Day Trips & Walks

Commended by the U.S. Coast Guard for its high standards, this charter company provides a variety of sailing tours off the coast of Kauai. Sunset cruises, whale watches, full-day cruises along the Na Pali coast and numerous snorkel excursions are offered. The cruises range from two to six hours and take place aboard motor-powered sailboats. The most popular excursion is a seven-hour trip to the Forbidden Isle of Ni'ihau. The two main vessels are approved for 99 passengers, although only 49 passengers are aboard at one time. Check website for details.

Cruise the magnificent Na Pali coast in one of two impressive, perfectly maintained yachts. Snorkeling tours, sunset cruises, whale-watching tours and other excursions are available. These activities range from three-and-a-half to seven hours and are appropriate for all ages. Whales, snorkels and dolphins aside, the Na Pali cliffs are reason enough to make the sea journey. Towering hundreds of feet below sea level, they are a breathtaking sight and a must-see for any visitors to Kauai.

Kauai Sugar Plantation is the last working sugarcane plantation in the Kauai Island and among the last two remaining in the Hawaiian islands. It is located off Highway 50, just after mile marker 19 in the city of Kaumakani. A tour of the plantation is offered by Gay & Robinson Tours. Taking this tour will enable you to understand the harvesting and processing of sugarcane. There is also an on-site museum where you can check out photographs, documents, equipment and artifacts, all related to the sugar industry on the island for free. For details, check the website.

If you travel to the end of Highway 56, you will reach this state park. The park is best known for its three sea caves, Kee Beach (a lovely swimming and snorkeling spot), and for its hiking trails. The trails here are not extremely rugged; a four-mile hike takes just a few hours. Explore the caves, which (as legend has it) were created by the goddess Pele. Two of the caves, now filled with seawater, were once gathering spots for island chiefs.

This is one of the most breathtaking (in more ways than one) of Kauai's many natural wonders. In order to reach it, one must hike approximately four miles along the Kalalau Trail, starting at Kee Beach. While this is a journey for intermediate to advanced hikers, many people attempt at least the first half of the journey. The two-mile beach along the path is lovely, as are the many lookout spots along the way. The waterfall at the end of the journey are unbelievable. Pouring from a point 300 feet above the pool, it creates a pristine natural spa. Note: Do not attempt this hike if it is raining. Do not swim at Hanakapiai Beach; it has had more fatalities than any other beach on Kauai.

This is a far cry from bus or helicopter touring. It takes place on a private plantation on the south shore of Kauai. Participants bike down a cane road through a sugar plantation and then hike a coastline trail to a patch of rainforest. Lunchtime is enjoyed at an isolated beach on the Mahaulepu coast. The tour company, Aloha Kauai Tours, bills its adventures as "the essence of eco-tourism," and indeed, these tours are about as back-to-basics as could be imagined. They are appropriate for novice and intermediate hikers from ages 8 and up. Also available are snorkeling and 4x4 tours throughout the island.

In California, tourists visit the wineries; in Hawaii they tour the coffee plantations. Kauai's largest coffee grower offers free tours around the estate. Visitors sip the finished product, wander among the coffee trees, and learn from the experts how coffee gets to the cup. This company is located on the Koloa Estate, a 3,400-acre estate that is known for its red dirt and pesticide-free practices.

There are many ways to see the sea off the shore of Kauai, and this company aims to cover all of the options. Raft tours, whale watches, catamaran cruises and first-class day tours are offered. Depending on the excursion, guests can snorkel just off the shore, get up close to larger marine life, enjoy buffet dining aboard the Lucky Lady, or visit an ancient Hawaiian village. Catamaran cruises are appropriate for everyone; raft expeditions are suited for hardier folks.

A number of seabirds, including shearwaters, red-footed boobies and albatross can be seen at this reserve. Indigenous plant life also thrives. While experts will probably come prepared, regular tourists will appreciate the on-loan binoculars and the refuge's volunteer staff. Sometimes whales or other inhabitants of the sea can be glimpsed in the waters below Lighthouse Point. Do not forget to stop by the old lighthouse (an attraction in its own right) before leaving.

This rough-and-tumble experience is like a cross between a motorcycle ride and a back-road trek. Tours take place on a working cattle ranch that covers 3,000 acres. Participants travel through forests, fields, up inclines and down riverbeds. Along the way there are plenty of sights to see; the Menehune Fish Pond and the Haupu Mountains are two of the main ones. This is the only way to gain access to Kipu Ranch. Participants ride sturdy Honda 300cc ATVs. Plenty of rules apply; call in advance for more information or to make reservations.

A favorite place for hikers, campers and picnickers, this park is located on the western shore of Kauai. The centerpiece is Waimea Canyon. One of the best ways to see the canyon is to hike the easy Iliau Nature Loop, located between Mile Marker 8 and 9. A half-dozen other trails are available. Some of them are easy and some are arduous. The Koke'e Natural History Museum, located inside the park, is a great place to learn about the surroundings, research the trails or pick up a map.

While it is hard to say whether one of Kauais gardens outshines the others, this preserve was named the United States' "best natural botanical garden" in 1997. Located on the North Shore, the property serves as a tourist attraction, botanical research facility and outdoor classroom. Only 17 acres of the garden are open to the public. Guided or self-guided tours are available. Guided tours cost USD15 per person; self-guided tours cost USD10. Reserve your spot in advance for the guided tour. Check in at the gift shop.

