Top 16 Things To Do and Eat in HAWAII: KAUAI TRAVEL GUIDE from a Hawaiian: Travel & Eat Like a Local

Aloha 🤙 today we are adventuring to the Hawaiian island of Kauai (Known as the Garden Isle). We’ll visit top attractions. The Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls, and a few beaches bring someone’s dream of Hawaii to life. We also share some local gems and eat like a local. Did I mention the old towns that are nostalgic too? There’s just a lot to do and eat here in Kauai. So without further ado, we start with the most stunning waterfall in Hawaii. Are you ready? (Nod yes please) Then let’s get started🌈😋!

Timestamps Kauai Travel Guide:
Intro - 0:00
1. Wailua Falls - 0:54
2. Wailua Shave Ice - 1:40
3. Waimea Canyon State Park - 3:00
MENTION: Kauai Kookie Bakery and Kitchen - 4:00
4. Kalalau Lookout - 5:09
5. Hamura Saimin - 6:03
6. The Kilauea Lighthouse - 6:43
7. Tip Top Motel Café and Bakery - 7:30
8. Ha’ena State Park - 9:53
9. Hanalei Town - 13:36
10. Hanapepe Town - 14:46
11. Poipu Beach - 15:59
12. Da Crack and the Puka Dog - 16:19
MENTION: Da Crack - 18:18
13. Queen’s Bath - 19:45
14. Wishing Well Shave Ice and Other Food Trucks - 21:55
MENTION: Holy Grail Donuts - 23:42
15. Hanalei Valley Lookout - 25:18
16. Garden Island Barbeque and Chinese Restaurant - 25:54

👍 Subscribe to my channel for adventure and food tips.

Here are all the places and eats from this video (in order of this Kauai's Food and Guided Tour)

1) Wailua Falls
Address: Wailua River State Park. Kapa’a, Hi 96746.
Hours: Every day from 7am to 6:45pm.
Admission is free. Parking is free but limited.

2) Wailua Shave Ice
Address: Kauai Village Shopping Center. 4-831 Kuhio Hwy, Kapa’a, Hi 96746.
Hours: Every day from 11am to 8:30pm
Lava Flow with Snow Cap $8.50
Ube $7.50
Dragons’ Blood with Snow Cap, Haupia Foam, and Li Hing Powder- $10.00, Frozen Hot Chocolate with Snow Cap $8.50

3) Waimea Canyon State Park
Address: Waimea Canyon Dr, Waimea, Hi 96796.
Hours: Every day. No actual hours but be safe if you come here before sunset and after sunrise.

MENTION: Kauai Kookie Bakery and Kitchen
Address: 2-2436 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo Hi 96741.
Hours: Every day from 6:30am-8pm
Ube Mochi $4.50
Peanut Butter Cookies $4.95

4) Kalalau Lookout
Address: Waimea Canyon Dr, Waimea, Hi 96796.
The lookout is at the very top of Waimea Canyon State Park. Approximately an 8-mile drive uphill from the Waimea Canyon Lookout. Hours: Every day. No actual hours but be safe if you come here before sunrise and sunset.

5) Hamura Saimin
Address: 2956 Kress St, Lihue, Hi 96766. Hours: Sunday and Monday 10am to 9:30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday- 10am to 10:30pm, and Friday and Saturday- 10am to 11pm

6) The Kilauea Lighthouse
Address: 3580 Kilauea, Hi 96754. Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The Lookout over the cliff is open every day. Parking is free but limited.

7) Tip Top Motel Café and Bakery
Address: 3173 Akahi St, Lihue, Hi 96766. Hours: Every day from 7am to 1:30pm except for Monday (closed). Small Order Oxtail Soup $17.44, Double Pancakes $8.99 and add Bananas $0.99 and Macadamia Nuts- $1.99. Fried Rice Loco Moco- $13.99

8) Ha’ena State Park

9) Hanalei Town
Address: Ching Young Village Shopping Center. Jojo’s Shave Ice. Every day from 11am to 7pm. Tropical Breeze (Large)- $8.45 and Lilo and Stitch- $5.70.

10) Hanapepe Town
Home of Lilo and Stitch!:)

11) Poipu Beach
The best beach on Kauai's southern coast!

12) Da Crack and the Puka Dog
Food from Da Crack
Pork Tacos- $11.96 and Guacamole- $2.95.

Hawaiian Puka Hot Dog- $9.00
Instagram: @pukadogkauai.

13) Queen’s Bath
Hours: Every day and no set hours but to be more on the safe side, please only go during daylight hours. Please know your physical limitations and wear proper hiking shoes.

