What to Do in Kauai with Kids (and a Packing List!)
We’re taking the mystery out of what to pack and what to do in Kauai! Everything on this list is family and kid friendly.
I still can’t believe the dreamy time we had in Kauai! In case you missed it, we have a huge post all about where to eat in Kauai. But today we’re talking about what to do in Kauai with kids!
Plus I put together a big packing list, because the island can be a tricky place to pack for. So let’s dive in.
Hey! If you’re traveling without kids, this post is packed full of more adult ideas: Things to Do in Kauai!
And be sure to enter your info below to join my VIP group, where I’ll send more of my very best travel and family ideas straight to ya.
What to Do in Kauai with Kids
This is definitely the island for you if you love nature, adventuring, and the great outdoors. It’s so beautiful, the locals are incredibly warm, and there’s definitely not a shortage of things to do.
We had our kids with us for every activity below except for the zip line, so there’s tons of stuff you can do with kiddos.
If I had to pick a single favorite thing that we did, it would probably just be trying as many new beaches as we could fit into one week.
Each beach is different and special and I’m sure you’ll find your favorite. A close second favorite was snorkeling with a sea turtle! Read on for specific recommendations.
Best Beaches in Kauai
Hanalei Beach We were walking distance to this beautiful spot and I just loved it. Medium-sized waves (big enough to surf if you want to paddle out) and the softest, most perfect sand for building sandcastles.
The kids loved this one too. The beach is nice and wide, and you can walk all the way down to the pier to check out the view.
Anini Beach A good beach for kiddos because it’s super calm and very shallow. There’s a reef wayyyy out on the horizon, so the break is far away.
Perfect snorkeling spot — we saw the biggest, most beautiful sea turtles I could imagine! Snorkeled with one for a good while and it was a highlight of the trip.
Also great for paddleboarding because it’s so calm. Don’t miss the rope swing!
Moloa‘a Beach Maybe my favorite beach! This one is hidden away and you have to work to get there (a little walk down a residential road and you might have to wade through a little stream depending on how much rain runoff there is) but it’s so beautiful.
We had the beach to ourselves except for a couple of locals. Soft sand and some rocks for exploring tide pools.
Poipu Beach. Go early to spot some sea turtles! Great for snorkeling with little kids because it’s protected by a reef.
Kalapaki Beach. Awesome for boogie boarding or surfing, with beach volleyball courts set up.
What to Do in Kauai (Aside from Going to the Beach)
Cabanas + Pool at 1Hotel Hanalei Bay. This was a huge hit for our crew! You can rent a cabana for the day and use the pools and hot tub to your heart’s content.
The resort also has its own sweet little beach, with a good snorkeling area and some pretty tide pools.
Bonus: they provide sand toys. Stay all day and order food to your cabana for a super easy pool day.
Zipline Tour. This would be awesome if your kiddos were a little older — the dads in our group went and loved it.
Be prepared to hike a little on any zipline tour, and be sure you check out our packing list for appropriate clothing.
Kilauea Lighthouse You can check out the view from afar, or you can pay a fee ($10 per person, kids under 3 are free) and see it up close.
There’s an additional fee if you want to actually climb up inside the lighthouse; we passed on that. But it’s got the most incredible views, and we saw a whale playing out in the water!
At the gift shop Henry chose a coloring book and the artist happened to be there, so he signed the book and drew Henry a little picture. Pretty sweet.
Snorkeling & Paddleboarding. Highly recommend either bringing or renting some water gear when you’re considering what to do in Kauai! The water is full of beautiful animal life and it would be a shame to miss it. Our group traveled two inflatable paddleboards and some snorkel gear, but you can rent them all over the island.
Garden Luau If you’ve ever been to a Hawaiian luau you know that they can be a little cheesy. But it’s a fun experience if you’ve got kids, especially ones who are into music or dance.
This luau gives you a little tour around their botanical gardens first, then you get to see the pig ceremony. Seeing the gardens was actually the highlight of the night for me!
After that you eat (buffet style) with live music, and they invite the little kids onstage to learn a hula. Maggie literally still will not stop talking about it.
And she actually remembers the dance. After that you relocate to an amphitheater for the dance portion. My kids were fascinated and ate up every second.
It’s a little late for some kiddos; the show starts at 8 pm and they were pretty wiped out afterward.
Lydgate Park A great place to post up for an afternoon outside when you don’t know what to do in Kauai. There’s a great playground for kids adjacent to a really pretty beach with picnic tables.
This was actually a good stop for us on the way to the airport to let the kids get some wiggles out before we got on the plane.
Botanical Gardens. If you’re into flora and fauna, the gardens on Kauai are incredibly beautiful! You’ll see lots of tropical plants and vegetation that you won’t likely find elsewhere.
Also, shopping and eating are always on the top of my list when I’m visiting a new place.
What to Pack for Kauai
Kauai can be super rainy, and I’m bummed to say that during the whole week we really only saw about 5 or 6 hours of sunshine, total. It was overcast most of the time, but the rain was pretty sporadic.
It would downpour and then go away for a few hours, and then repeat. So the rain didn’t really stop us from doing anything, but a little more sun would have been awesome. Even the locals were surprised at the weather.
That being said, check the weather and be prepared! The summer months are much drier, but rain is always possible, especially on the north side of the island.
Also, Kauai isn’t the tropical island to take all of your fun, flowy dresses and big jewelry (unless you plan on staying on a resort without venturing out much).
Bring comfy clothes that you can be active in.
Kauai Packing List
Wet Weather/Active Gear
- Bug spray
- Hiking shoes
- Umbrella
- Waterproof windbreaker
- Comfortable hiking clothes (I like yoga pants, sports bra, + a loose-fitting tank top)
- Waterproof backpack
- Baseball cap
Beach Gear
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen (be sure it’s reef safe to keep the ocean and its inhabitants healthy!)
- Beach towel (I love to bring a sarong like these, they’re light and easy to pack and have a zillion different uses, from blanket to towel to scarf)
- Sun hat
- Beach coverup
- Optional: snorkel gear, inflatable longboard (we travel our Retrospec boards often)
Clothing
- Lightweight, breathable layers (shorts, shirts, maybe one pair of pants)
- For kids: we love June & January‘s basics, and they’re perfect for wearing to the beach, over swimsuits, as jammies, or out on an adventure.
- One or two dresses for nicer dinners
- Sandals
- Flip flops
- Light jacket or sweater for evenings
Extras
- Camera and accessories (all photos in this post were taken on the camera at the link)
- GoPro and accessories
- Drone and accessories (be sure you know where you can fly it!)
- Extra baggies for wet clothes or protecting things from liquid
- Reusable water bottle
So! Hope you have tons of ideas about what to do in Kauai!
It’s an incredibly beautiful place that we’re all so lucky to be able to visit. When you travel anywhere, always remember to be a good ambassador for your hometown.
Leave things better than you found them. Appreciate and honor local culture. And be a good human! xoxo
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