Return to Paradise (Part 2) - Kauai - IgoUgo Kauai Journal

April 3 - Interisland Flight to Kauai

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa

Hotel | "So Great It Was Hard to Leave!"

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My husband and I checked into the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa upon our arrival in Kauai. We had visited Kauai on a prior trip to Hawaii and loved the island so much that we decided to return for a portion of this trip. When choosing a hotel for this leg of our vacation, we searched for a resort that was located on the south shore of the island. My husband found a great rate during "Mahalo" month for the Grand Hyatt Kauai and definitely got our money’s worth. The Grand Hyatt was a lovely property – great location, awesome service, clean rooms, and gorgeous grounds. We had no complaint about this hotel and would gladly stay there again.Location: The Grand Hyatt is conveniently loc...Read More

My husband and I checked into the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa upon our arrival in Kauai. We had visited Kauai on a prior trip to Hawaii and loved the island so much that we decided to return for a portion of this trip. When choosing a hotel for this leg of our vacation, we searched for a resort that was located on the south shore of the island. My husband found a great rate during "Mahalo" month for the Grand Hyatt Kauai and definitely got our money’s worth. The Grand Hyatt was a lovely property – great location, awesome service, clean rooms, and gorgeous grounds. We had no complaint about this hotel and would gladly stay there again.

Location: The Grand Hyatt is conveniently located on the south shore of Kauai on Poipu Road near Poipu Beach and the town of Koloa. In order to leave the Poipu area, you can either drive through Koloa or bypass Koloa via Ala Kinoiki. The Grand Hyatt was within easy distance of the Ala Kinoiki bypass allowing us to quickly get to Kaumuali Highway towards the North or West shore sights with little traffic.

Rooms: The rooms were not the "boutique" look that many hotels have recently renovated to. Instead, they were well designed with a subtle tropical motif that was fitting for a hotel located in Kauai. Sometimes the boutique hotel look can feel cold so the additional color in the room made it feel comfortable, relaxed and yet still up to date. The room was large with a nice balcony that overlooked the pool area. The balcony was large enough to hold two comfortable (and clean) lounge chairs that were great to relax after an active day exploring this great island. Our view was of the pool area (which was a free upgrade the resort provided us at check-in). Normally, having a room around the pool can be noisy, but we remained undisturbed. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom provided the standard amenities. My only negative comment about the bathroom was that the resort had recently changed their lights to the ‘green’ nitrogen light bulbs. I am not complaining about being ‘environmentally friendly’; however, the light in the toilet area was rather frustrating because when closed in to ‘do your business’, you spent most of the time in darkness waiting for the light bulb to ‘warm up’ and provide the necessary light to illuminate the room. Solution – either turn the bathroom light on a few minutes before use or just deal with a dark toilet area.

Beach: If you are looking for a hotel on a swimmable beach, this is not the place to stay. The resort is located on Shipwreck Beach, which was a lovely stretch of untamed golden/white sand and rough surf. If you enjoy walking along the sand and watching the surfers, this is a good beach to explore. Otherwise, it is better to head a few miles off property to Poipu beach, where the surf is much calmer. Just along the edge of Shipwreck beach is the start of a short walk along of the Makawehi cliffs. Over half a mile long, the cliffs were formed from cemented sand dunes which have been clawed and thrashed by wind and salt.

Pool: Perhaps the best feature of the resort was the pool. It was in fact multiple pools interconnected by an easy flowing lazy river. Within the lazy river section were small cave grottos for the adults and water slides for the kiddos. The pools were surrounded by lush tropical foliage and there were plenty of lounge chairs. Not only was the pool great, but the hotel also had a huge HUGE salt water lagoon with a pebble bottom. The amenities of the resort were so amazing; we could have stayed at the hotel our entire stay and been completely happy. However, you can’t come to Kauai and not explore everything that the island has to offer.

