Only Three Days in Kauai?
Here are our recommendations on what to do on a short trip
Where to Stay with only three days
With just three days, we recommend you stay in Lihu’e or Kapa’a. You may be surprised given we strongly prefer the north shore, but staying on the East Shore gives you the ability to see the most of the island while avoiding any risk of rain on a short trip. Here’s our list of places to stay.
Day One: Arrive
- Arrive and pick up rental car
- Grab lunch and enjoy beach activities at Kalapaki Beach in Lihue
- Check into hotel/vacation rental
- Watch the sunset (for winter trips) and grab dinner in Poi’pu or Lihue
Arrive, hopefully early in the day. Rent your car and travel to Kalapaki Beach, which is about 15 minutes away from the airport. (Here are details about Kalapaki.) If you’re staying in Lihue and you can get into your hotel or vacation rental to drop off your bags and change into beach wear, even better. If it’s lunchtime, stop by Duke’s to grab some fish tacos or a pulled pork sandwich, along with your first mai tai. After lunch, pick up some beach chairs at a beachside rental and set up your beach camp for the afternoon. Rent some boogie boards, surf boards, or SUPs if you’d like, or just wade and body surf in the water.
When you can get into your lodging, pack up and head there. Consider stopping at Safeway on the way to pick up your grocery order, which you’ve hopefully placed while traveling or sitting beachside (see our Kauai Vacation Hacks for more information). Groceries might include coffee, snacks, water or beverages, fruit, and breakfast items. Or perhaps even items to make sandwiches for lunch. There’s a Safeway in Lihu’e and another in Kapa’a.
Once in your lodging, you’ll probably want to shower and get ready for dinner. If it’s winter, you’ll also want to catch the sunset along the shores near Poi’pu. It usually sets around 6 or 6:30pm. Grab dinner at Portofino’s in Lihue, Oasis on the Beach in Kapa’a, or at the Beach House restaurant in Poi’pu for waterside dining. You can also catch the live music at Duke’s if you didn’t go there for lunch. For a less expensive option, consider Brennecke’s in Poi’pu.
Day Two: North Shore
- Snorkeling at Tunnels or Anini in the morning
- Lunch at the Food Truck park in Hanalei
- Boogie boarding or surfing at Hanalei Beach in afternoon
- Dinner and live music in Hanalei
If you’ve already been in Hawai’i, you may be adjusted to the time zone, so you may want to set an alarm as you’ll need to be up early. If you’re newly arrived in Hawai’i, you’ll likely be up by 6am. Enjoy the sunrise and a morning stroll before packing up a beach bag and snorkel gear (if you have it). Plan to be out the door by 8:30 for the drive to the north shore. Keep in mind there may be traffic between Lihue and Kapa’a. Good news is, you’re likely driving against it heading north as most commuters work in Lihue.
If it’s summer, plan to head to Tunnels for morning snorkeling. Aim to arrive by 10am at the latest for the best chance for a good parking place. If it’s winter, head to Anini instead. It’s more protected from the winter swells and we’ve found good conditions even then.
After snorkeling, head to Hanalei for lunch. We suggest the food truck park.
After lunch, head to one of the beaches in Hanalei. If you want to paddleboard, surf, or boogie board, there are rentals available in town. We like Pedal and Paddle. Enjoy the afternoon at the beach. (Details about Tunnels, Anini, and Hanalei here.)
When you’re done with the beach, head to Wishing Well for shave ice. They have changing rooms if you want to get out of your swimsuit.
Explore Hanalei town and its numerous shops. Stop by Kalypso for a happy hour drink. If it’s summer, head back to the beach to catch the sunset from the pier (see our picks for best sunset spots).
Grab dinner in Hanalei. We recommend Tahiti Nui for dinner and the live music.
Day Three: Explore Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Park
- Spend the morning exploring the canyon and Napali lookouts
- Hike one of the trails in the parks
- Dinner in Poi’pu.
We suggest another early morning to start the drive to the Canyon. It’s about 45 minutes from Lihue to the turn and another 25-30 minutes to Waimea Canyon lookout. Pack a lunch before leaving – or pick something up in Hanapepe or Waimea. Visit the various lookouts to see the canyon before heading up to the Kalalau and Pihea lookouts in Koke’e. Picnic at one of the lookouts. For details on the Canyon and Koke’e State Park, check out our page here.
If you’re up for a hike, consider the Awa’awapuhi or Canyon Trail. Awa’awapuhi takes 3-4 hours; Canyon takes about 1.5 – 2 hours. For full details, check out our Best Hikes post.
On drive back towards your hotel, stop for shave ice at JoJo’s or even better, the Fresh Shave in Koloa (here’s our post on Best Shave Ice). If it’s winter, catch the sunset along the south shore. Grab dinner in Koloa or Poi’pu.
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