2025 Readers’ Choices Awards: Kauaʻi

Kauaʻi is one of the most beloved islands by travelers.
HAWAII Magazine Staff,
Kauai Hawaii
Hanalei Bay on Kauaʻi. Photo: Getty Images/DOUGBERRY

Known as the Garden Isle, Kauaʻi is the oldest and most verdant of all the islands, with lush valleys, beautiful beaches, cascading waterfalls and the extraordinary Nāpali Coast. From the best beaches and hiking trails to shave ice and poke, here are all the best spots on Kauaʻi.

Best Hotels and Resorts on Kauaʻi

1hotelhaneleibay

A room at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.
Photo: AVABLU @avablu_photography

Best Luxury Resort 

  1. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  2. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay 
  3. Kōloa Landing Resort at Po‘ipū 
  4. Timbers Kaua‘i 
  5. Koʻa Kea Resort on Poʻipū Beach 
  6. Hanalei Colony Resort 
  7. The Cliffs at Princeville 
  8. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa 
  9. Hanalei Colony Resort 
  10. Kauaʻi Shores Hotel 

Best Value Hotel or Resort 

  1. The Cliffs at Princeville 
  2. Waimea Plantation Cottages 
  3. Hanalei Colony Resort 
  4. Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa 
  5. Hanalei Bay Resort 
  6. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort 
  7. Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort 
  8. Aston Islander on the Beach 
  9. Plantation Hale Suites 
  10. Castle Kaha Lani Resort 

Best Boutique Hotel 

  1. Waimea Plantation Cottages 
  2. Hanalei Bay Resort 
  3. Kaua‘i Shores Hotel 
  4. Ko‘a Kea Resort on Po‘ipū Beach 
  5. The ISO by Castle Resorts 

Best Hotel or Resort for Families 

  1. The Cliffs at Princeville 
  2. Waimea Plantation Cottages 
  3. Kaua‘i Shores 
  4. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  5. Hanalei Bay Resort 
  6. Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa 
  7. Kōloa Landing Resort at Po‘ipū 
  8. The Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort 
  9. Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kaua‘i by Outrigger 
  10. Kiahuna Plantation & Beach Bungalows by Castle 

Best Hotel for Romance 

  1. The Cliffs at Princeville 
  2. Waimea Plantation Cottages 
  3. Hanalei Bay Resort 
  4. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  5. Kōloa Landing Resort at Poi‘pū

Best Hotel or Resort Spa 

  1. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort and Spa 
  2. Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  3. The Spa at Koʻa Kea Resort on Po‘ipū Beach 
  4. The Spa at Kōloa Landing Resort at Poʻipū 
  5. Bamford Wellness Spa Kaua’i, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

Best Vacation Timeshare 

  1. The Cliffs at Princeville 
  2. Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club 
  3. Hanalei Bay Resort 
  4. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas 
  5. The Point at Po‘ipū (Diamond Resort) 

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn 

  1. Hanalei Surfboard House 
  2. Hale Kua Kaua‘i Bed & Breakfast 
  3. Hale Ho‘o Maha Bed & Breakfast 
  4. Waimea Plantation Cottages 

Best Food and Drink on Kauaʻi

Musubitruckhta

The Musubi Truck is a must-visit for musubi and other local favorites.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono

Best Restaurant 

  1. The Beach House 
  2. Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  3. Merriman’s Kauaʻi 
  4. Bar Acuda 
  5. Jo2 Restaurant 

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant 

  1. Lava Lava Beach Club at the Kaua‘i Shores Hotel 
  2. Duke’s Kaua‘i 
  3. Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  4. RumFire Po‘ipū Beach 
  5. Red Salt at Ko‘a Kea Hotel & Resort at Po‘ipū Beach 

Best Bar or Lounge 

  1. Lava Lava Beach Club at the Kaua‘i Shores Hotel 
  2. Duke’s Kaua‘i 
  3. Kalapaki Joe’s 
  4. Happy Talk Lounge 
  5. Stevenson’s Library 

Best Cheap Eats 

  1. Bubba Burgers 
  2. Chicken in a Barrel 
  3. Da Crack Mexican Grinds 
  4. Little Fish Coffee Kauaʻi 
  5. The Musubi Truck 

Best Bakery 

  1. Hanalei Bread Co. 
  2. Kaua‘i Bakery 
  3. Kīlauea Bakery & Pizza 
  4. Haole Girl Island Sweets 
  5. Midnight Bear Breads 

Best Breakfast or Brunch 

  1. Kalāheo Café & Coffee Co. 
  2. Lava Lava Beach Club at the Kaua‘i Shores Hotel 
  3. Kountry Kitchen 
  4. Tip Top Cafe 
  5. Ānuenue Café 

Best Coffee Shop 

  1. Java Kai 
  2. Little Fish Coffee Kauaʻi 
  3. Trilogy Coffee Kauaʻi 
  4. Collab Café Kauaʻi 
  5. Midnight Bear Breads

