March 2025 Kauai Trip Report: Active family with a teenager

Question

We just returned from an amazing eight-day trip to Kauai. This was the fourth trip to Hawaii for my husband and me (second time to Kauai), and first time for our 14-year-old daughter.

We stayed at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort and Spa in Lihue. I picked it because it was quite a bit cheaper than the other resorts (we usually stay at Marriotts or Westins), and I didn’t feel like paying $600+ a night for a place where we’re pretty much just going to sleep and shower. I posted a lengthy but helpful review of the resort if you’re considering it.

Day 1: We spent the day exploring and reacquainting ourselves with the island. We went up to Hanalei and hung out on the beach and did some shopping. One thing you might want to consider doing is rent beach chairs, an umbrella, snorkel equipment (if that’s your thing). We rented all that stuff from Boss Frog’s in Kapaa, but they have multiple locations on the island. We stopped at Lava Lava to eat on the way back to our hotel. Lava Lava is the restaurant associated with the Kauai Shores hotel. The food there was probably the best we had on the island—the Poke nachos were really good, and my daughter really liked the fish and chips and the sauce that comes with it. They have a great bar right on the beach, and the property is rather simple (not some sprawling resort). I would consider staying there if/when we go back.

Day 2: We stopped at Kountry Kitchen for breakfast. You can get on a waitlist in advance. It’s expensive, but you get a lot of food. We went back up to Hanalei and kayaked the Hanalei River. There’s a place right there to rent kayaks. They’re closed on Saturday, but you don’t need to make advance reservations. We just walked up and rented our kayaks. After, we went back to Hanalei Beach (it’s pretty spectacular) and had lunch at Tahiti Nui. Unfortunately, the beach was closed to swimming because of dangerous rip tides. Check a surf report before going there. That being said, I love Hanalei. It’s a laid-back, beachy surf town with an amazing backdrop of mountains.

Day 3: We went on a whale watching tour. We went on the ‘Imiloa Express—a two-hour whale watching tour. Last time we went to Kauai, we did one of those 5-6 hour catamaran tours, but this time we figured two hours was enough. We saw some whales, even though it was getting time for them to head back up to Alaska. Always a cool experience. Then we went to Brennecke’s in Poipu. We came here the first time to Kauai. It’s casual, beachy place with a view of the ocean. Food is okay/decent. We don’t really drink mixed drinks, so I can’t comment on that. After, we went across the street to Poipu Beach. It was pretty crowded...not just with people, but with Hawaiian Green turtles resting on the beach. They were very cool to see, as long as you keep your distance like you’re supposed to with this threatened species. Apparently, it’s not a bad place to snorkel, but we didn’t have our gear yet.

Day 4: We went to the Waimea Canyon State Park and hiked the Canyon trail. It’s absolutely amazing. The views along the way are incredible. It’s about 1-1.5 hours each way, out and back, and it ends at a waterfall. As beautiful as this trail is, I would absolutely not do something like this if you have bad knees, hips, heart problems, or you’re out of shape. If you fall or just can’t make it back, then I have no idea who would come to help you or how. The trail can be very steep, there are loads of exposed tree roots, and parts of the trail were very muddy and slippery. I wish we brought our hiking boots! Our shoes were a muddy mess!

On our way back to the hotel, we ate at the Kauai Island Brewing Company in Koloa. Then we headed back to our room to get ready for the luau at the Sheraton. It was okay. If it were just my husband and me, I would skip the luau altogether because we went to one years ago on Oahu that was pretty good. But I knew our daughter would enjoy it, and she did. The food was fine, nothing special, but the mai tais they were giving out while we waited in line to enter were completely tasteless. I had a virgin one at Tahiti Nui that was better than that! The performers were all great, but everyone is kind of packed in this covered area. And depending on where you sit, it can be hard to see. We thought the host/emcee was a little corny and gave off radio morning show DJ vibes, lol.

Day 5: We tubed with Kauai Backcountry Adventures. This was probably one of my favorite things we did. The whole trip is about three hours, but that includes the drive up the mountains to where you actually get in the tubes, then about an hour tube ride through the canals and tunnels (Yes, there are tunnels—they're cool). If you do this, I would highly recommend wearing water shoes/sandals that have toe protection (you can rent them, too) because you get bounced around and off the walls of the canal and other people like a pinball. The water is shallow (maybe 3 feet) and cool. There are three guides who go with the group. Then you get off and have lunch, which was croissant sandwiches with cold cuts, chips, and water, so nothing fancy, but it was fine. We were done pretty early in the day, so we headed back up to Hanalei.

So here’s the thing about the north shore of Kauai. It can be rainy. We had a Jeep and had taken the top off...then we drove straight into a freak downpour. It absolutely sucked, lol and we had to scramble to put the top on in the pouring rain. We were totally soaked! So if you’re in a Jeep with the top off, put it back on if you see some ominous-looking clouds—it will sneak up on you! Luckily the rain only lasted about 10 minutes and we continued on to Hanalei, where it was sunny. We ate at The Dolphin in Hanalei that had good fresh fish.

