Don’t Visit Kauai Without Knowing This

Did you know that missing just one key detail could turn your Kauai dream trip into a travel headache?

For many visitors, Kauai looks like paradise—but beneath the beauty are unique challenges, from crowded roads and reservation-only adventures, to local customs that every respectful traveler should know.

👉 Unlock exclusive travel tips and bonus content—join Hawaii’s Best Premium today!

If you want to avoid the most common mistakes and experience the best that Kauai has to offer, this episode is your essential guide. Learn how to plan smarter, travel with respect, and make the most of your time on the Garden Isle.

In this episode of Hawaii’s Best, Bryan shares must-know Kauai tips: from booking your rental car and activities early, to staying safe on beaches, and embracing the island’s slower pace for a truly unforgettable vacation.

👉 In this episode, you will:

• Find out why reserving your rental car and activities months in advance is a game-changer.
• Get insider advice on family-friendly beaches, unique adventures, and how to beat the crowds.
• Discover how to travel with respect for Kauai’s culture, environment, and community.

⎯
Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play to unlock the secrets to planning your best-ever Kauai getaway—before you step off the plane!

🎧Related episodes:

• Ultimate Kauai Travel Guide
• Kauai's Hidden Gems 
• First Time to Hawaii

💻Related blog posts:

• Best Time to Visit Kauai
• How Many Days Should You Spend on Kauai?
• 8 Best Snorkel Spots on Kauai

⎯

🤓Chapters:

• 1:58 Essential Tips for Visiting Kauai
• 4:15 Navigating Kauai: Transportation and Reservations
• 6:27 Safety and Respect on Kauai
• 12:51 Final Tips and Fun Facts

⎯

🤙Become a Premium Member

⎯

📲Connect

• Facebook Group
• Business Sponsor Inquiry (let's work together!)

⎯

This podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a vacation to the Hawaiian islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)

Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)

Chapters

• 2:30 Essential Tips for Visiting Kauai
• 4:47 Navigating Kauai: Transportation and Reservations
• 6:59 Safety and Respect on Kauai
• 13:23 Final Tips and Fun Facts

Transcript

160_Don't Visit Kauai Without Knowing This

[00:00:00] Introduction to Planning Your Kauai Trip

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: What if planning your Kauai trip could be way easier and way better than you ever imagined? In this episode, you'll discover the tips I wish I knew before visiting Kauai. That includes insider advice that every traveler should have for a smoother, more memorable island adventure, so you can plan a trip that's truly unforgettable.

[00:00:24] Bryan Murphy: Aloha, welcome to Hawaii's Best. The podcast helping Travelers Plan an unforgettable Hawaii vacation with insider tips in featuring local voices. I'm Brian Murphy, a husband dad of three, and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips, and up-to-date news, sometimes with guests across Hawaii and sometimes solo.

[00:00:46] Bryan Murphy: All to help you plan your next trip to Hawaii.

[00:00:53] Bryan Murphy: Loha and welcome to this episode of Hawaii's Best. Thank you so much for tuning in and joining me.

[00:00:59] Membership and Community Benefits

[00:00:59] Bryan Murphy: Did you know that we have a podcast membership for listeners who want to take their Hawaii trip planning to the next level with me and a whole community of other travelers? I. You might have heard a quick promo before this episode played, but I want to personally invite you.

[00:01:13] Bryan Murphy: Just last week, 17 people joined when I first opened up the membership and special shout out to Joe and his wife for being the very first members of Hawaii's best premium. Membership tiers start out at free, which gives you access to a private group community where you can connect with other people who love Hawaii just as much as you and other Hawaii trip planners.

[00:01:34] Bryan Murphy: And if you're looking for even more support, our Ohana yearly tier includes a personal one-on-one travel planning session with me to answer any of your questions that you have and to go over your itinerary, anything you need, any questions you have about Hawaii. So join starting for free. Hawaii's best travel.com/members.

[00:01:53] Bryan Murphy: I can't wait to see you in the community today talking all about visiting Hawaii.

[00:01:58] Essential Tips for Visiting Kauai

[00:01:58] Bryan Murphy: Maybe you're thinking you've already got the bases covered. Maybe you've read a few blogs, maybe you've been on our website. Hawaii's Best Travel, you've booked a hotel, you've booked your rental car, hopefully, and you strolled through some incredible Instagram pages just dreaming about your trip to Kauai.