14) Wishing Well Shave Ice

Holey Grail Donuts
Monday (Closed) Miso Honey Donut- $4.00 and Ube Donut- $4.00 Instagram: @holeygraildonuts

15 ) Hanalei Valley Lookout
Address: Kuhio Hwy, Princeville, Hi 96722. Parking is free and limited.

16) Garden Island Barbeque and Chinese Restaurant
Address:4252 Rice St. Lihue, Hi 96766. Hours: Every day from 10am to 9pm except Sunday, 11am to 9pm. Gau Gee- $7.75, Fried Chicken and Roasted Duck- $16.95, Beef Chow Fun- $15.95, and Roast Pork- $17.95

[loganmccullough]

This man has eaten more shaved ice in one trip than I have in my whole life. Addiction

[hugodo]

I been to Kauai and immediately fell in love with this island. The locals, the vibes, and the sceneries are probably the best of any places I have ever been. Thanks for sharing your experience, Sean! It's nostalgic to see all the places I visited and can't wait to visit again soon.

[kiiliah]

Wailua falls is a place I hold close to my heart. Every day, for years there was a local man weaving hats and baskets out of Lā’i (ti leaf)or lauhala at Wailua Falls...in loving memory of my beloved grandfather

[alant.]

Never been to Kauai. Hopefully, one day. Looked like you two were on an extended honeymoon. Thank you for sharing this adventure. 🤙

[laurahodges]

We've been about 15 times and are going again soon. It's our favorite island! And, while I'll not be spending $4 for a donut, there is an amazing Malasada place on the south-western side past Kauai Coffee a few miles that all the locals go to. They are amazing, less expensive and I'll bet better tasting! Also, there is more of a variety.

[hawaiian]

Oh wow! Can't wait to go Kauai. I liked how you guys included the food, activities, and still informative and entertaining all at the same time! Mahalo for another great video🤙👍🌈

[jesseufin]

Going in a month for the first time & I plan on checking out a lot of the places you recommend. Thank you! Love your video & vibes

[lionmom]

How did you make me fall in love with Kauai? THANKS for another great episode! You make Kauai a wonderland and all the food look yummyyy!!! Can’t wait to go to Kauai next year! I will follow your travel and food itinerary and tag you on Instagram!👍🏼😁

[wdwnutjm]

we had the most magical 4 days in Kauai in 2017 (sandwiched inside 2 short stays at Oahu). we're planning next year's vacation and I think we're going back!!!! so excited to try a lot of these places - the places you visit look like exactly the vibe we enjoy when on vacation!!! we burst out laughing when you said the best Chinese on the island- that restaurant was where the people at the airport recommended we go. it was our first meal in Kauai and set the bar for the GREAT trip!! Mahalo for such a fantastic channel

[frk.friborg]

Putting two and two together. I think you have a soft spot for cookies and your wife🤣 Love y’all relationship. I plan to come back to Hawaii soon and this is so helpful. LOVE THE VIBES!!💗

[charlesdominguez]

Sean, another cool video but brutha you cause me all kinds of problems... Now I gotta take everybody to Kauai... HA!!! Very nice once again 🤪🤙

[teresah]

Kauai has really changed from the sleepy little island I visited over 20 years ago! Watching your video, I want to go back!
Loved the video!❤

[cwarrking]

this Local Boy who lives on the mainland is so grateful to escape with your videos...sigh get me to my Aina fast! ALOHA!

[wendlee]

So glad I saw this video as we recently booked our 2nd trip to Kauai. It’s been a few years since our first trip and your tips are very useful. Mahalo 🤙 PS you and Nhi are so darn awesome together, keep up the great work!

[michellejosefoodandtravel]

Aloha Sean! Mahalo for these tips as we plan to go back to Kauai next year to check some of these other spots we missed out on. We just did a day trip but will definitely plan to stay longer to catch these spots!! Especially loved watching all the ono Grindz!! 🤙🏽😋

[juliorodriguez-zo]

Just wanted to say thatnk you we are finishing our Oahu and Kauai vacation and the recommendations we were able to try were spot on really good we have tried other you tubers and food network recommendations and usually disappointing your recommendations are spot on i can tell you like to eat and do it right thank you

[cynthiajimenez]

I just want to tell you I have gone back to your video like 20 times! Keep making these awesome informative videos!

[Debbie-xzzh]

Your videos have been the best by far!

[Danno]

My wife and I are in Kauai this week and we tried out the Garden Island Chinese restaurant. Best food we have had so far this trip!! You’re on point as always

[Jimzilla]

I enjoy the real in depth video! I’ll be visiting Kauai for the first time for a week in May! Can’t wait to experience the Na Pali coast!