Walking through the Ching Young Village Shopping Center is like taking a step back in time. With mom and pop shops that have called the center home since the 1980s and ’90s, the plaza captures Hanalei’s charming mix of small-town spirit and surf culture. Generations of residents and visitors have come to cherish browsing through […]
Like most of the neighborhoods on Kauaʻi, the quiet town of Kīlauea is a tranquil respite—and not to be confused with the active Kīlauea volcano on Hawaiʻi Island. While it’s home to the historic Kīlauea Lighthouse, it’s a town often bypassed on the drive to Hanalei. But it’s worth the detour to stop and wander
Throughout the Islands, residents and visitors alike are looking forward to the return of Hawaiʻi’s most beloved summer events. Over the years, many of these festivals have become community traditions. And for the last two years, summers haven’t felt quite the same—for many reasons—one being the absent festivals. Fortunately, many of these festivals are making
You won’t notice the old sugar mill right away as you drive through and exit the eucalyptus tree-lined tunnel of Maluhia Road, a shady canopy that’s like a portal to a historic sugar town. Instead, you’ll see a gathering of food trucks on a grassy field catering to locals and visitors alike with plates of
The road less traveled is often the most exciting. And co-hosts Catherine Toth Fox and Grace Maeda definitely took alternative routes during their recent expedition to Kauaʻi. For those planning a trip to the Garden Isle, Cat and Grace build a 36-hour itinerary that will take you from Hanapēpē and Kōloa on Kauaʻi’s southern coasts,
With the pristine ocean, green valleys and serene Wailua River, there’s an activity for just about every type of thrill-seeker on the Royal Coconut Coast of Kauaʻi. The area encompasses the districts of Wailua and Kapaʻa on Kauaʻi’s eastern shoreline and is aptly named for the groves of coconut trees there and historical ties to
It came as a shock. On Nov. 22, businesses were notified that kayak-tour operators and rental companies would no longer be allowed to operate on Saturdays at Wailua River—on the island of Kauaʻi—starting on Dec. 4. With Sunday being an already restricted day, those who’d like to visit the river should start planning around the
7 a.m. Head to Kaua‘i Bakery to grab some deep-fried sugar-coated malasadas. The place has been an island favorite since the mid-1980s and its malasadas were voted the best around in HAWAI‘I Magazine’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. Read More: Kauaʻi Bakery Earns Title of Best Malasada in Hawaiʻi 8 a.m. You’re on a tropical island.
It was my first trip to Kauaʻi—to anywhere—since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and I wanted to do everything. Lounge on Hanalei Beach. Drink mai tais at Tahiti Nui. See the Nāpali Coast by boat. Eat kūlolo. And trek to a secret waterfall somewhere on this ridiculously lush and gorgeous island.
As a lifelong hiker, I can honestly say there’s no better way to experience—and appreciate—the natural beauty of Hawaiʻi than by hiking its plethora of trails— and Kauaʻi is no exception. From hikes to waterfalls to paths meandering through majestic mahogany trees, the island’s boasts a variety of trails for all hikers. Here are the
There are a lot of reasons visitors and locals love Kauaʻi. The aloha-first atmosphere, catching views from the breathtaking Waimea Canyon and hiking the iconic Nāpali Coast are all great reasons to visit the Garden Isle. But for some—actually, many—it’s the beaches that steal away the hearts and minds of those who visit. Below are the five best
(As of March 2022, the ranch is permanently closed.) Gray clouds overhead, some drizzle on my skin and a pristine mountain range ahead of me. I feel like I’ve stepped into another world. In reality, I’m only 4 miles from the center of Kīlauea town on Kaua‘i’s North Shore. I’m with my husband, meandering on horseback through 300
