Itinerary for Kauai: How to Split Your Time Between Princeville and Poipu

A 10-day Kauai itinerary works especially well if you want to split your stay between the island’s south and north shores.

This itinerary is designed for travellers who are happy to change accommodation once during their trip, spending the first part in Poipu and the second part in Princeville.

It is a good option if you want to reduce long return drives, spend more time close to the beaches and hikes on each side of the island, and experience two very different parts of Kauai.

Poipu gives you easier access to the South Shore, Waimea Canyon, Kokeʻe State Park, boat tours from the west side, and the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail. Princeville then puts you closer to Hanalei, the Kalalau Trail, Hāʻena State Park and the North Shore’s dramatic scenery.

This is the Kauai itinerary I would recommend if you want a more varied trip and do not mind moving hotels halfway through. If you would rather unpack once and stay in one central location, my 10-day Kauai itinerary based in Kapa’a will be a better fit.

This itinerary is based on my own 10-day trip to Kauai, combined with my background as a professional travel designer. I have structured it to keep each day realistic, reduce unnecessary driving, and leave some flexibility for weather changes, especially if you are visiting in winter.

This Kauai itinerary relies on you renting a car because it is very difficult to travel around Kauai without one. Book your rental car from Discount Hawaii Car Rental and enjoy your Kauai road trip.

Is This the Right 10-Day Kauai Itinerary for You?

This itinerary is best suited to travellers who want to see as much of Kauai as possible without doing long return drives every day.

By splitting your stay between Poipu and Princeville, you can explore the South Shore and west side while staying in Poipu, then focus on the North Shore once you move to Princeville.

Choose this itinerary if you:

• want to experience both the South Shore and North Shore
• are happy to change hotels once during your trip
• want easier access to Poipu, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei and the Kalalau Trail
• prefer a more resort-style or honeymoon-friendly trip
• want to reduce backtracking on your biggest sightseeing days

If you prefer to stay in one place for your whole trip, I recommend staying somewhere central and following my 10-day Kauai itinerary based in Kapa’a instead.

Still deciding how long to spend on the island? Read my full guide on how many days you need in Kauai. If you only have a short trip, my 3 days in Kauai itinerary may be a better starting point.

Why Split Your Stay Between Poipu and Princeville?

This 10-day Kauai itinerary is based on staying in Poipu for the first part of your trip and Princeville for the second. The main benefit is that you can explore each side of the island while staying closer to the activities, beaches and restaurants you are likely to visit that day.

Poipu is a practical base for the South Shore, Waimea Canyon, Kokeʻe State Park, the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail and some Na Pali Coast boat tours. It is also one of the best areas to stay if you want reliable sunshine, resort-style accommodation and easy access to beaches and restaurants.

Princeville works well for the second half of the trip because it puts you closer to Hanalei, Hāʻena State Park, the Kalalau Trail and the North Shore’s dramatic coastal scenery. This part of Kauai can be more weather-dependent, especially in winter, but it is also one of the most beautiful areas of the island.

Splitting your stay does mean packing up and changing hotels once. However, it can make your daily plans easier because you are not constantly driving back to the same central base each evening.

If you would rather avoid moving accommodation, follow my 10-day Kauai itinerary based in Kapa’a. If you are still deciding which area suits you best, read my guide on where to stay in Kauai.

For restaurant planning, you can also read my guide to the best restaurants in Kauai, which includes places across the island.

If you would like to put together your own Kauai travel itinerary, you can find out the best things to do in Kauai Hawaii here.

Day 1 – Arrival in Kauai

I highly recommend picking a flight that arrives in Kauai during daylight. Your first impressions of Kauai when you arrive and leave the airport are such precious memories.

Plus, if your flight arrives in the evening, you may need to check what time the car rental offices close. Some offices close around 10:45 PM; therefore, do not pick a flight that arrives after around 9:30 PM.

The arrivals side of the Kauai airport is small, so it will not take you long to gather your belongings. However, the line for rental car pick-ups can be rather long.

Therefore, you should have the main driver in your group go to the car rental shop by shuttle while you wait for the luggage. It will save you lugging your suitcases onto the shuttle bus. Instead, you can wait in the arrivals hall, where there is Wi-Fi, and be collected after.

I recommend arranging your car rental with Discount Hawaii Car Rental as soon as you have booked your flights. Car rental offers free cancellation until the day before your pick-up time, so there are no risks with locking in a good price.

