I have been scuba diving most of my life and eventually becoming cave certified so I could reach…read moreplaces off limits to recreational diving. I dive wrecks mostly but back in 1988 this was one of my first cave dives. The lower wet cave that is. Back then the water was Gin clear and deep blue. There are several reasons not to go in there, one is it's an ocean fed cave system so tides rise and fall inside the cave. If your in there and at the wrong time you will get sucked into the cave. More recently I have started hearing about dangerous organisms in the water that can really be nasty. The pictures here show how nasty the water in the cave is in more recent times. These were not the conditions experienced when I was in there. Another thing is this is a vent chamber for an active volcano (not sure the name of the actual volcano). Upon dropping down there are at least three chambers one on the left, one in the middle, under the dome and another on the right. I took the main (middle) chamber in and it slopes gradually down and levels out. The blue room was not far back and was largely flooded but did have an air chamber. From what I could tell the light comes in from an opening in the top of the chamber and rays of light were shining all over the entire room. It was like a cathedral almost. The water is beyond freezing cold and there are what seemed to be dead tree branches, animal bones and I wouldn't be surprised to find human remains either. The silt is extremely fine and will silt out extremely easy if you drop too low. (Seriously don't go in you could die). I was young and stupid but also highly trained. This is not a place to play in and especially not for recreational divers. Knowing now about the organisms in the water I would admire the view from shore. It's not worth the risks your taking and they are many. Would I do it again? Absolutely not! Oh and you can also hear rumbling when your underwater so that is unnerving to say the least. Sort of like a sunken Indiana Jones set..oh and lastly it's supposed to be haunted! There is some interesting lore regarding these caves and the haunted history of the caves and the native people who lived near the caves with a little searching. So, be safe.

Great secluded beach near Haena state park. The wet caves are amazing structures created by natureread more

As a long secluded shoreline on the north shore of Kauai, Anini Beach Park is accessible by car via…read morea paved and winding road from the Kuhio Hwy. Another beautiful, worth-visiting beach park on the north shore of Kauai. The central point is the park, that provides plenty of paved parking (parking is also available on the side of the road that hugs the coastline). This park has dedicated camping sites, and we saw many backpack tents set-up further in from the shoreline, usually underneath shade provided by the false kamani trees. The park contains a lot of green space and facilities. My wife and I ate our deli lunch at a nearby picnic table. Turtles often come on shore here, though there were none today (probably because we came in the afternoon). One thing we noticed were all the multi-million dollar homes right on the other side of Anini Road once you pass by Anini Beach Park traveling to the west (it's a dead end, so would need to circle back to get out). They are rentable via the typical companies, and would be great for beach loving families who want to spend some secluded time near the ocean. Also in the area are small pockets where one can park their car and go out into shoreline. From there, one can see and explore the large coral reef that rings this area.

We had a good time there today. The place is nice, although there were a lot of people it's still…read moreprovided for everybody, and had the best day at the beach there!!!

If I could only visit 1 spot during my time in Kauai, I would without any hesitation choose Waimea…read moreCanyon State Park. Affectionately nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", it is easy to see how this canyon gained its affectionate moniker. Stretching 14 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, the Waimea Canyon provides breathtaking panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges. Even at the first rest stop you come across, you are already high enough that the view would have made the trip worthwhile. There are 5 rest stops on your way up to the top, each offering restrooms, trash cans, and their own respective viewing points; each stunning in its own rights. You can choose to simply stop at each stop on your way up like we did, or drive all the way to the top and work your way back down. Keep in mind it takes almost an hour to drive up to the very top without stopping. And the fog starts rolling in later on in the day obscuring visibility into the canyon. So you'll want to make sure you start your day off early if you're opting for the later strategy. For us, we started on the bottom and worked our way back up. We never made it all the way to the top as the fog had already rolled in by the time we hit the higher levels which made viewing anything on those levels impossible. There is now some construction being done for safety improvements and roadwork patching. Much of which is past due and much needed. As we started to encounter quite a few gigantic potholes on the higher elevations that often required either maneuvering around into oncoming traffic or traversing very slowly over the shallower parts of the potholes. We were quite thankful we were in a SUV because we were fairly certain we would not have made it past some of the potholes if we were in a lower profile vehicle such as a sedan or convertible. While driving the canyon is free (outside of parking), you can also splurge and view the canyon unobstructed from an ariel vantage through either a chartered plane or helicopter ride.

