Cheap flights to Kauai
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Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
LIH
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-10 (no daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Kauai
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
LIH, Lihue Airport, the island's gateway
Lihue Airport (LIH)
Lihue Airport is Kauai's main air gateway according to Wikivoyage (EN). Its terminal is small; non-stop flights link the island with the US West Coast and Canada according to the same source. Lihue, on the south-east coast, is the island's civic and commercial centre according to Wikivoyage (EN), and Kapaa, the largest settlement, is about a twenty-minute drive north according to the same source. We do not quote fares.
General information based on Wikivoyage (EN, DE) and Wikipedia (EN, FR, DE, ES); routes and schedules change, so check before you travel. We do not quote fares.
Kauai, nicknamed the Garden Isle, is the oldest of the main Hawaiian islands according to Wikipedia (FR, DE). It covers a little over 1,400 km2 according to Wikipedia (EN, FR, DE, ES); sources differ by a few dozen km2. It had 73,298 residents in the 2020 census according to Wikipedia (EN). Its highest point, Kawaikini, reaches 1,598 m according to Wikipedia (DE, ES).
A rare fact: no road circles the island, because of Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali coast according to Wikivoyage (EN). From Lihue, Route 50 heads west and Route 56 north to Hanalei and Haena according to the same source. Kauai was the last island to join Kamehameha's kingdom, in 1810 according to Wikipedia (FR).
Landmarks and sights
Na Pali, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei and the Garden Isle's beaches
Kauai is best known for its cliffs, valleys and beaches: the Na Pali coast in the north-west, Waimea Canyon in the west, Hanalei Bay in the north and the south-shore beaches around Poipu. Five images illustrate the island; historic sites are described in text.
The Na Pali coast from the air
The Na Pali coast in the north-west is a series of green pleated cliffs plunging into the ocean according to Wikipedia (DE). It is protected as a state park; some beaches can only be reached on foot, by boat or from the air, and access to certain sites may require a reservation or permit: check official websites before you go.
Na Pali from the sea
Seen from the water, the ridges of the Na Pali coast form rock cathedrals topped by clouds, with small beaches at their feet. Boat trips let you admire them; conditions vary with the season and swell.
Waimea Canyon
Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific according to Wikipedia (FR, DE), alternates red rock and green vegetation. It is reached by Route 50 and then towards Kokee according to Wikivoyage (EN); the bus does not always serve these upland sites according to the same source.
Hanalei Pier
Hanalei Bay on the north shore is a crescent-shaped bay known for its beaches and surf according to Wikivoyage (EN). At sunset the pier stands out in front of mountains in cloud; the nearby valley is farmed for taro according to Wikipedia (DE).
North-shore beaches
The north shore alternates golden sandy beaches, palm trees and green mountains according to Wikivoyage (EN). The north and east sides of the island get the most rain and are therefore the greenest according to the same source. Follow the signs: waves and currents can be very strong, especially in winter.
Fort Elizabeth, Kilauea Point and Spouting Horn, in text
Fort Elizabeth, at Waimea, is a 19th-century fort, the last Russian fort remaining in Hawaii according to Wikivoyage (EN); it recalls the 1817 episode when Russia tried to gain a foothold according to Wikipedia (EN). The Kilauea Point lighthouse, built in 1913, overlooks cliffs where albatrosses and boobies nest according to Wikipedia (DE). At Poipu, Spouting Horn is a lava tube that shoots water up in big swells according to the same source.
Museums and culture
Kauai Museum, plantations and botanical gardens
Kauai Museum, Lihue
Located in old Lihue, it is the island's best museum on its history, geography and people according to Wikivoyage (EN). We give no prices or hours, as they change.
Kilohana and the sugar past
Sugar dominated the island's economy from 1835 according to Wikipedia (EN, FR). The Kilohana estate offers tours and a small train according to Wikivoyage (EN); in Koloa a small museum recalls the Japanese plantation immigrants according to the same source.
Botanical gardens
The National Tropical Botanical Garden has three gardens on the island, including Allerton, McBride and Limahuli, and Princeville Botanical Garden can be visited by tour according to Wikivoyage (EN). Hours change, so check them.
