I had so many favorites that this is part 2. Check out Part 1.
Recap of Kauai part 1 blog post!
In my last blog post I shared my 5 favorite Kauai adventures and 5 favorite Kauai hikes. Check back to recap if you haven’t already read it. I also shared info on where to fly, stay and what to drive so don’t miss all that info to help make your trip planning easier. Keep reading for the rest of the trip planning info. For more detailed information on my Kauai Kalalau trail hike you can check this blog out.
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Kauai’s best beaches to explore!
Let me state upfront that we are not sit on a beach all day people. When we are on vacation, we want to see things. A lot of things. And hike. In other words, we don’t sit much. So, most of my beach recommendations are beautiful but also for exploring and not just sitting.
Polihale Beach
This is in my opinion the best beach on Kauai and definitely in the top 5 in Hawaii. It’s truly stunning. Polihale is a very remote beach in the westernmost part of Kauai. In fact, this is where the road ends in the western part of Kauai, and where the Na Pali coast begins.
Polihale State Park is worth the drive and is the main reason I recommended a Jeep or high clearance vehicle in my first blog post on Kauai. The beach is 15 miles of stunning white sand and to get to it you have to drive 5+ miles down a rugged and rutted dirt road. The condition of this road depends on how much rain they have had recently and when it was last graded. If it’s been a while the road is really wash boarded. I’ve seen low clearance vehicles doing this drive, but they are going SLOW. I’d stick with the Jeep.
When you get to the beach there are several entrances and parking lots you can use. Several have facilities. The sand is beautiful but please don’t drive out on it unless you have experience and know how to handle the air in your tires for better traction. I speak from experience. We almost got stuck on day 1 of one of our visits to Kauai in our Jeep because we got a little overly excited.
This is pretty much a local’s beach but it’s so huge that you won’t see many people even on the weekend. We come and walk for miles and enjoy the views. If you have a clear day, you can see the Island of Niihau, known as the Private Isle . You may also make some new friends of Hawaiian monk seals. The monk seals are protected so give them a little space. They don’t seem too bothered by us though. I think they are used to people. Bring a lunch and a book and enjoy a little time on this gorgeous beach.
Queens Bath
This is a really big favorite of mine. It’s got a little bit of a hike to it, and it can be muddy but the reward of exploring the Queens Bath makes it worth the mud. This beach area is closed sometimes in the winter months because of very strong surf. You can check AllTrails before your trip to see if it’s open or check if the gate is closed. Please don’t go if it’s closed. You need to always be aware of the surf no matter the time of year and don’t turn your back on the ocean while exploring.
The Queens Bath gets its name because this is where royalty came to relax. This whole area is made up of lava rocks and the Queens bath is basically a large tidal pool area. The actual Queens bath is a sinkhole pool. It’s quite large and is a great swimming pool when the surf is not intense. We had an amazing time exploring all around the rocks for over an hour and then spent some time in the pool swimming and getting bounced around by small waves. I highly recommend this if it is open!
Kauai’s Queens Bath is located in the north shore Princeville neighborhood and parking is very limited. We checked back 3 times before getting a spot. Parking on the street is not allowed and you could be towed if the neighbors turn you in. Be careful going down to the beach because it can be muddy and slick.
Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail: Shipwreck Beach to Punahoa Point and Ha’ula Beach
This is an almost 4+ mile walk/hike with about 300 feet of elevation gain. It’s along the coast the whole way and the trail can go in several directions as you explore but you won’t get lost if you follow the coast. This is an exploration for sure. You will see great surf below, turtles swimming and amazing views. There are several areas where there are small beach areas, tidal area etc. It’s never boring and I highly recommend taking a stroll for all or some of it.
We continued even farther than where this trail ended and found another amazing and almost private beach. This trail itself is pretty busy so we enjoyed going farther where there were no people. Again, follow the coast and you won’t get lost. This trail follows along at least one hole of a golf course so beware of your surroundings and who may be hitting into you. The golf course is beautiful too!
Pools of Mokolea
This is a beautiful and remote beach area to explore. There are many tide pools to check out and big surf to just sit and watch as it pounds the lava rocks. Please check the tides because this should be done at low tide and maybe not in the winter depending on the surf. As you explore you will see pieces of metal machinery imbedded into the rocks from an old sugar factory that was nearby. This is an interesting sight.
There is no real established trail to get to the pools. You will be doing a little way finding. Start at Kahili Beach/Quarry Beach. From Highway 56, turn at the sign to Na`Aina Kai Gardens at Wailapa Road. Go . 6 miles and turn left on a dirt road that leads down the hill for half a mile. You’ll park at the end when the beach is in view. It’s a pretty little beach used mostly by locals. Keep in mind that there are no facilities at this beach.
Once at the beach you will need to go to the left to cross the stream that is flowing into the ocean here and then head to the right out onto the point. There is a road that goes near the point, but it is mostly private so going from the beach is your best bet. There really isn’t a trail out to the point but more of a path used by local fisherman. But if you stay near the coast and you can’t go wrong. You can follow and explore until you can’t really get any farther because of the surf. The trail there and back is not quite 2 miles.
Kauai’s yummy food!
