Kauai: Day Trips and Tours from Oahu

Kauai is also sometimes called the “Garden Island,” and with its lush jungles, stunning mountains and cascading waterfalls, the nickname is truly deserved. The island’s natural splendor is well documented, with thousands of visitors making their yearly pilgrimage for some well-earned rest and recuperation.

Some travelers, however, choose to visit the island in a more temporary fashion during a day trip to Kauai from Oahu — allowing them to enjoy the natural grandeur that Kauai is famous for without forsaking the comforts that Oahu offers.

While on the island you can visit the numerous filming locations or enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities — ranging from a relaxing boat tour or snorkeling session to exhilarating offerings like zip-lining and parasailing.

Here's all you need to know about visiting Kauai, one of the most exciting day trips from Oahu.

How to get to Kauai from Oahu?

Kauai is the most northern of Hawaii’s islands, and would also be the most western if not for the island of Ni’ihau. Kauai is around 170 kilometers from Oahu and the only viable travel method between the islands is by plane. Traveling from Oahu to Kauai by plane will take roughly 40 minutes, barring the time spent at the airport.

Guided tour to Kauai from Oahu

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of booking your own travel arrangements to and from Kauai, you should consider a guided tour.

Not only will you have all of the logistics taken care of, but you’ll also enjoy the company of a local guide. This way, you’ll leave the island behind with a better understanding of its people, their beliefs and traditions.

What is the typical itinerary?

Because this is an inter-island tour, it usually departs from Daniel K. Inouye Airport in Honolulu. Some of the tour packages offer a pickup service that will fetch you from your hotel, but this should be confirmed when booking.

After an early morning arrival at the airport, you’ll take off and touch down in Kauai around 40 minutes later. Inter-island flights are usually included in your tour package, but there may sometimes be extra fees or charges.

After arriving in Kauai, your itinerary will generally depend on the type of excursion you’ve purchased — with movie location tours setting out to explore all of the backdrops for some of your favorite films.

Alternatively, your trip might head out to explore the natural beauty that Kauai is famous for while visiting Wailua River Park and Fern Grotto. Either way, you’ll spend most of your day discovering the splendor that the island holds from the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle.

Halfway through your exploration, you’ll make a stop at a local restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch. Throughout it all, your guide will be right by your side, ready to tell you more about this stunning island and its wonderful people. After a day filled with vistas that will make your jaw drop, you’ll head back to the Lihue airport for your flight back to Oahu.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Kauai?

Although the number of day trips from Oahu is fairly limited, they explore vastly different elements of Kauai, catering to a wide audience.

Kauai movie locations day trip from Oahu

Not many places can compete with Kauai when it comes to the number of movies and TV shows that have been filmed there. Throughout the years, Kauai has been one of Hollywood’s favorite filming locations — hosting movies like Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii and Jurassic Park to more recent blockbusters like The Fast and the Furious.

This tour will help you explore all of these iconic cinematic settings and it starts with your guide and movie buff meeting you at Lihue Airport. From here, you’ll visit a litany of filming locations, while watching a collection of the clips that they are featured in.

The highlight of the tour is enjoying lunch in the same restaurant that’s seen in The Descendants before heading back to the Lihue Airport. While your flights are included in the price, transport to and from the Airport in Honolulu is not.

Scenic Kauai day tour from Oahu

This tour aims to visit all of the jaw-dropping natural wonders that Kauai is famous for, and it starts off strong with a visit to Waimea Canyon. After staring into the cavernous soul of the Pacific’s Grand Canyon, you’ll head to the spot where Captain Cook made his first landing in 1778.

The next stop is Poipu Beach, a serene stretch of paradise that perfectly evokes the spirit of Kauai. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter some sea turtles or other marine life. Following this, you’ll head to Spouting Horn Park, where you can watch water shooting into the sky with every new wave.

The final stop is Wailua River Park, where you’ll enjoy a boat tour to the famous Fern Grotto — after which it’s back to the airport for your return flight and transfer to your hotel in Honolulu.

Kauai helicopter tour from Oahu

Some parts of Kauai are so remote that you’re going to need some help if you want to visit them during a day tour. Specifically, help from a helicopter and its pilot, as you soar high above the dramatic landscape of the Na Pali Coast.

This will be the second time that you take to the air, after flying in from Oahu Island. However, during this 45-minute helicopter tour of Kauai, you'll get to marvel at its striking beauty from unforgettable angles.

The rest of the day will be spent exploring local attractions in more conventional ways, before catching your flight and heading back to Honolulu.

How much does a day trip to Kauai from Oahu cost?

Day trips from Oahu to Kauai typically cost between US$550 and US$600 per person. While this may seem a bit expensive at first glance, the price includes your flights to and from Kauai, explaining the higher costs.

A Kauai movie locations day trip from Oahu will cost US$560 per person and the trip is limited to nine people — making it a great Kauai small group tour option.

A scenic 1-day tour of Kauai from Oahu will cost US$600 per person and it includes a visit to most of Kauai’s spectacular sights. The trip also includes a delicious local lunch and the tour party is limited to a maximum of nine people.

A Kauai helicopter tour from Oahu will cost around US$1000 per person — but this includes flights to and from Oahu as well as a 45-minute helicopter tour of the island. The tour is limited to a maximum of 15 people, but the true number of participants is often much lower.

What will you see and do?

Kauai is the fourth largest of Hawaii’s islands, and many consider the island to be the most beautiful in the archipelago. It’s difficult to argue, with the isle being home to wondrous mountainscapes, immaculate beaches, lush jungles and cascading falls. This also explains the numerous movies that used, and continue to use, Kauai as a backdrop.

Waimea Canyon

Kauai's Waimea Canyon is also sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific Ocean and it's easy to understand why. The canyon is over 16 kilometers long and plunges to a depth just shy of a kilometer, treating visitors to awe-inspiring sights.

The national park is also home to several hiking trails, making it a must-visit destination if you want to immerse yourself in Kauai’s natural splendor.

Wailua River Park

Wailua river is one of Kauai’s most important rivers, with the river featured in various local legends. It’s also Kauai’s only navigable river and as such it is typically visited during kayaking tours, jungle hikes and even water skiing.

Fern Grotto

Located on the banks of the Wailua River you’ll find the Fern Grotto, one of the most popular sites on the entire island. The Grotto was once reserved for the island’s royalty, with all other visitors barred, but luckily this has changed and today everyone can visit.

Na Pali Coast

In northwestern Kauai is the Na Pali coast, a stretch of shoreline that’s famous for its extraordinary beauty. The name refers to the high jagged cliffs that dominate this 26-kilometer seaside. The best way to experience this splendor for yourself is during a boat tour or on a plane or helicopter trip.

When is the best time to visit Kauai?

The best time to visit Kauai is from April to June & September to November, when the weather is pleasant, and rainfall is at a moderate level. You can expect mild temperatures and few tourists.

December to March are the winter months when the north shore can get substantial rain. This is also the time for bigger waves, making it popular among surfers. This is also the prime time for spotting humpback whales off the coast of Kauai.

The summer months (July to August) provide warmer temperatures and less frequent rain which makes hiking trails drier and more accessible.

Travel tips

• Remember to apply sunscreen frequently.
• Bring a reusable water bottle and snacks for the trip.
• Make sure to bring comfortable shoes, especially if hiking.
• Microclimates mean it might rain somewhere on the island any day, so it’s important to wear layers and pack a rain jacket.
• Stay on marked trails, avoid trespassing, and heed safety warnings.
• Keep in mind that local eateries or food trucks might have longer wait times during lunch hours.