Itinerary check and assistance please

Question

My husband and I (mid 50's) will be visiting Kauai April 14-24 to celebrate our 35th anniversary, this will be our first time in Kauai. I was hoping to receive some feedback on my proposed itinerary. I know that we will not be able to see and experience everything, and with a recent injury I will be unable to do any significant hiking.

We will be staying at Kauai Shore Hotel for our entire visit and we will have a car.

I do need some help with a couple of days, as I feel a little overwhelmed that I am going to miss something. I would like to spend one day on the beach doing some snorkeling. All suggestions appreciated.

Thanks so much for your help!

Tuesday, April 15- breakfast at the Island Country Market in the Coconut Marketplace, and then enjoy the morning at Poipu Beach In the afternoon, hike the Mahaulepu-heritage-trail. (Suggestions for dinner?)

Wednesday, April 16- breakfast at Java Kai then Visit Wailua Falls. ATV tour with Kipu Ranch Adventures from 1-5 then dinner at The Fish Express and relax at Kalapaki Beach.

Thursday, April 17- up early to eat breakfast at Kalaheo Cafe then head to Waimea Canyon. Stop at Waimea Canyon Lookout. Keep driving towards the end of the road to the Kalalau Lookout and the Pu’u O Kila Lookout (walk the trail from this lookout for a little bit for even more views). Head back onto Kokee Road to the Pu’u Hinahina Lookout. Spend the next couple hours hiking the Canyon Trail to the Cliff Trail and the top of Waipoo Falls. Dinner at Porky's . Sunset at Shipwrecks Beach

Friday, April 18- breakfast at Kountry Kitchen Spend the day visiting the North Shore, Kilauea Lighthouse (I understand that the actual Lighthouse will be closed), visit the town of Hanalei and the Dry Cave. Visit Hanalei Beach Park. (Suggestions for dinner?)

Saturday, April 19- breakfast at Unko’s Kitchen . Visit Kauai Coffee Company then Na Pali Raft Expedition with Captain Andy’s from 10-4

Visit the swinging bridge and the Hanapepe Valley Overlook. (suggestions for dinner?)

Sunday, April 20- would love to find an Easter sunrise service to attend if anyone can provide information. Help me plan activities for this day.

Monday, April 21- breakfast at Passion Bakery then off to Lydgate Beach Park for the morning. Backcountry tubing adventure in the afternoon 12:30-4

Tuesday, April 22 – suggestions for today?

Wednesday, April 23 - our last full day, suggestions for today?

Answer

First of all — congratulations on your 35th anniversary! That’s wonderful, and Kauai is a beautiful place to celebrate. Your itinerary for April 14–24 is already very thoughtful and covers many highlights. Below are some thoughts, tweaks, and suggestions — especially keeping in mind your note about avoiding “significant hiking” due to injury — plus ideas for the couple of unplanned days. I’ll break it down day by day, then give extra options.

Overall Impressions & Suggestions

Your plan does a great job spreading out island regions — you’re hitting Poʻipū / South Shore, Waimea Canyon, the North Shore, and the East side. That gives a really nice variety.
Because you’re based at Kauai Shore Hotel (likely near Līhuʻe), driving each day to different parts of the island is very doable. Make sure to give yourself buffer time — traffic around certain scenic spots or lookouts can get slow, especially later in the day.
Limit hiking is totally fine; many of your plans lean toward lookouts, drives, and gentle walking, which works well.

Day-by-Day Feedback & Advice

Tuesday, April 15 — Poʻipū / Mahaulepu

Poʻipū Beach in the morning is perfect — calm water, lovely area, and good for relaxing or a bit of snorkeling (the right side of Poʻipū Beach has a reef and good marine life).
The Mahaulepu Heritage Trail is more rugged, and though it’s more of a walk than a steep hike, you should double check which sections are most accessible given your injury. Perhaps pick a shorter portion so it stays enjoyable and manageable.
For dinner: consider something in Poʻipū — there are great restaurants around Poʻipū town. (You could do a beachfront dinner or something cozy in the shopping / restaurant area.)

Wednesday, April 16 — Wailua / ATV / Kalāpaki

Breakfast at Java Kai is a great call. Then heading to Wailua Falls: the lookout is very accessible, so no strenuous hiking needed.
Your ATV tour with Kīpu Ranch Adventures from 1–5 is a fantastic way to see some remote parts of the island — very scenic and unique.
After that, dinner at The Fish Express sounds good (local, fresh fish). Then relaxing at Kalāpaki Beach is perfect for a mellow evening.

Thursday, April 17 — Waimea Canyon / Kōkeʻe

Early breakfast at Kalaheo Café is a nice choice before a big day.
The lookouts you have planned are excellent: Waimea Canyon Lookout, Kalalau Lookout / Puʻu o Kīla Lookout — all very scenic, and many don’t require long hikes.
You mention hiking the Canyon Trail → Cliff Trail → top of Waipoo Falls. That’s a more strenuous hike. Since you’re avoiding “significant hiking,” you might modify this: consider staying at lookouts or doing very short, flat walks only. Alternatively, you could take a scenic drive in Kōkeʻe State Park, stopping at overlooks without doing the full hike.
Dinner at Porky’s (if you mean Porky’s Kauai in Waimea) would be perfect for a relaxed, casual meal after a day exploring.
Sunset at Shipwreck Beach is lovely — but note, Shipwreck Beach (on the south / west) can be more dangerous depending on conditions, so watch the surf and don’t go too close to the water’s edge at sunset.

