What percentage of Kauai is not accessible by car?

Eighty percent of Kauai is inaccessible by car, but that doesn't mean you can't explore further by Helicopter, ATV, horseback or by foot along miles of hiking trails Kauai has to offer. Kauai is an outdoor paradise waiting to be discovered. Need help planning? Kauai.com offers a free concierge service to help plan.



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Only around 10% of Kauai is accessible by car, and a large proportion is not accessible by foot at all. This means that some of Kauai's most incredible sights must be seen on foot, by boat and from the air!

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You can get around Kauai without a car, as there are bus services on the island and taxis are also available. However, public transport isn't particularly frequent and is quite limited in the areas that you can visit, so if you're looking for total freedom when getting around Kauai then a rental car is recommended.

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Around 97% of it is covered by mountain ranges and forests. It also has a smaller population than Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Only around 10% of Kauai is accessible by car, and a large proportion is not accessible by foot at all.

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The island is circular in shape, with one main road connecting the North Shore and West Side of the island. You cannot drive completely around the island, the rugged and beautiful Na Pali Coast makes that impossible.

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The West Side of the island, the leeward coast of Kauai, is drier and the mountains in the center of the island block the rest of Kauai from the rain. This is one of the least visited parts of the island, excluding the sights along Highway 550 (like Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park).

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There are only two main roadways on Kaua?i – Kuhio Highway (Route 56) and Kaumuali?i Highway (Route 50) – and the island is 25 miles long and 33 miles wide. This means getting around the Garden Island isn't very difficult – if you have a car.

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It's an 80 foot drop which some believe to be much higher. To reach most of our Kauai waterfalls you'll need to hike. Wailua Falls, with its three spectacular segments, is one of the few that you can drive to making it accessible for all.

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With much of the Aloha State easing its travel restrictions, visitor numbers — and rental car prices — are skyrocketing. During the pandemic, rental car companies were forced to sell vehicles and thin out their fleets when a lack of visitors left them with nowhere to park all of the unused cars.

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Embark on a captivating journey through Kauai's rich history with our 20-mile scenic Hop on hop off Kauai Tour. Experience the birthplace and cherished playground of the esteemed kings, immersing yourself in the local heritage that has shaped this remarkable destination.

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Results from the 2022 Kaua'i Point-In-Time Count revealed there are a total of 444 homeless individuals on Kaua'i, including 404 unsheltered and 40 sheltered people, an increase of 20 from 2020. Only sheltered individuals were counted in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Based on the size of the homeless group she assists at Ho'omana Thrift Shop in Wailua, Rowena Contrades-Pangan estimated there are between 800 and 1,000 homeless people on Kaua'i. “These are local people born and raised on Kaua'i,” said Contrades-Pangan.

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Kauai is nicknamed the 'Garden Island'. Even their local newspaper, which has been in print since 1901, is called 'The Garden Island'! The mountains surround the rainforests, basically blocking them off. Because of this, about 97% of Kauai's land is undeveloped. It is also pretty hard to access!

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While our island is almost circular, (approximately 25 miles wide and 33 miles long) the Napali coastline prohibits construction of roads from the north shore to the west side, so driving times from one end of the island (Ke'e Beach on the northshore) to the west side (Polihale Beach) will take roughly 2 hours 50 ...

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North Shore Mobility Study Kauai's narrow roads, unique terrain, and limited parking contribute to many issues when it comes to navigating the north shore smoothly and safely.

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4 Places to Avoid in Kauai
  • Beaches Without Lifeguards. In the recent years, an increasing number of tourists have been deviating towards the secluded, non-touristy beaches of Kauai. ...
  • Dangerous Hiking Trails. ...
  • Kipu Falls. ...
  • Freshwater Pools. ...
  • Final Thoughts.


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Kahului is located on the island of Maui while the Kailua – Kaneohe area is also located on Oahu, making Oahu the worst island to drive on Hawaii because Honolulu is located on the other side of that same island.

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