Hawaii- where I spent my birthday in the aloha state of mind!

Often times I am being asked of that one place I would visit again and often times I will say either Greece or Hawaii. Even in Hawaii, I feel like Kauai is one place which gives me so much peace and happiness. The beauty of Hawaii, especially Kauai has surprised me like no other place.

Last year for my birthday, we decided to take a trip to Maui and Kauai. We spent about a week in Hawaii and it was truly an experience i will forever cherish. From those early morning chicken alarms in Kauai (yes in Kauai, you won’t need your phone alarm to wake you up) to that beautiful sunset in Maui, it was an experience I will always cherish.  

This year, I see a lot of you are asking me on Instagram about my trip to Hawaii and therefore I thought to give you a few suggestions and places to see in Maui and Kauai.

I have also attached my entire Itinerary so it is easier for you to plan your trip.

Hawaii is expensive so keep that in mind while planning your trip. We went over the labor day weekend, but I feel like no matter when you go, it is one of those places that will always be up there in the price.

We started our trip with landing in Oahu and spending a day there. I cannot say much about Oahu because I have not explored it a lot yet.

First things First,

Ways to get to different Islands:

When you want to island hop as we did you have your choice of a few carriers, but prices are generally the same. We flew Hawaiian Airlines and our experience was great. We did Oahu-Kauai-Maui.

I would recommend the early morning flights so that you can make it to your destination early morning and have the rest of the day to explore. The flight from Oahu to other islands is about 30-45 minutes.

Getting Around the islands:

When it comes to getting around the islands, there are a few ways to do it. If you’re traveling from one part of the island to another, there are some modes of public transportation, but they aren’t always reliable. Car rentals are a way to go.

Kauai:

OMG, the real Jurassic Park. From the time you get out of the airport to every moment that you spend there, you will feel like you are on the set of Jurassic Park and yes you feel that way because Jurassic Park was shot here. The beauty of Kauai is so serene. It is unlike any other Hawaiian island. If you go to Hawaii and do not visit the Napali coast, trust me you will regret it.

We spent about 4 days in Kauai. It was perfect because we did a lot of stuff and not for once did we feel like we were rushing it.

Where to stay in Kauai:

One thing about Kauai is, it rains a lot. So do not be disappointed by it, but rather enjoy it. There is so much greenery around Kauai that the rain does not surprise me at all.

Regions of Kauai:

The North Shore- including Princeville, Hanalei, and Kilauea.

The South Shore– including Koloa, Lawai, and Poipu

The East Coast– including Kapaa, Wailua and the county seat of Lihue.

The West Side– including the towns of Waimea and Hanapepe (staying on the West Side is much less popular than the other locations)

The island is pretty small so wherever you stay, you will be able to see each region. Out of all the regions, north shore to me was the prettiest. It rains more in the north compared to the other regions of Kauai, but it is still the prettiest.

We stayed at the St Regis Princeville resort and it was truly beautiful. There are many other resorts in the Princeville area which are really good as well.

There are a lot of Airbnb’s also available in the resort share area in Priceville if you are looking to consider those. Those are pretty nice too. I would highly recommend the one facing the ocean.

Also, if you do not want to stay in the Princeville area, the next region I would recommend where you should stay on the South Shore. There are lot of good resorts there like the Grand Hyatt Kauai. This was a beautiful resort too. We went to get some food there and checked out the resort.

Top things to do in Kauai:

A helicopter ride– This can get expensive but sometimes when visiting a place like Kauai, this is an experience you can’t miss. Taking a look at the Napali Coast from above is truly an experience. I would highly suggest the one with open doors. You will love the ride. Haha. If you are scared of heights do not take the one with open doors. We did the Jack Harter Open door helicopter ride.

I would highly recommend, booking your helicopter ride the first full day of Kauai because you can get an idea of the entire island the very first day. Also, all the helicopter rides operate from the airport so it will be easier for you to do it the same day as you land in Kauai, so that you do not have to waste time and come back to the airport the next day.

My suggestion: take an early morning flight from Oahu to Kauai, take the helicopter ride, and then get started with your trip.

Note: leave a few hours between the landing time in Kauai and your helicopter ride so that if there is a delay in your flight, you will not have to go through the trouble with the helicopter companies.

Must See places: Do not miss

Hanalei Bay, Hanalei town: Hanalei bay and the beach as my sooo pretty. We took some drinks and chips there and spent about 2 hours here. There are also food trucks nearby in this town and the food in those trucks is delicious. A must try.

Waimea State Park, Waimea Canyon lookout: This is like the grand canyon and is on the west side of Kauai,you will need almost a full day here.

Polihale State Park and Beach: This state park is also on the western side of Kauai, but is a must see. The beach is so secluded and you can see the Napali coast from here too. The road that leads to this beach which is in the Polihale state park is a gravel road, so make sure your car is 4×4 and visit the beach in the afternoon, so that you can return back before dark.

I say this because this beach is secluded. I would highly suggest picking up some drinks and snacks before you visit because you won’t be able to find any restaurants around the beach area. You will love the untouched vibe of this beach.

Koke’s State Park– Just north of Waimea Canyon State Park, Koke’e State Park is a great park for hiking.

The Famous Kalalau Trail: The beautiful Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile hike that leads from Kee Beach to Kalalau Beach along the cliffs of the famous Na Pali Coast. The pictures you see in the magazine from Hawaii are mostly from here because this is the famous backdrop seen in many pictures of Hawaii.

