Kauai, the Garden Isle, is a dream destination—lush, rugged, and breathtakingly beautiful. But with its high costs, a visit was never within budget. Foregoing accommodation and camping allowed us to experience all that Kauai has to offer. Over four unforgettable days, we explored the island’s stunning landscapes, all while keeping costs low.
Camping Overview
There are 4 state operated campsites on the island of Kauai, and you can book them through the Kauai County website. There are not specific sites available for reservation, but a limited number of camping permits available. Ensure that you are booking as early as possible to guarantee there are enough permits left for everyone in your party!
For our setup we brought our own tent and sleeping pads. Those were essentially the only pieces of equipment that we brought, as we were not spending any time at our campsites beyond spending the night.
Going into this trip, we knew that we wanted to make the most of our time and maximize our daylight hours, meaning that this was a jam-packed itinerary! We also always had safety in mind, travelling alone as two young girls. We did our research beforehand, reading reviews online to ensure the campsites and activities we chose were right for us.
Day 1
- Waimea Canyon
- Koke’e Lodge
- Poipu Beach
- Mucho Aloha Brewing
- Salt Pond Beach Campsite
We arrived early on Kauai after a flight from Honolulu. A rental car is essential for exploring Kauai—public transit is limited, and there are no ride-sharing services. After picking up the car, we stopped at Java Kai in Koloa for breakfast. This local, open-air spot had incredible coffee, bagels, and açai bowls—the perfect fuel for a big day.
Waimea Canyon
After getting breakfast, we continued on towards Waimea Canyon, the famous red rocks that are unique to Kauai. As you drive up the long and windy road, glimpses of the canyon become visible through the brush. There are several pull-outs along the side of the road to take photos, but the main stop was Waimea Canyon Lookout, the main lookout that is managed by the state.. Although this cost us $10, it was worth it to stand on the extended platform and look out at the sprawling canyon view.
There are many trails that criss cross through the canyon and allow you to venture deeper into the red rocks., However, with such high temperatures and an early wake up, we decided to skip out on the hiking and continued to drive the winding road up the canyon. We drove as far as we could, and ended up at the Kalalau Lookout. Unfortunately for us, the clouds had rolled in while we were driving and the view from the lookout was pretty minimal.
Koke’e Lodge
As we wove back down the jungle road, we stopped in at Koke’e Lodge, a small store and restaurant where we had a delicious lunch. The property also has campsites, a small museum, and some educational trails where you can learn about the plants and animals that are native to the area.
Poipu
Poipu Beach, located on the south side of the island, is known for the massive green sea turtles that are known to bask in the hot sand. In addition to tons of turtles, this beautiful beach had a protected cove that was perfect for snorkelling. We watched as the sun went down and the waves washed up and around the 15 green sea turtles that were nestled in the sand.
We used the facilities at Poipu to shower and change before heading out to dinner. We popped back down here after our dinner, hearing that night time was the best time to see the turtles. There was a volunteer there to protect them, and told us all about the species. There is no bad time of day for a visit to Poipu Beach.
Mucho Aloha Brewhouse
Dinner consisted of fish tacos and beer underneath the glow of the string lights and palm trees. The service was excellent and the fish was fresh. There were games toplay while you waited and firepits to keep warm.
Salt Pond Beach Campsite
There were only a few other tents set up at Salt Pond. The camping area is a grass area straddled between the beach, a small parking area and the salt pond. We were blown away on our first night in Kauai at the sprawling sky of stars, more than we had ever seen in our lives We spent hours laying outside our tent on the beach admiring the nigh sky and sipping on our pog.
If you plan on camping at Salt Pond, be aware that there are high levels of wind. We had a tall tent that kept catching the wind, forcing us to eventually tear down and spend the first night ‘camping’ in the car. If we were to go back, we would set up in the shelter of the tree lined area and use a smaller, more compact tent.