Plus, with Discount Hawaii Car Rental you can cancel your booking for free and rebook at a cheaper rate if you see it has changed.

Check-in to Poipu Hotel

The next step of this itinerary for Kauai is to drive to Poipu, around a 25-to-30-minute drive from Lihue airport.

Keep an eye on a map and notice when you are about to drive through the Tree Tunnel. Take a picture of the marvellous tunnel of Eucalyptus Trees as you travel through.

For your stay in Poipu, I recommend booking Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa. You can read my review of staying at the Grand Hyatt here.

The hotel grounds are spectacular, the beachfront location is ideal, and the rooms and service are comfortable and welcoming. Plus, you will receive a fresh lei on arrival at the resort – a Kauai bucket list item for me.

Other hotel recommendations for Poipu include:

• Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu (Autograph Collection) – it is not a beachfront hotel, but it has one of the best-rated swimming pools in the US
• Sheraton Kauai Resort – close to Kiahuna Beach and Poipu Beach
• The Lodge at Kukuiʻula – has the highest price point but offers ultra-luxurious villas and cottages

Remember to look at self-contained accommodation, such as this 2-bedroom apartment that is a 10 minute walk to Brennecke Beach in Poipu.

Depending on your flight arrival time, you may need to leave your bags in the hotel’s storage unit until your room is ready. However, you can enjoy the resort’s pool, restaurants, and scenery straight away.

This afternoon, take some time to enjoy the resort and walk along the beach.

Book dinner at a local restaurant in Poipu, either Eating House 1849 (can be booked 3 full months in advance) or Merriman’s Kauai (book just under 3 months ahead of date).

Both restaurants are located at The Shops at Kukui‘ula, which is a short 5-minute drive from the hotel. However, if you do not wish to drive – you can arrange a shuttle pick-up from Grand Hyatt (speak to the hotel directly for availability) or call for a pick-up on the fun Aloha Spirit Shuttle (tip-based).

Overnight at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Day 2 – Waimea Canyon & Na Pali Coast

Morning Exploring State Park Lookouts and Hike

Starting from Poipu, drive to Kokee State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park for a morning exploring the awe-inspiring lookouts. Set your GPS to Pu’u O Kila Lookout, the furthest viewpoint, which will be around an hour and 20 minutes’ drive from your hotel.

Other viewpoints to see include Kalalau Lookout, Waipo’o Falls Lookout, Pu’u Hinahina Lookout, and Waimea Canyon Lookout.

Take your time with the drive to the lookouts because the road is winding to get up the mountain. Pay for the park entrance fee at the first parking lot you stop in. It is $10 per vehicle, plus $5 per person, and payable by card.

It is better to arrive earlier at these state parks because the clouds roll in more throughout the day. Therefore, you will get the best views earlier in the morning.

Also, the benefit of arriving early is that you have time to enjoy one of the majestic hikes inside the state parks before the afternoon’s activity.

For today’s walk, I suggest the Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls Trail. Here you will see landscapes reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. The hike should take around 2 hours and is a 4.8 km hike (nearly 3 miles round trip). It starts from the Pu’u Hinahina car park.

Bring a walking stick if you have one and make sure you are wearing sturdy hiking boots. The trail can get extremely muddy after rainfall in Kauai. It was so muddy when we did it, that we had to turn back half-way. Find details of the Waipo’o Falls route on AllTrails. 

Find out the best times to visit Kauai for weather, crowds and more.

After a relatively strenuous hike, you will have worked up an appetite. Head to Porky’s Kauai in Waimea to grab a delicious pulled pork sandwich for lunch. My family and I enjoyed some excellent food there.

Discover more of my favourite places to eat in Kauai here.

Na Pali Coast Sunset Cruise

The next adventure of the day is a sunset Na Pali Coast boat tour from Port Allen, and it is near your lunch spot.

The benefit of combining the two state parks and a Napali Coast catamaran ride is that the boats launch relatively close to the lookouts. Therefore, it makes sense to combine them today.

However, be warned that you should book your Na Pali Coast boat tour early in your trip in case it needs to be rescheduled. There is a decent chance of a cancellation if you are travelling to Kauai in winter, as I experienced.

Do not forget to take some motion sickness tablets before your boat cruise (according to the package). I suggest dramamine, which you can purchase in a supermarket on Kauai.

Be careful with drowsy medication because there were several people on our cruise that had fallen asleep and missed the main attraction.

