Food Scene
Great grilled fish and sushi. They don't take reservations and can get crowded, so go early. The salad is fresh greens from Kauai and is sometimes my favorite part of the meal.
SECRET: they also sell fresh fish at their fish market next door, cheaper and easier to buy and grill yourself back at the resort.
161 locals recommend
The Dolphin Restaurant
5-5016 Kuhio HighwayGreat grilled fish and sushi. They don't take reservations and can get crowded, so go early. The salad is fresh greens from Kauai and is sometimes my favorite part of the meal.
SECRET: they also sell fresh fish at their fish market next door, cheaper and easier to buy and grill yourself back at the resort.
Great scenic location to stop for lunch coming or going to the beaches west of Hanalei. This is the only restaurant past Hanalei. Lunch is better in my opinion because of the view and the lower prices.
14 locals recommend
Opakapaka Grill and Bar
5-7132 Kuhio HwyGreat scenic location to stop for lunch coming or going to the beaches west of Hanalei. This is the only restaurant past Hanalei. Lunch is better in my opinion because of the view and the lower prices.
Hanalei Bread Company
5-5161 Kuhio HwyYUM!!
Great pizza and other food, but BEWARE, you cannot order it to go, must eat in the restaurant. (they don't have the right permit for take out).
40 locals recommend
Piazza
Great pizza and other food, but BEWARE, you cannot order it to go, must eat in the restaurant. (they don't have the right permit for take out).
Drinks & Nightlife
Best sunset views on the island right at the resort. For dinner, you will need reservations, but I wouldn't recommend eating dinner here. Just have a couple mai tais or virgin daiquiris, watch the sunset and then make dinner back in your own room.
151 locals recommend
Happy Talk Lounge Restaurant & Bar
5380 Honoiki RdBest sunset views on the island right at the resort. For dinner, you will need reservations, but I wouldn't recommend eating dinner here. Just have a couple mai tais or virgin daiquiris, watch the sunset and then make dinner back in your own room.
Parks & Nature
Be sure to visit The Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/
Amazing views, bird watching and whale watching.
DO NOT stop at the entrance and park (you'll see lots of people do this...you can't walk into the park from here). Pay the entrance fee (the park needs the money to keep this place open) and drive down to the parking lot by the lighthouse. It's worth it. Bring binoculars if you have them, but they also let you borrow them for free at the visitor center.
Besides the views, there are lots of birds that use this as a nesting site. Plus you might catch a whale just off the shore if you look carefully.
10 locals recommend
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Be sure to visit The Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/
Amazing views, bird watching and whale watching.
DO NOT stop at the entrance and park (you'll see lots of people do this...you can't walk into the park from here). Pay the entrance fee (the park needs the money to keep this place open) and drive down to the parking lot by the lighthouse. It's worth it. Bring binoculars if you have them, but they also let you borrow them for free at the visitor center.
Besides the views, there are lots of birds that use this as a nesting site. Plus you might catch a whale just off the shore if you look carefully.
Gorgeous beach, but like most beaches on Kauai, especially on the North Shore in Winter, it's won't be swimmable. Don't climb the rocks anywhere on Kauai and then turn your back to the ocean, it could be deadly....seriously.
Take a picnic, make sandcastles and watch the waves roll in.
22 locals recommend
Lumahai Beach
Gorgeous beach, but like most beaches on Kauai, especially on the North Shore in Winter, it's won't be swimmable. Don't climb the rocks anywhere on Kauai and then turn your back to the ocean, it could be deadly....seriously.
Take a picnic, make sandcastles and watch the waves roll in.
Lots of amazing hikes and views. Not to miss, but will take an entire day from the north shore. Plan to pack food and water. It's worth the drive, but leave early.
90 locals recommend
Waimea Canyon State Park
Waimea Canyon DriveLots of amazing hikes and views. Not to miss, but will take an entire day from the north shore. Plan to pack food and water. It's worth the drive, but leave early.
Essentials
Like everything on Kauai, pricey groceries, but the closest one to the resort. Stock up on breakfasts, snacks, drinks and lunches to save yourself eating out every meal.
129 locals recommend
Foodland
5-4280 Kuhio HwyLike everything on Kauai, pricey groceries, but the closest one to the resort. Stock up on breakfasts, snacks, drinks and lunches to save yourself eating out every meal.
Shopping
Lots of families stop here before even heading to the north shore. You can even pick up water toys and snorket sets. Worth buying instead of renting for the week, you'll pay the same or less.
107 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
4300 Nuhou StLots of families stop here before even heading to the north shore. You can even pick up water toys and snorket sets. Worth buying instead of renting for the week, you'll pay the same or less.
Entertainment & Activities
Fun Mini Golf place on the north shore for when you have a couple of hours to kill or it's a bit too cloudy/drizzly for the beach. On a hot day, this place can be unbearably hot. Overcast days are best.
77 locals recommend
Kauai Mini Golf & Botanical Gardens
5-2723 Kuhio HighwayFun Mini Golf place on the north shore for when you have a couple of hours to kill or it's a bit too cloudy/drizzly for the beach. On a hot day, this place can be unbearably hot. Overcast days are best.
We learned to surf with this school and loved every minute of it. Hanalei Bay is the perfect place to learn due to the sandy bottom and easy waves.
Titus Kinimaka School Of Surfing
5-5088 Kuhio HwyWe learned to surf with this school and loved every minute of it. Hanalei Bay is the perfect place to learn due to the sandy bottom and easy waves.
We rent from here every time we come to Kauai. One double kayak and one SUP (stand up paddle board). From their shop you access the Hanalei River and can either head toward the ocean or paddle up stream. Either direction is fun.
6 locals recommend
Kayak Hanalei
Kuhio HighwayWe rent from here every time we come to Kauai. One double kayak and one SUP (stand up paddle board). From their shop you access the Hanalei River and can either head toward the ocean or paddle up stream. Either direction is fun.