Concierge: We used the concierge a couple of times – once to book a reservation for dinner and a few other times to get directions to certain destinations along the island. The resort had a designated section in the lobby which contained multiple concierges to assist you with your every need. We did not ask for much, but the directions provided to us were accurate and easy to follow. We noted that although there was more than once concierge, we did have to wait once when we were behind a traveler that was using the concierge to plan their entire trip in one sitting.

Overall, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa exceeded our expectations and we would highly recommend this hotel for anyone for a resort in a great location with all of the amenities that a Grand Hyatt should offer.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 27, 2025

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
1571 POIPU RD
Koloa, Hawaii 96756
808-742-1234

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Puka Dog Hawaiian-Style Hot Dogs

Restaurant | "Can't Visit Kauai without a Puka Dog!"

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Nestled in the mist of the Poipu Shopping Village is a small hidden gem where locals and tourists alike can grab a quick bite to eat -- Puka Dog! What is a Puka Dog? First of all Puka means Hole in Hawaiian.... Freshly baked bread is pierced through and loaded with unique sauces, relish, and a perfectly grilled, premium Polish type sausage. Why eat a hotdog in Hawaii? Because this is not your ordinary hot dog. The relishes are made with tropical fruits - flavorful and tasty. Topped off with a garlic lemon sauce, it is the perfect combination of savory and sweet. We discovered Puka Dog on our first trip to Kauai and had to return during our second visit. It w...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 27, 2025

Puka Dog Hawaiian-Style Hot Dogs
2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr.
Kauai, Hawaii 96756
(808) 742-6044

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Kauai BackCountry Adventures

Attraction | "Zip Zip Away!"

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Our first day in Kauai, my husband and I booked a zipline excursion using Kauai BackCountry Adventures. During a prior trip to Hawaii, we really enjoyed the excitement of our ATV tour, but wanted to try something different. So, after researching the two main providers of zipline tours on the island, we booked the 2:00pm Kauai BackCountry Adventures Zipline tour. We decided on Kauai Backcountry because it was located closer to our hotel in Poipu (the other operator was on the North shore). Once we arrived, we were provided our equipment, weighed (you don’t have to look) and taken into the heart of the sugar plantation via an open truck. As a comment – the roads driving up to the ziplines were not ...Read More

Our first day in Kauai, my husband and I booked a zipline excursion using Kauai BackCountry Adventures. During a prior trip to Hawaii, we really enjoyed the excitement of our ATV tour, but wanted to try something different. So, after researching the two main providers of zipline tours on the island, we booked the 2:00pm Kauai BackCountry Adventures Zipline tour. We decided on Kauai Backcountry because it was located closer to our hotel in Poipu (the other operator was on the North shore). Once we arrived, we were provided our equipment, weighed (you don’t have to look) and taken into the heart of the sugar plantation via an open truck. As a comment – the roads driving up to the ziplines were not paved and very bumpy at times. You will be jostled. If this is bothersome to people, this may not be the excursion for you. The tour operators were very good at informing us, though, that the ride was bumpy and made their best efforts to avoid large potholes if possible. The guides from the tour were friendly and filled with interesting facts regarding the sugar plantation including various movies that had been filmed on the land along with the history of the prior and current owner. They were also knowledgeable on the equipment and provided clear and easily understandable instructions on how to zip. Even though we were zipping across a very high and long valley, I never felt as if we were 'unsafe'. They were very good at informing us of what to do and what not to do to ensure we had the most fun on our zip under the safest conditions. The first zip was a practice launch which allowed us to determine if we should continue on or return to the information center. It was essentially ‘the point of no return.’ If you went past the first zip then you would have to zip the rest of the way down. Then, we moved on to the second zip which was the highest drop. I caught my breath in exhilaration of taking that first step off the platform, praying that the thin wire would hold me up. Then, swoop, the line took me downward to the next launch point and I could feel the rush of wind as I looked at the beautiful scenery all around me. The location of the ziplines was in the heart of a verdant green valley. In the distance, we were able to see Mount Wai’ale’ale, the wettest place on earth. After the first zip, each one got easier and less scary as we got closer to the valley floor below. I am not a big ‘thrill seeker’ and the zipline provided me enough thrill but was not what I would consider ‘scary’. It was just a fun way to see a part of Kauai that would not normally be discovered. Once at the valley floor, the tour operators provided a cold lunch consisting of sandwiches (ham, turkey, veggie), chips, and cookies. The food was basic lunch fair, but it was fresh and of good quality. We had already eaten our puka dog lunch prior to the zip so we were not overly hungry, but we did not see anyone in our group that did not enjoy their lunch. Kauai Backcountry provided us with a great afternoon of fun adventure. Although I would admit that we enjoyed our ATV tour in Kauai from a previous trip better than the zipline (scenery was better and more varied), I would still highly recommend Kauai Backcountry Adventures for a fun zipline adventure. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 2, 2025

