14 Things Unique to Kauaʻi

Kauaʻi may be the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands—but it’s also one of the most beloved by visitors. Everything about the island—its lushness, its uncrowded beaches, its laid-back vibe—makes for an idyllic Hawaiʻi vacation. But there are things that are unique to the Garden Isle—things you won’t find anywhere else in Hawaiʻi.

Read More: Our 10 Essential Experiences on Kauaʻi

1. Makauwahi Cave (closed)

The 2-mile Māhā‘ulepū Heritage Trail starts at Keoneloa Bay (commonly referred to as Shipwreck Beach) in Poʻipū and ends at the largest limestone cave in Hawaiʻi. The Makauwahi Cave holds more than 10,000 years of sedimentary records, making it one of the richest fossil sites in the Pacific. This uniquely preserved archaeological site was home to thousands of endemic species, including the now-extinct turtle-jawed moa nalo, a large flightless goose. Diatoms (a type of phytoplankton), fish bones and canoe fragments have also been excavated at what is considered the richest fossil site in Hawai‘i. Some of Hawai‘i’s rarest creatures still inhabit the cave, including an eyeless cave spider. The nonprofit Makauwahi Cave Reserve offers donation-based guided tours daily.

2. Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Located on the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian Islands is Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, one of the best places in the world to view seabirds rarely seen from land, like the red-footed booby (ʻā), great frigate bird (ʻiwa), and Laysan albatross (mōlī). The Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse is here, too; completed in 1913, it played a key role in the first trans-Pacific flight from the West Coast to Hawaiʻi. The views from here, atop an 180-foot ocean bluff, are spectacular.

3. ʻAlakoko Fishpond

 

Built nearly 1,000 years ago, the ʻAlakoko Fishpond in Līhuʻe is an example of ancient Hawaiian aquaculture. Legend says the brackish fishpond was built by mythical Menehune in a single night. For centuries, the pond served as an all-important nursery for fish, seaweed and other seafood and a source of sustenance for Kauaʻi residents. Located near the Hulēʻia National Wildlife Refuge, it can be toured via kayak; the refuge, though, is closed to the public.

4. Nāpali Coast

There’s nothing more iconic to Kauaʻi than the stunning Nāpali Coast, easily one of the most beautiful vistas on the island. The 17-mile-long coast boasts emerald cliffs and verdant valleys, only accessible by foot along the Kalalau Trail, boat or helicopter. (If you take a helicopter, you’ll be able to see the majestic Manawaiopuna Falls, a backdrop in the film “Jurassic Park,” which can only be seen from above.)

5. Waimea Canyon

Nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon stretches 14 miles long and more than 3,600 feet deep, with crested buttes, rugged crags and colorful colors. You can hike through and around the canyon, too. (There’s a fee to enter for visitors.)

6. Mount Waiʻaleʻale

Mount Waiʻaleʻale (which means “rippling water” in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi) is the central peak on Kauaʻi, with an elevation of 5,148 feet. It’s one of the world’s wettest spots, averaging about 450 inches of rainfall annually. In 1982, 666 inches of rain were recorded on the peak, establishing an official record. The rain that falls here supplies numerous waterfalls, the largest of which is the 800-foot Waipoʻo Falls. It also sends water down the flumes of old irrigation ditches that you can ride down on an inner tube.

7. Hamura Saimin Stand

While saimin can be found throughout the Islands, only Kauaʻi has Hamura Saimin Stand. This Līhuʻe landmark serves arguably some of the best bowls of this simple noodle dish that’s unique to Hawaiʻi. It’s so good, in fact, it earned the title of American Classic by the prestigious James Beard Foundation in 2006.

8. Kūlolo

 

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The best kūlolo—a Hawaiian dessert made from mashed taro, coconut milk and sugar—is arguably found on Kauaʻi. Maybe it’s because the island produces the majority of the state’s taro. Or maybe the folks on the Garden Isle have just perfected it. You can find bricks of kūlolo everywhere—at grocery stores, at farmers markets, even as gas stations.

9. Wailua River

Two waterfalls—ʻŌpaekaʻa and Wailua—feed the Wailua River, Hawaiʻi’s only navigable waterway (by boats larger than kayaks). The river is 20 miles long and starts from the top of the 5,148-foot Mount Waiʻaleʻale, weaving through lush landscapes and cultural sites, including a former heiau (Hawaiian temple).

10. Kauaʻi Coffee

With more than 4 million coffee trees growing on 3,100 acres, Kauaʻi Coffee Co. is the largest coffee grower in Hawaiʻi—and in the U.S. The entire process is done here, from growing to roasting to packaging. You can stop by the visitor center and stroll through the coffee orchard, shop for gifts and, of course, sample the company’s exclusive line of estate-grown Hawaiian coffees. Or book a tour of the farm aboard an open-air truck.

11. Kauaʻi’s Forest Birds

 

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Hawaiʻi’s native forest bird species have disappeared at alarming rates since the arrival of humans to the archipelago: 39 of the 56 native Hawaiian honeycreepers have gone extinct and 11 of the remaining 17 species are endangered or threatened. On Kauaʻi, the ʻakekeʻe, ʻakikiki and puaiohi are endangered and their populations are rapidly declining. Another five forest birds—ʻanianiau, ʻapapane, ʻiʻiwi, Kauaʻi ʻamakihi and Kauaʻi ʻelepaio—can all be found in the Garden Isle, too.

12. Hanalei Bay

Located 4 miles southwest of Princeville on Kauaʻi’s north shore, Hanalei Bay is one of the most picturesque beaches in Hawaiʻi. The golden, crescent-shaped bay is set against the stunning backdrop of verdant mountains. The historic Hanalei Pier, originally built in 1892, is a favorite gathering place for locals, who come here to fish, swim and surf. If the pier looks familiar, you may have seen it in the classic 1958 film, “South Pacific.” Walk the the beach at sunrises, or stay for sunset.

13. Tree Tunnel

If you’re driving from Līhuʻe to Poʻipū, take Maluhia Road. It’s a 3-mile-long stretch of road lined with more than 500 Eucalyptus trees, giving it a tree tunnel vibe.

14. Hanapēpē Swinging Bridge

From World War I to the early 1950s, Hanapēpē was one of Kauaʻi’s busiest towns. Today, the little town hasn’t changed much, with its historic buildings now turned into quaint eateries, boutiques and art galleries. (It was the inspiration for the Disney filim “Lilo and Stitch.”) You can’t visit Hanapēpē without walking across the famous Hanapēpē Swinging Bridge, a historic pedestrian suspension bridge that connects residents who live on the other side of the Hanapēpē River.