The start time of a sunset dinner cruise with Capt Andy’s is usually around 2:30 – 3:00 PM, depending on what time sunset is. So, you should have plenty of time to see Kokee State Park and Waimea Canyon, and have lunch, providing you leave your hotel early that morning.

It is also possible to book a morning Na Pali Coast tour with snorkelling and then see the lookouts in the afternoon. However, the visibility of the lookouts may not be as good in the afternoon.

The journey to the Nāpali coast from Port Allen takes you along Polihale State Park, a famous beach in Kauai. Polihale Beach is hard to reach by car because it requires a 4×4 and many car rental shops write in their contracts that you are not allowed to attempt the drive.

The sunset cruise ends once the sun has dipped behind the horizon. A light dinner is served on the boat; therefore, you may still be hungry later this evening.

You could reserve a table for later this evening at Brennecke’s Beach Broiler or Stevenson’s Library (Grand Hyatt’s sushi restaurant).

Overnight at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Day 3 – Secret Falls & Free Afternoon

Wailua River Kayaking

Again, starting from Grand Hyatt Kauai or your other choice of hotel in Poipu, drive to Wailua Kayak & Canoe for a 7:30 AM start.

Call the kayak rental company the week before to reserve your boats for kayaking along the Wailua River and a self-guided hike to Secret Falls. Choose the morning rental period to beat the tour groups to the falls.

Or, book a guided kayaking tour and hike to Secret Falls here. Book the earliest start time and choose a tour without lunch because there are good places to go nearby.

Be aware that it is not possible to book a tour or take out any rental equipment on the Wailua River on the weekend.

The Wailua River and Secret Falls activity was one of my favourites in Kauai. Therefore, I would also suggest doing this early in your Kauai vacation in case it needs to be rescheduled.

It is not recommended to kayak on the rivers in Kauai after several days of heavy rainfall and storm surges due to increased bacteria in the water. So, you will want any bad weather to pass before taking to the water.

Make sure you wear waterproof/quick-dry shorts and sturdy shoes that can get completely wet. You will have to go up to your waist/above the knee (depending on your height) in water as you wade several stream crossings.

For women, I suggest activewear brands such as Lululemon or Nike. Men can wear their swimming trunks. Find out more suggestions in this Kauai packing list.

The water beds are rocky and the current moves quickly, so I do not recommend going barefoot or wearing flip flops or slides. Instead, I suggest wearing Keens or Tevas, or perhaps hard-soled water shoes that will dry quickly and have good grip.

Hiking boots or trail runners would be good, but remember, if you do this activity at the beginning of the week, you will need these shoes again during this itinerary for Kauai.

You could put your shoes in the tumble dryer (inside a pillowcase to avoid damaging the machine) to dry them out if you have a self-contained unit.

Beach Afternoon

After kayaking, bring a change of clothes and throw on some flip flops to go for lunch. I suggest going to Lava Lava Beach Club, which is very close.

It is a casual restaurant where reservations are not required at this time of day. They offer a limited menu for lunch, but with many tasty options, such as fish tacos or coconut shrimp (both went down very well in my group).

You can dine with your feet in the sand and walk along the beach or go in the water while waiting for the food.

On your way home from Lava Lava Beach Club, stop for a quick view of Wailua Falls. You could also stop at ‘Opaeka’a Falls first, but the falls are quite far away from the viewpoint, so I would suggest missing this spot.

Then, spend time at your leisure back at the resort in Poipu or visit a beach nearby.

This afternoon could also be left open for a helicopter tour of Kauai. The best light to take photos of the Na Pali Coast will be early morning or late afternoon. There is often fog in the late morning.

Reserve a table for dinner at Tidepools in Grand Hyatt Kauai, even if you are not staying at the resort. The setting is gorgeous with its well-kept gardens and fish pond. Reservations open around six months ahead of your date, so you can book it well in advance if desired.

Overnight at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Day 4 – Day & Night in Poipu

Getting To Know Poipu

Before going for breakfast this morning, take a walk down to Shipwreck Beach (if you are staying at Grand Hyatt) or to whatever beach is closest to your hotel in Poipu. You may be lucky enough to see some Hawaiian Monk Seals resting on the beach, like I was lucky enough to see.

After breakfast, stop quickly at Spouting Horn. The light can be too harsh in the middle of the day for taking good photos, so go early or later at sunset. I visited at midday and it was not worth a visit.

Later this morning you could book a Botanical Gardens Tour to see Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden. If you prefer to see only one garden, visit Allerton Gardens to see the famous so-called Jurassic Park trees.