[00:02:16] Bryan Murphy: But the reality is most visitors to Kauai and any of the Hawaii islands only learn the critical stuff after they've landed at the airport. Today, I'm going to make sure that's not you gonna cover all the bases that I can think of in this episode about what to know before visiting Kauai. I'll be going over real data, facts, local insights, and what I wish I would've known.

[00:02:40] Bryan Murphy: Tips, especially for my first time when I visited Kauai for the first time. 15 some years ago. We're talking about just simple changes, smarter planning, and some etiquette along the way that will help your trip on Kauai be even more enjoyable, memorable, and hassle free. Let's start off with some numbers I thought were really eye-opening.

[00:03:00] Bryan Murphy: Kauai saw 1.42 million visitors in 2023 alone. The island is only home to 73,000 residents. So if you do the math, which I'm not gonna do the math right now, I already did the math for you. That's 19 visitors for every single resident in visitor spending, 2.76 billion, which is way up from what it was before the pandemic.

[00:03:25] Bryan Murphy: Peak travel months are June and July. During those months, over 130,000 people showed up each month, and the average stay for a visitor is 7.7 days and spends about $287 a day. So what does this mean for you if you visit during June and July? Well, typically the crowds are gonna be higher competition for tours, reservations, restaurants.

[00:03:50] Bryan Murphy: Gonna be higher prices too for hotels, flights, and an island where the roads, beaches, and restaurants are stretched thin. It's gonna be more crowded. It's just the way it is, and maybe that's the only time you can go and that's totally fine. But the purpose of this episode is to help make you aware of some of these things too.

[00:04:09] Bryan Murphy: So not to surprise you, if you visit during July, it's gonna be busy, and that's just the way it is.

[00:04:15] Navigating Kauai: Transportation and Reservations

[00:04:15] Bryan Murphy: Let's talk a little bit about transportation, getting around the island, because many people kinda get tripped up here. The deal is you, you have to rent a car when you go and stay on Kauai. There's really no way around it.

[00:04:27] Bryan Murphy: Kauai's, public transportation is what, uh, let's just say not designed for. Lots of tourists. The bus can be infrequent, covers only a few routes, and you don't wanna spend your time waiting at a bus stop or trying to find an Uber. The island is 25 miles across and 33 miles long, but everything is scattered across the island.

[00:04:51] Bryan Murphy: There's things you wanna see, the North Shore and South shore, west side, east side. You're just gonna need a car, especially on Kauai. If you're on Oahu, you might be able to get away with not renting a car if you're staying in Waikiki area. Public transportation is more robust on the island of Oahu, but on Kauai it's not.

[00:05:12] Bryan Murphy: And one of the things most people don't realize is rental cars do book out pretty quickly, especially if you're traveling in peak months. And if you wait too long, you might miss booking a reservation for your car. Or you might have to try to look for something like a Touro, but that can cost a lot more.

[00:05:31] Bryan Murphy: But it's something worth looking into if all the cars are rented out. When you visit. There's basically one main highway that wraps around most of the island. It gets jammed, especially in La Hue, or heading up towards hot spots like Ley Bay or Nepali Coast Trailhead. A drive that should take 30 minutes, like on the map, can easily be doubled during busy times.

[00:05:52] Bryan Murphy: Sometimes you don't know when road work is happening, and that can definitely put a hamper on travel times. So you just wanna plan ahead, especially if you have reservations up at the Lighthouse and North Shore. Speaking of reservations, reservations are kind of here to stay places like Ana State Park, that's your gateway to the Colorado Trail.

[00:06:13] Bryan Murphy: The state park now requires both an entry fee and parking passes, so book early. It's also important, any place you go to, just to double check that reservations are required. That'll help save a lot of headache.

[00:06:27] Safety and Respect on Kauai

[00:06:27] Bryan Murphy: Let's talk a little bit about safety, because Kauai has so much natural, rugged terrain. It's important just to be aware of some of the things.

[00:06:35] Bryan Murphy: I've talked a lot about safety on the podcast, but just want to talk specifically about safety on Kauai. Some of the strongest currents in Hawaii are right off the shores of Hawaii, especially up north. A beach like Ka, the waves might look chill, but they do pack a huge punch, especially during the winter times every year.

[00:06:54] Bryan Murphy: Unfortunately, tourists ignore the warning signs and get swept away or injured in a spot, a popular spot that has become popular over. The recent years is Queen's Bath up in the North Shore. That is incredibly dangerous and strictly off limits. Please do not visit Queen's Bath. It can be unpredictable for sure.