Kauai BackCountry Adventures
3-4131 Kuhio Highway
Hanamaulu 96715
(888) 270-0555

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Duke's

Attraction | "Hawaii Chain - Stick to the Salad Bar"

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My husband and I dined at Duke's in Waikiki on our previous trip to Hawaii. On our return trip, we decided to try the location in Kauai. Basically, this is what I would consider a touristy chain restaurant for Hawaii with consistent food across multiple island locations.Atmosphere: Duke's Kauai is located in the Marriott in Kauai. The restaurant is a huge open air dining room filled with tiki wood and lit with lanterns and torches. The atmosphere is fun and provides pleasant views of the surrounding bay. The atmosphere of the restaurant was the best aspect of the entire dining experience.Service: We made reservations for dinner using the concierge at our hotel (Grand Hy...Read More

My husband and I dined at Duke's in Waikiki on our previous trip to Hawaii. On our return trip, we decided to try the location in Kauai. Basically, this is what I would consider a touristy chain restaurant for Hawaii with consistent food across multiple island locations.

Atmosphere: Duke's Kauai is located in the Marriott in Kauai. The restaurant is a huge open air dining room filled with tiki wood and lit with lanterns and torches. The atmosphere is fun and provides pleasant views of the surrounding bay. The atmosphere of the restaurant was the best aspect of the entire dining experience.

Service: We made reservations for dinner using the concierge at our hotel (Grand Hyatt) and were promptly escorted to our table upon arrival. However, once we arrived, it took 20 minutes after we were seated (and starving) for our server to greet us and provide us with a menu. After a quick greeting, she took our drink order and then rushed off to attend to another table within our section. We then waited another 15 minutes, watching her pass our table without a glance as we sat with menus closed and on the edge of the table (signal that we are ready to order). My husband also tried unsuccessfully to signal her attention (we were hungry). Once she finally took our order, we were not informed that we could now partake of the all you can eat salad bar. So, we just assumed we could head over to the salad bar without any instructions or directions from our server. Our food was also poorly paced as we had barely sat down to enjoy our salad when our fish arrived. We felt rushed the entire time.

Food: Duke’s salad bar is excellent with lots of different fresh options to build your own salad along with already prepared items. It was well stocked and regularly attended to by the Duke’s staff. It is the main reason that we returned to dine again at the Kauai location. However, after dining at so many delicious options in Maui, our overall food experience at Duke’s in Kauai was disappointing. I don’t think the food was worse than the Duke’s Waikiki location, it is just that we enjoyed other options on this trip that far exceeded Duke’s in quality and taste. I ordered the Opakapaka, a fish that I enjoyed a few days ago at a different restaurant. At Duke’s, this tasty and juicy local fish ended up rather bland and dry. The potatoes that were served as a side had the consistency of glue. If we could have re-created our meal at Duke’s again, I would have just ordered the salad bar and would probably have enjoyed the meal much better.

Overall, Duke’s is a good place to enjoy a meal in Kauai if you are looking for a moderately priced option with a bustling and active atmosphere. If you are looking for a fine dining experience with a romantic setting, this is not the place to go!

