3 Favourite Things in… Kauai

After returning from a vacation, I am inevitably asked what the favourite part of my trip was.  So, I thought it might be a good idea to start sharing my top favourite things with others.  I am hoping for this to be the first instalment of a series where I focus on different destinations I have travelled to.  We start with Kauai.

Kauai is my favourite island in the Hawaiian Islands.  It is known as the Garden Isle due to its lush green mountains and valleys.  It is not as touristy as some of the other islands, and has a small town feel to it.  Here are my favourite things:

1. Farmers Markets

There is no better way to get fresh tropical fruits and vegetables than at one of Kauai’s Farmers Markets.  The markets are held in different locations around the island each day.  You can find fresh pineapple, mango and papaya to have for breakfast, or fresh greens to make a salad.  Some of the markets, like the Kauai Community Market or the Kukui’ula Market will also carry additional items like local cheeses, honey, coffee, desserts, tropical flowers and gourmet spices.

Whether you are needing to stock up on some groceries, find some unique souvenirs or just looking for a snack, it is definitely worthwhile checking out a Kauai Farmers Market.

2. Na Pali  Coast

Na Pali Coast
Na Pali Coast

One of the top attractions in Kauai is the Na Pali Coast.  Breathtaking scenery with velvet green peaks, narrow valleys and waterfalls spilling down the cliffs.  There is no land access to this area of Kauai except the Kalalau Trail – an 11 mile trek that begins at Ke’e Beach.  It can be a challenging and sometimes treacherous hike, so luckily there are alternatives for viewing this majestic 17-mile coastline.

The most popular option is to take a cruise along the Na Pali Coast.  The cruises leave out of Port Allen on the west side of the island.  During the summer months, when the sea is calmer, a person could also take sea kayak trips along the coast.  Or, for a different perspective, a helicopter tour can provide an aerial view of the coastline.

3. Sunset at Beach House Restaurant

Watching the sunset in front of the Beach House Restaurant
Watching the sunset in front of the Beach House Restaurant

One of the drier and sunnier parts of the island is Poipu – which is on the Southern tip.  This is a great vantage point  to watch the sun set into the Pacific Ocean.  One of the more popular spots for sunset viewing is the Beach House Restaurant.  You could choose to enjoy the sunset while you dine at the restaurant (reservations required in advance), get there early to snag a spot in their lounge for a sunset drink, or do what most people do – just hang out on the big lawn in front of the restaurant (for free).

Every evening (unless it is raining), there is usually a crowd of people that will come to the Beach House just to watch the sunset.  If there are no clouds on the horizon, you might even be lucky enough to see a green flash as the sun dips into the ocean.

 

Bonus Items:

Cheap Eats:  Hawaii is famous for its plate lunches.  A typical plate lunch will consist of a meat (e.g. teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, kalua pork) with two scoops of white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and sometimes a bit of coleslaw or green salad (to prevent scurvy).  Plate lunches are mostly found at take-out places or from food trucks, but you can also find them at some of the local restaurants.  Most plate lunches have large portions, and 1 meal could easily be shared between 2 people – making it an affordable meal.  One of my favourite places to get plate lunch on Kauai is Mark’s Place.

Unique Attraction:  Back when sugar cane was big business on Kauai, canals and tunnels were dug to transport the water from the interior of the island out to the fields.  Now that this irrigation system is no longer used for agricultural purposes, you can take a mountain tubing adventure through the ditches and tunnels.  It is a lot of fun for both adults and kids.