Home to hundreds of native plant species, as well as exotic plants from around the world, this is a must-see for all green thumbs and nature lovers. The property is adjacent to Allerton Gardens, and guided tours include a visit to the neighbor garden as well as Queen Emma's Cottage. This garden is also the headquarters of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. It houses an extensive research library and an enormous herbarium. Guided tours, which are offered Monday at 9:30a by reservation only, last approximately two-and-one-half hours.

If you travel to the west side of Kauai and follow the road as far as it goes, you will wind up at this state park. This is as close to the Na Pali Coast as you will get, unless you travel by helicopter or boat. Polihale consists of a stretch of beach that snakes for miles around the coast. It is actually famous for being home to the Shifting Sands beach—a somewhat eerie concept, but definitely worth the drive to experience for yourself.

Improbable as it seems, this company's large white vans seem to get to every valley, vista, waterfall and lookout point in Kauai. Tours visit such landmarks as Waimea Canyon in Kokee State Park, the Menehune Fishpond, Spouting Horn and Hanapepe Towne. Tours range from two hours to a full day. Schedules are available on its Web site or at any activity desk. Polynesian Adventure Tours also operates on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.

There are four parts to the Princeville Ranch: stables, hiking and kayaking adventures, retreats, and sunset dinner and wagon rides. The ranch spans 2,500 acres of jungle, river and fields. Hikers and horseback riders can traverse the bluffs, explore the hills and relax by hidden waterfalls. Each part of the ranch handles its own affairs and has its own office hours. Activities start at USD59 and ddvance reservations are required. To see a listing of specific activities, visit the Web site or request a brochure.

Waterfalls, lookout points, hidden grottos, ponds and pastures are all over this 2,55-acre ranch, but only an experienced guide can find them. Hidden Hanalei offers hikers the chance to follow in the footsteps of such a guide, while the Waterfall Swim Picnic allows you to view the beauty of Kauai from horseback and then splash around the lush springs and 80-foot waterfall followed by lunch on a nearby bank. The Ocean Bluff Ride provides panoramic views of the Kauai coast and the best scenery that Kauai has to offer. If you're looking for more of an adventure be sure to book the Cattle Drive Horseback Adventure which allows you to help herd and drive the cattle to a new pasture. You'll feel like a true paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) when you're surrounded by 500 calves and cattle. A Private Guide can also be arranged so you can enjoy the day absorbing the knowledge of your guide or sharing a day of fun with your family and friends. All hikes must be booked in advance so be sure to call ahead or check the website for details and reservations.

Situated in the vast Princeville Ranch, these stables offer a variety of rides for all ages and experience levels. Options include the 'Cattle Drive Horseback Ride', where mainlanders can pretend to be paniolos, and the 'Waterfall Picnic', a magical half-day journey that travels up to a private cascade. A number of other excursions are available. Children must be over the age of eight. Private lessons are available. Advance reservations are required for everything.

What sort of attraction could possibly have earned a name like Sleeping Giant? A mountain that looks like one, of course. This Kauai landmark can be viewed from the eastern shore of the island. It can also be a day's hike, for anyone with an inclination to see the view from its summit. As with many natural wonders on the Hawaiian Islands, there is a legend to go along with the name of this mountain: a giant named Puni was resting, but somebody decided that they wanted to wake him up. They threw rocks that were intended to rouse Puni from his nap, but instead, lodged in his mouth and suffocated him. Now Puni will sleep forever in his spot by the Wailua River.

Unlike so many of Kauai's attractions, this one was created by a joint effort between Mother Nature and man. On Highway 520 (or Maluhia Road), you will find a mile-long stretch of eucalyptus trees bordering the road on both sides. Once upon a time, the trees formed an actual enclosure, but hurricanes have damaged the top of the tunnel. Nevertheless, it is a fragrant, beautiful passageway from Koloa to the east side of the island. The road can be driven or walked.

Any major events from high school soccer games to summertime festivals happen at this large venue in downtown Lihue. It also is the site of high school graduation ceremonies and fairs. The Kauai Farmer's Market sets up shop in the parking lot every Friday in the afternoon. This is the only venue in Kauai that can hold several thousand people. It is a public facility, and is managed by the Kauai County Parks and Recreation Department. Hours and credit card acceptance policies will vary according to event.

The backdrop of the famed Fantasy Island television show, this stunning waterfall is located directly off the road, just past the town of Lihue on the southern coast of Kaua'i. It is just a short ride down a rough road in Kapaia Valley. The falls can be viewed from the side of the road, but there is a trail for experienced hikers. It is steep and challenging, and local tour guides recommend that only the hardiest adventurers try to make the descent.

More publicity has been allotted to magnificent Waimea Canyon, located in Koke'e State Park, than perhaps any other landmark in the Hawaiian Islands. The words often attributed (mistakenly) to Mark Twain describe it best. This is the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," a breathtaking spectacle from any angle. There are a few ways to view Waimea Canyon; several tour companies offer helicopter or airplane tours. However, many people choose to make the trip to the canyon by car. Outdoor enthusiasts may choose to camp in the park (permit required).