Kauaʻi has one road, no loop and weather that varies enormously between the two ends of it. Any plan that ignores those three facts becomes a plan about driving in the rain.
This week splits the stay: four nights south in Poʻipū for the dry weather and the canyon, three nights north in Princeville or Hanalei for Nā Pali and the valleys. Every day has a wet-weather alternative because you will probably need at least one.
What this week covers
- The Nā Pali Coast from the water on a morning catamaran
- Waimea Canyon before the cloud fills the lookouts
- Kēʻē and Hāʻena with the reservation sorted in advance
- Hanalei Bay on a slow afternoon
Land at Līhuʻe and drive south
Based in Poʻipū
A short drive, a grocery stop and a first swim on the sunny side of the island.
- Afternoon
Collect the car at LIH
Poʻipū is about 30 minutes south. Stop at Costco or the Kōloa grocery on the way for the week’s basics.
- 4pm
Poʻipū Beach Park
Protected swimming on one side, a monk seal hauled out on the sand more often than not. Keep 50 feet back if one is resting.
- Sunset
Spouting Horn
A blowhole ten minutes west that performs best on a decent swell. Five minutes of your time and worth it at golden hour.
- Tonight
Check the Nā Pali forecast
Boat trips cancel for swell. Book yours for early in the week so a cancellation still leaves you a spare day.
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- Every remaining day, hour by hour, with drive times that assume real traffic
- The reservation calendar: what to book at 60, 30 and 7 days out
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