I can’t remember the last time a view took away my breath.
But when the lush greenery that canopied my hike for 4 miles cleared and exposed the jagged cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast diving into the ocean that roared against them, I exhaled a smile.
By far one of my most memorable trips, I spent a week working remotely in Kauai—taking time to visit some of the island’s most stunning sights, including the Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Limahuli gardens, and several unforgettable beaches.
The Nā Pali Coast
By boat
The first glimpse my two friends and I got of the Nā Pali Coast was aboard a catamaran courtesy of Capt. Andy’s.
I recommend the rose shaken espresso.
After stopping by Small Town Coffee Co, an adorable little bus serving coffee and pastries in Kapa’a, we joined our fellow passengers in meeting the crew and hearing the day’s itinerary.
We spent the first part of the morning watching the last of the whales that hadn’t yet migrated north, and racing some playful dolphins around the island.
I spent the rest of the morning gripping the railing as we soared up the grand coast, getting so splashed by seawater that, later in the afternoon, I admired salt crystals glittering on my legs as the velvet blue of the water twinkled behind them.
On our way back around the island, we got in the water for some snorkeling. We stopped in a pretty high-traffic area, so there unfortunately wasn’t much wildlife to see, save for a few boulders I mistook for crawly creatures thanks to tricks of the tide.
After enjoying lunch on deck—complete with a glass (okay, two) of wine—I couldn’t resist experiencing lying on the trampoline at the front of the boat. Waves drenched my legs as we crested the swells, but I barely noticed as I flew over ribbons of blues weaving across the waves—from bright turquoise came deep teal that shifted to cornflower blue, before deeper blues melted into rich indigo.
By foot
I took one of the boat’s crew members’ advice to hike Nu'alolo Trail instead of the Awa'awapuhi Trail, which she (I think half) jokingly said she suggests to tourists she doesn’t like as it leads you to the same area, but has a less grand view than Nu'alolo.
The 4 miles out mainly consisted of lush trees, vibrant flowers, and unbelievably steep sections of roots that I had to carefully shuffle down or risk slipping in the ever-present mud.
The shuffling was worth it though when I cleared the greenery to a breathtaking view of the Nā Pali Coast.
I also walked a bit of the Nu'alolo Cliff Trail—just a couple of miles down from the main trail—but turned around when I started getting lost amidst the dense, stratchy cliff reeds. I wasn’t about to become a headline.
Waimea Canyon
Deemed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon certainly rivaled the Grand Canyon in expansive, breathtaking views—but won in terms of waterfalls.
Mount Waialeale
The Pihea Trail towards Mount Waialeale lived up to being the supposed second wettest place on Earth. Ankle-deep mud—which was supposedly the dryer the trail can be—sucked my boots as I trekked across warped and wobbling two-by-fours and scrambled up tree roots to the lookout point.
Limahuli Garden & Preserve
In consolation for not getting a parking permit to hike to Hanakāpī‘ai Beach, I visited the Limahuli Garden & Preserve, which flaunted a colorful collection of florals and gorgeous mountain views.
The Beaches
Hanalei Bay
Evenings at Hanalei Bay bookended my trip to Kauai. On the first night, my friends and I were treated to a rainy sunset and rainbow. On my last night, we spent a lovely evening enjoying Dole Whip topped with fresh papaya on the beach.
While Hanalei was the closest town to where we were staying, we didn’t venture down much otherwise. A recent mudslide had one of the lanes closed, which meant during the week, we could only get into and out of the town for a few hours in the morning and one at lunch, or had to wait until the evening.
Missing a window meant we were trapped in town until the next window opened—forcing us to wander around the adorable downtown, complete with boutiques, a chocolatier, and an ice cream shack. A true pity.
We did spend one night at Tahiti Nui, a charismatic restaurant known for its Mai Tais, live music and generous lei offerings.
Tunnels Beach
I stopped at Tunnels Beach only briefly due to the rain, but it was long enough to marvel at the water—bright turquoise even amidst the gloomy sky—and the time someone took to show their love for it.
Anini Beach
The calmest of the beaches I visited, Anini Beach stretched for miles and was a great spot for sun bathing, snorkeling and watching sea turtles leisurely graze their way around the bay.
Secret Beach
By far my favorite beach I visited on Kauai, Secret Beach could only be accessed by a steep, half-mile descent through shady trees and along a creek that ran right into the ocean.
After the small hike, the golden beach—disrupted by the small creek winding its way to the sea—leads you to impressive turquoise waves carrying the boldest of surfers.
Walking west along the beach is an adventurous trek over basalt rock formations that hold tide pools and house skittish critters. I stopped when I got to a waterfall, idyllically coursing over the black rock—a gentle contrast to the thrashing ocean it flowed into.
After another day of memorable moments—which included taking a dip in a tide pool and bathing beneath the crisp, fresh waterfall—I caught one last sunset, exhaling a smile at the ocean before heading back home to the desert.