Day 2
- Sunrise Coffee
- Shopping in Kilauea
- Kilauea Lighthouse
- Queen’s Bath
- Hanalei Bay
- Drinks at 1 Hanalei Bay
- Wiki Pizza
- Anini Beach Park Campsite
Sunrise Coffee
Day 2 started off strong with breakfast at Sunrise Coffee, a truck on the side of Kuhio Highway heading towards Princeville. In addition to having one of the best coconut latte’s of our lives, we treated ourselves to bagels, acai bowls and a smoothie to share. To top off the whole experience, we ate breakfast surrounded by the local cats who were looking for pets.
Kilauea Town
We spent the morning noodling around the little shops in Kilauea. There were beautiful arrangements of flowers, funky furniture stores, and local, handmade clothing boutiques. Be sure to check out Historic Kong Lung Market Center for unique gifts and trinkets.
Kilauea Lighthouse
Just outside of town sits the iconic Kilauea Lighthouse. We learned quickly that the lighthouse is only open Wednesday through Saturday, and unfortunately it was a Monday. We got to admire the lighthouse from the gate, but wished we had planned better to ensure we could walk out to it. Make sure to check the website while planning!
Queen’s Bath
The entrance to the Queen’s bath trail sits in a private neighbourhood. To avoid fighting for the 4 parking stalls or getting a ticket, we opted to pay $20 and park at the Makai Golf Course and walk a short 15 minutes to the trail head. The trail weaves through a thick brush until you pop out on the coast. Head left and continue to walk until you see a large cove. This first cove you’ll see is rough, with waves splashing and breaking over the rocks. We avoided swimming in this one, deciding it was too dangerous. We kept walking another few minutes and found a more calm swimming hole, where we could float and check out the sea life beneath us in the crystal clear water.
This is a popular tourist area, I recommend bringing a dry bag if you want to keep your phone within your sight – the only dry area is not in sight when you’re swimming.
Hanalei Bay
After an eventful morning, we were in the mood to lay on the beach and get some sun. We headed to the iconic Hanalei Bay and set out our towels for the afternoon. Hanalei Bay was our favourite beach, with the view of the towering mountains of the Napali Coast and the Hanalei Pier, we got a cold drink and enjoyed the sun. We used the shower and bathroom at facilities at Hanalei Bay to clean up and get ready for dinner.
1 Hanalei Bay
As someone who is interested in hospitality and tourism, I was keen to check out 1 Hanalei Bay, a new, award winning resort that sits on the cliff overlooking Hanalei Bay. The resort was breathtaking, even walking through the lobby was an unforgettable experience. The design complimented the natural beauty of the surrounding scenery while giving guests every modern luxury.. We opted for a high top table above the massive infinity pool and mountain range. We sipped a $17 non-alcoholic cocktail and watched the white sailboats dance around the bay.
Wiki Pizza
The food at 1 Hanalei Bay looked amazing, but unfortunately was out of our budget. We opted for the more affordable Wiki Pizza next door. We each got our own pizza, up for a big day of hiking we had on the agenda the next day.
Anini Beach Park Campsite
Anini Beach Park was a beautiful campsite and our favourite and perfectly situated for an early morning in Kaena State Park.. The campsites were dispersed along a quiet beach, and we fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. The facilities were well maintained, with soap and toilet paper stocked.. At night, the campsite was overrun with curious cats peering down at us from the trees and meowing in the distance.
Day 3
- Kaena State Park Overview
- Wake Up Coffee Bar
- Hanakāpī‘Ai Beach
- Hanakāpī‘Ai Falls
- Lydgate Beach
- Leong’s Roadhouse
- Lydgate Beach Park
Kaena State Park
There are many ways to see the Napali Coast without booking the expensive doors off helicopter tours. This is a very popular park, and the state has made the decision to limit the number of out-of-state visitors who can come to the park daily. There are a few different options when booking a day pass here, which can be done at https://gohaena.com/. We opted to take the Park and Ride shuttle from Waipa, as the parking passes fill up instantly online.