We are not gourmet people, and we are definitely not foodies. But we love good local foods, especially in Hawaii and Kauai does not disappoint. So, if you want fancy you will need to keep investigating. But if you want some fun, yummy local food, keep reading.
Kalaheo Cafe
Kalaheo Cafe is in Kalaheo, not far from Poipu and is on the way to Waimea Canyon. When you are staying in Poipu and hiking in the canyon or visiting Polihale Beach you will pass right by. It’s awesome breakfast food to get you ready for a great day of hiking. Everything we have had is amazing and there are great big portions. Definitely check it out. We hit it up almost every day we are in Poipu!
Smiley’s Local Grinds
If you haven’t had a plate lunch, you haven’t really been to Kauai (or Hawaii for that matter). What is a plate lunch you ask? It’s some sort of amazing meat, rice, and mac salad. You can find them everywhere, often in food trucks or in a parking lot for some sort of fundraiser. Usually, the sketchier looking the place, the better it will be. We liked Smiley’s Local Grinds which is just a hole in the wall spot in Lihue. This, like most plate lunch places is just a spot to order food and take it to go.
Puka Dogs
Ok, so I am not a big hot dog eater. However, Puka Dogs are not your typical hot dog. They are amazing, yummy Hawaiian hot dogs. First, you need to know that “puka” in Hawaiian means hole. Puka dogs are hot dogs in a hole in a delicious, toasted bun. They are totally inside the hole of the bun. Then they add some of their amazing secret sauce, a choice of relish and mustard. You end up with the best hot dog I have ever had. This spot is right by the beach in Poipu, and you can take your meal out and sit on the beach and enjoy. Don’t miss this spot!
Bubba Burgers Kauai
After a hike we love to get Bubba Burgers. Did I mention we hike to eat? Bubba Burgers in Poipu is a perfect after hike spot to fill up. They make the burgers to order, have yummy fries and milk shakes. Like Puka Dog’s this is not fancy, but they do have seating indoors and outdoors and they are quick and friendly. This location is near some amazing ice cream (stay tuned) and lots of shopping. There is another location in Kapa’a but we haven’t tried that one yet.
Brick Oven Pizza
Brick Oven Pizza is in Kalaleo, not far from Poipu and they have excellent pizza. We usually hit up this spot several times a visit. It’s the best pizza we have tried in Kauai for sure. The inside is fun to explore because it’s full of license plates from all over the country and parts of the world. It’s fun to look for your own state. In addition to pizza, they have great salads and pasta. Along with their Kalaleo location they have a location on Oahu if you are heading there as well.
Hanalei Bread Company
For breakfast in Hanalei on the North Shore of Kauai you need to check out the Hanalei Bread Company. Whenever we are heading near here to hike, we always stop for breakfast. It’s located across the street from where several tour companies leave on their adventures. It’s quite crowded so get there early if you are on a tour and need to be somewhere at a specific time. They make amazing locally sourced breakfasts and have an interesting menu. As their name suggests they also sell lots of types of homemade bread. It’s also quite popular for your morning coffee.
Sweet Treats!
Aloha Sweet Delights
Aloha Sweet Delights is the first place I want to head when we land on Kauai. Honestly the main reason is for the Malasadas. They are fantastic. A malasada is a Portuguese donut that has become a Hawaiian staple. They are yeast-leavened doughnuts made with eggs, butter, and either evaporated or fresh milk. After frying, they are rolled in sugar. Traditionally the Portuguese version are not filled, but in Hawaii they have sometimes been tweaked to include custards and puddings. My favorite is just sugared. They are just so tasty.
In addition to my favorite malasadas, Aloha Sweet Delights has all sorts of other sweet treats and a few savory ones as well. My hubby usually gets a malasada and one other goodie. I just stick with the malasadas. You have to try them. They are located in Kaumakani about 20 minutes from Poipu on the way to the west and Waimea Valley. We stop every day on our way to hike. If you get a malasada, make sure to eat it fresh. We get malasadas all over the islands and compare them. These are my favorites on Kauai. They don’t look like much but they are pretty great!
If you want to try making Malasadas yourself, you can comment below, and I can get you the recipe I use. I have made them for Christmas Eve once and it was really not hard, and they were tasty. Sometimes I order them delivered to our house in NC. You can get them in two days, and you microwave them to warm them to like just fresh made. For special occasions we have had them delivered from Leonard’s Bakery.
Lapperts Hawaii Ice Cream
Kauai has 3 locations for Lapperts Hawaiian Ice Cream. It’s fantastic. We usually stay near the location in Poipu and love to walk to get ice cream. It’s located near the Bubba’s Burgers so you can do both. In addition to ice cream, they have cookies, muffins and other treats which are also great. Most people who come to Kauai love to get shave ice but I’m not a big fan of it hence the ice cream. There are lots of shave ice locations you can check out and if you enjoy it do try a few to try the different types.
I hope you enjoyed this two-part blog on Kauai! If you missed part 1 you can find it here. We will be back on Kauai in March, and I will add all the new things we find and do!
I would love you to share your favorites in the comments below. I also hope this is helpful to you in your trip planning in the future. I’d love it if you could like, comment, or share this blog or all do three. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and X.
Keep exploring,
Stephanie
Seymoreoftheworldwithme