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Member Rating 2 out of 5 on July 2, 2025

Duke's
Marriott's Kauai Beach Club
Kauai, Hawaii 96766
(808) 245-5050

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April 4 - Helicopter Tour

Jack Harter Helicopters

Attraction | "Once in a Lifetime Experience!"

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With only 10% of Kauai navigable by car, travelers to the island will be required to seek alternate transportation to fully experience all that the island has to offer. One of those options is to take a helicopter tour, which provides a very quick aerial view of the entire island. On our second full day in Kauai, we booked a helicopter tour with Jack Harter Helicopters. Prior to visiting Kauai, I researched helicopter companies that offered tours on the island. Before commenting on the Jack Harter tour, here are a few tips regarding helicopter tours on Kauai:• Helicopter Options: There are different types of helicopters. Each tour company uses different helicopters which...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 6, 2025

Jack Harter Helicopters
4231 Ahukini Road
Kauai, Hawaii 96766
(888) 245-2001

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Makawehi Cliffs

Attraction | "Easy Flip-Flop Hike"

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After our amazing morning tour of Kauai by Helicopter, we stopped for lunch at Puka Dog and then returned to our hotel to prepare to hike one of the easy east shore trails. However, we were still pretty wiped out from some of our prior days activities. So, we chose to remain nearby and enjoy the amenities at our resort. Prior to visiting Kauai, I had researched that there was an easy hike near the hotel and we decided to explore this option.Location: The Makawehi Cliffs are accessible by taking a trail from the parking lot between the Grand Hyatt Kauai and the Po’ipu Bay Resort golf course. Since we were resort guests of the Hyatt, we merely ventured out of our room to the east shore ...Read More

After our amazing morning tour of Kauai by Helicopter, we stopped for lunch at Puka Dog and then returned to our hotel to prepare to hike one of the easy east shore trails. However, we were still pretty wiped out from some of our prior days activities. So, we chose to remain nearby and enjoy the amenities at our resort. Prior to visiting Kauai, I had researched that there was an easy hike near the hotel and we decided to explore this option.

Location: The Makawehi Cliffs are accessible by taking a trail from the parking lot between the Grand Hyatt Kauai and the Po’ipu Bay Resort golf course. Since we were resort guests of the Hyatt, we merely ventured out of our room to the east shore of Shipwreck Beach and found an easy trail up to the Cliffs.

Terrain: Makawehi Cliffs are lithified sandstone cliffs that were formed from cemented sand dunes deposited many many many years ago. Then, wind and salt battered and whipped at the sand dunes, forming the impressive fossilized cliffs seen today. Kauai is an island of magical beauty and immense lushness. We were amazed to see these sandstone cliffs were extremely barren from vegetation with the exception of a few scraggly arid bushes. Looking down at the sandstone, one can see that it is made of light tan sand which is significantly different from Kauai’s famous red dirt or the traditional Hawaiian black lava rock. It is daunting to walk along the sandstone which feels as if you are traversing a naturally-made sand castle, but one that will stand the test of time. The actual ground is filled with small fossils, which are interesting to look at and attempt to figure out what type of creature made the indention. (Don’t remove them, though!). As we neared the edge of the trail, we were provided a great eastward view of the South Shore of Kauai.

Length/Difficulty: The half-mile trail is more of a "walk" than a "hike" as we were able to easily navigate the cliffs in our flip-flops. The trail was wide and easy to follow with little patches along the way allowing us to meander along to different spots along the cliffs and watch the clear blue Pacific waves crash down below. We spent approximately an hour leisurely navigating along the trail before we returned to the hotel pool. During our hike, we noted a small number of people had taken the time to venture along this trail with us; however, it never felt crowded. We also spotted some families, and I would recommend this trail as an easy hike for young children due to its short duration and easily navigable trail. We got the impression that we had found a place which was rarely discovered by the traditional traveler. With so many places to visit in Kauai – Waimea Canyon, Na’Pali, Po’ipu Beach – the Makawehi Cliffs could easily be overlooked.

