Things You'll Need:
- Rental car
- Camera
- Oahu guidebook with map
- Sunblock
- Two Swimsuit
- Snorkel and goggles
- Two changes of clothes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Water
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Step 1
Get a good guidebook and map out the major spots of interest. The best book out there is "Kauai Revealed" (see resources below). If you want to make it all the way to the Na Pali coast, plan your pace accordingly.
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Step 2
Rent a car. Rental cars are very cheap in Hawaii because business is booming year-round. Skip the bus tours that cart you around like a herd of sheep. With a car, you can go your own pace and stop whenever you see something interesting.
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Step 3
Since most of Kauai is uninhabitable, the only way to travel on the east of Kauai is by route 56. A section of northwest Kauai is a mountain range that makes up the Na Pali coast, so you cannot circumnavigate Kauai by road. You will have to come back the same way you went.
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Step 4
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on KauaiSpend some time at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The northernmost point of the Hawaiian Islands, the wildlife refuge is a great spot for viewing birds. Walk out to the lighthouse to get a 270-degree ocean view. In the winter, you may even spot some whales to the west.
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Step 5
Na Pali Coast on KauaiContinue on to Ke'e Beach. Ke'e Beach is the end of the road before the Na Pali Coast begins. Bring snorkeling gear because you will see some beautiful tropical fish. You can also catch a glimpse of the Na Pali coast from the water. Don't swim out too far, though. The bottom drops off quickly and you will be drifting in the deep Pacific Ocean before you know it!
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Step 6
Make your way back. On the back end, you will have a better idea of how much time you have and the pace you need to take. Don't rush if you don't have to. Stop at the shoulders in the road and at the smaller beaches for some great photos.
