Solo Female Travel to Kauai, Hawaii – My Personal Adventure

It goes without saying that when you are exploring the world on your own, you make safe decisions. Be mindful of your surroundings and look both ways before crossing the street.

If you’re a woman in the world and you’re considering solo travel, I hope I can encourage you to try it! There are, of course, pros and cons to solo travel, and I’ll give you my personal take on it. I’m making it a point to travel to walkable cities; however, this trip was a personal birthday treat.

My Solo Female Travel Experience in Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai’s landscape is absolutely beautiful. I can’t tell you how many times I audibly gasped at the beauty of a mountainside of invasive Albizia trees, or a river illuminated by the sunset. Kauai’s landscape is not the easiest to navigate on foot. I rented a Jeep Wrangler (my dream car) and viewed most sights in passing as I drove up and down the outer edges of the island. There are a few experiences I would have preferred to plan for, such as signing up for a hiking excursion or kayaking tour. Overall I had a pleasant leisurely experience and I enjoyed every opportunity to soak in the sun and enjoy the beach between intermittent rainstorms. 

Why I Chose Kauai

This was my first trip to the Hawaiian islands and I specifically chose Kauai because I wanted a more low-key, relaxing experience with plenty of nature views. I almost chose New York for this trip, but decided I needed a more chill vacation where I could just take my time, lay out in the sun… No real plans, no rushing to and fro to try and see all the sights. Just a real go with the flow experience.

I stayed at Club Wyndham Ka Eo Kai Resort in Princeville. The room had a little kitchenette with a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, and plug-in electric burner. I was delighted to find that it also had a whirlpool bathtub, separate shower and its own patio. I spent about $2k total on the room, car rental and flight for a 5-day/4-night trip. The resort was mostly quiet but the walls are very thin, I could hear the entire conversation happening in the neighboring room. I was about a 25-minute walk to the nearest shopping center which had a grocery store, shops, a few small eateries and restaurants. 

What Is There To Do In Kauai?

Kauai isn’t the island you visit if you want to party and have a nightlife experience. Kauai is where you go if you want to enjoy warm beaches and beautiful landscapes. There are plenty of tour options: by sea, river, land, and air. Depending on where you stay, you may have to stock up on food, drinks, and snacks. Most places close relatively early and you’ll likely have to drive to get to the nearest convenience store.  Around the island, there are plenty of shops, restaurants and food trucks, just make sure to map out the driving distance. 

Explore The Island

To fully explore the island of Kauai, you will need to rent a car. I stayed in Princeville which was about a 40-minute drive from the airport. I passed a few lookout points and explored a few beaches along the way. You will at times find that some views are so stunning that you’ll want to pull over for a better look. Unfortunately, you won’t always be able to.

I considered spending a good portion of this trip hiking and exploring waterfalls but honestly, I had to force myself to just take a relaxed approach to this trip. When I visited Portland, Oregon, I signed up for a waterfall tour so I could practice my photography. I got some amazing shots, but the hustle and bustle of having to hurry up and hike up a trail to hurry up and get the photos so we could hurry up and get back to the bus to hurry up and get to the next falls….well, it was exhausting, but totally worth it! 

I explored various beaches that were easily accessible. I was unable to walk to the beach from where I was staying in Princeville. I had to drive a couple of miles and double check that it was actually a public beach with access to parking nearby. You won’t always be able to tell from the map of the island which beaches are easily accessible, so do your research beforehand!

The Food

Finding food to eat on the island felt kind of like an adventure. There are spots where food trucks might be hanging out, but you’ll want to check the hours. I’m big on breakfast, like pancakes and French toast, but I had a hard time finding anything that would satisfy my AM sweet tooth. There’s a popular spot in Hanalei called Hanalei Bread Company that serves up fresh bread, pastries, breakfast, lunch, and coffee, of course. This place was packed! I probably waited a good half hour in line just to reach the order counter and by then they were out of the Waffles & Strawberries I was excited for. My second option was also out, the breakfast burrito, so I settled on the Brekkie Sandwich and a cinnamon roll.

What I discovered too late was that just across the street, tucked away in a shopping center, there was a little spot called Village Snack Shop & Bakery that serves up hearty breakfast options. Sad I missed it!