Overall, I would not recommend making a special trip to see these cliffs as the walk is rather short and the sites are not as stunning as the typical Kauai attractions. Those opting to visit the cliffs instead of hiking Waimea Canyon, or another more popular destination, will likely be disappointed. However, for those travelers who have seen the traditional sites around Kauai who are looking for a hidden gem, the Makawehi Cliffs are a viable option. Finally, guests staying at the Grand Hyatt absolutely must take this small adventure along the east shore of Shipwreck Beach.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 11, 2025

Makawehi Cliffs
Near Shipwreck Beach, Po'ipu Road
South Kauai, Hawaii

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Beach House Restaurant

Restaurant | "A Symphony of Romance"

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During our first trip to Kauai with a group of friends, we stumbled across the Beach House Restaurant ("Beach House") which was located directly across from our lodging. Later on, we discovered that this delicious dining establishment was a "must visit" restaurant in Kauai. When we returned as a married couple a few years later, we were determined to re-visit the Beach House restaurant for a romantic meal. The Beach House did not disappoint.Location: The Beach House is located on the south shore of Kauai in Koloa, just west of the fabulous Poipu Beach. The restaurant has a rather non-descript entrance that faces Lawai Road; however, the back side of the building overlooks a rocky cov...Read More

During our first trip to Kauai with a group of friends, we stumbled across the Beach House Restaurant ("Beach House") which was located directly across from our lodging. Later on, we discovered that this delicious dining establishment was a "must visit" restaurant in Kauai. When we returned as a married couple a few years later, we were determined to re-visit the Beach House restaurant for a romantic meal. The Beach House did not disappoint.

Location: The Beach House is located on the south shore of Kauai in Koloa, just west of the fabulous Poipu Beach. The restaurant has a rather non-descript entrance that faces Lawai Road; however, the back side of the building overlooks a rocky cove with westward and southward views of the gorgeous blue Pacific Ocean. The Beach House is easily accessible from anywhere in Kauai and is a short drive from most locations on the south shore.

Atmosphere: The Beach House is famous for its stunning views at sunset, and it does not disappoint. The dining room is a large open space with glass windows from floor to ceiling on the westward and southward side of the building. On pleasant days, the windows are designed to fully open, creating an entirely open-air dining experience. Each table is given a low profile which allows guests sitting farthest from the windows to enjoy stunning views of the sunset and ocean. The interior of the restaurant is simple and contemporary with tan walls and subtle Hawaiian décor touches. The exterior of the restaurant is clean and fresh with a large grass lawn, stone walkway, and tiki torches which are lit during the evening hours. Diners are welcome to leave their table during a meal to stroll across the lawn and take in the ocean views.

The atmosphere at the Beach House restaurant is arguably the best on the island, especially during the evening hours. Why? Well, because of the views. We strategically timed our reservation for dinner to take place during sunset. As we were escorted to our table, which was located on the southwest corner of the main dining room (a great spot), the sun began its descent, commencing our entertainment for the evening. As we dined, the colors in the sky gradually turned from blue to green to orange to red and then darkened. It was an amazing site and one that cannot be compared to any other dining establishment we enjoyed during our vacation to Hawaii.

Service: When reviewing the Beach House, one might imagine that the owners rely solely on the sunset views to maintain a crowd. However, service at the Beach House is top notch and designed strategically around the restaurant’s sunset entertainment. After being immediately seated, our server warmly welcomed us to the restaurant. He was helpful in explaining the menu and pleased to see that we were repeat diners. He met our expectations in all of the standard criteria – glasses kept full, detailed explanation of the menu, well-paced meal, timely delivery of the check, etc. What the Beach House does exceptionally well is timing the meal – for the entire restaurant. As we ordered, our appetizer arrived when the sky began to turn pink. We enjoyed our appetizer, but I suddenly became worried that the main course would arrive during the time when the sky was at its most stunning. I strongly desired to leave the table and watch the full burst of color from the setting sun take place. As the sun slowly glided downward to the horizon, we noted many people had the same idea as us and stood up from their table and went out to the lawn to take photos. So, we followed their lead. Instead of delivering food to diners during this time – which would leave those away from the table (like us) with a cold plate of food when they returned – the Beach House stopped table service for those who left their seat. This was an excellent idea! With tiki torches lit, most of the diners were outside taking photos and snuggling with loved ones. After the sun set, we returned to our table and our server immediately delivered hot entrees. In fact, the waiters were in full motion when the sun had set and bustled around the main dining room with entrées and next courses for most, if not all, patrons. I’m not sure how they manage to time this so perfectly, but it was an amazing feat! The service at the Beach House far exceeded our expectations!