Best Burger 

  1. Bubba Burgers 
  2. Kenji Burger 
  3. Kalypso Island Bar & Grill 
  4. Kickshaws 
  5. Duane’s ʻOno-Char Burger 

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant 

  1. Merriman’s Kauaʻi 
  2. Hukilau Lānai 
  3. Kaua‘i ‘Ono 
  4. Bar Acuda 
  5. 1 Kitchen at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

Best Food Truck 

  1. Fresh Bite Kaua‘i 
  2. Al Pastor Tacos 
  3. Chip Wrecked 
  4. Chalupa’s 
  5. Kickshaws 

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen 

  1. Kaua‘i Ramen 
  2. Pho Kaua‘i 
  3. Wailua Drive In 
  4. Aloha Ramen 
  5. Hamura Saimin Stand 

Best Pizza 

  1. Brick Oven Pizza 
  2. Kīlauea Bakery & Pizzeria 
  3. Hideaways Pizza Pub 
  4. JP’s Pizza 
  5. Kōloa Pizza Kitchen + Bar 

Best Plate Lunch 

  1. Kōloa Fish Market 
  2. Pono Market 
  3. Hanalei Taro & Juice Co. 
  4. Mark’s Place 
  5. Sueoka Store 

Best Poke 

  1. Foodland 
  2. Hanalei Poke 
  3. Kōloa Fish Market 
  4. Kīlauea Fish Market 
  5. Pono Market 

Best Happy Hour 

  1. Lava Lava Beach Club 
  2. Duke’s Kaua‘i 
  3. Keoki’s Paradise 
  4. Kalapaki Joe’s 
  5. RumFire Kaua‘i

Best Seafood Restaurant 

  1. The Beach House 
  2. Duke’s Kaua‘i 
  3. Brennecke’s Beach Broiler 
  4. Keoki’s Paradise 
  5. Merriman’s Kauaʻi 

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store 

  1. JoJo’s Shave Ice 
  2. Wailua Shave Ice 
  3. Uncle’s Shave Ice 
  4. Wishing Well Shave Ice 
  5. The Fresh Shave 

Best Steak House 

  1. Duke’s Kaua‘i 
  2. The Beach House 
  3. Bull Shed Restaurant 
  4. Wrangler’s Steakhouse & Saddle Room Bar 
  5. Kalaheo Steak House 

Best Outdoor Adventures on Kauaʻi

Hanaleigetty

Hanalei Bay on Kauaʻi’s north shore is famous for its striking scenery.
Photo: Getty Images/Matthew Micah Wright

Best Beach 

  1. Hanalei Bay 
  2. Po‘ipū Beach 
  3. ‘Anini Beach 
  4. Mākua Beach (aka Tunnels Beach) 
  5. Kē‘ē Beach 

Best Snorkeling Spot 

  1. Po‘ipū Beach 
  2. ‘Anini Beach 
  3. Mākua Beach (aka Tunnels Beach) 
  4. Kē‘ē Beach 
  5. Lāwa‘i Beach

Best Surf Spot 

  1. Hanalei Bay 
  2. Kalapakī Beach 
  3. Kāhili Beach (aka Rock Quarry Beach) 
  4. Anahola Bay 
  5. Kiahuna Beach 

Best Botanical Garden 

  1. Princeville Botanical Gardens 
  2. Allerton Garden 
  3. Limahuli Garden & Preserve 
  4. Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park 
  5. Smith’s Tropical Paradise 

Best Campground 

  1. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park 
  2. ‘Anini Beach 
  3. Kōke‘e State Park 
  4. Polihale State Park 
  5. Kalalau 

Best Hiking Trail 

  1. Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo‘o Falls 
  2. Nounou Trail (aka Sleeping Giant) 
  3. Kuilau Ridge Trail 
  4. Māhā‘ulepū Heritage Trail 
  5. Wai Koa Loop Trail (aka Stone Dam)

Best Activities on Kaua‘i

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At over 3,000 acres in size and home to 4 million coffee trees, the locally owned and operated coffee farm continues to wow visitors and locals with its delicious-tasting coffee and engaging visitor experiences.
Photo: Courtesy of Kauaʻi Coffee

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail 

  1. Blue Dolphin Charters 
  2. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures 
  3. Nāpali Coast Hanalei Tours 
  4. Holo Holo Charters 
  5. Kaua‘i Sea Tours 

Best Extreme Tour 

  1. Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures 
  2. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 
  3. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures 
  4. Island Helicopters 
  5. Kaua‘i Sea Tours 

Best Zipline 

  1. Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures 
  2. Kōloa Zipline 
  3. Outfitters Kaua‘i 
  4. Shaka Zipline 
  5. Skyline Hawai‘i 