Days 6 and 7: We rented beach chairs, an umbrella, and snorkel gear from Boss Frog’s in Kapaa. Then we headed up to Anini Beach, toward Princeville. The beach has lots of space for people to spread out, and there’s plenty of shade. It’s also a good place to see turtles underwater feeding. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of beautiful corals (there really isn’t any of it), but you do see several species of colorful fish. I’d recommend getting one of the cards/sheets Boss Frog’s sells with pictures and names of the fish species you’re likely to see. We stopped for lunch at Lava Lava again, and the waitress told us that we could walk to Lae Nani beach for snorkeling—basically next door. Yeah...no. The beach is small, and the fish are around the rocks, which, if you’re not a strong swimmer like I am, you could easily get slammed into them. I’m pretty confident and agile in the water and still...no. We also stopped at Lydgate Beach Park to check out the snorkel situation there. The beach is protected by rocks, so it’s pretty safe for snorkeling. We saw some fish, but not a lot, and no turtles.

We ate at Duke’s in the Marriott. Again, it was just okay. I wouldn’t recommend it, honestly. We got a slice of Hula Pie, but you can get that at other places too.

Our last full day we went to the south side of the island to Salt Pond Beach. There we saw Hawaiian Monk seals resting on the beach. Very cool. The beach was pretty empty, and there’s a protected, rocky area where you can snorkel. But be careful—the waves that crash over the rocks can create a kind of a bizarre mini-current within the protected area. My daughter saw a green Moray eel that freaked her out, lol! I was sort of disappointed that I didn’t see it. We stopped at Brennecke’s again and checked out the turtles one more time before it was time to go back to our hotel and spend the evening packing up for our flight the next morning.

All in all, it was an awesome trip. I packed too many dressy options and not really enough shorts/top options that can get wet, but I made it work. Definitely bring some sort of bag for all your stuff (towels, sunscreen, etc.) for the day, and maybe a cooler bag for drinks.

Answer

We just returned from an incredible eight-day trip to Kauai, traveling as an active family with a 14-year-old daughter. This was our fourth trip to Hawaii, second to Kauai, and first for our daughter. We stayed at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort and Spa in Lihue, which was significantly more affordable than other resorts and worked perfectly for our needs.

Day 1: We explored the island and went up to Hanalei, enjoying the beach and some shopping. Renting beach chairs, an umbrella, and snorkel equipment from Boss Frog’s in Kapaa was convenient. Lunch was at Lava Lava, associated with Kauai Shores hotel, which had excellent food, particularly the Poke nachos. The property itself is simple but charming, with a great beach bar.

Day 2: Breakfast at Kountry Kitchen, which is pricey but generous in portions. We kayaked on the Hanalei River and later visited Hanalei Beach, though swimming was restricted due to dangerous rip tides. Lunch was at Tahiti Nui, a casual spot with a laid-back vibe. Hanalei itself is a picturesque surf town with a stunning mountain backdrop.

Day 3: Whale watching aboard the ‘Imiloa Express provided great sightings in a two-hour tour. Lunch at Brennecke’s in Poipu offered decent food, and Poipu Beach was crowded with both people and resting Hawaiian Green turtles, a unique experience. Snorkeling was an option, though we hadn’t yet rented gear.

Day 4: Waimea Canyon State Park was spectacular. We hiked the Canyon trail (1–1.5 hours each way) to a waterfall. The trail is steep and can be slippery; proper footwear is a must. Lunch was at Kauai Island Brewing Company, followed by a luau at the Sheraton, which our daughter enjoyed despite mediocre food and crowded seating. Performers were excellent, though the emcee was a bit corny.

Day 5: We did the tubing adventure with Kauai Backcountry Adventures, which was a highlight. It includes a drive to the start point, tubing through canals and tunnels, and a simple lunch afterward. Water shoes are highly recommended. Later, we visited Hanalei for fresh fish at The Dolphin. Be prepared for sudden rain showers, especially on the North Shore.

Days 6 & 7: We rented snorkel gear again and visited Anini Beach, which is spacious with plenty of shade and good turtle viewing. Nearby Lae Nani Beach has risky snorkeling conditions near rocks. Lydgate Beach Park is safer for snorkeling, though fish variety is limited. Lunch at Lava Lava and dinner at Duke’s (just okay) were part of our days. We also visited Salt Pond Beach on the south side, which had Hawaiian Monk seals and snorkeling in a protected rocky area. We spotted a green Moray eel, which was exciting and slightly scary for our daughter.

Additional Tips:

Pack primarily casual, quick-dry clothing and tops/shorts suitable for getting wet.
Bring a day bag with towels, sunscreen, and perhaps a cooler for drinks.
Renting equipment from local providers like Boss Frog’s makes beach and water activities easier.
Check surf and rip tide conditions before swimming at beaches like Hanalei.
Be prepared for sudden showers on the North Shore, especially if driving a convertible or Jeep with the top off.
Footwear like hiking boots or water shoes is essential for both hikes and tubing adventures.

Overall, the trip was fantastic. Kauai offers a mix of adventure, nature, and relaxation that works well for active families. Our daughter had a blast experiencing snorkeling, kayaking, whale watching, tubing, and seeing native wildlife. Planning around weather, gear rentals, and safety considerations made the trip smooth and enjoyable. We left feeling refreshed and already planning our next visit!

March 2025 Kauai Trip Report: Active family with a teenager

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