This morning time slot in the Kauai itinerary would be another chance to book a helicopter tour around Kauai if you prefer a more adventurous morning. Or you could play a round of golf – make sure you use the high tech golf cart at Poipu Bay Golf Course.

Next, grab a quick and casual lunch from Puka Dog or Bubba Burgers – although, the lines can get long during peak hours. It took us around 30 minutes to get our Bubba Burgers, but it was well worth the wait. My beef burger with teriyaki sauce and pineapple was phenomenal and I could have easily eaten two.

Walk off your lunch along the stunning Maha’ulepu Heritage Trai. The trail gets hot, so bring water, a hat, and sunscreen. It is also possible to do this walk one morning while in Poipu if it is too hot in the early afternoon. Go for a swim after to cool off.

Experience the Hawaiian Culture

If it is your first time in Kauai or Hawaii, you must book a luau – a traditional Hawaiian show, often served with a buffet of local cuisine.

If you are looking for a convenient luau in Poipu, opt for Grand Hyatt Luau or the oceanfront ʻAuliʻi Lūʻau at the Sheraton. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the Grand Hyatt Luau and it was a huge benefit that it was located on the hotel property.

Those looking to go to one of the most highly rated luaus on Kauai should book tickets for Lu’au Kalamaku, a 20-minute drive from Poipu. It is possible to book Lu’au Kalamaku with or without transportation.

You should book your Luau in advance because they are a popular way to spend the evening in Kauai. Take note that some luaus do not operate on certain days of the week, so consider this in case you need to swap it with another evening’s dinner plans.

Overnight at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Day 5 – Hiking & Free Afternoon

Morning Hike in Kokee

After an early breakfast, head off to Kokee State Park for another hike to explore the area again. This activity would give you an additional chance to photograph the lookout spots if you had any clouds impacting your view the last time.

Drive to Pihea Trailhead for the Pihea to Alakai Swamp hike (4 hours, 12.4 km or 7.7 miles) or another trail in the area. Make sure you stop at Kilohana Lookout for a stunning view and bring some snacks to keep your hunger at bay.

Wear good hiking boots to navigate the rough terrain and potential mud. 

If you prefer not to hike again, you could leave this morning open as a backup slot for your Na Pali Coast boat tour or helicopter ride. Alternatively, you can spend an afternoon enjoying activities in Poipu.

Recharge Your Batteries

If you did not already eat your lunch on the hike, stop at Kokee Lodge Restaurant for some food and drinks. Return to your hotel to rest your legs. 

Book dinner tonight at Keoki’s Paradise and order a Pina Colada in a pineapple. Keoki’s Paradise can be booked around 3 months in advance.

There are plenty of other Kauai restaurants to choose from for dinner this evening if you want more to choose from.

Overnight at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Day 6 – Kipu Ranch

Adventure By Vehicle

Drive 20 minutes from Poipu to Kipu Ranch for a morning adventure around the private estate. You will see many locations used for films and some interesting animals while on the tour.

You can also book the afternoon tour, but a morning adventure means you have time to relax afterwards. If you prefer a slower-paced activity, then you could book the gentle Fern Grotto Tour instead of Kipu Ranch.

The Kipu Ranch activity is worth the cost and was another of my favourite activities in Kauai. Luckily, Kipu Ranch tours run rain or shine, so there is less chance of it being called off due to bad weather.

Good to know – it is the same price to book 4 adults in one vehicle or to have 4 adults in 2 vehicles (since you pay per person). Therefore, you should book this tour well in advance – it is very popular. We had to have three of us in one because the rest of the vehicles were booked up.

I suggest wearing dark coloured clothes with long sleeves that are easily washable. You may need to do laundry during your trip or bring an old shirt and leggings/track pants specifically for this tour that you do not plan to wear again.

If you wear a poncho (available for purchase at Kipu Ranch) you will not get as dirty – which is what we did.

Find out other essential items to pack with you in Kauai here.

Afternoon on the Coconut Coast

For lunch, given that you will be a bit scruffy, I suggest driving to the food trucks in Kapaa. My favourites are Chicken in a Barrell or Da Melting Pot.

Then, visit Lydgate Beach for snorkelling and to experience more of the east coast beaches.

Dinner With a Sunset View

Return home to freshen up and go to dinner at Beach House restaurant.

Book your reservation for just after sunset so you can watch the sunset on the front lawn with a cocktail from their bar.

