Plan Your Family Vacation in Kauai with this Travel Guide

Out of all the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai has managed to preserve the cultures, traditions, and even values of the locals who have called the island home for many years. Every town on this island is small. All the buildings are considered short when compared to other cities around the world. And the only way to reach this island is by an inter-island flight since the locals blocked what could have been a lucrative ferry service to Kauai. Don’t let the lack of massive buildings and ferry service squash your beliefs about Kauai, though! There are plenty of incredible adventures you can take with your family. And you can enjoy the laidback lifestyle and delectable foods at the same time!

History on the Island of Kauai

The island of Kauai was formed more than five million years ago. An active hot spot from below the Pacific Tectonic Plate spewed magma up into the air. When that magma landed, it formed this island, as well as the other Hawaiian Islands. The Polynesians were the first people to live on Kauai. However, it is the traditions and cultures of the Tahitians, who arrived on Kauai many years later, that you will experience today during your visit. Europeans arrived on the island of Kauai in the late 1700s. They brought new trades and business ideas to the island. However, none of them could erase the significant history that was already in place on the island of Kauai.

Weather in Kauai

As with all the other Hawaiian Islands, Kauai only has two seasons. Those two seasons are summer and winter. And while there are two distinct seasons on this island, you can’t really tell the difference between the two. The reason for this is the temperatures are only a few degrees apart.

Summer in Kauai

Summer in Kauai is slightly warmer, so you will see the thermometer rise if you vacation there at this time of the year. There is also less rain in Kauai during the summer months. If you happen to stay on the East or North Shore, you will still get more rain than you would on the Southern shoreline.

Winter in Kauai

The winter months in Kauai bring a lot more rain, especially on the North and East Shore. The temperatures will also decrease slightly, but it never really gets below the 70s. Visiting during the winter months may mean lots of rain, but it is excellent for seeing lush flowers and other foliage.

Best Time to Vacation in Kauai

The best time to vacation in Kauai is either between the months of April and June or September and November. The temperatures are quite mild during those months, so you won’t need to deal with the extreme heat on the island. Plus, the cost of airfare and accommodations is lower during these times of the year.

What to Pack for a Family Vacation in Kauai

Most of the time, a family vacation in Hawaii is going to include packing a lot of shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses. A vacation on the island of Kauai, though is also going to include raincoats and umbrellas. The extra rain you will experience when on this island will not put a damper on your plans if you are dressed accordingly!

Places to Stay While on a Kauai Vacation with Family

Resorts are a popular option for accommodations when vacationing in Kauai with your family. However, I can also search for bed and breakfasts and vacation rental homes and condos for your stay. I understand that every family is unique. This is the main reason why I don’t only work with one resort or one resort brand. I prefer to customize every vacation for your personal needs, and that includes where you will all lay your head down at night!

Foods You Must Try While on Vacation in Kauai

One of my favorite parts of traveling is getting to try new foods! Even if you have a family of picky eaters, there is going to be at least one local food that everyone will love. A few of the must-try foods in Kauai include:

• Taro – Taro is a vegetable that has been included in Hawaiian dishes for many years. You can eat the entire plant. The leaves are similar to kale and spinach. The roots are used the most often, though. Most of the time, taro is included in poi dishes. The roots are normally steamed and have a sour taste.
• Lilikoi – Lilikoi is the Hawaiian term for passion fruit. While you can eat lilikoi on its own, I recommend having lilikoi pie. If you decide you love lilikoi, you can purchase lilikoi mustard, syrup, and jelly to take home with you.
• Lomi Lomi Salmon – In Hawaiian, lomi lomi means to massage. So, with this dish, your salted salmon will be massaged before being mixed with green onion, sweet onion, and tomatoes. The locals mix their lomi lomi salmon with kalua pork and poi to create what they call a broke mouth ono.
• Puka Dog – The puka dog is considered the Hawaiian hot dog. A Polish sausage is tucked into a piece of toasted Hawaiian sweet bread. While that would be delicious enough, what really makes this dish is the numerous toppings! A garlic lemon sauce is put on first, and then you can choose from a few sweet fruit toppings. I prefer mango or pineapple, but papaya, banana, star fruit, and coconut are also options.