[00:07:16] Bryan Murphy: I. Basically stick to beaches with lifeguards like poipu on the South shore ligate beach Park. And Hawaii is pretty good about posting up warning signs on beaches, so always heed those warnings. Also, the weather on Kauai can change pretty quickly. You could start a hike in bright sunshine and end up in a downpour within an hour.

[00:07:36] Bryan Murphy: Flash floods are really no joke on Kauai. Always check the weather before hiking. Last year, a family from California tried to hike the Colorado Trail in flip flops. No water started at noon and two miles in. They had to be rescued by helicopter heat exhaustion, you know, busted up feet, you name it. It cost thousands, and it was a hundred percent avoidable.

[00:08:01] Bryan Murphy: With a little prep and a little understanding prior to going out on the trail. It probably goes without saying, but just need to say it. You know, stay on trails, pack out your trash. Don't take rocks, shells, or anything else home for a souvenir. There's amazing farmer's markets and other places where you can buy from local.

[00:08:21] Bryan Murphy: Vendors and those can be incredible souvenirs you can take home with you, and that's a great way to show respect. Yeah. One of the phrases I wish I would have really grasped before my first visit to Kauai 15 years ago was a phrase, malama. Aina, which means care. Caring for the land. It's a deeply held value in Hawaii, and when you see signs asking you to stay on the trail or not to move rocks, that's not just for your safety.

[00:08:48] Bryan Murphy: It's also about respect. I'm not saying that I was knowingly disrespectful when I first visit. I just didn't have a deeper understanding of. What it means to truly go about hiking those trails, visiting the beaches, sacred temples, with true understanding and respect. And another thing that I wish I would've known is, I've heard of island time, but things just move a lot slower on ku.

[00:09:13] Bryan Murphy: If your tour starts 15 minutes late, or your food takes a little bit longer than you're used to, you just gotta roll with it. Have a little patience. Enjoy yourself. Just always remember you're on Kauai. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world. One lesson that surfaced last summer, some visitors moved rocks at, at a sacred site near Waloo to snap a better photo within hours.

[00:09:37] Bryan Murphy: Local social media found out where they were, what car they rented, and where they were staying, and unfortunately, they had to cut their trip short and leave the island. That's how serious locals take this stuff. So when you hear some of those stories about, oh, locals are just being. Angry, they're just being unwelcoming.

[00:09:58] Bryan Murphy: Whatever it is, there's usually a cause and effect. Locals take their land and their ownership and stewardship of the land in Hawaii very seriously, and that is something to be aware of when visiting any of the islands in Hawaii. Another tip that is becoming more frequent and just here to stay is you need a plan and book ahead.

[00:10:21] Bryan Murphy: Spontaneity will hamper your time on Kauai if you don't plan for those things that you really want to do. I. I personally like to still show up in Hawaii and kind of wing it and go with the pace, and that works, especially if I'm not planning any boat trips or lu owls or anything like that. But for the most part, people are wanting to do those tours and when I wanna do a tour, I definitely want to book ahead.

[00:10:48] Bryan Murphy: The days of showing up and just winging it are kind of over. This is now really a reservation economy. Nepali Coast Boat tours and helicopter tours. Those are like some of the top number one activities and you need to book out months in advance, especially during busy season. A popular family activity is mountain tubing through the old plantation canals.

[00:11:09] Bryan Murphy: That's something that also needs to be booked well in advance. Same with Luaus. Kal Maku is one of the best luaus on the island. You want to book ahead for that. Even restaurants, if you have a restaurant, maybe like you gotta go to. Mery Mans or, or whatever. You gotta make sure you have those reservations book weeks, months ahead of time.

[00:11:28] Bryan Murphy: One of the newer reservations is the reservation up to the lighthouse, Daniel Kay NOI Lighthouse. That's a wildlife preserve up there. It's really cool. We did it last time we were on Kauai, but um, you gotta have reservations for that as well. I know a lot of people are listening to this and they have kids.

[00:11:46] Bryan Murphy: I wanna give a quick, short list of some places that are cool to go to. Poi Poo on the South Shore is hands down best for families. It's calm, some great, uh, swimming areas there. There's lifeguards, facilities, food nearby. Poi P Beach is great. Ligate Beach Park. Another winner is got a protective pond.