Food and drink
Island fruit, taro and small village spots
Local produce
Fresh fruit, roadside stands and marinated raw fish (poke) are found across the island; Hanalei Valley is farmed for taro according to Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (EN). A large fruit stand lies north of Kilauea according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Artists' villages
Hanapepe, on the south coast, is the island's "art capital" according to Wikipedia (DE), with galleries and workshops according to Wikivoyage (EN). Kilauea, on the way to the lighthouse, has a few shops and restaurants according to the same source.
Areas and atmosphere
Hanalei has a relaxed little beach-town feel according to Wikivoyage (EN); Poipu in the south concentrates hotels and restaurants according to the same source. We name types of places rather than addresses, which change quickly.
Getting around
A car is nearly essential, limited buses, slow traffic
By car
The car is the most common way to get around Kauai according to Wikivoyage (EN). Traffic is slow between Lihue, Wailua and Kapaa according to the same source; allow extra time.
Bus
The Kauai bus links the main centres and beach areas but does not serve some rural sites such as Kokee according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Roads and paths
Route 56 runs north to Haena and Route 50 west according to Wikivoyage (EN). A cycle path runs along part of the east coast; cyclists should check which sections are open according to the same source.
Budget and precautions
A high price level, calmer than Maui
Price level
Kauai is a quieter, less developed destination than some other islands according to Wikivoyage (EN), with many vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts. The currency is the US dollar (USD). We do not publish figures: sources are dated or disagree.
Flights and alerts
Lihue receives inter-island flights and non-stop flights from the West Coast according to Wikivoyage (EN). SniperAir tracks prices of flights to Lihue (LIH) and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets.
Precautions
Hurricane Iniki struck the island on 11 September 1992 according to Wikipedia (FR): the hurricane season runs from late summer into autumn, so check the forecast. On coastal trails and at sea, follow signs. Foreign travellers should check US entry requirements for their nationality.
When to go
A tropical climate, with wetter winters
Winter (December to February)
The winter months are the wettest according to Wikipedia (DE); swells are strong on the north shore.
Spring (March to May)
Rain eases from April, the drier period running from April to September according to Wikipedia (DE).
Summer (June to August)
Drier months; daytime highs stay between 26 and 29 degrees C according to Wikipedia (DE) thanks to the trade winds.
Autumn (September to November)
The dry period ends; the hurricane season means keeping an eye on the forecast.
Kauai lies in the tropics and temperatures vary little: daytime highs stay between 26 and 29 degrees C according to Wikipedia (DE). The north-east side, facing the trade winds, is very wet, while the south-west is drier according to Wikipedia (DE). Mount Waialeale, in the centre, is one of the rainiest places on Earth according to Wikipedia (FR, DE, ES); published annual averages vary with the period, so we do not quote them.
By length of stay
What to do on Kauai by length of stay
The essentials
Spend a day on the north shore, from Hanalei to Haena, and another at Waimea Canyon.
Nature and history
Add Kilauea Point lighthouse, the Kauai Museum in Lihue, a south-shore beach at Poipu and a boat trip to see the Na Pali coast.
Going further
Plan hikes, a botanical garden, Hanapepe and some free time: the island is calm and is best discovered slowly.
In pictures
Kauai in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Kauai
How do I get from LIH airport to Kauai's beaches?
From Lihue, Route 56 runs north and Route 50 west according to Wikivoyage (EN). A rental car is the most common solution.
When is the best time to visit Kauai?
April to September are drier months according to Wikipedia (DE); winter is wetter, especially on the north side.
What is there to see on Kauai?
The Na Pali coast, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay, Kilauea Point lighthouse, Poipu and the Kauai Museum according to Wikipedia (FR, DE) and Wikivoyage (EN).
Can you drive all the way around the island?
No: no road circles the island because of Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali coast according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Why is Kauai called the Garden Isle?
Because of its lush vegetation, fed by abundant rain according to Wikipedia (FR, DE); it is also the oldest of the main islands.
How long should I stay on Kauai?
Five to seven days let you see the north shore, Waimea and the south without rushing; four days cover the essentials.
How much does a flight to Kauai usually cost?
The price depends mostly on your departure city, the season and how early you book. The opportunities section above shows real examples of fares SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Kauai drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Kauai as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching fare is detected.
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