10 Kauai Roadside Stops

Wailua River Lookout

Visiting Kauai is all about enjoying nature on the garden island.  While your days will most likely be filled with hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and other outdoor adventures that can take up the majority of a day, it is also enjoyable to take little road trips around the island making lots of stops along the way to view waterfalls, rivers, beaches, and more.  Here are 10 of our favorite things to see in Kauai when driving around the island.  Each stop is listed in order from the farthest point on the north shore to the farthest point on the west side of Kauai.

Ke’e Beach

On the north shore, Ke’e Beach is the farthest point on the island you can reach by car.  On calm days, especially during the summer, Ke’e Beach is perfect for snorkeling.  The water is clear and the coral reef is full of fish.  But be sure to get to Ke’e Beach either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon as it is a very popular beach and the small parking lot fills early with both visitors to the beach and hikers of the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast.

Related: Two Epic Hikes Along Kauai's Na Pali Coast

Lumaha’i Beach

If you’re a fan of old movies, especially musicals, you’ll want to make a stop at the long sandy Lumaha’i Beach, located between Ha’ena and Hanalei Bay.  This is where Mitzi Gaynor sang I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair in South Pacific.  The waters are rough and Lumahai’i Beach is not a good swimming beach, but it is a good strolling beach.

Hanalei Lookout

The Hanalei Lookout on the side of the highway in Princeville provides gorgeous views of the valley of Hanalei.  The valley is a grid of fields of taro, growing to make poi for your luau.

Kilauea Lighthouse

In the town of Kilauea is the Kilauea Lighthouse.  Kilauea Lighthouse is on Kilauea Point, the northernmost point of the Hawaiian Islands.  The lighthouse was completed in 1913.  The lighthouse is surrounded by the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, which provides a preserve for seabird nesting colonies.

Ho’opi’i Falls

Visiting the Ho’opi’i Falls requires a little hiking.  There are actually two waterfalls, but we only visited the first one, which makes for a shorter and easier hike.  Ho’op’i Falls is north of Kapa’a off of Kawaihau Road.  The trailhead starts on an old dirt road leading off of Kapahi Road.

’Opaeka’a Falls, Wailua River Lookout, and Poli’ahu Heiau

South of Kapa’a up Kuamo’o Road is ‘Opaeka’a Falls.  These falls are easy to get to, as there is a big parking lot just a few yards down the road from the lookout.  Across the street from the ‘Opaeka’a Falls lookout is the Wailua River Lookout, which provides a beautiful view of the Wailua River winding through the hills out towards the ocean.  Also at the Wailua River Lookout is the Poli’ahu Heiau, one of seven heiau running along the Wailua River from the base to the top of Mount Wai’ale’ale.  A heiau is an ancient Hawaiian temple built with stones.  Within the heiau the kahuna conducted religious ceremonies.

Wailua Falls

Up Ma’alo Road, leading away from Lihu’e is Wailua Falls, another one of Kauai’s easy to reach waterfalls.

Spouting Horn Beach Park

West of Po’ipu is Spouting Horn Beach Park.  Spouting horn is a blowhole in a lava shelf which spews ocean water when waves crash against the rock.  There is an additional hole that blows air and makes a moaning sound.  There are also little shopping stalls selling Hawaiian jewelry and souvenirs at the park if you want to get a little gift shopping done as well. 

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.  Waimea Canyon is 14 miles long, one mile wide, and over 3,600 feet deep.  Waimea Canyon is reached by driving up Waimea Canyon Drive from the town of Waimea.  There are a number of lookouts along this 19 mile road, including the also not to be missed Pu’u o Kila Lookout, which provides a gorgeous view of the Na Pali Coast from above and is also the beginning of the Pihea Trail.

Polihale State Park

The best way to end a vacation in Kauai is to watch the sunset at the farthest west point of the island.  This is the most beautiful sunset you will find on the island of Kauai.  The beach of Polihale State Park goes for miles and miles.  We watched the sunset between Nohili Point and Queen’s Pond, an area only accessible by dirt road. 

Related: Hotel Review: Living in the Lap of Luxury at Marriott's Kauai Lagoons

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Obviously there are many more things to see and do while driving around Kauai, but these are some of our favorite roadside stops that show off many different sides of Kauai’s natural beauty. 

We planned our travels to Kauai using The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook Kauai Revealed from my favorite series of guidebooks by Andrew Doughty.  As the author lives in Hawaii the guidebook always contains up-to-date information as well as very detailed maps which are useful while driving around and finding trails. 

What are your favorite things to do in Kauai?

