Your Kauai CME conference.

Kauai after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM Hawaii time. On the south shore, the Hawaii Tourism Authority lists Poʻipū Beach Park, Puhi (Spouting Horn), Allerton Garden and Old Kōloa Town. The south shore towns also include Kalāheo, Lāwaʻi and Ōmaʻo. Spouting Horn is a blowhole that shoots water up to 20 feet high, and the Kōloa Heritage Trail marks cultural, historical and geological sites around town.

Travel, lodging and attraction admission are arranged separately. Your conference follows your specialty and interests, and the island is simply the setting you pick for it. Check the county’s parks page for closures before you head to a beach park, because it lists some park facilities as closed.

Gardens of Lāwaʻi Valley

The National Tropical Botanical Garden runs Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden in Lāwaʻi Valley, both on Lāwaʻi Road in Kōloa. The tourism board describes them as botanical gardens with many trails and plant species.

Allerton Garden is part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and honors Queen Emma, who found solace there, and was landscaped by Robert and John Gregg Allerton. The same organization also runs Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Hanalei. Its tours need reservations, and the garden says tours may sell out, so book ahead. Closed-toe shoes or secure hiking sandals are required, and a shuttle runs from the visitor center into the garden for tour guests.

Līhuʻe and the east side

Līhuʻe has museums, dining and lighthouses. The Kauaʻi Museum displays work by artisans of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, and Nāwiliwili Harbor is the island’s major commercial shipping center and cruise port. Kalapaki Beach is known for bodysurfing, stand-up paddling, surfing and swimming, and an automated lighthouse at Ninini Beach has operated since 1897. The Kilohana Estate is a restored 1930s plantation estate. Wailua Falls is about 80 feet tall and lies north of Līhuʻe, and the tourism board calls it easy to reach.

Farther along the east side are ʻŌpaekaʻa Falls and the Wailua River, a rare navigable river, good for kayaking and paddling. Sleeping Giant is a ridge on Nounou Mountain that can be hiked, and Kapaʻa is a historic town with local boutiques, shops and dining. About 16,000 of Kauaʻi’s 71,000 residents live in the Wailua and Kapaʻa area.

Waimea Canyon and the west side

The tourism board describes Waimea Canyon as having overlooks with views into valleys more than 3,600 feet deep, and says Kōkeʻe State Park has 45 miles of trails and the Kalalau and Puʻu o Kila lookouts over Kalalau Valley. The West Side is about an hour’s drive from Līhuʻe, so it suits a day off from studying rather than a 2:00 PM start.

Waimea town sits at the gateway to the canyon, and a statue of Captain James Cook stands there, since he landed at Waimea Bay in 1778. Hanapēpē, about seven miles south of Waimea, is known for its art scene, with galleries, boutiques and places to eat. The state parks page lists canyon lookouts, a viewpoint of Niʻihau, the Iliau Nature Loop and the Kukui Trail, and says adjacent forest reserves have long, strenuous hikes into and out of the canyon. The park is open daily during daylight hours. Check the state parks page for current Kōkeʻe Road and trail status before planning a drive.

The north shore and Nāpali Coast

Hanalei Town has green taro fields, shops, galleries and restaurants, and the tourism board also lists Hanalei Bay, the historic Hanalei Pier and Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Kīlauea Point Lighthouse sits at the island’s northernmost point and is a scenic spot during whale watching season.

The Nāpali Coast is a 17-mile stretch of cliffs rising up to 3,000 feet, with green valleys, waterfalls and sea caves. It cannot be reached by car, so visitors hike or take an air or boat tour. The tourism board also says you can tour the film locations of more than 60 movies and television shows on the island.

When to visit Kauai

The tourism board says summer brings calmer ocean conditions for beach activities, while winter has bigger waves. It recommends spring or fall for a mix of weather, value and fewer crowds. The tourism board also lists farmers markets, museums and historical landmarks among the island’s cultural and local attractions. Check the surf and weather forecast on the day for any beach or boat plan.

Getting to Kauai and your study setting

Lihue Airport (LIH) is the arrival point shown in this guide and the primary airport on the island, handling overseas and interisland flights under the state’s Airports Division. The tourism board says direct flights serve some West Coast cities and that many trips connect through Honolulu. Choose your lodging and ground transport with both your study setting and your plans outside study hours in mind.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.