Since we traveled to Kauai in the winter, the first few days of our trip called for rain basically all day on the north and east side. Luckily, our plans were based primarily on the south shore also known as the sunny side. In addition to the sites below, this side of the island is also home to the popular towns of Poipu and historic Koloa. Unfortunately we didn't have time to explore these areas but many people choose Poipu as their home base for it's sunny beaches, resorts, restaurants and shopping.

​If you've been to other Hawaiian islands, you'll quickly notice that Kauai embraces the aloha spirit to the fullest and has a much more laid back vibe than almost any other place we've traveled before. Instead of large touristy resort areas you'll discover a mix of eclectic small towns each offering their own charm. First up on our south shore adventure was exploring one of these cute towns I'd read so many good things about. So, after eating breakfast at Kountry Kitchen in Kapa'a, we hit the road in search of Hanapepe Town. Hanapepe is a sleepy little town but one that shouldn't be missed. Visitors seem to instantly be transported back in time (or maybe inside a Disney movie as the town served as the inspiration for Lilo and Stitch). Don't miss the chance to cross the Hanalei River on the famous swinging bridge and wander around the cute shops and galleries. If you happen to be in the area on a Friday evening the town also hosts a weekly art night from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Ahhh Lahaina - where to begin? Honestly, I think both my husband and I would agree hands down that the historic town of Lahaina is one of our favorite places on the entire island. It's also the reason we chose to stay at Lahaina Shores Beach Resort on both our trips. Now, don't get confused. Technically, Lahaina covers a large portion of west Maui including the popular resort areas of Ka'anapali all the way up to Kapalua. But, for the purposes of this post I'll be talking about the actual "town" area of Lahaina which lines Front Street. 

Lahaina is one of the most historic towns on the island and dates back thousands of years. The town served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 and is also known for its location on the port once popular for whaling. Today, there is something for everyone to discover and the streets are lined with art galleries, shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Similar to the Road to Hana, Lahaina town is more of an experience and visitors often don't go with one particular destination in mind but rather to stroll the boardwalk and see where the day takes them. Be warned this is one of the busiest areas on the island and parking can be a real pain. There is some street parking and a few smaller lots but they do fill up quick. That's one of the main reasons we love staying in Lahaina because we get to experience it multiple nights in a row just by simply strolling down a few blocks from our hotel. 

There is so much to do and see in this tiny town and I highly recommend spending a least a few hours (if not longer) here. I've put together a few of my favorite things to do, see, and eat while you're there. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

​Whenever I travel, especially to Hawaii, I always like to book at least one guided tour/excursion. While it's easy to explore much of the islands on your own, guided tours often offer access to areas of the island not open to or easily accessed by the public and the guides always have SO much knowledge about the history and culture that you wouldn't find elsewhere. After much research, the one activity that kept coming up on the "must do" lists for Kauai was mountain tubing - and now I understand why. 

Kauai Backcountry Adventures offers the only tubing adventure on the island with exclusive access to the historic irrigation system of the former Lihue Plantation. This ditch and tunnel system was hand-dug in the 1870's and once irrigated hundreds of acres of sugar crops. The tunnels had been unused since sugar was taken out of production in 2000 until Kauai Backcountry Adventures began offering tours in 2003. On the trip you'll tube through the lush interior of the island and traverse through five different tunnels. The total time you spend in the water is around an hour. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

When most people think about Maui, their mind immediately goes to pristine beaches and the infamous Road to Hana lined with lush landscape and cascading waterfalls. Don't worry Maui without a doubt offers all these things (and more) but there's a whole other side to the island that many people don't get to explore. Upcountry Maui is located in the central mountainous side of the island and offers miles of rolling hills through farmland with really only one major road to get around. This is also where the must-see Haleakala Crater lies which draws thousands of tourists to its summit each year to view sunrise and sunset above the clouds. We didn't have a chance to experience upcountry on our first trip to the island so it was a must see this time around. I've included each of our stops for the day below but feel free to pick and choose what interests you most. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If there's one site you shouldn't miss when visiting Kauai, it's Waimea Canyon. Also called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, this monstrous landmark offers gorgeous deep red and bright green views and is a great way to spend the afternoon. Located on the west side of the island, it took us about 45 minutes to get to the start of Highway 550 from Kapa'a where the journey begins. 

​Be sure to gas up before you start driving as it's only one windy road up to the top without any gas stations. We also packed some snacks and ate lunch at the halfway point of our hike. The weather can vary greatly and most guides will tell you to try and get there early as it can get quite cloudy which really hinders the views. We didn't get to the start of the drive until about 9:30 a.m. and had a clear view for the majority of the day. But don't fear, in true Hawaii fashion at one point the whole canyon was covered in fog on the way back from our hike only to clear out in 20 minutes.