Travel agency owner Aggie Lewis visits Hawaii annually and calls Kauai a “truly magical” place. She founded Aggie’s Travel in Oak Lawn, Ill., in 2009, but she’s been a travel professional for 32 years.
Aggie Lewis
Lewis said clients who have returned from a multi-island Hawaii vacation are often shocked that, out of all the islands, Kauai turned out to be their favorite. “It’s because it’s the most beautiful of the islands, because it’s the oldest,” Lewis said.
Lewis shares with Travel Weekly readers her idea of a perfect five-day Kauai vacation itinerary.
Day 1
Clients start their vacation at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. “I love putting people up at the Hyatt because of its location. It’s on the south shore of Poipu,” Lewis said. “There’s hiking. There’s kayaking. It is phenomenal.”
After an active morning, guests can spend the afternoon at the spa or wading in the resort’s lazy river. Poipu Beach is just a short drive away, where visitors might see a Hawaiian monk seal or a honu (green sea turtle). The casual restaurant Brennecke’s Beach Broiler, right across the street from the beach, is a perfect spot for burgers, sandwiches and fish and chips.
Day 2
After breakfast, clients should head to the Kauai Coffee Co., which has the largest coffee farm in the U.S.
“We’re all very coffee driven,” Lewis said. “You could do a self-guided tour there and have free samples; that’s something fun to start your day.”
They can then continue on to Waimea Canyon State Park, often described as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” It’s a scenic drive with plenty of trails and lookouts.
“That’s absolutely beautiful. Even if you’re older and you just want to drive, they have points along the road you can pull off and stay for a few minutes,” Lewis said.
From there, clients should head east to the Wailua River to take a peek at the waterfalls and then attend the Smith’s Family Garden Luau, which is located right on the river.
Taking in the view at Waimea Canyon State Park, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Photo Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono
Day 3
A boat tour of the 17-mile-long Napali Coast is a great way to start the day.
“If they’re not adventure-seekers [who would be comfortable taking] the Zodiac boat like I would do, then a catamaran would be nice,” Lewis said.
The tour takes visitors past secluded beaches, isolated valleys and waterfalls — and dolphins are known to make an appearance. If the client prefers, they can opt for a helicopter tour of the Napali Coast instead or a hike on the Kalalau Trail to a beach and waterfall. In the evening, Tidepools restaurant at the Hyatt is one of Lewis’ favorites for dinner.
Day 4
For breakfast, Kountry Kitchen serves “pancakes that are to die for,” Lewis said.
The restaurant, located in downtown Kapaa, serves plate-size macadamia nut pancakes. The menu also includes kalua pork eggs Benedict, omelets, waffles and a long list of espresso drinks.
A drive north takes clients to Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park, which spans 240 acres.
“It’s an area where the nene birds gather, and just all the tropical, different plant life — I mean, it’s just so beautiful,” said Lewis, who also recommends Allerton Garden on the south shore. “It kind of is like you are transformed through time,” she said, referring to the garden being shaped by different people, including a Hawaiian queen.
The next stop should be Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse, the latter having been built in the early 1900s. Walking the ocean bluff, clients will see the thousands of seabirds that call the refuge home and take in the view of Kauapea Beach (aka “Secret Beach”).
In the north shore towns of Princeville and Hanalei, clients can explore shops for unique gifts, good local food and the big, beautiful bay.
Back at the Hyatt, they can unwind with evening sushi and cocktails at Stevenson’s Library.
Day 5
Lewis recommends clients spend the morning at leisure. In the afternoon, they can head to the Kilohana Plantation in Lihue, where there’s a Rum Safari Tour. The two-hour, guided itinerary takes visitors around the plantation while they sip Koloa rum and meet farm animals.
“We did the rum safari, and that was fabulous,” Lewis said.
She suggests chasing that experience with dinner at La Spezia, where the pasta is made from scratch. It’s located in picturesque Old Koloa Town.
Have more time?
If staying longer than five days, Lewis has several other suggestions: mountain tubing with Kauai Backcountry Adventures, off-roading in an ATV with Kipu Ranch Adventures, soaring on Kauai’s longest zipline on a Koloa Zipline, hiking the Nounou Mountain (aka “The Sleeping Giant”) and eating at Beach House Restaurant in Koloa and the oceanfront Bull Shed Restaurant along the Kuhio Highway in Kapaa.
