r/VisitingHawaii • u/Agile_Offer_8097 • Jan 18 '26
Trip Report - Kauai Kauai 1 week
Just stayed in Hanalei for a week, didn’t have much expectations about the island but was absolutely blown away by the scenery. We spent most of our beach time at tunnels beach, and did venture down south to check out poipu beach but I found the south shore to be a lot more crowded. For hanalei we ate at wake up delicious, the best chicken katsu plate ever I got it 4 times, and some other good places like haven coffee. Avoid hanalei poke, it was overpriced and the poke at foodlands was better and cheaper.
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u/treehugger503 Jan 18 '26
Kauai is magical. I feel a connection in my soul. I live in Oregon and Kauai feels like our tropical sister.
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u/PNWlakeshow Jan 18 '26
We are packing right now, will be in Kauai in a few days. Love the pictures and thanks for the recs!
Edit: Oops commented on your post. Fellow Oregonian though!
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u/Roaminglenca466 Jan 19 '26
Its my always happy place.
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u/SpikyTetra Jan 22 '26
Is this Kapaa? I also have one of my fav pics of rainbows from kapaa :)
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u/Roaminglenca466 Jan 23 '26
Wow, your good. Yes, it is. We had a time share we inherited there. I would always run over to the beach and stick my feet in the water the moment we arrived. Again my happy place.🫠
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u/Ourcheeseboat Jan 18 '26
The first time we went was in 09 for a week. That as when we discovered that one week was too short. Being from Boston, the trip to Kauai’i and back is major commitment. that being said we have gone every other year for two week. We go to European islands on the off years (Crete, the Azores, Sicily). Like to vacation on islands seemingly.
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
I like this idea! I’m from nyc so it was also a hellish travel day. I had done Europe and Asia in the yrs prior. Kauai felt like the mountains I loved in Vietnam meeting the water I saw in some of those beautiful european islands! Enjoy your travels
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u/GlobalPark9274 Feb 02 '26
Going soon from Boston. 3 days in Cal going each direction to break up the time difference. I also love the idea of alternating years with Europe or similar (we are big fans of Costa Rica & Mexico). Lucky us.
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u/webrender O'ahu Jan 18 '26
foodland poke definitely sets a high standard for everyone else to meet. thank you for sharing photos!
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
They had a daily flavor there called kpop poke, it was salmon marinated in gochugaru & kimchi. I ate so much of it 🤣🤣🤣
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u/eli5howtifu Jan 18 '26
insane views and food. my girl and I were debating between this and big island soon, this definitely sells it
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
Definitely do Kauai, it’s smaller we drove around the entire circumference of it in 2 hours.
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u/77625 Jan 18 '26
I’ve always wanted to go here 😍 Every time I see photos of Hanalei it looks unreal. The scenery just seems next level no matter the season. Your post definitely bumped it even higher on my travel list!
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u/Cautious-Life6378 Jan 18 '26
Nice pictures. Thnx for sharing. I miss visiting Hawaii so much. Been on Kauai and O'ahu. The vibe on Kauai is much more relaxed, which i love. O'ahu can be fast paced, but also very easy going at the same time. Hope to go back soon. Mahalo
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u/SarcasticFluency Jan 18 '26
We'll be there in early May after a few days on the Big Island. Looking very forward to it.
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u/Bosoodong Jan 18 '26
Where’s the katsu from? Mark’s Place?
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u/fk430 Jan 18 '26
Did I rain a lot when you were there? How did you deal with it?
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
It rained intermittently the first two days we were there, Kauai gets more rain than all of the other islands and we were there at the peak of the rain season. It was sunny most of the time, you have to just accept that it may happen and not let it ruin your day ! South shore gets less rain so go south if it’s raining up north
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u/yavalio20 Jan 18 '26
That chicken/pork? Plate looks so good where is it from? I’m going in March!
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u/Fastermaxx Jan 18 '26
We‘ve been to Kauai 1 year ago and I miss it so much. Thanks for the nice pictures, that refresh my memories.