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Set a Course for Kauai Lagoons Golf Club

A common question asked during a round of golf is, “How long you been playin’?”  I like to say my game is of legal drinking age.  So, as a seasoned golfer, I have mastered the art of the excuse after a mediocre round on a fantastic course.  My handicaps for this particular round of golf at Kauai Lagoons Golf Club were as follows:

1. It was windy and it rained a little.  It’s a golf course in Hawaii; there’s always a little rain and wind.
2. As do most golfers, I have a certain setup of clubs I am used to and which has its particularities.  For example I carry a stock pitching wedge, a 54, and a 60 (not a 50 and a 56), I am accustomed to long irons (I don’t know anything about a 4 hybrid), and as of late,  I play a counterbalanced 37” two ball putter and am no longer used to the standard 34” job.  All that said, what a nice set of rental clubs Joe in the clubhouse set me up with at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club.  Just tell them your flex and leave your bag at home.
3. I was a bit tired from the flight the night before, blah, blah, blah.
4. And lastly, most importantly, I was distracted.  Distracted by the crazy beautiful course around me, the calm seas, and the mountain backdrop (really not sure if Jack had that installed or if they were already there, either way, distracting).
   

I have been to the Hawaiian Islands many times in the past, and nine years ago while in Kauai I was fortunate enough to play the Prince Course at Princeville.   I have played both Ko’olau and Kapolei in Oahu, Mauna Lani on the Big Island (that’s the one with all that dramatic black lava rock everywhere), and Kaanapali, Makena, and Kapalua on Maui.  So this was not my first Hawaiian golf rodeo, nor in fact even my first trip around the course of Kauai Lagoons Golf Club.  Actually, the wife said we were going back to Kauai and my first thought (after oh sweet, shaved ice) was cool, I can figure out that golf course I loved with all the statue markers.   She located it, and we even stayed at the Marriott’s Kauai Lagoons, which is on the same property, as the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club is managed by the Marriott.  I was very excited to find out they had changed some stuff and wondered if it would be even better. 

In my opinion, it is even better.  Kauai Lagoons Golf Club was a larger facility before.  There was in fact an additional 18 holes many moons ago.  Then that was reduced to a total of 27 a bit back, then refined to the 18-hole Kiele Course which remains.  Jack (yes, that Jack) stopped by a while back to check on things and gave his seal of approval.  Mr. Nicklaus created the original design back in the 80s, so who are we to second guess?  The big brag of the Kiele Course is that it is the longest stretch of holes along the coast in all of the Hawaiian Isles.  That’s a half mile of glorious oceanfront golf.  It’s pretty much breathtaking, and I know because I try to pay close attention to my breathing on each swing.  So there’s handicap number five, hard to breath. 

If the Kiele Course’s longest stretch of oceanfront holes is not impressive enough:

• 2013 Golfweek: #84 in America's Best Resort Courses
• 2012 Golf.com: #7 Best Public Golf Courses in Hawaii
• 2012 MSN Travel: World's Most Beautiful Golf Courses
• 2010 GolfWeek: America's "Top 100 Resort Courses"
• 2010 GOLF Magazine: #4 in Hawaii's Best Public Golf Courses; named a 2010 Silver Medal Winner for Premier Resorts
• 2010 Golf World: Named to America's Top 50 Golf Resorts
• 2010/2011 Conde Nast Traveler: "Top Golf Resorts" Readers' Poll

The Kauai Lagoons Golf Club’s practice putting green, chipping area, and range are nestled right off the starter booth and surrounded by the front nine so you get a good feel for what is about to occur.  I’m not sure what they call the actual “Signature Hole” of this course.  If I had to vote, there would be problems.  It could be the second on Kiele Mauka with its red sand bunkers guarding its reachable-in-two green.  Or the par three fifth hole with a carry over the ocean to a cliff-side green bordered by more red sand bunkers.  Or hole seven two pins later on the Kiele Moana nine with a green jutting out over the water with an edge like one of those infinity pools approached from above from what feels like a 45-degree down slope (terrifying).  Or maybe the water guarded ninth right in front of the clubhouse where passersby can watch you chunk your approach shot right into the lagoon short of the green, which I wish I could say is not from personal experience.  Here again is where I refer you to my excuse of not being used to a 50 degree wedge.   

It’s a fine test for golfers at any level.  Just know where you stand with your game.  I don’t think this is the place to force bravery on yourself.  As Clint Eastwood says in Magnum Force, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”  If you really enjoy trying to carry 219 yards to a sideways landing strip, then, by all means, have at it; it’s certainly available for you here.  I personally choked up a tee from the back and had more than enough course to challenge myself without grinding my teeth too much.  The forward tees would give you a nice break but not be an indication of any lack of intestinal fortitude.  In a nutshell, fun for golfers of all levels.

The pace of play was exactly as it should be.  On the day I played, there were folks in front of me as well as behind, but I never felt rushed or spent too much time waiting on the tee.  This is a factor that is often overlooked in an effort to get as many patrons out as possible, and when this happens the experience suffers.  Golf is stressful enough without looking over your shoulder or waiting and losing your tempo.  This was not the case at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club on either of the occasions I've played there.  Bravo and mahalo for that!

In addition, no pun intended, I love birds and there are birds everywhere.  It’s not just the handsome roosters and hens which inhabit all of Kauai that are plentiful; stilt, duck, coot, gallinule and nene can also be seen.  In fact, Kauai Lagoons is the world’s largest nene sanctuary.   Keep a watchful eye out and you’ll be sure to see many of these beautiful fowl about the grounds, ponds, streams and flats at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club. 

Thank you to the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club for hosting my round and making this post possible.  All opinions are my own.

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