Menu: Beach House’s menu offers Pacific Rim cuisine which consists of mostly seafood and fish options with some chicken or beef. The menu has not changed very much over the years, but what they cook, they cook well. Prices are typical for a fine dining experience, ranging from $20-$30 per entrée.

Food: We ordered the Togarashi Fried Calamari with Hawaiian Guava Cocktail Sauce for an appetizer. The calamari was fresh and tasty and the light guava sauce was tangy and perfectly complimented the squid. For entrée’s, I had the Fire Roasted Sashimi Grade Ahi served with Furikake Mashed Potato, Ginger Lime Beurre Blanc and a Black Bean Sauce and my husband ordered the Black Truffle Crusted Hawaiian Mahi Mahi & Grilled Tiger Prawns. Both entrées were tasty, hot, and fresh. My only comment on my entrée was that the sauce on the Ahi was slightly overpowering and limited my ability to taste the fresh Ahi. On our prior trip, our group ordered all of the desserts offered on the menu – each one was delicious. This time, my husband and I opted to split the banana’s foster, which was topped with caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. The dessert was light and sweet and perfectly complimented our wonderful meal.
Overall: Our first visit to the Beach House evoked memories of delightful food and fun times with close friends. Our second visit created a romantic setting for a young married couple seeking gorgeous views and delicious food. Overall, the Beach House exceeds expectations for any traveler seeking a special dining experience. We would very highly recommend this restaurant to any traveler visiting Kauai. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 10, 2025

Beach House Restaurant
5022 Lawai Rd
Kauai, Hawaii 96756
(808) 742-1424

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April 5 - North Shore Bound!

Wailua River (Wailua Falls and Opaeka’a Falls)

Attraction | "Source of two amazing Waterfalls!"

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Our third day in Kauai, we jumped into our convertible with the goal of making it to Ke’e Beach on the far North Shore of the island. On our prior trip, we were stopped short by time due to a pending flight which required us to turn around near Princeville. This time, we were determined to make it as far northward by car as possible. Along the way, we stopped at a few popular sites along the Wailua River.Background: Wailua River is a 20-mile long river that flows from Kauai’s rain-soaked Mount Wai’ale’ale in the center of the island all the way to the outskirts of the East Shore. It features two popular and easily accessible waterfalls – ‘Opaeka’a Falls and Wailua Falls. Wailua River...Read More

Our third day in Kauai, we jumped into our convertible with the goal of making it to Ke’e Beach on the far North Shore of the island. On our prior trip, we were stopped short by time due to a pending flight which required us to turn around near Princeville. This time, we were determined to make it as far northward by car as possible. Along the way, we stopped at a few popular sites along the Wailua River.

Background: Wailua River is a 20-mile long river that flows from Kauai’s rain-soaked Mount Wai’ale’ale in the center of the island all the way to the outskirts of the East Shore. It features two popular and easily accessible waterfalls – ‘Opaeka’a Falls and Wailua Falls. Wailua River is a popular destination for water activities, including kayaking or canoeing, as it is one of the few navigable rivers in Kauai. Further, travelers can take a guided boat tour along the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto, a naturally formed lava rock cave covered with hundreds of lush and lacy ferns.

