Take a Road Trip to Hawaii the Easy Way

The western end of Route 66 is probably the world’s most iconic top-down road trip destination, but for my money Hawaii should really be on everyone’s road trip bucket list. That may sound impossible, but consider this: the Mustang convertible is the most common rental car in Hawaii, and the Camaro convertible is fast becoming just as easy to rent. You can drive either of these great cars for about $250 a week, and give yourself a great car enthusiast’s vacation while soaking up the rays, the scenery, and the great activities the islands have to offer.

Hardcore enthusiasts will be pleased to know that you can get the 2015 Mustang as a rental upgrade, but the ones I saw were hardtops and that wasn’t going to do for this story. Check with your rental agency if you have a specific car in mind for your adventure.

Hardcore enthusiasts will be pleased to know that you can get the 2015 Mustang as a rental upgrade, but the ones I saw were hardtops and that wasn’t going to do for this story. Check with your rental agency if you have a specific car in mind for your adventure.  

All the Hawaiian islands are great destinations – Maui, Oahu, and the big island of Hawaii each have their own unique styles. But my favorite destination is the Garden Island of Kauai, for a number of reasons.

Kauai is less populated and a lot more laid back than the other islands, with a perfect combination of challenging twisty roads, beautiful cliff and beach scenes, and wonderful towns to visit along the way. Kauai is also less expensive than the more popular tourist destinations, and that’s a nice bonus.

Kauai’s airport is also small and friendly, with rental cars right there in the parking lot. You’ll want to get the top down as soon as you get the keys into your hands because one of the first things you notice when you get to Kauai is the air. Every breath you take is warm, and scented by tropical flowers and the fresh trade winds coming in off the Pacific.

What follows is a loose plan to spend three days piloting your favorite ragtop around the island, but you could easily spend a month just taking it easy and exploring at your own pace. Our ride for the trip was a basic black 2014 Mustang convertible. Being a rental, the Mustang was an automatic and a V6, but it still delivers a respectable 305 horsepower and a great driving experience.

Day One – North Shore

Island old-timers know that the north shore is where you go for cool breezes and tall surf. On Kauai, the north side is known for the rain forest where they filmed Jurassic Park, stunning cliffs, and lovely bays. You can drive all the way around to the end of the road at the Napali Coast in an hour or two, then wander your way back. The north side offers dozens of quiet beaches where you can collect puka shells, and there are ample opportunities for food and refreshment in Hanalei and Princeville. If you want to get physical, there are many opportunities for hiking on public land or horseback riding on expansive ranches that stretch into the hills.

If you don’t feel like swanky dining, head for Duane’s Ono Char Burger in Anahola for an excellent burger, onion rings, and a shake. Duane’s is the best in authentic local Hawaiian eating – try the Local Boy with cheese, pineapple, and teriyaki sauce.

The must-see list includes the wet cave at Waikapalae, just a short walk up from the road at the Napali trailhead, and the lighthouse and wildlife refuge at Kilauea. For the best dining on the North side, you can choose between Tahiti Nui and The Dolphin, both located in Hanalei. Tahiti Nui is known for the best Mai Tai cocktail on the island, and The Dolphin for its seafood.

If you don’t feel like swanky dining, head for Duane’s Ono Char Burger in Anahola for an excellent burger, onion rings, and a shake. Duane’s is the best in authentic local Hawaiian eating – try the Local Boy with cheese, pineapple, and teriyaki sauce.

Day Two – South Shore

After a leisurely first day, it’s time to get serious about the driving. Here’s a secret – Kauai has some of the best twisty roads in the United States. Waimea Canyon Drive (Highway 550) or Kokee Road (Highway 55) head up into the mountains from the beach near Waimea town, and either of these roads will put the Tail of the Dragon or Mulholland Drive to shame, with hundreds of twists and turns over the 20-mile hill climb to the top of the island.

Bring a jacket, because the languid warmth of the south shore beach turns to misty cool as you climb up to 4,000 feet at the spectacular Kalalau Lookout. Along the way there are several stops to check out Waimea Canyon, which Mark Twain called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and from the vista point you can see the two-mile-wide Kalalau canyon running all the way down to the sea.  On a clear day, you can glimpse the “forbidden island” of Ni’ihau to the west.

