Best Things to Do on the East Shore
Kayak the Wailua River and hike to Secret Falls
Kauai is the only Hawaiian island with navigable rivers for kayaking. There are two rivers that offer good conditions for kayaking – the Hanalei River on the north shore and the Wailua River on the east shore.
Between the two, the Wailua River is by far the best option. The river is the largest on the island and its valley is sacred to the Hawaiian people. Kayaking the river is a special experience. You’ll put in at the Wailua River State Park just up Hwy 580 from Kuhio Hwy. After kayaking for about a half hour up the river, you can dock and take the one-mile hike to Secret Falls, where you can picnic and swim in the fresh water lake and under the 120-foot falls.
We prefer to rent kayaks and take a self-guided trip. We use Wailua Kayak Adventures in Kapa’a. Prefer a guided tour? We’ve not tried one but hear Kayak Kauai is a good operator.
Explore the Kauai Bike Trail
The ‘Ke Ala Hele Makalae, or Kauai Bike Trail, is a paved walking and biking path that starts just north of Wailua and continues for 8 miles through Kapa’a Town toward Anahola. It’s an easy ride you can do with little ones and offers a leisurely way to see the eastern shore. You’ll ride past numerous picnic areas and beaches, including Kealia Beach, a favorite local surfing spot. You can rent bikes for two hours, four hours, and full days at shops throughout Kapa’a. We usually rent from Hele on Kauai beach rental as it offers easy access to the trail. Some resorts have bikes of their own you can take out.
Planning tip: The bike trail is a great activity when you’re waiting to get into a hotel or vacation rental or on your last day when you have an evening flight.
Hike the Kuilau Ridge Trail
The Kuilau Ridge Trail is an easy- to moderate-trail with stunning views of Mt. Wai’ale’ale and the eastern shore. It’s a 3.5 mile out and back with about 650 feet of elevation gain. The trail continues as the Moalepe Trail if you want a longer hike. The trail can be muddy after rains (as can every other trail on Kauai). It’s mostly shaded and there’s a nice picnic table at the top for a break with some good views.
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