Location: Although Wailua River can provide travelers with an entire day’s worth of activities, we sought to take a quick glimpse of the river and the most popular sites without taking too much time from our day. Therefore, we stopped at the two most popular waterfalls – Wailua Falls and ‘Opaeka’a Falls. Wailua Falls is located directly on Ma’alo Rd on the East Shore of Kauai. If heading from Poipu on Kuhio Hwy, turn left on Ma’alo Rd just past the airport town of Lihu’e. The Waterfall will be on your right a few miles after turning off of Kuhio Rd. ‘Opaeka’a Falls is located directly on Kuamo’o Road. After viewing Wailua Road, return to Kuhio Hwy and travel northward. Take a left on Kuamo’o Road and the ‘Opaeka’a Falls lookout will be on your right a few miles after your turn.

Admission: Certain activities on Wailua River, including the Fern Grotto, kayaking, and canoeing require a fee. However, viewing the waterfalls on the East Shore is entirely Free!

Recreation: Our first stop was Wailua Falls. As we noticed the falls on our right, we pulled over to a small lookout area. The road was literally on top of the waterfall. We walked over to the rails and peered over the side to view this amazingly lovely waterfall gushing forth below us. Wailua Falls is one of the most recognized waterfalls as it was famously pictured on the opening credits of the long-running television show "Fantasy Island." It is easy to find yourself shouting happily "Da Plane! Da Plane!" as you watch the water surge below. There is much debate on the size of the waterfall and many claim that its height extends to almost 200 feet! Although the official Hawaii travel sites state that the falls is 80 feet tall, it certainly feels larger. We felt like lazy tourists just sitting there watching this amazing site from the road. Shouldn’t it take more effort to discover such a gorgeous waterfall? Well, on an island where water gushes forth in buckets from the center of Mount Wai’ale’ale, we figured it was only natural that sights such as Wailua Falls were so easy to view. So, we relaxed and enjoyed the scenery before moving on to other activities.

Our next stop was ‘Opaeka’a Falls, a lacy 151-foot waterfall located just north of Wailua Falls. Travelers will be required to take a different road to view this waterfall, but similar to Wailua – the road provides easy access to a lookout point. ‘Opaeka’a Falls was located on the right hand side of the road with a small pull out which allowed us to park our car a few feet from the viewing area. Although the lookout was located farther away from the falls compared to Wailua Falls, it was still very easy to view the waterfall. We breathed in the fresh air as all around us was lush green beauty – not a commercially built structure in sight. Across the street was another lookout point which allowed us to view Wailua River below.

Overall: Overall, both waterfalls provided a quick detour to our predetermined destination. However, the waterfalls were lovely to view and were worth the side-trip. We highly recommend all IGOUGO travelers plan some time during their Kauai vacation to see the sights around Wailua River – even if it is just a short stop along the way to another activity!
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 17, 2025

Wailua River (Wailua Falls and Opaeka’a Falls)
Wailua River
Kauai, Hawaii

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Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge

Attraction | "Great Spot for Hawaiian Wildlife"

Quote:

Our third day in Kauai, we jumped into our convertible with the goal of making it to Ke’e Beach on the far North Shore of the island. On our prior trip, we were stopped short by time due to a pending flight which required us to turn around near Princeville. This time, we were determined to make it as far northward by car as possible. We stopped along the way at a few popular sites, including Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge ("Kilauea Point" or "Kilauea Lighthouse" or "Wildlife Refuge").Background: Kīlauea Point National Wildlife is an excellent place to view native Hawaiian wildlife. The Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawaii. Visitors a...Read More

Our third day in Kauai, we jumped into our convertible with the goal of making it to Ke’e Beach on the far North Shore of the island. On our prior trip, we were stopped short by time due to a pending flight which required us to turn around near Princeville. This time, we were determined to make it as far northward by car as possible. We stopped along the way at a few popular sites, including Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge ("Kilauea Point" or "Kilauea Lighthouse" or "Wildlife Refuge").

