Dana CullyIt’s expensive!
I was warned before I went that Hawai’i was expensive, but nothing could have prepared me for just how crazy it was. Everything you do except for going to the beach costs money. I booked a ziplining tour which was crazy expensive, but I justified it as it was meant to be my only expensive activity. My other activities were kayaking, exploring the gardens, and hiking. Little did I know that all of these activities would also cost a lot. I am yet to find a garden in Kaua’i that lets you visit without booking a tour. You cannot just walk around and visit a garden on your own, which means this ends up being a $100+ (USD) excursion. Renting kayaks was also crazy, and for most of the hikes and lookout spots, you needed to pay for parking, park entry, or a permit. Not to mention the food! A ‘cheap’ street meal for two costs around $50 USD, and restaurants are a steady increase from there. I rented a room in a shared house through airbnb which was about $200 a night, but the majority of the resorts or rooms not connected to other guests, were upwards of $1000 a night. I know it’s not fun having to be skimpy on a holiday, so please listen to the warnings of how crazy expensive it is!
The weather (When’s the best time to visit)
Don’t be fooled by the stereotypes that Kaua’i is the beautiful garden island of Hawai’i. I’m not saying that it isn’t beautifully green, but there is a reason for this; it rains. A lot. Most of my research prior to traveling to the beautiful island said that April was the best time to go, as you avoided the rainy season but also avoided the unbearable heat of summer and all the tourists. However, my experience of traveling to Kaua’i in April suggests that it is still very much the rainy season. Most of the locals confirmed that April was in fact, the last month of the rainy season (November-April), despite what everyone in my research said. In saying this, many locals did say that my experience of having extremely heavy rain and strong winds (which made the rain and cold 10x worse), in April was unusual. I think I timed it badly, but I still would not travel to Kaua’i in April without expecting at least 3 days of rain a week (if you’re lucky). May would be mine and many locals’ recommendation of the best time to visit Kauai’i, as it is still not the high season for tourists, but you a more likely to see the sun and less rain throughout your trip. It is also important to keep in mind that Kaua’i is about 3 degrees Celsius colder than the main island.
Hiking
Unfortunately, due to the rain, my plans to hike the Kalalau Trail and go to the Weeping Wall, were canceled. However, this brings me to my next point to be aware of. Most of the hikes in Kauai’i are for experienced hikers only, and are susceptible to flash floods, meaning you must have perfect conditions and no rain before, or on the day of your planned hike, otherwise, it is unsafe. It is important to constantly check the national parks’ websites for updates on conditions and closers to ensure your safety. If you want some great views and easier hikes for those less experienced, Waimea Canyon State Park offers some great tracks. You do have to pay $10 per person to visit any of the lookouts or walks within the park. Be aware that the roads and tracks are not well-kept, but I would still recommend a visit. Many of the beaches also provide smaller walking tracks around to other beaches and/or lookout spots, which is a much easier option for those not-so hard-core hikers. Otherwise, another great way to explore the island is by driving around and finding tracks on the side of the road. I did this on one of the days my other hike got canceled and ended up stumbling upon a really awesome waterfall (Ho’opi’i Falls). If you are interested in doing the famous Kalalau Trail please be aware of all the permits you need. You can book a day on or an overnight one. These are expensive and need to be booked a month in advance (they sell fast). You can purchase permits via this website.
Beaches
To be honest with you, I was a little disappointed with the beaches. In saying this, I come from New Zealand where we have spectacular beaches, so not much can compare to them! I do have a top three though; Anini/Wylie’s Beach, Glass Beach, and Poipu Beach. All of these beaches are fairly safe to swim in, however, lots of the more popular swimming/snorkeling beaches such as Hanalei Bay, and Tunnels Beach, were very rough, and unsafe to swim. The locals said this happens more often than tourists are often led to believe, so make sure you allow for a few days of possible snorkeling and swimming, in case the one you planned is unsafe at the time! The South Shore beaches (Poipu Beach), are the best to watch the sunset and see some wildlife, but they are also more busy. Anini is my favorite beach because it offers the privacy others do not have!
Food
Lets start off by pointing out that food is no less expensive then anything else on this island. There are numerous places to eat in Kaua’i, with plenty of food trucks and street food stalls, nearly anywhere you go. Whilst these are your cheapest option for eating out, they average at about $20 USD per meal (without a drink). If you wish to sit down and eat at a restaurant, the prices can regularly range anywhere from $25-$45 USD. If you are not a fan of seafood, it is important to keep in mind that Kaua’i is an island, therefore the majority of menus are based around fish and seafood. There are also limited options for those who are gluten-free; I mostly survived off tacos and Acai Bowls, both of which are very popular on the island! If you’re prepared to spend the money, most of the food I ate was delicious, so do not let the price scare you away!
Transport
Most of the reviews I looked at before visiting Kaua’i said that public transport was pretty good and that you could easily travel the island without a car. I decided to hire a car because I didn’t want to chance the buses not being great, and I am so glad I did. The bus system is ok, and there seem to be regular buses from the main areas (Lihue to Hanalei), but not many to other areas. The island is also a lot bigger than I thought, and unless you are staying right in the center of a town, it is nearly impossible to walk anywhere. Even if you are staying in a town, if you want to do any activities, you will need a car or some form of transport other than biking or walking. Ubers are also not very reliable or common, so having a car is a lifesaver! The company Turo, uses private vehicles (but you’re still safely covered by Turo), making it so much cheaper than other car companies, I would definitely recommend hiring through them!
Things To Do
There are so many things to do on the Island! From hiking to swimming to shopping, there is something here for everyone! A guided tour of the Princeville Botanical Gardens has got to be my top recommendation. The people and gardens were lovely, making it an amazing experience. There are also a couple places around the island that have kayaks and paddle boards for hire (mostly around Hanalei), which is another fun activity to do, and a great way to explore some of the rivers! You obviously can’t visit Kaua’i without visiting the famous Waimea Canyon, which deserves its fame 100%. There are also plenty of ziplining places, cute towns to shop in such as Koloa, and plenty of beaches to visit!
What Side of the Island should you Stay on?
This one’s a tricky one. The North Shore is known for its lush gardens, white sand beaches, and laid-back, resort lifestyle. It is typically where most tourists go, as it is much more established and luxurious, with more things to do, than other parts of the island. However, after visiting, I now know why this part of the island has more jungles and waterfalls than other parts; It rains a lot! I did not know this before going there and thought I had just timed it bad with the rain, however, lots of locals explained that the North Shore rains about 50% of the time, and it is unlikely you’ll have a day completely rain-free. Heading over to the South side of the island, these areas are a lot less established, and can sometimes feel quite barren. However, the weather there is much more sunny and peaceful, with less wind and rain. Whilst it isn’t as established as the North Side, there are still plenty of things to do, especially hikes and exploring, and better beaches (in my opinion). So I guess it’s up to you if you prefer a resort-style but slightly wet holiday, or an adventurous but sunny and dry holiday!
Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out my other posts, especially for more specific info on Kaua’i!