Beach House serves one of the most delicious, but strongest Mai Tais on the island – so be careful how many you order. The foam on top is delicious.

Again, you can use one of the shuttle options available to you to get to and from your hotel in Poipu (Grand Hyatt or Aloha Spirit shuttle).

Overnight at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.

Day 7 – Travel to the North Shore

Travel to the Splendid North Shore

After 6 wonderful days staying on the south shore, it is time to check-out of your hotel and see more of Kauai. There are plenty of activities to do on the journey from Poipu to Princeville.

Even though you may not be able to get into your next accommodation until 3:00 or 4:00 PM, I would suggest leaving soon after breakfast to make the most of your day.

Today you will tackle the beautiful Kuilau Ridge Trail, a 3-hour hike (approx. 5.7 km or 3.6 miles). If you are looking for a more challenging hike, you could instead hike the Sleeping Giant. 

Alternatively, if it has been raining the last few days and the hiking trails are too muddy, you could rent bikes and ride along Ke Ala Hele Makalae Path.

For lunch, visit the food trucks again – chances are you will have loved the food you tried last time and want to try food from another truck. I loved the food from Da Melting Pot.

Continue the stunning drive to the North Shore of Kauai. You will pass some wonderful views while driving. Before you reach Princeville, stop at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and visit Kilauea Lighthouse.

You need to make a reservation to visit the lighthouse with a timed-entrance slot. Reservations are available for the next 2 months at a time, and the lighthouse is only open from Wednesday to Saturday.

Arrival in Paradise

As you arrive in Princeville, stop for a quick view at Hanalei Valley Lookout. You will pass this viewpoint every day while in Princeville, so you can always return if the view is too cloudy. Additionally, there are only a few spots for cars, so you may have to return when people have moved on.

Finally, it is time to check-in to your new accommodation. I recommend either renting a whole house on VRBO in Princeville or staying at a resort.

This is the VRBO I stayed at in Princeville, and I would recommend it for groups needing 4 bedrooms. Although there was no pool, we were a reasonable walking distance from Puu Poa Beach.

Alternatively, you could stay at Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville, a condo resort with a pool. Booking accommodation with a washing machine and dryer would be helpful to clean up some of your clothes that got muddy or sweaty from your previous adventures in Kauai.

If you would like to stay minutes from Hanalei Bay, consider this house with unbelievable views.

Once you have settled into your new accommodation, grab a few supplies from Foodland, the nearby grocery store. You will need a packed lunch for tomorrow.

Drive to Hanalei Bay and stop for dinner at Tahiti Nui (featured in The Descendants movie with George Clooney). Make sure you order the Mai Tai – it is frequently voted the best Mai Tai on the island and I can vouch for it. There is live music every night from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

Tahiti Nui does not take reservations, so get down early to put your name on the waitlist. You can expect to wait around 25 minutes, so you may have time to walk around the town a little while you wait.

Overnight at VRBO in Princeville

Day 8 – Kalalau Trail Hike

Exploring Na Pali Coast on Foot

This morning you will be hiking the famous Kalalau Trail. I recommend walking the route from Ke’e Beach to Hanakapi’ai Valley – it will take you around 3 to 4 hours round-trip and it is 6 km or 3.7 miles. 

Make sure you book your parking passes and entry tickets 30 days before your preferred hiking date. Haena State Park only allows a limited number of visitors each day, hence the requirement to book in advance.

I suggest booking two consecutive time slots on the same day: the morning slot at 6:30 AM and the second time slot at 12:30 PM. This booking gives you the maximum time to explore Hāʻena State Park.

The tickets go online at midnight Hawaii time. So, set your alarm and wake up early (or stay up late) to book your tickets as soon as they go on sale. Be warned, they do sell out quickly. Make sure you know how many people are in your group because the tickets are non-refundable.

If you do not manage to get a parking pass for your preferred day, you can book a North Shore Shuttle ticket instead (from the same website). The shuttle tickets are easier to purchase.

Shuttle tickets mean you will park at Waipa Park and Ride, just past Hanalei and access the state park by shuttle. The former ticket allows you to park your own vehicle in the Haena State Park parking lot.

An alternate option is that you could try booking the ticket again the next day. You can swap Day 8 and Day 9 of this itinerary for Kauai around if necessary. But always try to book the Kalalau hiking trail for your earliest option in the itinerary so there is space to be flexible.

