was worth going twice for us as kids had a blast here observing and feeding the birds including peacocks and chicks. The grounds are well-kept to walk around and enjoy the beautiful gardens and ponds and, enough seating available to relax, take breaks to just enjoy the views. All the birds kept following us, especially my kids, and this was the highlight of our trip 😊, got the opportunity to take tons of photos and videos. We ended the day with a trip to the Kauai Plantation Railways that both my kids adored. We also rode the open train with lovely scenery of mountains, plants and animals with a stop to even feed the pigs and the horses. It was a fun and educational way to learn about the history and culture of the island!

Dancing Peacock at Smith's Tropical!

At Kauai's Hindu Monastery

North shore

It's a bit of a drive from the East side, but trust me, it's worth it and you must plan to start the day early to accommodate several stops/viewpoints. You'll get to see some amazing views of the ocean, pristine beaches, mountains and waterfalls along the way. As far as wildlife goes, there is no street in Kauai without a cook-a-doodle do!. The North Shore is also the most rural part of Kauai, so you'll get a taste of the authentic Hawaiian culture, lifestyle and gorgeous hidden beaches and views. You can explore charming towns like Hanalei and Kilauea, visit beautiful beaches like Tunnels and Anini, or hike through lush rainforests and valleys. The stunning views from the Hanalei Valley Lookout is one of the quintessential views of Kauai!. We were also looking forward to visiting Ha'ena State Park, but we couldn't get in. Apparently, you need to reserve your spot for car parking weeks ahead of time. Bummer! We had to skip this but fortunately found a parking spot at Tunnels beach (2 miles away) which is along the popular Ke’e beach at the Haena state park. On our way back we also stopped over at Anini beach.This was a lovely beach with calm and clear waters and had a perfect spot for kids to run around and play on the sand. I must warn you that finding parking was challenging in most of these popular visits even more during busy season as spots were limited. There's so much to do and see at the North shore that I suggest staying for at least 2-3 nights in Princeville or nearby. That way, you can enjoy everything at your own pace and really soak in the beauty of this place.

Also, since we were short on time, we decided to skip the boat tour to the Napali coast and were later planning to take the helicopter tour for panoramic views, however, the weather didn’t cooperate as it rains often in Kauai for brief periods of time 😊.

Hanalei Valley Lookout

South shore

South shore is sunnier and touristy with lot of hotels and beaches. It was also an easy commute for us from our base at Kappa. Spouting Horn near Poipu beach is worth the stop to admire the natural ocean geyser which is like a tall spout of water up into the air every few minutes. Our next destination was Poipu beach, the most popular spot in Kauai. We enjoyed the natural lagoons, where the kids could play safely, snorkel and see colorful fishes. We also spotted lot of turtles and a monk seal resting on the shore. It was a wonderful experience, and the kids had a blast here! On our return, we made a quick stop to check out the Wailua waterfall surrounded by lush greenery.

Wildlife at Poipu beach!

Northwest

This was the most scenic part of our trip. The kids too enjoyed some short hikes and we took advantage of the perfect weather to admire the scenery from different overlooks through our journey. It was worth a drive from Kappa to see the magnificent Waimea Canyon, also called ‘The Grand Canyon of the Pacific’. Especially, the short hike to the Pu'u Hinahina Lookout and some trails to soak in panoramic views and the view of the waterfall dropping into the canyon. But our favorite part of the trip was the drive from Waimea Canyon to Koke'e State Park. Along the way we made few stops at some more exquisite lookouts again accessible by car. The first one was Kalalau Lookout, which overlooks the Kalalau Valley and the Na Pali Coast. This is one of the most iconic views in Hawaii, and it was breathtaking. The lush green valley surrounded by cliffs that drop into the turquoise sea. It felt like we were in Paradise where the ocean met the sky!

The next lookout we visited was Pu'u O Kila Lookout, which is the end of the road in Koke'e State park. It is like the Kalalau Lookout, but it offers a closer view of the valley and the beach. The weather was perfect for taking pictures and admiring the beauty of Hawaii. It is also a great spot to watch the sunset over the ocean if you’ve time. We had to head back as the kids were exhausted from a long exploring day.

Waimea Canyon

Enroute Koke'e State Park!

Views from Kalalau Lookout!

Southwest

We had to skip the Southwest side of Kauai, where the Na Pali coast is visible from Polihale State Park and Kekaha Beach Park. We hope to visit these next time we come to this island. Another way to see the Na Pali coast, along with Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Valley, is by taking a helicopter tour. But they are pricey and weather dependent. A boat tour is another alternative to consider, but again it’d need half a day or more.

We had a relaxing last day on the island, exploring some nearby places. We visited the Kilauea lighthouse, which was closed but still offered splendid views of the ocean. We took some great pictures there. On our way back, we stopped at a community kids’ park and Smith’s Tropical paradise, where our kids had a lot of fun. In the evening, we went to the kid-friendly Fuji and Lydgate beaches to spend some peaceful time and end our wonderful trip with a glorious sunset! I left a piece of my heart at Kauai and hope to return soon someday.

Kilauea lighthouse!

Kauai Sunset!

Pro Tips!

For our long day trips to North Shore and the West side, we packed sandwiches for lunch and lot of snacks for the kids as it could be challenging to find good vegetarian eateries in some of the remote destinations and stops. If you're looking for a refreshing treat in Hawaii, you should check out Shave Ice at Wailua. They have a variety of flavors to choose from and it's one of the best Shave Ice places we've ever tried in Hawaii!

I love Indian food and I was happy to discover a nice place near our base that served it. It's called 'That Indian Place' and their aloo tikki chaat was yummy. If you're in Kauai and looking for some spicy and flavorful food, you should check it out!

If you are visiting Hawaii, you should not miss the fresh coconut and pineapple juice that you can find along the road. They are perfect for quenching your thirst for long trips and for enjoying the tropical vibe. Another place that I recommend for amazing drinks is the Lava Lava beach club, where you can sip on Pina colada and Mai Tai while watching the sunset.

Mahalo for reading my blog. I'm so happy to share my thoughts and experiences with you. I'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for a new topic, please drop a comment below or send me an email. Also, if you have any questions about anything I wrote, feel free to reach out to me :)