Kauai Waimea Canyon & Na Pali Lookouts Self-Guided Audio Tour

Be sure to check out the Kauai Coffee’s visitor center. They offer free coffee samples in a large variety of flavors, what a great way to start off your morning!

t shaped like a star Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site, formerly known as Russian Fort Elizabeth, preserves a fascinating chapter of Kauaʻi’s history. The site is currently closed for construction, but you’ll hear its story and significance as you pass the area on the tour.

Stop by if you need a quick snack for the road, but other than that we suggest you skip this spot for now and save it for your return trip. We’ll guide you back, we promise!

It runs through Kauai’s red dirt instead of lush green jungle which is what you normally see. Stop by for a quick picture and then continue into the park.

While you're on the trail, check out the interpretive signs that describe the native plants. The trail is actually named after a rare, exotic plant -- the iliau or Kaua'i greensword -- that is found nowhere else in the world but here on Kaua'i. This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.

Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour. This is the first of two lookouts of Waimea Canyon. This lookout has some of the best views on a clear day. Stand atop the lookout to take in the expansive views of this natural wonder.

Here at the end of the parking lot is the trailhead for Canyon Trail. The trail signs are a little confusing, so read the description under Hiking in our app Highlights before hiking. Puʻu Hinahina offers expansive views of Waimea Canyon and the surrounding landscape. The Puʻu Hinahina parking lot is currently closed, so do not stop unless official signage indicates safe, legal access. If access is unavailable, continue along the tour route to the next viewpoint.

Here is our first major hike for the day! The trail starts at the parking lot, and you’ll travel about ¾ of a mile through lush jungle to a spot called Cliff Viewpoint. This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.

The lodge is a sit-down restaurant with decent food if you are hungry. If you are lucky, sometimes they have live music! At the museum, there is a display of native plants, animals, and birds.

Here you will find your first view of the glorious Na Pali Coast. However, don’t be upset if dense fog prevents you from seeing any views. It’s typical at this altitude. Try waiting it out a few minutes as the fog tends to come and go in waves. This stop is within Waimea Canyon or Kōkeʻe State Park. Any required park entry and parking fees are paid separately directly to the park and are not included with the Shaka Guide tour.

You can also see the peak of Mt. Wai’ale’ale and a swamp called Alaka’i Swamp - one of the wettest places on the entire planet with about 450 inches of rain a year.

We recommend getting one of their combos with vanilla or macadamia nut ice cream. Their small size is plenty big enough to share.

At the base of the mountain, just past the old swinging bridge is a hidden gem that reveals a fascinating part of Kauai's past: the Menehune Ditch. You might be thinking to yourself, what’s so cool about a ditch? Well, we’ll tell you the story of the Menehune who constructed this ditch thousands of years ago.

The place where Cook first set foot in Hawai'i is right here in Waimea. We'll point out his statue in the middle of town.

an interesting little bookstore called Talk Story. In fact, it’s the westernmost bookstore in the United States! Feel free to stop anytime as we do a quick drive through the town.

Look for the sign when you're walking around town.

Hanapepe is only a few minutes from Lawai, where you started the tour. We’ll guide you back in that direction with a fun story about Kauai's "state bird" along the way.