Something else to note with the parking tickets is that if there is bad weather and the bridge to Hanalei Bay closes, you will not get a refund. You will lose the money and you may want to attempt to book a shuttle slot if there are any available last minute. The bridge was sadly closed the day we had tickets, so we experienced this.

Make sure you have your backpack filled with lunch, drinks, and swimwear. Plus, you need to have your tickets printed (there will be no cell service in the park).

Once you have finished the hike, you should walk to Haena Beach and explore the North Shore beaches. You should also attempt to see the famous Tunnels Beach.

It can be hard to get a parking spot for Tunnels Beach, so you can always try to come again tomorrow early morning if you failed in finding somewhere to park.  

Dinner in Hanalei

Return home to shower and freshen up for dinner. Tonight, you should arrange to have dinner at Bar Acuda in Hanalei (check the dates are correct since it is only open from Tuesday to Saturday). Reservations are difficult to get, so you need to be on the case.

Reservations for Bar Acuda are released 30 days in advance, and they get booked immediately. Keep your eye on the dates that can be booked a week or two before the 30-day mark so you know you have your timings right.

If you do not manage to book a table for Bar Acuda, you could try to get a walk-in table for The Dolphin in Hanalei.

Or if you have a kitchen in your accommodation, you could buy local fish from The Dolphin’s fish market and cook it yourself. This is what we did one night and made a papaya salsa to go with our local fish – it was exceptional.

Overnight at VRBO in Princeville

Day 9 – Hanalei Bay & Princeville

Sunrise Swim

Today you should go for an early morning swim at Anini Beach to look for turtles. Parking spots are limited at Anini Beach, hence why it is worth going early.

However, as I mentioned previously if you missed Tunnels Beach, make sure you try again this morning.

Hanalei Bay Wander

Go for breakfast at Hanalei Bay Bread Co in Hanalei Bay. Visit Hanalei Bay Beach and walk around the town. Hanalei Bay Beach often has nice sized waves for beginner surfers and boogie boarders.

You may start to feel peckish; therefore, walk to town and grab something from Wishing Well Shave Ice or JoJo’s, and some Holey Grail Doughnuts.

Return to Princeville

For a healthy lunch spot, try Nourish Hanalei in Princeville where there is a great view over Hanalei Bay. This afternoon, you can enjoy a walk around Princeville.

There is a nice route from the shopping plaza in Princeville to Puu Poa Beach. Before or after your walk around Princeville, stop for an exotic cocktail at Tiki Iniki. The cocktails are served in fun tiki mugs.

Tonight, you will go back to Hanalei Bay for dinner at the mouth-watering AMA restaurant. Make sure you book a table during daylight because the view is stunning. We dined at night, but I had visited earlier in the day, and the view was so much better in early evening. Although, there is a fire pit to sit around at night.

Again, make your reservation 3 months ahead of time and be aware that they are only open from Thursday to Sunday, so you may have to move this dinner plan to another day in the itinerary if it does not align well. Otherwise, it is possible to show up just before the restaurant opens to get on the waitlist.

Overnight at VRBO in Princeville

Day 10 – Departure from Kauai

Depending on your flight time today, you could manage another early morning visit to Anini Beach or Tunnels Beach.

Another point to note with your car is that the rental car return locations do not open until around 6:00 AM. Therefore, I would advise against a departure before 8:00 AM.

Check-out of your accommodation and make sure you do not leave anything behind.

I suggest eating some food before getting to the airport, if you have time, given that the dining options at Lihue Airport are limited and the service can be slow due to demand, which we learnt the hard way.

You could visit Duke’s Kauai, a restaurant near the airport, for your last glance at the beach if you have time.

You should leave plenty of time if travelling from Princeville directly to Lihue Airport because the traffic can be heavy in Wailua.

What to Book Now?

The most important tours to get booked for your trip are:

• Na Pali Coast boat tour
• Secret Falls kayaking and hiking tour
• Helicopter tour of Kauai
• Kipu Ranch ATV tour
• Lu’au Kalamaku

And book your car rental early as you cannot get around without one! I highly recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental.

Check out the rest of my Kauai articles for more travel tips. They will be vital for you to plan a vacation to Kauai, particularly for first-timers to Kauai (or even Hawaii).

Read this article if you prefer to visit Kauai for 3 days.

If you need help deciding where to stay in Kauai, read about the best side of the island to stay on.

For more resources on how to visit Kauai, read my Kauai travel blog. You will learn some essential facts about visiting Kauai for the first time. You can also read about what to bring with you to Kauai.

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