The Kalalau beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world but if you are not going to hike the 11-mile trail there is one more option for you. If you want just a small glimpse of the coastal views and lush jungle. You can take a short 2-mile hike to Hanakapi’ai Beach or continue on 2 more miles up the valley to Hanakapi’ai Falls. You will still be able to see the beautiful views of the coast.

The beginning of the Kalalau Trail is located on the north side of Kauai, next to Ke’e Beach. To reach it, travel (approx. 1 hour drive) from the Lihue Airport to the northwest end of Kuhio Highway (Route 56).

Other Lookout points:

These are the list of other lookout points which will not take much of your time:

There are so many different lookout points in Kauai that every few minutes you would want a picture and stop at that lookout point.

Hanalei valley lookout and Queens bath– This lookout point is near Hanalei Town

Kilauea Lighthouse– this is near the Princeville area. The view from this place was really nice and if you love seeing different kinds of birds, you will love this.

Kalalau lookout– Kalalau Lookout isn’t just another Waimea Canyon lookout. Kalalau Lookout is also the highest elevation most people reach in Kauai by road, at 4,000 feet. It was truly worth checking out.

Pu’u O Kila lookout- At the very end of Highway 550 in Kokee State Park is this lookouts on the island; a panoramic view into Kalalau Valley and scenic views overlooking the Alakai Swamp (the highest swamp in the world).

Best Beaches:

Hanalei Beach

Tunnels Beach

Poipu beach

Waterfalls of Kauai:

Hanakapiai Falls: you can get to this fall by doing the first two mile hike (one way) on the Kalalau Trail.

Wailua Falls- You can get here by car. Also can hike down if the weather permits.

Top Hikes:

Kalalau Trail (can do the first two miles): Also called the Hanakapiai Trail. This trail includes the first two miles (one way) of the 11-mile Kalalau trail that stretches along the NaPali coastline, starting at Kee Beach at the end of the road on North Kauai.

Kalalau Trail (after the second mile needs permit): Full Day

Kalepa Ridge Trail (goat trail, dangerous but great views): It offers sweeping views of the Kalalau Valley, some like you’ve never seen.Not for beginners.

Kuilau Ridge Trail (easier one): The lush jungle setting and a good view into the heart of Kauai, towards Waialeale. The hike doesn’t take that long. Just keep an eye on the weather, as the trail is sometimes frequented by rainstorms.

Nualolo Trail & Awaawapuhi Trail (also called loop trails) : Full day hike

Sleeping Giant- It is on elevation so if you are a beginner it might be hard. We only did half of this trail because it was rainy and the mud made everything too slippery.

Food:

To be honest, most of the times, we ate at the food trucks near Hanalei Town because we loved them. Also do not forget to eat the famous shaved ice: Jojo’s shaved ice, Wailua Shave ice. There are so many shaved ice places that which one was the best is hard for me to tell. So try as many as your heart desires. Also, if you go to Hawaii and do not eat the Acai Bowls, I do not know what to tell you. Acai bowls are delicious.

Maui:

To be honest, Maui was very pretty but I loved Kauai more. There are some great things in Maui though, that if you decide to go you should definitely visit.

Also, Maui is great if you are looking to spend time in the hotel areas and just relax. We spent about two and half days in Maui. So, it is a perfect island to visit after Kauai since you will be tired with all the hiking and other acitivites in Kauai.

Where to stay:

There are lot of resorts in the Lahaina town near the Kanapali beach and we stayed at the Hyatt Regency resort and Spa.

If you want to do an Airbnb you can also get one near the Wailuku area, it is not too far from everything and the price is great in that area.

Places to see and things to do:

I want to be honest here, the most overrated thing to do in Maui is “Road to Hana”. I say it is overrated because there is nothing special about it.

Yes, it is a good road for a drive, but it is okay if you cannot see everything. The best thing I found on road to Hana is the Three bears fall. We actually climbed down there and it was a really nice experience. Everything else was good but not as much as I expected it to be.

Also Google Maps does not work on your way to Hana therefore you need to download this app called Gypsy Guide. This will be a really helpful if you want to see some hidden spots too on your way, because the app will guide you. Highly recommend it.

Especially after visiting Kauai, Maui, when compared to Kauai, did not impress me at all except one place which was out of this world, and therefore I would totally visit Maui just for that one activity which you will read below.

My favorite thing in Maui and probably that I have ever done in my life is the sunset at Haleakalā or the East Maui Volcano. Oh my god, this was amazing and my favorite sunset that I have ever seen.

We were at the elevation of 10,023 feet and above the clouds. It was breathtaking. If you want to spend an entire day here it would be nice too because they have a bunch of activities like horse riding and biking tours.

The only thing is, it’s cold up there. You will not believe that you are in Maui because it gets very cold at that elevation. So take a jacket with you.

I would suggest going to Maui just for this one place. You won’t regret it. You can totally skip road to Hana if you do not have time but do not skip Haleakalā.

Ioa Valley– It is a very pretty state park and it is easily accessible by car or tour companies, has paved walkways, steps. It is also dramatically scenic. The stream is very pretty and we spent so much time just relaxing near the stream. You should defintely visit it.

Lanai Show- If you do not want to spend a lot for the Lanai show and only want to have drinks and not the food, Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa have a good option. The show was nice too.

As far as food goes, I cannot recommend a lot because we mostly ate at the Lahaina town. But, you should definitely try the WOW WOW Lemonade . And, ofcourse the Acai bowls are a must when in Hawaii.

I will choose Kauai any day when it comes to Hawaii, but will visit Maui even for a day to experience the sunset and sunrise at Haleakalā.

Have you been to Hawaii and what islands were your favorite?

Also do not forget to refer my itinerary for a quick reference.