Fantastic views - sometimes can be cloudy at the top $10 a vehicle and $5 a person but stunning…read moreviews ! Spectacular ! The road going up is quite windy - give your self some time to get there it takes a bit but breathtaking

Initially coming here to kill a little time before a reserved tour, my wife and I really admired…read morethe planning and execution of the building/landscaping of this family park. Named after a pillar in the community who came to Kauai in the late 19th century, Lydgate Beach Park is 62 acres, with the Lydgate Park pathway encompassing 2.5 miles, a small part of the much larger Ke Ala Hele Makālae costal trail. There is plenty of parking, with both dedicated surface lots and street parking on the paved road. We immediately noticed surfers on electric surfboards out pretty far, even on this windy day. At the northern part of the park is where most people gather, close to modern facilities and a manned lifeguard station and a large covered event area with plenty of parking. Closer to the shore, we saw a seal just lying on the land, bathing in the sun, completely ignoring the people milling by. The very large safe man-made swimming/tide pools are great for the kekei and others, with constant refreshing of sea water over the lava rocks. There are picnic tables nearby as well with a lot of green space. My favorite feature are the man-made protected swimming pools, What I loved about it was how spread out everything was, with so many amenities. It just never felt crowded, even if a lot more people came. As we were leaving, my wife mentioned that Lydgate Beach is one of those rare parks where an ocean-loving family would intentionally live close by, just to be near this park.

Beautiful beach. The pond area is great for swimming and there are a decent amount of fish in it…read more We were able to swim even with higher than average swells.

I visited the Wailua Falls in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaii [Maalo Rd; Hwy 583] on Saturday, 01/24/26,…read morearound 3:30 PM. Wailua Falls offered an incredibly close view, which made the experience feel special. I was able to truly appreciate the waterfall's beauty up close. One fun highlight was spotting a rooster sitting right near the edge, which was such a classic Kauaʻi island moment because roosters are everywhere on the island. I also noticed a touching memorial sign dedicated to Kavika Luna, "Mr. Aloha" - The Flying Hawaiian (May 1960 - September 2024). The message spoke about rainbows appearing as he chanted and the magic of Wailua Falls coming alive. It felt meaningful because I actually caught a mini rainbow during my visit, which made the moment even more breathtaking and memorable. Overall, I was very pleased with this stop. Wailua Falls is absolutely worth checking out for its natural beauty and history.

Located at the end of Maalo Road, this beautiful double waterfall cannot be safely or legally…read moreaccessed due to the notoriously steep, muddy, and very slick unmaintained trail down. But you can however view it safely from the designated roadside lookout. The parking lot here, although free, is very small and often filled to the brim with cars. The lot itself is also in desperate need of maintenance as it is filled with potholes, so getting in and out may be tricky. There are also vendors who fill up the front part of this lot, which further add to the chaos. Located in a sacred royal valley once known as the capital of Kauai, ancient Hawaiian chieftains and warriors use to test their bravery by leaping from the top of this nearly 200ft tall waterfall. There's not a lot to do once you get up to the top of the lookout except to snap a few photos. So it is debatable if it is worth the drive all the way out to here and dealing with the whole parking lot situation.

10/30/24 Stunning, unspoiled beauty, one of the smaller beach parks but definitely worth a visit…read morefor swimming, snorkeling & picnics. This beach park is located adjacent to an actual salt pond that is operational for locals. There are a few benches & shaded structures you may have a barbecue or picnic. There is a manned lifeguard tower. Parking is plentiful. There is a homeless encampment here, you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Enjoy the beach!

Very nice beach with shower and bathroom. I like that there are a lot of palm trees for shade on a…read morehot day. Also some tables and shaded areas here.

Would absolutely LOVE to camp here... Unfortunately arrived…read moreafter the museum and restaurant closed (-after 4). But this looks like a great place to camp. Did go into the lodge for a bit ( where the restaurant is), saw some beautiful trees and flowers. Did not explore the nature trail this time.... Drive a bit more to the Kalalau Lookout where one can see the Napali coastline and Ni'ihau in the distance. And did I mention chickens? A must see!!!

