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The 25 Best Things to Do in Hanalei
Hanalei is a beautiful town on the North Shore of Kauai, and a must-see for any Kauai vacation. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Hanalei, you’re in the right place!
Before we get started, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy. I’m a Hawaii Travel Agent, and I love sharing Hawaii travel tips on the blog! Contact me if you feel overwhelmed and need help with your Hawaii vacation.
Do I need a rental car in Kauai?
Renting a car is an absolute must in Kauai. It would be a shame to waste your time on the beautiful garden isle in a resort (even though the resorts in Kauai are beautiful too).
There aren’t many options for public transportation, so you don’t have much choice. I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental. You’ll find the best deals and don’t have to pay for your rental until arrival. By the way, I recommend a Jeep; it is a lot more fun! That said, a car is also perfectly fine.
The Best Things to Do in Hanalei
Here are the best things to do on the North Shore of Kauai, in no particular order. This includes things to do in Princeville, things to do in Hanalei, and the surrounding North Shore.
Limahuli Garden and Preserve
One of the best things to do on the North Shore of Kauai is to visit the Limahuli Gardens. It is a 17-acre botanical garden. I recommend a tour of the gardens.
Visit Hanalei Valley Lookout
Hanalei Valley Lookout is one of the best lookout points in Kauai.
Explore the Wai’oli Hui’ia Church
One of the best things to do in Hanalei is to explore the Wai’oli Hui’ia Church. This church was founded in 1834, though the current building wasn’t constructed until 1912.
Visit the Wai’oli Mission House
This mission house is located behind the Wai’oli Hui’ia Church.
Take a Shuttle from Hanalei to Haena State Park
There are so many things to do in Princeville. However, one of the best things to do is to take a shuttle to Haena State Park.
If hiking is on your list of things to do on the North Shore of Kauai, Haena State Park has you covered! Hanakāpi’ai Falls Trail is only 4 miles long, but you will need a permit even for hiking part of the famous Kalalau Trail.
Take a Na Pali Coast Boat Tour
There are quite a few catamaran tours available in Kauai. These tours (like this one) are available out of Hanalei from April through October.
If you visit during the other months of the year, you will need to book a boat tour out of Port Allen on the other side of the island. My favorite sail-and-snorkel is with Holo Holo Charters.
Go Kayaking
Kayaking is one of the best things to do on the North Shore of Kauai. You’ll likely see dolphins and turtles while kayaking in Hanalei Bay.
I recommend bringing snorkeling gear on this adventure. You can easily slide into the water with the marine life to see it up close. A kayak and snorkel tour is always a good option.
Go Shopping at the Hanalei Farmers Market
Hanalei Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning. There are more than 50 vendors there selling local food, fruit, and crafts.
Explore Kaula Paoa Heiau
According to legend, Kaula Paoa Heiau is the birthplace of hula. Getting to Kaula Paoa Heiau is simple. All you need to do is walk along the trail from Ke’e Beach.
The heiau, which is a stone temple, is dedicated to Laka. She is the goddess of dance and music. You should only enter this temple via the opening and never climb on the rocks.
Go Surfing
Surfing is one of the best things to do in Hanalei. The surf breaks are incredible, and you can’t beat the scenery!
If you do not know how to surf, don’t worry! Hanalei is also one of the best places to learn! There are quite a few professional surf instructors at the beach. You can take lessons from any of them. I recommend:
Go Snorkeling
You can snorkel at many of the beaches in Hanalei. Tunnels Beach is considered the best snorkeling destination in Hanalei. It’s also considered one of the best swimming beaches in Kauai. Always check conditions before venturing into the water!
You can also do a kayak and snorkel tour, which is a lot of fun!
Explore the Caves on the North Shore
One of the best things to do in Hanalei is exploring the caves on the North Shore. The two caves I recommend are the Waikanaloa Cave and Waikapalae Caves.
Play a Round of Golf
One of the best things to do in Princeville is to play a round of golf. The Princeville Makai Golf Course is one of the better golf courses on the island of Kauai. Here are the other golf courses in Kauai if golfing is on your Hawaii bucket list.
Walk Along the Hanalei Pier
The now-340-foot-long Hanalei Pier was constructed in 1892. The original wood has been replaced with concrete, and a roof was added during the 1940s.
Relax at Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park
This beach is directly in the center of Hanalei Bay. The water is not as calm in this area, so swimming is not always possible. However, most summer days bring calm water.
Checking out the surf report early in the day is one of the best ways to determine if you can swim at Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park.
Go Shopping
There are numerous boutiques along the Kuhio Highway. You will find many others in the heart of Hanalei Town. Many of those boutiques are located within historic buildings.
Eat Shave Ice
You cannot spend time on any of the Hawaiian Islands and not eat at least one cup of shave ice! There are a few places to get shave ice on the North Shore of Kauai. However, Wishing Well Shave Ice is at the top of the list for many people.
Eating shave ice is one of the best things to do in Hanalei, and anywhere in Kauai!
Photo from Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tommy Lundberg
Go Shopping at the Princeville Shopping Center
If Hanalei doesn’t have enough boutiques for you, I recommend heading over to the Princeville Shopping Center. This is one of the best things to do in Princeville on those days when it rains for a little while.
I also recommend going to Foodland. Surprisingly, the store is filled with all sorts of Hawaiian-made products and local foods.
Wander Around the Princeville Botanical Gardens
There may be a botanical garden in Hanalei, but that doesn’t mean you should skip over this one in Princeville.
Experience the Princeville Night Market
If you want something to do one night, head to the Princeville Night Market. You can listen to live music, shop, and grab food from the food trucks.
This is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Princeville at night. Kauai isn’t much for actual nightlife, but if you like live music in the evenings (like I do), it’s perfect!
Go hiking
One of the best things to do on the North Shore – and in all of Kauai – is to go hiking. Keep in mind that many Na Pali coast hikes are accessed in Koke’e State Park, on the other side of the island. However, the famous Kalalau Trail can be accessed here; make sure to get your permits!
The top 10 Hikes on Kauai will tell you more!
Take a helicopter tour
The helicopter tours don’t depart from the North shore, but a helicopter tour in Kauai is always a good idea! Most of Kauai is not accessible by car, so this is the perfect way to see all of the North Shore. I have an entire blog post about helicopter tours in Kauai, but these are my favorites:
- Kauai Island private helicopter tour
- Kauai ECO adventure tour with Blue Hawaiian
- Private doors-off Kauai helicopter tour
Check Out Queen’s Bath
Queen’s Bath is a tidal pool in Princeville. It is no longer safe or legal to go down to Queen’s Bath, but you can check it out from above!
Visit the Kilauea Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge
One of the best things to do on the North Shore of Kauai is to visit the Kilauea Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge.
Inside the wildlife refuge, you will have the opportunity to see many native seabirds. A couple of the birds you may spot include the great frigate, Laysan albatross, and red-footed booby.
Depending on the timing of your visit, you may see dolphins and humpback whales out in the ocean.
The best Things to do on the North Shore of Kauai
These are the best things to do in Hanalei and on Kauai’s North Shore. Did your favorite thing to do on the North Shore of Kauai make the list? If not, make sure to share it in the comments!
If you’re ready to plan your Kauai vacation or honeymoon and need some help, contact me!
For more Kauai travel tips, check out some of my most popular blog posts:
- The best waterfalls in Kauai
- The 10 best beaches in Kauai
- 10 best adventure activities on Kauai
- 7 day Kauai Itinerary
- The best restaurants in Kauai
- 25 things to do on Kauai
- 20 Best Places to Eat in Kapaa Kauai
- The 16 best beaches in Kauai for swimming
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