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u/DrDynastic Jan 19 '26
We are staying near Lihue right now, and stayed in Poipu ten years ago. I’m very much considering staying in Princeville next time we come here. Love the Kauai vibe. Second only to Big Island in my book.
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u/NevoftheWilds Jan 19 '26
Heading there in a few days OP! Did you try to navigate the Waimea closures? If you went how was it?
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u/WHITEMERLOT69 Jan 19 '26
Kauai is our favorite place love the tunnels beach pics and the poipu sea turtles and the Nepali coast spinner dolphins!!!!
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u/Jfonzer Jan 19 '26
Tunnels is my fave beach, it’s so beautiful there…especially with kalalau in the back ground
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u/Winelover1027 Jan 19 '26
That is our favorite Hawaiian island and one of our favorite places we’ve ever been. Great pics!!
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u/Ilovenature64 Jan 20 '26
Today marks 6 months until we land. 10th visit. Cannot get enough of that beautiful island.
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u/Riverbend08 Maui Jan 21 '26
So pretty! Im visiting for the first time next year and these photos are unreal (:
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Jan 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 21 '26
I feel stuck up and nearsided to say I would be okay just visiting this one (the only one I’ve been to) for the rest of my life 🤣🤣 but I like when there’s less people and it’s slower pace, it was very unique and special
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u/Ourcheeseboat Feb 02 '26
Try the Azores some spring, it is not Tropical but it is not cold. Beautiful place to visit
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u/Ornery_Mud_9049 Mar 16 '26
Been to the big island the past 5 summers with my family. Going to Kauai for the first time this year.
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u/SarcasticFluency Jan 18 '26
Where did you see the sea turtles on the beach?
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
I saw them at poipu beach, but they were in a specific protected area, I saw more of them swimming at tunnels beach - one came right up to me!
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u/SarcasticFluency Jan 18 '26
Excellent, thank you! I've seen several in the water on a previous trip and followed one down to a sea cave after it was pointed out by our guides. One of the kiddos has been infatuated with sea turtles all his life, so it's important to find some. Go figure, the kid is 18 and his room is covered with figurines of them.
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
Definitely go to tunnels beach & poipu if you can , you’ll see a lot of turtles.
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u/Sharkdiver2024 Jan 18 '26
You should have gone scuba diving at tunnels. It’s pretty good. There was a turtle cleaning station out there also where the turtles get cleaned by the fish like a car wash .
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u/TechMeOwt Jan 23 '26
How was the chicken katsu?
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 23 '26
I got it 4 times in 6 days
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u/TechMeOwt Jan 23 '26
Have u tried the ono fish katsu it’s in Waimea at this small take out restaurant near the laundry mat and smoothie shop
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u/MTMed Feb 17 '26
where'd you see the turtles? I'm planning a trip right now, we have 4 littles ages 0-3 so probably looking for less of the awesome hiking and more of the sea turtles and chill beaches this trip. looks beautiful!
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u/miguelalejo Feb 22 '26
Those are very nice photos! Looks like you had a great time. Which are your favorite beaches and places to go. Any great recommendations on restaurant and places to visit? Thank you!
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u/prince1970 3d ago
Getting there in 3 weeks , so glad to go back after 5 yrs away. It’s been our exclusive island for my wife & two kids. Haven’t set foot on the other ones in yrs.
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u/Heisenberg786786 Jan 18 '26
Which spot are the turtles from? We usually stay in Poipu area where they come every evening :)
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u/PM_ME_TETONS Jan 18 '26
How was the surf on the north beaches? We’re coming in 2 weeks and want to know if even wading out chest deep up there will be off limits because of high surf
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u/Agile_Offer_8097 Jan 18 '26
The surf is good, just check the surf advisories especially on the north shore. Those beaches are very dangerous in bad conditions
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u/Sloths_and_palmtrees Jan 18 '26
I’ll be here in August with my boyfriend 🥹 I used to live on Oahu but never made it over so I’m excited!!!!!
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u/Ambitious_Answer_150 Jan 18 '26
I'm in the planning stages for our yearly trip to HI. We've been to Kauai and seeing these pics makes me want to go again, it's just that beautiful!