Friday, April 18 — North Shore / Hanalei

Breakfast at Kountry Kitchen is a good local pick.
Visiting Kīlauea Lighthouse and Hanalei: even though the lighthouse building may be closed, the surrounding area and lookout are lovely. The town of Hanalei is charming and very walkable.
The “dry cave” — likely referring to the Hanalei / Princeville area caves —: make sure to check access and safety; some caves are not easy or safe without a guide or at certain tides.
Hanalei Beach Park is great for relaxing, enjoying the view, or a gentle stroll.
Suggestions for dinner: In Hanalei or nearby Princeville, there are some excellent restaurants — you could do a sunset dinner in Hanalei or drive back closer to Poʻipū / Līhuʻe, depending on how you feel.

Saturday, April 19 — Coffee + Na Pali Raft + Hanapēpē

Your plan to visit Kauai Coffee Company in the morning is great: scenic and relaxing.
Na Pali raft expedition with Captain Andy’s from 10–4 is a highlight! This is a major bucket-list experience, giving you dramatic sea cliffs, possibly waterfalls, and ocean life. Perfect for a slower-paced but awe-inspiring part of your trip.
After the tour, swinging bridge and Hanapēpē Valley Overlook: both are nice, but be sure to check how “overlook-y” vs “walk-y” they are; you may not want a strenuous walk.
For dinner: In Hanapēpē, there are some local spots (maybe art galleries + food trucks), or you can head back to Līhuʻe or Poʻipū for dinner depending on energy level.

Sunday, April 20 — Easter

Good idea to look for a sunrise service: there is a Kauaʻi Easter Sunrise service at Kaʻahumanu Church around 6:30 AM.
After the service, you could have breakfast locally (Līhuʻe or nearby) and then take a relaxing day: options include visiting a botanical garden, doing a scenic drive, or relaxing at a more mellow beach.

Here are some suggested afternoon activities for Easter Sunday:

Visit the National Tropical Botanical Garden — *McBryde Garden* is a lovely, peaceful spot with native Hawaiian plants.
Go to Lydgate Beach Park on the east side for a relaxing beach afternoon; the rock-enclosed lagoons are calm and safe for swimming or snorkeling.
If you prefer scenic drives, consider a drive up to the Kapaʻa / Wailua area or to lookouts you haven’t yet visited.

Monday, April 21 — Beach / Tubing

Breakfast at Passion Bakery is a charming, local choice.
Lydgate Beach Park in the morning is perfect for snorkeling (the protected lagoon is great for calm water snorkeling).
Your back-country tubing adventure in the afternoon (12:30–4) sounds fantastic — very scenic, relaxing (relatively), and memorable.

Tuesday, April 22 — Your “Free / Flex” Day

Here are some ideas for how to spend this day, given that you may want a slower pace or to fill in gaps in your itinerary:

Botanical & Garden Tours: Consider visiting Allerton Garden or Limahuli Garden (if mobility isn’t a big obstacle). These are lush, beautiful, and provide a peaceful way to connect with Kauai’s natural beauty.
Beach Day: Head to a beach you haven’t yet visited. Options:
- Anini Beach — calm reef, great snorkeling, lots of fish.
- Lawai Beach — small cove, reef, good marine life.
- Poʻipū again — maybe explore the snorkeling area more deeply, or just relax.
Cultural / Historical: Visit Gulick-Rowell House in Waimea for a bit of local history.
Scenic Drive: Do a drive along the Kōkeʻe to Waimea corridor or revisit some lookouts at sunset — maybe catch a different angle or more peaceful moment.

Wednesday, April 23 — Last Full Day

Consider doing a boat or catamaran cruise along the Nā Pali Coast (if you didn’t already do a full boat trip) in the morning — even if not snorkeling, the views are spectacular.
If not a cruise: revisit favorite beaches or lookouts:

Go back to a spot you loved (Poʻipū, Lydgate, North Shore) for one final swim or walk.
Do a leisurely stop at Kīlauea Point (lighthouse) again, maybe in the late afternoon or evening.

For a special anniversary dinner: pick a restaurant that’s more upscale / romantic. Depending on where you want to go, there are options in Poʻipū, Princeville, or Līhuʻe. Ask locally for a restaurant with a sunset view, or one that feels like a celebration.

Additional Tips & Considerations

Car Rental: Make sure your rental car is comfortable and reliable; some of your days involve a fair amount of driving.
Reservations: For the Na Pali raft trip, dining in Poʻipū / Hanalei, and any garden tours — consider booking in advance, especially since April is a popular time but not quite high summer.
Sun Protection: Bring reef-safe sunscreen, hats, water shoes (for rocky beach entries), and a good water bottle — staying hydrated and protected from the sun will make the trip more comfortable.
Flexibility: Leave room for “rest / chill” time. Since this is a special trip, having unstructured moments (just relaxing, watching the ocean, reading) can make it more meaningful.

Summary

Your itinerary is already very strong. With a few tweaks — especially on the more strenuous hiking day — and by sprinkling in some relaxed experiences (gardens, scenic drives, beach time), you’ll have a beautifully balanced trip that honors both adventure and anniversary celebration. I think adding an Easter sunrise service, a botanical garden, and maybe a return to favorite lookouts or beaches will give some perfect “magic moments.”

Itinerary check and assistance please

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