One of the most dramatic and beautiful places on Earth. Known as the “Garden Isle,” join me as I help you decide what to do, where to go, and what to eat on the incredible island of Kauai.

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Follow Me: Instagram: @mattstraveltips

MASSIVE thanks to Sarah Rudinoff and Josh Rudinoff for all their help and tips!

Big thanks to Matt at Aya Productions for the fantastic whale shot, the dolphin shots, the zodiac footage, and the boat drone shots. Check out his amazing stuff here (wonderful Kauai wedding videos and more): https://ayaproductions.com/

Huge thanks to Zane Persaud for totally saving me out there when my gimbal broke! If you need great wedding videos in Kauai and more, check out his awesome stuff here: https://www.zanepersaud.com/

Music by: https://www.epidemicsound.com

FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:

00:00 Opening
01:13 Beaches
01:26 North Shore Beaches
- 01:26 Hanalei Bay
- 01:51 Tunnels Beach
- 02:42 Kēʻē Beach
- 03:18 Anini Beach
03:33 East Side Beaches
- 03:34 Lydgate Beach Park
03:46 South Shore/Poipu Beaches
- 03:50 Shipwreck Beach
- 04:00 Kiahuna Beach
- 04:04 Poipu Beach
04:31 West Side Beaches
- 04:31 Kekaha Beach Park
- 04:35 Polihale Beach
05:52 Where to Stay & How to Get Around
06:02 North Shore
06:17 East Side
06:30 South Shore/Poipu
06:39 West Side
06:56 Getting Around & Car Rental
07:29 Hotels & Airbnb/Vrbo
07:55 Nā Pali Coast by boat
08:39 Helicopter Tour
10:03 Where to Eat
10:18 West Side Food
11:20 South Shore Food
12:32 East Side Food
13:46 North Shore Food
14:45 Waimea Canyon
15:10 Botanical Gardens & Nature Preserves
15:25 Allerton & McBryde Gardens
15:55 Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
16:14 Queen’s Bath
16:55 Hikes
- 17:10 Waimea Canyon to Waipōʻo Falls
- 17:41 Alakaʻi Swamp Trail
- 18:30 Pihea Trail
- 18:36 Māhāʻulepū Heritage Trail
- 18:55 ʻAwaʻawapuhi Trail
- 19:52 Kokeʻe Museum
- 19:58 Kalalau Trail
20:20 Hanakāpīʻai Beach
20:32 Hanakāpīʻai Falls
20:53 Hāʻena State Park Reservation Info
21:20 Adventures
- 21:26 River Tubing
- 21:46 Zip Lining
- 21:55 ATV Tour
- 22:16 Wailua River Kayak to “Secret Falls”
22:49 Scuba Diving
23:45 Luau
24:39 Get lost in the local charm
- 24:49 Hanapepe Art Night
- 24:55 Kauaʻi Community Market
- 25:06 Kapaʻa Coastal Bike Path
- 25:14 Respect the Culture

- Reservations for Hāʻena State Park (including Keʻe Beach & Kalalau Trail): https://gohaena.com/

Hotels: Kauai Sheraton Resort (Poipu)
Airbnb & Vrbo Location: Hanalei Colony Resort (booked on Vrbo…not fancy…no A/C…but a great spot close to Tunnels Beach)

BEACHES:

North Shore:
- Hanalei Bay
- Tunnels Beach
- Kēʻē Beach
- Anini Beach

East Side:
- Lydgate Beach Park

South Shore:
- Shipwreck Beach
- Kiahuna Beach
- Poipu Beach

West Side:
- Kekaha Beach Park
- Polihale Beach

FOOD:

A few great places that didn’t make the video are Shaka Burger, Bubba Burger, Kenji Burger, Da Crack, Fillo’s, Wailua Shave Ice, and Aloha Sweet Delights.

NOTE: Kauai restaurants and food spots have sometimes very unexpected hours. Check to make sure they’re open before driving to any of them.

West Side:
- Island Taco
- Gina’s Anykine Grinds
- Kalaheo Café & Coffee Company
- Japanese Grandma’s Cafe
- JoJo’s Shave Ice (Also locations in Wailua & Hanalei)

South Shore (Poipu/Koloa):
- The Musubi Truck
- Puka Dog
- Savage Shrimp
- Lappert’s
- Beach House

East Side:
- Fish Dish Deli
- Hamura Saimin
- Kauai Bakery
- Passion Bakery Cafe (malasadas every Tues, Thurs, & Sat)
- Tip Top Motel & Cafe

North Shore:
- Kilauea Fish Market
- Hanalei Bread Co.
- Hanalei Poke
- Bar Acuda
- Tahiti Nui

THINGS TO DO:

- Captain Andy’s Boat Tours
https://www.napali.com/
- Island Helicopters
https://islandhelicopters.com/
- Waimea Canyon Lookout
- Allerton & McBryde Gardens
https://ntbg.org/gardens/allerton/
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea-point
- Queen’s Bath (Awesome spot...just remember to please take the warnings seriously)
- Go on a Hike
(Hikes Featured: Waimea Falls to Waipōʻo Falls, Alakaʻi Swamp Trail, Pihea Trail, ʻAwaʻawapuhi Trail, Kalalau Trail)
- Kauai Backcountry Adventures (River tour & Zip lining)
https://kauaibackcountry.com/
- Kipu Ranch Adventures (ATV Tour)
https://kiputours.com/
- Scuba Diving
https://www.fathomfive.com/ https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/
- Luʻau Kalamaku
https://www.kilohanakauai.com/luau-ka...
- Hanapepe Art Night (Fridays)
https://www.hanapepe.org/art-night
- Kaua’i Community Market
https://www.kauaigrown.org/kauai-comm...

Things shown in the video but not specifically called out:
- Spouting Horn (blowhole near Poipu)
- Waimea Falls (drivable, amazing double waterfall)

NOT MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: The Limahuli Botanical Gardens on the North Shore are utterly beautiful.

MY EQUIPMENT:
On Location Camera: Sony A7S III
Studio Camera: Sony FX6