Things to do in Kauai with kids

Kauai is often called The Garden Island and it lived up to its name. This island is known for its stunning Nā Pali Coast and numerous waterfalls. While Kauai is absolutely stunning, not everything is able to be done with young child. We brought our son here when he was 6 months old and had a blast. I wanted to help parents out and made a list of things to do in Kauai with kids.

 

12 things to do in Kauai with children:

 

1. See the town of Hanalei
2. Visit waterfalls
3. Waimea canyon
4. The spouting horn
5. Pouipo beach and watch turtles 
6. Visit the sand beaches
7. Visit the town that inspired lilo and stitch
8. See queens bath* warning not for the faint of heart *
9. Feed roasters 
10. Visit a farmers market 
11. Drink from a real coconut 
12. Eat at Bubba’s burgers

1. Visit the town of Hanalei

We loved the town of Hanalei so much we went back 3 times during our trip. The town is located on the main highway 56. It’s a small town with serious surfer vibes and stunning backdrops!

We got breakfast here on our first morning, note we are early risers as most people coming from the east will be. People are definitely on “island time” and most places don’t open till 9-10, even for breakfast. We ate at Wake Up Coffee Bar and had a Kalua pork burrito that was to die for!  Our son wasn’t crawling or walking during the time of our visit but he was occupied with the beautiful landscape and the sights and sounds of the town. The town is super colorful with all the different food truck options and little shops you can browse. There is plenty of room to lay down a blanket and have a picnic from one of the many local vendors. 

 

2.Go chase waterfalls

We saw rainbow falls! Kauai has no shortage of waterfalls, but most require hiking to get to. We attempted a “moderate” hike to one waterfall and ended up in me falling and hurting my elbow, about half way down the hike a couple coming back explained to us a woman fell and broke her ankle!

We decided to turn back after that warning. Kauai’s earth is usually very fine silt and makes even the most for a difficult hike for even the most experienced hiker, now add a baby into the mix… no thank you! 

Hence why we visited Wailua falls, a water fall that accessible by car! Perfect for families that have young children and can not do the difficult hikes! 

 

 

 

3. Waimea Canyon

You can not go to Kauai and not see Waimea Canyon! It is located in Koke’e State Park about an hour from any major towns, but well worth the drive! Most viewing posts are accessible by car and trails lead into the actual canyon. Before heading back into town, stop by the Koke’e Museum and the Lodge for souvenirs and a bit to eat. 

I will let the pictures speak for themselves…

Do not make this stop a hard fast date and time, play this by year as the weather is hit or miss at the top vista point. Cloud coverage happens often even in the non-rainy season. If you know one day will be more clear than the other opt for the clearer day and make the most of it!

4. The Spouting Horn:

The Spouting horn is a blowhole found on the shore in the Koloa district. It is quite a seen to see the waves come crashing in and water get blasted 20 plus feet in the air! We hung out at the look out for about 30-45 minutes and our son was captivated by this! There is a shopping district close by so you can stock up on any necessities or pick up some souvenirs as well!

We did not take photos during this, only videos and of course we could never capture it at the right moment while juggling a baby!

 

 

 

5: Poipu Beach:

Poipu Beach is a turtles paradise. Bring your beach gear and watch the locals surf and admire the different species of turtles you can spot. I volunteered for sea turtles nesting and rescue when I was in college in Florida so any time I get to see these creatures I take full advantage. Hawai’i is a sea turtles paradise and even though Poipu Beach is a public area, the residents of Kauai take great measures to ensure these animals are undisturbed. Please be respectful and watch from a distance as these are endangered creatures.

After hanging out on the beach, head across the street to get a one of a kind Puka Dog! A Puka Dog is a Hawaiian styled hot dog and its all about the sauce!

 

6. Visit the different sand beaches:

Kauai has a variety of different sand beaches. Their infamous is the glass sand beach, challenge the kids to find all the different colors of glass, blue is considered the most rare. While the public is allowed to visit the beach in Kauai, it is strongly recommended to not take any shells, glass, or articles from the beach. This is so everyone and future generations can enjoy these undisturbed areas.

In addition to the Glass sand beach, there is also the Black sand beach in Kalaheo. The sand is black from years of lava rock erosion, better known as basalt, formed when hot lava hits cold sea water.

 

7. Visit Hanapepe, the town that inspired Lilo and Stitch

I am a huge Lilo and Stitch fan, actually I am a huge Disney fan, so this was a must do for more.  This is small town, that if you blinked you would miss it off the highway. There is a coffee and bakery shop, galleries, and souvenir stores. The main draw for the kids is definitely going to be the Lilo and Stitch sign. Use this as a pit stop to get out of the cars and stretch your legs as your traveling from beach to beach. The kids can get a snack and check out the swinging bridge. Don’t forget to take your picture in front of the Lilo and Stitch mural.

 

 

 

8. Visit Queens Bath*difficult hike is required*

Queens bath is probably one of the top 5 image you see when you Google Kauai. While it is beautiful, it is not easy to get to! Located in Princeville, queens bath is only accessible by hiking.Theres a small parking lot at the trail head located in a neighborhood, do NOT park in the neighborhood, you will be towed! There are signs everywhere stating no parking for Queens Bath and the locals do not want your car in their front yard. We circled a few times around the parking lot before we gave up and parked the 1/2 mile up the road at a public golf course and paid the parking fee.

Now I say this front experience, getting to Queens bath is hard! On the All Trails app, it’ll say moderate and most people will think that is okay. Please wear proper foot attire and if you have a little one that can no walk, please take extra caution. There are large tree roots that you have to climb over and sudden step descends.

Once you get to the overlook you’ll be met with beautiful views and gorgeous blue water. Some people were jumping into the many water holes, but this is strongly discouraged as the tides change rapidly!

9. Feed roosters

Kauai is home to thousands of wild roosters, there are more roosters than people. Most places will have chicken feed for sale, grab the $1 pouch and watch the animals flock to you!

 

10. Visit a farmers market

We visited Hanalei’s farmers market and got to see some unique crafts and try local produce.Visit Kauai’s Farmer Market website to see local events in the different towns and make a plan to check one out!

 

 

11. Drink from a real coconut

This may be the most touristy thing we did, but when in Rome, right? There are local vendors all along the streets in any of the towns you visit, go ahead and get a freshly cut coconut and bask in the Hawaiian sun!

 

12. Eat at Bubba’s Burgers

I don’t know about your family, but we are burger connoisseurs when on vacation, and Bubba’s did not disappoint. We visited the location in the Poipu Shops and if the line out the door tells you anything, it’s worth it! We got the standard Bubba burger with some onion rings and a milk shake, it was delicious! Famous actor Robert Downy Jr is quoted having eaten at Bubba’s every day while filming his movie Tropic Thunder. They have two locations, Poipu and Kapaa.

 

*Bonus: Adopt a dog for a day*

We did not participate in this because we didn’t know about it prior to our visit. You must have an appointment.

You can adopt a shelter dog for a day or longer and even forever if you decide. This program put on but the Kauai Humane Society allows you to take a shelter dog on a field trip. They give you ideas to do with your new four legged friend and if you decide you want to keep your new fur friend, the Humane Society can assist with transport back to the main land. This is a wonderful program that helps enrich the lives of these shelter animals while bringing joy to your family with a new adventure!

Field Trips for Shelter Dogs: In Honor of Jian Mehta – Kaua’i Humane Society (kauaihumane.org)

 

Leave a comment below and tell me any thing we need to put on our itinerary for our next Kauai trip!