[00:12:06] Bryan Murphy: Perfect for little ones. Beginner snorkelers. There's a, you know, rock barriers. Keep the water even calm when the ocean's a bit rough out there. As far as activity, like I mentioned, mountain tubing in Kauai is super fun. It's original y. Mea Canyon on the west side is the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It's really a cool spot.

[00:12:27] Bryan Murphy: Again, gives you that awe as you walk up to it. If you've been to the Grand Canyon, it kind of gives you that same breathless like, oh wow, that's, that's a big canyon. And it's a great experience for families as well. Also look into the Fern Grotto wa, Lua River cruise. It's completely chill, suitable for all ages, and you'll see some cool jungle scenery that you can't otherwise see any other way.

[00:12:51] Final Tips and Fun Facts

[00:12:51] Bryan Murphy: So how does Kauai compare to, say, Oahu, Maui? What makes the island really different? If you're coming to Kauai and you're looking for those Waikiki vibes or that Maui glitz, you know, think white, lotus, you're gonna be surprised, maybe even a little disappointed if you're not prepared. Kauai is raw, it's beautiful, and mostly untouched.

[00:13:16] Bryan Murphy: 90% of the island can't be reached by car. There's not a lot of big shopping malls, mega resorts or nightlife. Most places close by 9:00 PM and that that's already pretty late for the island. You'll probably see a lot more chickens than you have ever seen in your entire life there. But the real magic of Kauai is all about the outdoor adventure, hiking beaches, exploring waterfalls.

[00:13:40] Bryan Murphy: There's no road around the island, so the famous Nepali coast is only accessible by boat helicopter. Those are things that are just unique to Kauai. So if you want an authentic Unplugged Hawaii, this is as close as you're gonna get. This is your spot, this is your island, but you've gotta be ready for things to be a little rustic and a whole lot less convenient.

[00:14:05] Bryan Murphy: And don't get me wrong, there still is a Costco and those amenities. But it's not as built out as like Oahu, and it's not as, I guess, glamorous as Maui South side in Wale or West Side Ka Nepali. Some quick tips to make your trip even better and to go with the pace of the island and, and be a visitor rather than just a, a tourist is try to book activities with local companies.

[00:14:36] Bryan Murphy: Eat local, shop small when you can, but obviously you wanna stick with your budget. It's already costing a lot to travel to Hawaii, Kauai specifically. I I totally get that. One Kauai resident. I, I think, put it really well, quote Kauai gives you what you bring to it. Come with respect and preparation. You'll have an amazing trip.

[00:14:57] Bryan Murphy: Come with big expectations and no plan. You'll leave frustrated. I think that really kind of sums up this episode well and just travel to Hawaii in general. Now, if you do want fewer crowds, better prices. Timing really is your secret weapon. I already mentioned June, July, August can still be pretty busy for those peak season.

[00:15:17] Bryan Murphy: Shoulder seasons are still great with fewer visitors and much easier reservations. Those are April, may, September, October. Ka gets rain year round, but winter is wetter, especially up north. But don't let that scare you off the, the rain makes the waterfalls incredible, and the south shore is usually drier.

[00:15:34] Bryan Murphy: South shore is usually where most people stay. Anyhow. All right. Now let's have a little fun. I wanna do a little true and false quiz with you. All right, here we go. True or false, you can drive all the way around KA in one day. False. There's no road around the Nepali coast up on the north. It can only be viewed by boat or helicopter ride, or seriously, professional hikers.

[00:15:59] Bryan Murphy: All right, number two. Kauai has more beaches per mile than any other Hawaiian island. All right. That's true. Over 50 beaches on just 90 miles of coastline. Alright, last one. The wettest spot on earth is on Kauai. That's true. Mount Wale gets over 400 inches of rain a year. So before you put that flight, or maybe you already did and that's okay, just remember some of these things.

[00:16:28] Bryan Murphy: Number one, rent a car book early. Number two, reserve. Everything. Always check to see what you're doing needs a reservation or not. Number three, respect the culture and land. Number four, embrace the slower pace of the island. Number five, plan for weather and have backup plans if needed. Most importantly, the visitors who have the best time, they connect with local support local businesses, and respect the island while there.

[00:16:54] Bryan Murphy: I really hope that this episode you found helpful, and if you did, would love to hear from you by simply taking five seconds, leaving a rating and review on whatever podcast platform you're listening to. And until next time, as always, I. Live with Aloha

[00:17:14] Bryan Murphy: Mahala for listening to this episode of Hawaii's. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii's Best is a production of shore break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends stick figure.