Activities to Embrace While on Vacation in Kauai

You may be tempted to spend long lazy days at the beaches on the island of Kauai. However, I recommend adding so much more to your family’s itinerary! After all, where else in the world can you paddle into sea caves, swim with turtles inside a sparkling cove, and hike deep down into a canyon to see a waterfall?

Other incredible family activities to embrace while on vacation in Kauai include:

• Ziplining through the tops of trees in the forest
• Helicopter rides down into the valleys
• Paddling along a sacred river
• ATV rides
• Attending a Luau
• Mountain tubing
• Snorkeling
• Swimming
• Boat tours
• Train rides through plantations
• Wander through botanical gardens
• Horseback riding tours
• Cross a Swinging Bridge

Top Places to See While on Vacation in Kauai

There is so much to see and do when you are on a family vacation in Kauai. I don’t want you to spend hours searching to find the best places to visit, so I thought I would share the three must-visit destinations on the island of Kauai.

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is near Koke’e State Park, and it is easy to check both these destinations off your list in one day. The canyon is considered the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It is fourteen miles wide and more than three thousand feet deep. If you are looking for a picturesque landscape, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Waimea Canyon. The craggy cliffs, crested buttes, and lush vegetation will overwhelm your senses. Just don’t forget to seek out the rivers and waterfalls that will take your visit to the next level. This is an excellent location for hiking too. I recommend the Waipo’o Falls Trail or the Cliff Trail Lookout, but any of them will provide an afternoon of adventure for your family.

Hanalei Bay

If you are staying in an exclusive resort during your vacation in Kauai, you are most likely in the Hanalei Bay area. There are three beaches in this area, and they all lead to the others. Therefore, you can begin at Waioli Beach Park before wandering down to either Black Pot Beach or Hanalei Beach Park. These beaches offer lots of sandy space, so they never seem too crowded. You must be aware that Hanalei Bay is a favorite of the local surfers though, so you will want to be prepared for extra people during the height of the surfing season.

Napali Coast

This coastline can be found on the northwest shoreline of Kauai. The Napali Coast is seventeen miles long and is filled with massive steep rocky cliffs. You cannot travel along this coastline in a car. Instead, you must choose to either hike to see the natural beauty of the area or plan to take a boat or helicopter tour. I must warn you that the hike along the Kalalau Trail is quite strenuous. If you are not an experienced hiker, it is best to choose one of the other tour options I mentioned above.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Family Vacation in Kauai

I know you want to have the best vacation ever when you are over on the island of Kauai. To make sure that happens, I have decided to share a few tips that will help you get the most out of your family vacation in Kauai.

• Rent a Vehicle – Public transportation on Kauai isn’t very good, so I always recommend renting a car when you are vacationing on this island.
• Practice Travel Pono – Travel pono means to travel righteously when you are in Kauai. Basically, it means do not litter, be respectful of the land, and leave every space cleaner than it was when you arrived. This will ensure the island will stay beautiful for many years to come.
• Keep an Open Mind When Experiencing the Culture – While you will learn so much about the culture in Kauai, you will also learn so much more about yourself at the same time.
• Be Safe When Exploring – You may want to simply hit the open road when you are vacationing in Kauai, but it is best to be prepared for many different scenarios before you do. I recommend checking out the current weather conditions before venturing out for the day. This will ensure you do not get stuck in a storm or have hotter weather than you were prepared for.

These are many of the things you must know before planning a fabulous vacation in Kauai! I want you to know that you do not need to plan this vacation on your own. As an expert travel advisor, I can customize your dream family vacation in Kauai for you!

So, are you ready to plan your family vacation in Kauai?

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