Koke'e State Park. It is "partners in crime" with its brother/sister Waimea Canyon State Park. When…read morevisiting Koke'e, you must first drive through Waimea Canyon along the 23 mile Koke'e Road. So for visitors, plan to combine both parks into 1 long day trip. You can actually take 2 days to explore the parks, especially if you plan on doing hiking. During my 1st day here, it rained for a majority of the time. Welp, that sealed my fate and I knew I'd have to allocate a 2nd day towards returning. And that's fine because Koke'e and Waimea Canyon are two of the major highlights when visiting Kauai, Hawaii. In fact, there's a sign saying..."Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Parks" paired together, like joined at the hip so to speak, lol. Pretty much, they're telling you how connected both parks are to each other. What I found interesting (and now I'll solely focus on Koke'e SP) is that there's not as much to do here as I anticipated. I was a little letdown when reflecting back on the experience. Especially the two primary overlooks, Kalalau Valley Lookout and Pu'u o Kila Lookout (near Mile 23), weren't nearly as fulfilling as Waimea Canyon Lookout located at Mile 10 of Koke'e Road. Kalalau Valley Lookout and Pu'u o Kila Lookout both offer similar perspectives of the Na'Pali Coast. They're located within maybe 2 -3 miles of each other at the end of Koke'e Road. In my opinion, the best you can do is take a selfie picture while at each of them. I'd rather just snap a landscape picture and be content with that. It's just a difficult family photo moment from each lookout especially with guardrails blocking the backgrounds. What I did discover was...if you walk off to the right hand side of the Pu'u o Kila Lookout, you can get a better glance at the Na'Pali Coast that makes for an undisturbed setting. Because, you eliminate the guardrails and forest growth proponent from the lens and allow a more panoramic backdrop. While at Pu'u o Kila Lookout, I hiked the Pihea Trail 1 mile (each way) to and from Pihea Vista and it was a waste of time. I regret it just thinking about it now. There was nothing to see. Back within Koke'e SP, everyone stops by the Koke'e Museum to purchase gifts and souvenirs. I grabbed a couple of knickknacks like a magnet and keychain. Next to the Museum is the Koke'e Lodge. Here you can also find small trinkets but more frequented is the Cafe to sit down and eat a snack/meal. There's a coffee bar as well along with tables and chairs. During my visit, it was the perfect time to stop at this Lodge because of the rain, but the crowds were too large and I had to steer clear of the hectic activity. Outside of the Koke'e Lodge and Museum, you will encounter an abundance of chickens and roosters who beg for food. They'll chirp and cock-a-doodle away (like typical roosters do, lol) but tourists take an opportunity to feed them. If you have leftovers, they'll gladly eat out of your hands or however you may feed them. And overall on the island of Kauai, it's rooster planet, filled with birds in almost every single commercial parking lot! Lastly, I'd like to talk about Awa'awapuhi Trail. This hike was recommended to me by a local. It's 6 miles roundtrip and I guess you could categorize it as strenuous. The 3 mile trek down through the jungle wasn't hard. But, you see nothing. I started daydreaming along the way. Finally at the 360 degree viewpoint, many people say it's a stunning, unreal glimpse of the Na'Pali Coast. I arrived at 11am just as clouds rolled in and wouldn't leave. I waited and waited and sat and sat still waiting for the skies to clear, but they never did. The 3 miles back uphill to the trailhead were hard, but if you're in no rush, it's no big deal. When speaking to others after the hike, it was recommended to me that you must attempt this Awa'awapuhi Trail first thing in the morning to avoid those clouds. Had I known this ahead of time, I would have altered my itinerary to start hiking during sunrise. Btw...when at the Awa'awapuhi vista, you stand on a cliff's edge overlooking the coast. If you have a fear of heights, there may be only so far you can go. Still, it's good enough to witness for everyone. Koke'e State Park was okay. I wanted to connect with it on a magical level so I could be glowing afterwards. Instead I never got what I came for. Regardless, when pairing with Waimea Canyon for the day, it's a top attraction and Must-Do visit while on the island of Kauai.

What a great park for rest, relaxation and golf in Lawai but close to Koloa too. The McBryde estate…read moreincludes a golf course, Japanese garden, acres of park, a Mexican restaurant (Paco's Tacos) and disc golf as well. A respite from the outside world, come here to relax, enjoy Mexican food, play golf or just go for a walk!

The staff was very friendly and the views were spectacular. A special thanks to Robert Medeiros,…read morethe manager! He took a few minutes of his day to tell us all about the history of Kukuiolono!