Beachfront Four Bedroom Villa in KauaiN°001
Kauai, USA
Spa
From $3,400 per night
Photo by MICHAEL MCGARRYThe Garden Isle: emerald cliffs, golden bays and easy grace
Kauai is the oldest and greenest of Hawaii's main islands, where the fluted cliffs of the Na Pali Coast meet taro valleys, golden beaches and the vast gorge of Waimea Canyon. A private villa on the Princeville bluffs of the north shore or in sunny Poipu to the south gives you ocean views, a pool and an unhurried base on an island that resists hurry altogether.
- The Na Pali Coast's fluted emerald cliffs, seen by boat, helicopter or trail
- Waimea Canyon, the vividly coloured 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific'
- Hanalei Bay's two-mile crescent beneath waterfall-streaked mountains
- Princeville clifftops and sunny Poipu, the island's two premier villa settings
- Private-pool villas with ocean views and dedicated concierge service
Known forThe Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay, Princeville's clifftop resorts, Poipu's sunny beaches, lush garden landscapes
Best time to visitApril to October for the driest weather; December to March for whale watching and dramatic north-shore surf
Nearest airportLihue Airport (LIH), on the island's south-east coast
Ideal forCouples, families and nature lovers seeking Hawaii at its most scenic and serene
Tropical Jungle Views Luxury EscapeN°002
Kauai, USA
From $2,256 per night
Ocean View Beachfront Four Bedroom Villa in KauaiN°003
Kauai, USA
Sea view
From $592 per night
4homes available
4–5bedrooms
up to 16guests
1book instantly
Kauai in pictures
Events not to miss in Kauai
- February
Waimea Town Celebration
Kauai's west side hosts one of the island's oldest festivals, a week of Hawaiian music, hula, canoe races and community celebration in historic Waimea.
- Late March
Prince Kuhio Celebration
Events around Prince Kuhio Day, 26 March, honour the Kauai-born prince with cultural ceremonies, music and hula, centred on his birthplace near Poipu.
- Late July
Koloa Plantation Days
The south shore's biggest annual festival celebrates Koloa's sugar-plantation heritage with a parade, concerts, craft fairs and family events across more than a week.
- September
Kauai Marathon
Runners tackle one of the world's most scenic marathon courses from Poipu through the island's south-side landscapes, with a half marathon alongside.
Kauai through the seasons
- Winter (December – March)
Whales and big north-shore surf
Humpback whales breach offshore and winter swells crown the north shore, while sunny Poipu keeps beach days reliable.
- Spring (April – May)
Waterfalls and thinning crowds
The island glows after winter rain, seas begin to settle for Na Pali boat trips, and the spring calendar honours Prince Kuhio.
- Summer (June – August)
Calm seas on Hanalei Bay
The driest, calmest months turn the north shore gentle for swimming and snorkelling, the classic season for family villa weeks.
- Autumn (September – November)
Quiet trails and golden light
Warm seas linger, the Kauai Marathon opens September, and trails and beaches empty out for the island's most tranquil stretch.
The Area and Where to Stay
Kauai divides neatly by shore. The north is the postcard: Princeville's manicured clifftops above Hanalei Bay, the surf town of Hanalei itself, and the quieter reaches of Kilauea and Kalihiwai, where villas sit among farmland above hidden beaches, all lusher and greener thanks to the mountain rain that feeds the waterfalls. The south shore around Poipu and old Koloa town is the sunny, drier side, with reliable swimming beaches, resort golf and easy family logistics. The east coast holds Lihue, the airport and the island's workaday towns, while the west runs out towards Waimea Canyon and the road's end at Polihale. Most of our villas cluster in Princeville, Kilauea and Poipu, pairing ocean views and private pools with concierge support.
Things to Do
The Na Pali Coast is the essential Kauai experience: take a catamaran or raft along its cathedral cliffs, book a helicopter flight over Waimea Canyon and the island's hidden valleys, or hike the first stretch of the famous Kalalau Trail from Ke'e Beach, permits allowing. Waimea Canyon's rim lookouts and the trails of Koke'e State Park fill another day in reds and greens. Surf or paddleboard at Hanalei Bay, snorkel Poipu's reefs, where Hawaiian monk seals sometimes haul out, and visit the Kilauea Lighthouse and its seabird refuge on the north shore. Kayaking the Wailua River to a waterfall, botanical gardens and championship golf at Princeville and Poipu round things out. The concierge arranges charters, guides and flights.
Food and Local Flavour
Kauai eats close to its land and sea. Expect poke made from just-landed ahi, plate-lunch institutions, food trucks serving garlic shrimp and kalua pork, and shave ice as the island's rightful dessert. The north shore's taro fields around Hanalei supply poi and a living link to Hawaiian tradition, while farmers' markets across the island brim with papaya, rambutan and apple bananas. Koloa and Poipu hold many of the island's polished dining rooms, and Hanalei's casual kitchens suit sandy feet after a beach day. Kauai-grown coffee from the island's south side makes an easy souvenir. A private chef at your villa turns market produce and local fish into dinner as the sun drops behind the ridge.
When to Visit
Kauai is warm year-round, with the choice really about rain and sea conditions. April to October is the drier, calmer stretch, when north-shore beaches like Hanalei become gentle enough for swimming and snorkelling and boat trips along the Na Pali Coast run most reliably. Winter, December to March, brings more rain, especially on the north shore, along with powerful surf that draws experienced riders and humpback whales breaching offshore; the sunnier south around Poipu remains a dependable base in these months. The island is famously green for a reason, so brief showers and rainbows are part of the deal in any season. Book north-shore summer weeks well ahead.
Getting There
All flights arrive at Lihue Airport (LIH) on the south-east coast, served by direct routes from the US mainland and frequent inter-island hops from Honolulu. From Lihue, the drive to Poipu takes around twenty-five minutes, and to Princeville and the north shore about forty-five, one of the prettier airport runs anywhere as the road curls past bays and taro valleys. A hire car is essential, since the island's single coastal road links everything from Waimea Canyon in the west to the trailheads of the north. The concierge can arrange private transfers, car hire and helicopter or boat charters from the moment you land.