9 Free Things To Do on Kauaʻi
You don’t have to spend a cent to enjoy your vacation on the Garden Isle.
Just getting to Kauaʻi is expensive. Airfare, car rental, hotel rooms. We get it. But there’s lots to do on the Garden Isle that won’t cost you a thing.
1. Hit the Beach
Hanalei Bay.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Most beaches in Hawaiʻi are free to visit. (There are some exceptions, including Hāʻena State Park on Kauaʻi’s North Shore, which now requires reservations and a fee.) And isn’t that why you came, anyway? Some of the most popular beaches on Kauaʻi include Hanalei Bay, Pōʻipu Beach and Mākua (aka Tunnels). Some lesser-known beaches—and worth checking out—are ʻAnini Beach (great for kids and snorkeling), Salt Pond Beach (perfect for relaxing and swimming) and Lydgate Beach Park (which boasts a fun, Swiss Family Robinson-style playground). All free to enjoy!
2. Sample Kauaʻi Coffee
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Kauaʻi Coffee is the largest coffee farm in the U.S., with more than 4 million coffee trees across 3,100 acres. While you can spring for a farm tour—which we do recommend—the farm has free, self-guided walking tours of the estate, with signs identifying the five different coffee varietals, as well as the entire coffee process from initial blossoming, through harvesting and processing, to the final roasting. No reservations needed. You can also stop by the visitor center for free samples of its coffees.
3. Go on a Hike
Hiking on the Nounou Trail (aka Sleeping Giant) on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/Matthew Micah Wright
Accessing most trails on Kauaʻi is free. (The trails in Kōkeʻe State Park require an entrance fee.) Some free options include the popular 4-mile, out-and-back Nounou Trail (aka Sleeping Giant), which offers views of the island’s eastern coastline. The 4-mile (round trip) Māhā‘ulepū Heritage Trail starts at Shipwreck Beach in Poʻipū and meanders along the rugged coastline to a limestone cave. And the Wai Koa Loop Trail on the island’s north side is great for all skill levels; the wide, flat loop trail goes through one of the largest mahogany forests in North America and ends at the Kīlauea Stone Dam, a historic damn built in 1880 at the height of the sugar plantation era in the Islands. As with all trails in Hawaiʻi, check weather conditions before starting.
4. Walk the Kōloa Heritage Trail
The Kōloa Heritage Trail spans 10 miles with 14 stops and monuments of cultural and historical significance. Some of the stops include the birthplace of Prince Kūhiō, Spouting Horn (a scenic blowhole steeped in Hawaiian legend) and Kōloa Missionary Church. You can walk, bike or drive along the trail. And the best part? It’s free! Download the brochure here.
5. Explore a Limestone Cave
The Makauwehi Cave.
Photo: David Croxford
It’s a trek to get here—2 miles from Keoneloa Bay, commonly referred to as Shipwreck Beach, along the Māhā‘ulepū Heritage Trail. But the Makauwahi Cave on Kauaʻi’s southern coast is one of the coolest (and most unique) things you can see on the island. Not only is it the largest limestone cave in Hawai‘i, but it’s also on one of the richest fossil sites in the Pacific. The cave holds more than 10,000 years of sedimentary records, each layer of sediment revealing a piece of Kaua‘i’s natural history. Here, samples of pollen, seeds, animal bones and Polynesian artifacts have been found by archaeologists. Roughly 7,000 years ago the cave ceiling collapsed, creating a kind of natural amphitheater. Today, the sun shines through that opening and below, native plant species thrive, including kupukupu, pōhinahina and towering loulu palms. And it’s free! (The nonprofit that runs tours, though, asks for donations.)
6. Learn about Noni
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Ever heard of noni? The folks at Real Noni in Kīlauea on Kauaʻi’s North Shore are happy to tell you about this super fruit. The farm, which sprawls over 30 acres, offer complimentary tours where you learn about noni’s health benefits and its organic farming practices. And you’ll also get to sample the fruit and all of the farm’s organic noni products. The tour is about 2 1/2 hours long, and reservations are required.
7. Take a Cultural Class
Find a free cultural class on Kauaʻi.
Photo: Getty Images/capecodphoto
Most hotels offer free cultural classes—lei-making, hula, ʻukulele—for its guests. The Sheraton Kauaʻi Coconut Beach Resort in Kapaʻa offers hula lessons and lei making classes. And the luxe 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay boasts a variety of unique events like its Kauaʻi Talk Story series, which delves into the meaning of aloha and Hawaiian moʻolelo, or its Coral Reel Talks, which focus on Kauaʻi’s important underwater habitats. Every Friday at 10 a.m., from March through October, the Villas at Poʻipū Kai host free lei-making classes at the West Kauaʻi Visitor Center; space is limited and reservations are highly recommended.
8. Listen to Live Music
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There’s nothing like listening to live music while on vacation (preferably with a mai tai in hand). Outrigger Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa hosts live music nightly at Shutters Lounge, featuring some of Kauaʻi’s best local musicians. (There’s also a great happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m.) Every Thursday and Friday at 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn in Wailua Bay offers live music at Mamahune’s, a fun tiki bar with spectacular ocean views. Coconut Marketplace in Kapaʻa has live music on its center stage every Tuesday evening. And every Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. listen to live music at Kukui Grove Center in Līhuʻe.
9. Volunteer
Beesly, a 65-pound dog from the Kaua‘i Humane Society, and the writer, enjoying a field trip day at Māhā‘ulepū Beach.
Photo: Kat Ho
Beesly, a 65-pound dog from the Kaua‘i Humane Society, and the writer, enjoying a field trip day at Māhā‘ulepū Beach. Photo: Kat Ho
One of the best, most impactful things you can do on vacation—on Kauaʻi or anywhere—is volunteer. And the Garden Isle has a lot of different opportunities for you to get involved. Dog lovers can take a shelter dog to the beach or on a hike with Kauaʻi Humane Society’s Shelter Dogs on Field Trips program. (The nonprofit does ask for a $25 donation.) Waipā Foundation in Hanalei invites volunteers to join its monthly workday, every fourth Saturday of the month. On Saturday mornings join the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park to help clean the beach at Morgan Pond. And Mālama Kauaʻi offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities, from washing eggs to helping at its food hub to removing invasive species from hiking trails. If you can’t make the time, you can also donate money to any Kauaʻi organization.
