Kaua'i

Aloha from Kīlauea! We make Hawaiian Hydration Electrolytes in small batches on the North Shore of Kaua'i.

Here are our favorite spots to check out during your time ( North Shore, the East Side and the South Side.)

Cheers!

-Louis

North Shore

Green mountains, waterfalls and the end of the road at Hāʻena. Summer brings calm, glassy water; winter brings big surf, roughly October through April.

Beaches

  • Hanalei Bay. A two-mile crescent of sand with mountain waterfalls behind it. Calm for swimming and stand-up paddling in summer; watch the surfers from the pier in winter.
  • ʻAnini Beach. A long fringing reef keeps the water shallow and gentle most of the year. Great for families and beginner snorkelers.
  • Kēʻē Beach. The last beach at the end of Highway 560, inside Hāʻena State Park. Snorkel the lagoon on calm summer days. Non-residents need an advance reservation to enter the park (Hawaiʻi State Parks).

Farmers Markets

  • Saturday: Hanalei: 9-12 Hale Halawai
  • Tuesday: Hanalei / Waipa: Tuesday 2-5pm ,  just passed Hanalei town
  • Wednesday: Princeville Makai Golf Course 1-5pm

Lunch

  • Tiki Tzatziki, Hanalei. A Mediterranean food truck with fresh, generous plates and casual outdoor seating. It keeps short hours and can sell out, so plan it as a lunch stop (Giftly).
  • Hanalei Poke. The chef-owner catches much of the fish himself. Try the Kealia Plate, ahi with mint, macadamia nuts and watermelon (Food Network).
  • Tropical Taco, Hanalei. A Hanalei institution that started as a taco van. Get the Hanalei Burrito with fresh fish and taro fries (Star-Advertiser).
  • Kaua'i Juice Co Kilauea: Fresh food, drinks and Hawaiian Hydration Electrolyte Powder
  • Nourish Hanalei: best views overlooking Hanalei valley. Mon-Sat 8-3pm

Hikes

  • Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai Beach. About 2 miles each way along the Nāpali Coast, with red-dirt climbs and big ocean views. Don't swim at Hanakāpīʻai; the currents are dangerous. Book your Hāʻena State Park entry ahead, up to 30 days out (Hawaiʻi State Parks).
  • Hanakāpīʻai Falls. From the beach, continue about 2 more miles up the valley through bamboo, boulder-hopping across the stream to a tall waterfall. Turn back if the stream is high after rain.

 

East Side

Kapaʻa and Wailua are the island's everyday hub: food trucks, a coastal bike path and the Sleeping Giant watching over town.

Beaches

  • Lydgate Beach Park, Wailua. Rock walls form two protected ocean pools, the safest swimming on the East Side and perfect for kids. There's a big playground and a paved beach path too.
  • Kealia Beach, Kapaʻa. A wide, sandy beach known for bodyboarding and surfing. The shorebreak and currents can be strong, so swim only on calm days.

Lunch

  • Tiki Tacos, Kapaʻa. Huge tacos on handmade corn tortillas, and the whole menu is gluten-free. One or two make a full meal. Try the kalua pig or the marinated fish taco, and call ahead at the lunch rush (The Garden Island). 4-971 Kūhiō Hwy.
  • Kauai Myanmar Food & Sushi, Kapaʻa. A family-run food truck serving Burmese dishes and sushi. Regulars rave about the coconut curry and the salmon crunch roll. It's parked sideways with little signage, so look closely (Apple Maps). 4-1481 Kūhiō Hwy.

Hikes

  • Sleeping Giant (Nounou East Trail). About 4 miles round trip and roughly 1,000 feet of climbing through ironwood and guava forest. A picnic shelter on the giant's chest looks out over Kapaʻa and Wailua Bay (Hawaii Guide). It gets muddy after rain; stop at the shelter unless you're very sure-footed.
  • Kapaʻa coastal path. An easy, paved oceanfront path from Kapaʻa to Kealia Beach. Walk it, bike it, and watch for turtles and whales in season.

 

South Side

Poʻipū and Kōloa are the sunniest part of the island, with dry limestone cliffs and calmer water most of the year.

Beaches

  • Poʻipū Beach Park. A sandbar creates a shallow, protected swimming area, and monk seals and green sea turtles often haul out on the sand. Give them plenty of space.
  • Shipwreck Beach (Keoneloa Bay). A long, golden beach in front of the Grand Hyatt with strong shorebreak, better for bodyboarders and sunsets than swimming. You'll see people jumping off the cliff; we don't recommend it (Hawaii Life).

Lunch

  • Koloa Fish Market, Kōloa. A tiny local counter open since 1994, known for poke, plate lunches and fresh fish (MidWeek Kauaʻi). Grab a poke bowl and picnic at Poʻipū Beach. 5482 Kōloa Rd.
  • Da Crack, Kōloa. A hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot in Kukuiʻula Market. The fresh fish bowl and grilled fish tacos are favorites. Cash avoids a card surcharge (Wanderlog). 2827 Poʻipū Rd.
  • Kaua'i Juice Co Koloa: Fresh food, drinks and Hawaiian Hydration Electrolyte Powder

 

Hikes

  • Mahaʻulepu Heritage Trail. About 4 miles round trip from Shipwreck Beach along wind-carved limestone cliffs to quiet Mahaʻulepu Beach (Hawaii Life). Detour to Makauwahi Cave, a limestone sinkhole with interpretive signs (Hiking Project). There's little shade, so start early.
  • Koke'e : great views of Kalalau and Waimea Canyon

Before you go

  • Respect the ocean. Swim at lifeguarded beaches, never turn your back on the waves, and when in doubt, don't go out.
  • Book Hāʻena early. Entry and parking reservations open 30 days ahead and sell out fast.
  • Use reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaiʻi bans sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate to protect our reefs.
  • Leave it better. Pack out your trash, stay on marked trails and give monk seals and turtles their space.
  • Stay hydrated. Kauaʻi's sun and humidity drain you faster than you'd expect on a trail. We toss a stick of Hawaiian Hydration in our packs for every hike: magnesium, Hawaiian sea salt and real fruit, handcrafted right here on the North Shore. Grab some at HawaiianHealth.co

Mahalo for exploring with aloha!

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