Free Things to Do Kauai, Hawaii

Free Things to Do on Kauai

(When you are done reading this list ....
see also this list of cheap and inexpensive things to do on Kauai, and this list from a visitor of the most fun things to do in Kauai, most of which are free or low cost. Also, be sure to sign up for my mailing list to get all my best tips and a copy free of my ebook How to Save Thousands of Dollars on a Hawaii Vacation.)

Waimea Canyon
Hike any of dozens of trails in Waimea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". There is a river, dozens of waterfalls, and countless unique and gorgeous attractions within this canyon.

Spouting horn on kauai

Spouting Horn
Two miles past the Ho'oai Heiau on Lawai Road near Poipu, just past the Allerton Garden Visitor Center
It is two holes in the laba tubes under the ground, one of which makes a low 'dragon-moan' when the water rushes in – and the other one causes the ocean spray to shoot up in the air - sometimes 30 feet high.

Wailua Falls
Kapaia Valley
These twin falls were made famous by the opening credits in Fantasy Island.

Maniniholo Dry Cave (near the bottom under north shore caves)
Easy to find at the side of the road at Haena
The cave is a big horizontal slit in the side of a mountain face – last time I saw it it wasn't quite dry, but it is awesome to look at and wander around in a bit. The beach park past it is very nice also.

Captain Cook Monument
Waimea in Hofgaard Park
Where Captain Cook first landed in the Islands in 1778. Waimea town also has a number of other historical buildings.

Holo Holo Ku Heiau
Kuamoo Road, Wailua
The oldest heiau (place of worship) on Kauai - where human sacrifices were made.

Waioli Mission House Museum
Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei
Living museum of missionary times.

According to the official Kauai Tourism page the three best hiking trails on Kauai are:

The Kukui Trail
This 5-mile (round trip) trail drops 2,000 feet into spectacular Waimea Canyon, and offers the shortest route to the canyon floor. There's a large swimming hole at the bottom. The trail begins off the Iliau Loop Trail.

The Kuilau Ridge Trail
This 4.2-mile (round trip) hike offers dramatic views of small waterfalls and a wealth of flora. The trailhead is about a mile beyond the University of Hawaii Agricultural Experimental Station on Route 580.

The Kalalau Trail
This is the original Hawaiian trail into Kalalau Valley, and offers dramatic views of Na Pali Coast and Kee Beach. It begins at Kee Beach where Highway 56 ends. Two miles inland is Hanakapiai Falls, which cascades 300 feet to a pool below. The trail travels on to Kalalau Valley, and many hikers camp overnight at Hanakapiai and before continuing on the next day. The entire trip is best made by experienced hikers.

Menehune Fishpond
Niumalu Rd. off Rte 51, near Nawiliwili (look for the green guardrail)
Amazing feat of architecture, whoever built it. Legend has it the tiny mythical race of menehune built it, but the ancient hawaiians were also very skilled at creating fishponds for fishing.

Kauai Coffee Company
1 Numila Rd, Eleele, HI 96705; (9am-5pm) - Phone: 808-335-5497
Hawaii's largest coffee estate welcomes visitors to learn about coffee growing, stand amidst coffee trees, and sample estate roasted coffee; Open 9-5 daily

Kilohana
3-2087 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI 96766 - Phone: 245-5608
Visitor attraction featuring unique retail shops, carriage and sugarcane rides, and a fine dining restaurant. Also banquet facility for convention theme parties, weddings, luaus, etc. Parts of it may no longer be free - check with them.

Free hula shows at:

Lihue Airport every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Coconut Marketplace 4-484 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa - Monday through Friday at 5:00 p.m. the hula halaus (schools) put on a free show of hula or Hawaiian music
Poipu Shopping Village, 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive, Monday thru Thursday at 5 pm.

Don't Forget to Check out the best Guidebook ever for Kauai

More Hawaii Money-Saving Articles Here

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