Best Free Things to Do on Kauaʻi, Hawaii

Don’t let the median cost of a single-family home ($1 million) or the price of gas (nearly $5 a gallon) in Hawaii scare you: You don’t have to spend a lot to have a great time in the Islands, Kauaʻi included.

From some of the world’s best beaches to lively farmers markets, there’s a lot you can do and experience without spending a cent. Here’s our guide to the best free things to do on the Garden Isle.

Stroll Along the Eastern Shoreline

Ke Ala Hele Makalae is a miles-long coastal path that runs from Lydgate Beach Park to secluded Kuna Bay (aka Donkey Beach) on the island’s east side. While many people hop on bikes, the trail is easily walked too.

The paved path, which will eventually run for 17 miles when complete, follows a former railroad line once used to haul sugarcane. Spend the day at the beach, which boasts two calm lagoons perfect for swimming and snorkeling, then stroll along the coastal path. There are interpretative signs along the way, pointing out local archeological, cultural and historic sites, as well as the plants and animals in the area. If you’re lucky, you might spy endangered Hawaiian monk seals lounging on the beach or migrating humpback whales in the winter.

Browse a Farmers Market

One of the best ways to get to know a place is by visiting its farmers markets, and Kauaʻi has some of the best in the state. There are outdoor markets from Hanalei to Poʻipu, many of them in gorgeous settings.

The Waipa Farmers Market in Hanalei (Tuesdays, 3pm to dusk) features a nice variety of local and organic produce, freshly baked pies, and taro chips in scenic Waipa. The nearby Hanalei Farmers Market (Saturdays, 10 to 11:30am) runs by nonprofit Hale Halawai ʻOhana o Hanalei, offering local produce, honey, freshly baked goods, and locally made crafts. You can even take part in a yoga class (donations suggested).

In Poʻipu, visit the Kauaʻi Culinary Market (Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6pm) at the Kukuiʻula Shopping Village with locally grown fruits and veggies, honey, jam, goat cheese, and the island’s famous sugarloaf pineapples.

In Līhuʻe, the Kauaʻi Community Market (Saturdays, 9:30am to 1pm) at Kauaʻi Community College features more than 100 vendors offering everything from Kauaʻi-grown produce to grab-and-go meals made with local ingredients, often including cooking demos and entertainment. Look for “Kauaʻi Grown” or “Kauaʻi Made” logos to ensure you’re truly buying local, and bring cash and your own shopping bag.

Go for a Hike

Kauaʻi has numerous hiking trails suitable for all skill levels. Some trails, such as Awaʻawapuhi in Kokeʻe State Park and the famed Kalalau Trail in Haʻena State Park, now require entry fees. However, most other trails, including the popular Nounou Mountain (aka Sleeping Giant) and family-friendly Kuilau Ridge Trail, are free.

Visit a Limestone Cave

Kauaʻi is home to the largest open-ceiling limestone cave in Hawaiʻi, and you can visit it for free. The easiest and best way to get to Makauwahi Cave is by walking along the scenic 4-mile Mahaʻulepu Heritage Trail along the island’s southern coastline.

The trail starts at Keoneloa Beach (aka Shipwreck Beach) and traverses the shoreline. After about 2 miles, there’s a small opening to enter the cave, which features native plants and fossils. The nonprofit Makuawahi Cave Reserve offers free guided tours from 10am to 4pm daily, though donations are welcome.

Learn About Kauaʻi-Grown Coffee

With more than 4 million coffee trees growing on 3100 acres, Kauaʻi Coffee Company is the largest coffee farm in the US. While a guided tour is available at a cost, you can opt for the free self-guided version and stroll under the shade of coffee trees as you learn about the beans grown, harvested, and roasted on-site.

Enjoy the view from the lanai and sample the coffee too – the visitor center is one of the few places in the world where you can taste the company’s full line of 100% estate-grown coffees, from the fruity Kauaʻi Blue Mountain to the intense, chocolaty Peaberry.

Wander a Hindu Monastery

Rooted in the Hindu tradition of Sri Lanka and South India, Kauaʻi’s Hindu Monastery was founded in 1970, and its two traditional Saivite Hindu temples are located on 363 lush acres in Kapaʻa.

While you have to make reservations to worship or meditate inside the small Kadavul Temple, the monastery’s beautiful front grounds, all the way up to the Wailua River lookout and archway, are open to the public from 9am to noon daily. You can wander the premises or meditate under the immense banyan tree; the monastery just asks that visitors dress in either traditional Hindu garb or modest clothing. That means no shorts, short dresses, tight-fitting yoga pants, T-shirts, or tank tops. Polo shirts are OK.

Hit the Koloa Heritage Trail

Drive, walk, or bike the Ka Ala Hele Waiwai Hoʻoilina o Kōloa, or the Koloa Heritage Trail, a self-guided 10-mile tour of the most important cultural, historical, and geological sites in Koloa and Poʻipu.

Each of the 14 stops has a descriptive plaque explaining its significance. Some of the sites include Spouting Horn Park, Makawehi and Paʻa dunes, a fossil bed that’s now a popular bird-watching spot, Koloa Jodo Mission, a Buddhist temple built in 1910, and the Sugar Monument, which commemorates the site of Hawaii’s first sugar mill.

Drive Through the Famous Tree Tunnel

You can’t visit Kauaʻi without driving through the famous Tree Tunnel, a 1-mile stretch of Maluhia Rd (Hwy 520) that heads south to Koloa and Poʻipu. The road is lined with hundreds of eucalyptus trees from Australia, creating a lush canopy more than 100ft tall. Drive slowly or find a safe place to pull over if you want to snap a photo.

Lounge on a Beach, Any Beach

Kauaʻi has some of the best beaches in the world – and for the most part, they’re free. Swim, snorkel, surf or just lounge with a good book on any of the island’s gorgeous golden sands, from picturesque Hanalei Bay on the north shore to perpetually sunny Poʻipu Beach on the southern.

If you like to snorkel, visit Makua (aka Tunnels) Beach about 9 miles from Princeville, where the clear waters are teeming with marine life. Families can drive to the less crowded ʻAnini Beach, which is protected by a 2-mile-long reef that prevents large waves from rolling in. For sunset viewing, head to Polihale State Park, one of the largest beaches in Hawaii, where you can see parts of the Na Pali Coast.

Cross Hanapepe’s Swinging Bridge

When you walk through charming Hanapepe – and you’ll want to! – you’ll notice an old swinging bridge connecting a small community and farms to the historic little town. For more than 100 years, this suspension bridge has spanned this part of the Hanapepe River. It’s fun to cross – the bridge may not swing as much as it used to, but it still sways and makes for great photos.

Pay Respects to a Historic Hawaiian Village

On the corner of Poʻipu and Hoʻowili roads sit the remnants of Kaneiʻolouma, one of the only remaining historic Hawaiian villages on the island, dating back to the mid-1400s.

A 13-acre site containing taro patches, house sites, heiau and fishponds, it features one of the only intact makahiki sporting arenas in the state. The nonprofit Hui Mālama O Kāneiolouma is working to restore the site, offering a glimpse into Hawaii’s rich cultural history.

Enjoy the Free Show at Poʻipu Shopping Village

At 5pm every Monday and Thursday, Poʻipu Shopping Village offers free entertainment at its open-air shopping center. Enjoy live Hawaiian music and hula performances in the central courtyard.