Save your brakes coming down the mountain again, and plan on a stop for lunch at historic Hanapepe town. It’s a little off the main highway, but the old downtown main street has been mostly preserved as it was 50 years ago. Park the car and walk around – there’s a rope bridge to cross and many interesting shops. Ask for a traditional Hawaiian Plate Lunch at Bobbie’s, and then treat yourself to a shave ice at Hau Hale.

For the complete Hawaiian shave ice experience, get your bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the center, and some tart Li Hing Mui powder sprinkled over the top.

In the afternoon, be sure to swing by the Kauai Coffee Company plantation and take the tour. You can sample their various coffees at the visitor’s center, and of course you can get a bag (or several) to take home.  It’s also worth your while to take the road down to Koloa for another old-town browse, and check out Prince Kuhio Park and the Spouting Horn blowhole while you’re there.

For fine dining at the south shore, it’s hard to beat the Beach House with its great sunset views and top-grade fish dishes. If you’re not a fish person, they have lamb, pork loin, and filet mignon as well.

Another local favorite is the Brick Oven Pizza on the main highway in Kalaheo. The pizza and calzone crust is fresh and handmade, and they have a great selection of beers and cocktails.

Day Three – East Shore

For the final day of island adventure, the east shore of Kauai offers some great attractions, starting with the best cup of coffee on the island at Java Kai, located on the beach side of the main highway in Kapa’a.  It’s small, so keep your eyes open.

Grab your java and head south, however, because you don’t want to miss the cool morning drive up the Wailua River to Sleeping Giant and the Wailua Complex. Both Opaekaa Falls and Wailua Falls are beautiful and easily accessible along this road. This part of the island was where the chiefs and kings of old Hawaii lived before the United States came to the island in the 19th century, and their rock carvings and sacred places remain for you to visit.

For the complete Hawaiian shave ice experience, get your bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the center, and some tart Li Hing Mui powder sprinkled over the top.

If it’s warm, indulge in an ice-cold coconut up at the falls – they’ll whack the top off the nut for you with a machete. Then you just stick a straw in it and enjoy the refreshing coconut water right from the source. Bring the empty nut back and they’ll break it open so you can eat the coconut, too!

In the afternoon, it’s time to head for the water – there are protected beaches at Lydgate Park and right in town at Kapa’a. In the afternoon, beachfront restaurants offer enticing happy hour snacks and beverages. If shopping is more your speed, you’ll find your best deals at the ABC store, or at the Coconut Marketplace just south of town.

For your farewell dinner on Kauai, head for Duke’s in Lihue. Duke’s is named for Olympic gold medalist and movie star surfer Duke Kahanamoku. Dinner at Duke’s is a grand affair, with strolling musicians and elegant surroundings overlooking scenic Nawiliwili Bay.

Just a Taste

This three-day plan may sound action-packed, but it barely scratches the surface of everything Kauai has to offer.  For a full list of options to make your own plans, visit www.hawaii-guide.com and check out the page for Kauai. There’s more to do on that one small rock in the Pacific than you could manage in a month, so plan on coming back. Three days is just the beginning of a love affair that can last a lifetime.

Key Addresses

Duane’s Ono Char Burger
4-4350 Kuhio Hwy
Anahola, Hawaii 96703

The Dolphin
5-5016 Kuhio Hwy
Hanalei, Hawaii 96714

Tahiti Nui
5-5134 Kuhio Hwy
Hanalei, Hawaii 96714

Bobbie’s
3820 Hanapepe Rd
Hanapepe, Hawaii 96716

Hau Hale Shave Ice
3900 Hanapepe Rd.
Hanapepe , Hawaii 96716

Kauai Coffee Plantation
870 Halewili Rd, Kalaheo,
Hawaii 96741

Beach House Restaurant
5022 Lawai Rd, Koloa,
Hawaii 96756

Brick Oven Pizza
2-2555 Kaumualii Hwy,
Kalaheo, Hawaii 96741

Java Kai
4-1384 Kuhio Hwy
Kapaa, Hawaii 96746

Duke’s
3610 Rice Street
Lihue, Hawaii 96766

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