Background: Kīlauea Point National Wildlife is an excellent place to view native Hawaiian wildlife. The Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawaii. Visitors also have a chance to view spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, native Hawaiian coastal plants and Hawai‘i’s state bird - the nēnē or endangered Hawaiian goose. The Wildlife Refuge is also home to the historic Kīlauea Point Lighthouse which sits on the northernmost point of Kaua‘i. Kilauea Lighthouse was built in 1913 as a navigational aid for commercial shipping between Hawaii and Asia. For 62 years, it guided ships and boats safely along Kaua'i's rugged north shore. In 1979, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Location: Kilauea Point is located in the former plantation town of Kilauea on the north shore of Kauai. The popular destination is easily accessible by car and is a few minutes from the main highway, Kuhio Hwy. Travelers will turn right off the Kuhio Highway at the entrance to the town of Kilauea (travelcontent/Kilauea%20Rd.jpg) and follow the signs to Kilauea Lighthouse.
Admission: Once travelers arrive at Kilauea Point, guests are directed to the parking lot for the Wildlife Refuge. Parking is free for visitors; however guests over the age of 16 are required to pay $5 to enter the Wildlife Refuge. Guests can also sneak a free peek of Kilauea Lighthouse from a small picture point outside of the entrance to the Wildlife Refuge. This spot offers a spectacular views of the lighthouse perched on a steep bluff overlooking the gorgeous and turbulent Pacific waters. This "post-card" picture point may be sufficient for those looking for a quick stop but not wanting to pay the admission fee. Guests seeking further exploration can pay admission (essentially a donation to maintain the habitat). Upon arrival, we stopped at the ‘picture point’ and then were intrigued by what the Wildlife Refuge had to offer. So, we paid our admission and entered Kilauea Point.

Recreation: Upon entrance into the Wildlife Refuge, we were provided the opportunity to explore the point at our leisure. A small paved pathway meanders along the edges of the point which allows guests to safely look over the point at the cliffs below. Birds flutter around the refuge and nest along the edges of the cliffs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (who maintains Kilauea Point) have strategically positioned informational signs describing various nesting birds and other wildlife along the cliff edges. We took our time reading the signs and then were amazed as we spotted multiple types of birds flying above or nesting in the cliffs below. We felt like nature experts as we strolled along, picking out Laysan Albatross, Red-Footed Boobies, and Great Frigatebirds. Additionally, even though there were multitudes of birds along the cliff, we were never concerned about getting hit with "poop". Somehow, the birds managed to avoid flying overhead and stayed nestled safely on the outskirts of the cliffs and away from our exposed heads. The space on the actual point is rather non-descript with a simple flat grass lawn and paved area. The lighthouse sits on the grass lawn with a small visitor’s center to its left which allows guest to rent binoculars for a designated time period and speak with volunteers at the Wildlife Refuge. We did not rent binoculars, but were offered a pair by a traveler who was ready to leave and had not yet met his allotted time limit. Although the binoculars were not necessary to enjoy Kilauea Point, they were extremely beneficial in spotting whales. When we got to the end of the point, overlooking the cliffs sits a small island offshore called Moku’ae’ae Island, which is another bird sanctuary. Although we were nearing the end of the whale-watching season, multiple visitors were lined up along the edges of this point with binoculars searching the churning waters below. Volunteers eagerly helped visitors spot the amazing whales in the water. For those visiting Kilauea Point, we recommend asking the volunteers questions. They are extremely knowledgeable and very willing to share their information with visitors.

Overall: Overall, Kilauea Lighthouse is a gorgeous stop for visitors seeking to view Hawaii’s natural wildlife. The surrounding scenery of the North Shore is breathtaking and the wildlife that visitors can spot at Kilauea Point is in abundance. We enjoyed our stop at Kilauea Lighthouse and would highly recommend this refuge to all visitors seeking an hour long diversion.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 15, 2025

Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge
Kilauea Lighthouse Road, one mile north of Kilauea P. O. Box 1128 (mailing address)
Kauai, Hawaii 96754
(808) 828-1413

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