The Brekkie was good but the cinnamon roll left something to be desired. Hanalei Beach is just a few minutes’ drive away, so I sat on the beach and enjoyed my sandwich, coffee and grapes with my toes in the sand. 

The best thing I had to eat on the island was this delicious Ahi Tuna Tostada. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of Ahi Tuna, but the smells coming from this food truck were absolutely heavenly and I was feeling adventurous! I have this thing where I’m less inclined to eat somewhere if I can’t smell a delicious aroma wafting outside of the establishment. 

Tony’s Catch was the only food truck in this small park in Kapaʻa that smelled like something interesting was happening in the kitchen and boy was it! Everything about this dish…from the tenderness of the ahi tuna to the creamy toppings…just melted in my mouth. The cream ,the beans…my god the beans! Every bite was a heavenly mixture of spice and cool cream, crunch and melt-in-your-mouth savoriness. This is a dish that I will most definitely someday attempt to recreate, probably with cooked fish though! 

Entertainment

Before you book your trip, you’ll want to check for free local events around the island. You can find fun free events like local farmers markets with live music. I signed up for the Wailua Nui Luau at Kauai Hilton Garden Inn. I figured one night of dinner and a show would satisfy that part of my brain that said “You’re on vacation, do something vacationy!” Otherwise, I’m a sleepy person who enjoys laying down and relaxing. I didn’t want to spend every night in my room though, so I booked a luau. The buffet was so-so, most people at my table kind of picked at their food. I did really enjoy the Luau show though as it brought back so many memories.  

I have to be honest here, I used to dance in my youth and my Aunt and Uncle (resting in eternal peace) ran a real tight dance troupe. I couldn’t help but scrutinize the lazy amis and long black leggings worn under the men’s ti leaf skirts. For the untrained eye, however, the show is fun and entertaining.  Watching their performances brought back so many beautiful memories of my aunt and uncle. I couldn’t help crying. 

I could see my aunt up there beautifully adorned and gently swaying in all her grace and my uncle lovingly watching her dance from his position on the stage while he strummed his guitar. I miss them both so much. 

What It’s Like Traveling Alone As A Woman In Kauai

Kauai is one of those places where when you visit, you start to wonder if it’s possible to move there. The whole vibe of the island feels very relaxed. I found myself going out to explore while it was raining and not minding one bit about getting wet. The island feels completely safe to explore solo as a woman. The scariest thing I probably saw was a gaggle of teenage dude bros, all dressed in similar attire with their sunglasses on and their not-a-care-in-the-world swagger. 

I made small talk with some of the local shop employees but I haven’t quite figured out how to “meet people” on my trips. There were, of course, plenty of other tourists on the island, mostly people with their families. I didn’t really have any desire to find a bar or anything like that where I could maybe strike up a conversation with strangers. So, I didn’t really interact with many people on my trip. If you’re comfortable with yourself, and I imagine if you’re trying solo travel you’ll eventually want to be, then just having the opportunity to soak in your surroundings is a rewarding experience in itself. 

If you’re asking yourself, “Is Kauai safe for solo female travelers?” the answer is absolutely yes! Of course, it goes without saying that you should always practice common sense and be aware of your surroundings. I spent as much time as I could at the beach, soaking in the sun and splashing in the warm water. I visited in April, so there were intermittent rainstorms, but as soon as the sun came out, I was running to the beach! Overall, the entire experience was soothing and relaxing.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Breathtakingly beautiful island, lush and green
• Laid-back island; it really feels like you can take life slow here
• Safe for solo travel for anyone really

Cons

• Kind of hard to find fresh fruit at the markets
• Not the easiest place to navigate…definitely research beaches and trails
• Most places close early and nightlife is limited

Reflections: What I Gained From Solo Travel In Kauai

The island is so breathtakingly beautiful that it almost makes you wish the world had a little less people on it. Kauai is an island that can breathe. Kauai makes you feel free. It’s just a completely different vibe. I imagine if I lived there, many lunch breaks could be spent sitting on beaches and evenings swimming in the ocean. Life could feel a little more carefree. I met several people who told me they had moved there from the mainland. The young man who checked me in had an 818 area code! He used to live in The Valley! And here I am wondering if it’s even possible for me to someday move to the East Coast. Speaking to other people who just decided to one day move to Hawaii and were living life just fine made me realize that life, uh, finds a way.