Best Farm Tour 

  1. Kaua‘i Coffee Co. 
  2. Princeville Botanical Gardens 
  3. Lydgate Farms 
  4. Kaua‘i Sugarloaf Pineapple Farm 
  5. Garden Island Chocolate 

Best Helicopter Tour 

  1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 
  2. Island Helicopters 
  3. Jack Harter Helicopters 
  4. Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours 
  5. Safari Helicopters 

Best Golf Course 

  1. Princeville Makai Golf Club 
  2. Po‘ipū Bay Golf Course 
  3. The Ocean Course at Hokuala 
  4. Kukuiolono Park & Golf Course 
  5. Puakea Golf Club 

Best Live Show 

  1. Smith‘s Family Garden 
  2. Tahiti Nui Live Music 
  3. Ahi Lele Fire Show 
  4. Allerton by Fire 

Best Lūʻau 

  1. Smith’s Family Garden Lū‘au 
  2. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Lū‘au 
  3. Lū‘au Kalamakū 
  4. Ali‘i Lū‘au at Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort 
  5. Tahiti Nui Lū‘au 

Best Museum 

  1. Kaua‘i Museum 
  2. Kilohana Plantation 
  3. Kōke‘e Natural History Museum 
  4. Grove Farm Sugar Plantation Museum 

Best Fishing Charter 

  1. Captain Don’s Kaua‘i Sportfishing 
  2. ‘Ohana Fishing Charters 
  3. Hawaiian Style Fishing 
  4. Breakaway 
  5. Rob Arita Bonefish Guide 

Best Guided Tour 

  1. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures 
  2. Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures 
  3. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters 
  4. Allerton Garden 
  5. Lydgate Farms 

Best Nāpali Tour Co. 

  1. Blue Dolphin Charters 
  2. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures 
  3. Holo Holo Charters 
  4. Kaua‘i Sea Tours 
  5. Island Helicopters

Best Shopping on Kauaʻi

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Ching Young Village Shopping Center is in the heart of Hanalei.
Photo: James Nakamura

Best Art Gallery 

  1. Halele‘a Gallery 
  2. Kela’s Glass Gallery 
  3. Island Art Gallery 
  4. Aloha Images Gallery 
  5. Tabora Gallery 

Best Shopping Center or Mall 

  1. Coconut Marketplace 
  2. Po‘ipū Shopping Village 
  3. The Shops at Kukui‘ula 
  4. Kukui Grove Center 
  5. Ching Young Village Shopping Center 

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store 

  1. Crazy Shirts 
  2. Mahina 
  3. Blue Ginger 
  4. Tropical Tantrum 
  5. Slow Yourself Down 

Best Store for Souvenirs 

  1. Kaua‘i Coffee Co. 
  2. The Kaua‘i Store 
  3. Hilo Hattie 
  4. Kaua‘i Handmade 
  5. The Koa Store 

Best Store for Gifts 

  1. Sand People 
  2. Banana Patch Studio 
  3. Tropic Isle Music and Gifts 
  4. Bamboo Works
  5. ABC Stores 

Best General Store 

  1. ABC Stores 
  2. Foodland 
  3. Whalers General Store 
  4. Sueoka Store 
  5. Hee Fat General Store 

Best Surf Shop 

  1. Hanalei Surf Co. 
  2. Po‘ipū Surf 
  3. Billabong Hanalei 
  4. Nukumoi surf shop 
  5. Tamba Surf Co. 

Best Services on Kauaʻi

Best Surf Instruction Co. 

  1. Hanalei Surf School 
  2. Kaua‘i Surf School 
  3. Hawaiian Style Surfing 
  4. Titus Kinimaka’s Hawaiian School of Surfing 
  5. Kelley’s Surf School 

Best Snorkeling/SCUBA Rental or Instruction 

  1. Snorkel Bob’s Kaua‘i 
  2. Dive Kaua‘i 
  3. Boss Frog’s Kaua‘i 
  4. Fathom Five Divers 
  5. Nukumoi Surf Co. 

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental 

  1. Snorkel Bob’s Kaua‘i 
  2. Boss Frog’s Kaua‘i 
  3. Kapa’s Beach Shop 
  4. Nukumoi Surf Shop 
  5. Kaua‘i Bound 

Best Transportation Service 

  1. Alamo Rent-a-Car 
  2. Thrifty Car Rental 
  3. The Kaua‘i Bus 
  4. Roberts Hawai‘i 
  5. Sue’s Northside Taxi & Tours 

Best Resort for a Wedding 

  1. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa 
  2. Hanalei Bay Resort 
  3. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay 
  4. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort 
  5. Kōloa Landing Resort at Po‘ipū 

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Beach or Resort) 

  1. Waimea Plantation Cottages 
  2. The Beach House 
  3. Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens 
  4. Wai‘oli Hui‘ia Church 
  5. McBryde & Allerton Gardens 
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