We took an early shuttle, departing around 7am from the park and ride. This was a great decision that allowed us to do the majority of our hike without being in the afternoon heat. If you are planning to hike on the Kalalau trail beyond the beach of the waterfall, you will need to book a backcountry pass in advance.
Wake Up Coffee Bar
There is no food within the park. Ensure that you have snacks and breakfast before entering the park. We visited Wake Up Coffee Bar for breakfast as it was close to the Park and Ride. We got bagels and snacks for the trail. There is water in certain spots within the park but not once you get on the trail.
Hanakāpī‘Ai Beach
Once in the park, we set off along the Kalalau Trail towards the beach. This is a long trail with direct sun and no water. The hike to the beach is 3km, one way. The trail skirts the cliffside with stunning views down the Napali Coast. We hiked alongside native plants and the bluest water we had ever seen. The trail was dusty and felt longer than 3 km in the heat. We stopped to eat our snacks at the beach, surrounded by white sand and lush jungle. We decided not to swim at the beach as the waves were rough and we had our sights set on a waterfall swim.
Hanakāpī‘Ai Falls
Once you reach the beach, the trail will fork. Head left and follow the signs that indicate the waterfall. The hike to the waterfall is an additional 3 km, making your total round trip just over 12 km. You will climb through bamboo forests and cross streams as you approach the waterfall.
This is not an easy trail, there were several points where the water crossings were treacherous and slippery rocks that you needed to traverse. This trail is not maintained by the State and therefore not in the best conditions.
Once we popped out at the waterfall, it felt like we were in a different world. The crystal clear pool is surrounded by mossy rocks and filled by the 300 foot waterfall. The scale of it was unbelievable, and it was definitely the highlight of our trip to Kauai. We spent a few hours paddling around in the pool, exploring behind the waterfall, and relaxing on the rocks to eat our lunch. Be sure to bring strapped sandals, as the lava rocks in the pond are sharp and make it difficult to climb in and out.We began our hike back, ensuring that we gave ourselves enough time to catch the last shuttle out of the park.
Lydgate Beach
Some rest and recovery was much needed after a 12km morning hike. We headed back down the east side of the island to relax at Lydgate beach, where we would later spend the night. We lay on our towels, reading on our kindles and napping. We then took some showers and freshened up before dinner. Lydgate beach has a lovely cove area that makes for calm swimming and great snorkelling!
Leong’s Roadhouse
Craving a hot meal, we headed into town and happened upon Leong’s Roadhouse. The island of Kauai is sleepy, with most stores and restaurants closing around 6 or 7pm. We enjoyed a veggie stir fry and a beer on the patio, before heading back to Lydgate and setting up our tent for the night.
Day 4
- Da Wicked Brew
- Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salt
- Kauai Cookie Company
- Kauai Coffee
- Airport
We did not have anything planned for our last day, so we headed back to the south side of the island to check out some of the stores that caught our eye a few days earlier.
Da Wicked Brew
This was a small coffee stand on the side of the road where we enjoyed iced lattes and acai bowls. This was a new business and the owners were keen to chat and learn more about us. The food was amazing and we would recommend this as a stop for anyone visiting.
Kauai Coffee
Our stop at Kauai Coffee Company was another highlight of our trip. Besides tasting a variety of coffee samples, we took a tour of the grounds and learned about the process that they go through to make their coffee. The size of the property was massive, with fields of coffee stretching on into the distance. We learned about how the beans are grown and harvested, and how they are working towards making the whole process more sustainable. There are more in-depth tours and tastings that are available for booking if you plan in advance.
Airport
Camping in Kauai allowed us to experience the island’s raw beauty without breaking the bank. From the breathtaking views at Waimea Canyon to the secluded pools at Queen’s Bath, these four days gave us a deeper appreciation for Kauai’s natural wonders
ELLYHIKES 
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