Aloha! Our babymoon in Kauai was truly one of my favorite trips ever!
Hawaii has always been on my bucket list, and after a lot of research my husband and I decided to go to Kauai for our babymoon. It is the most Northern island and is known for the famous Na Pali Coast.
Kauai is truly paradise, a perfect destination spot for anyone looking to enjoy the beautiful scenery!
During our babymoon, I was 22 weeks pregnant and still experienced so much that Kauai has to offer. A day in Kauai wouldn’t be complete without shaved ice and a chicken sighting! Here is everything that you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Kauai!
Where We Stayed
We stayed in the North shore which is home two main towns Hanalei and Princeville. Hanalei Bay is known for the most spectacular sunsets and was only a 10 minute drive from our resort. We stayed at the Hanalei Bay Resort.
We enjoyed our coffee on the balcony every morning that overlooks the bay. You could also see beautiful rainbows appear with the green lush mountains in the background, it was incredible! I loved driving around Hanalei because it is a one way road with little shops and restaurants along the way.
Things to Do in Kauai
1. Hanalei Bay: I highly recommend visiting this beach, it is surrounded by majestic peaks and spans about two miles long. There is a pier within the bay and you can see surfers and boats during the day. It’s a popular beach that the whole family can enjoy. Out of all the beaches we visited, this one is hands down my favorite one!
2. Helicopter Tour: Here’s a funny story about our helicopter ride… Initially, Wes and I did not plan to take a helicopter tour during our babymoon in Kauai because it is on the pricier side. Our resort was promoting a free excursion meeting for new guests to attend, with complimentary coffee and donuts.
Although I had booked all our activities ahead of time, I convinced Wes that I wanted to eat coffee and donuts so I dragged him to the meeting. All guests were given a raffle ticket and names would be drawn for free excursions!
Well… my name was drawn for a FREE helicopter ride!
It was a buy one get one free helicopter ride! I was shocked and couldn’t even say a word when they announced my ticket number. I was so excited!!
I told Wes that the coffee and donuts were worth it because we ended up winning a free helicopter ride with Sunshine Helicopters! It was such a fun, exilerating experience to see the island of Kauai from above. It was a little scary at times but so worth the money to go! We saw many waterfalls and hidden gems along the way. A once in lifetime opportunity that I highly recommend doing!
3. Catamaran Boat Cruise: If there is one activity that you should splurge on in Kauai, it’s a luxury catamaran boat tour! I booked with Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures and Raft Expeditions. They offer a lot of different tours and packages, they also allow women on board up to 26 weeks pregnant. During our tour, we explored the Na Pali Coast while learning about the Hawaiian history from the Captain.
The crew served BBQ, beer, and wine while we took in the stunning views. Wes and I would look over the railing and feel the ocean mist spraying us. After awhile you could feel the salt on your skin from the ocean water!
It was such a fun experience seeing the wildlife below the deck, we saw spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and lots of fish! The Captain parked the catamaran in a shallow area and allowed passengers to swim and snorkel. I will say that going back to the port the waters were choppy and everyone had to hold on tight.
At first, it was fun but then I had to sit down because it was getting bumpy! I didn’t get seasick but got really close. A saw an older man throwing up near the back of the boat and I almost threw up after that!
There is nothing more beautiful than seeing the Na Pali Coastline from a luxury boat, a must do in my opinion!
4. Waimea Canyon State Park: This trip to the canyon was well worth it! It’s known as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. The drive up to the canyon is rockier and drier than most parts of Kauai. It’s a scenic drive and we even stopped once to look at a mini waterfall.
Once you get to the parking lot, you walk up to the top of stairs to the scenic viewpoint of the canyon. It goes on for miles and miles! A low-key activity for anyone expecting and perfect for your Kauai babymoon.
5. Luau Dinner: It’s not a Hawaiian trip if you don’t go to a luau with hula dancers, right? If you want a true Hawaiian experience then a luau is the way to go. When we first got there, they had a craft fair full of locals selling a variety of items. Wes took advantage of the open bar while I did some shopping. Afterward, dinner was served buffet style with all kinds of yummy Hawaiian classics.
The best part about the Luau Kalamaku was the live performance. If you’re a big Moana lover like I am then you will love the show! The entire performance tells a story about the early Polynesians voyaging between Hawaii and Tahiti. From the dancing to the drums, it is amazing to see! There is so much history within the Hawaiian islands, from the legends to the Gods it is intriguing to be able to experience it!
6. Wailua Falls: These falls are stunning a must do for all visitors! It is also known as Kauai’s twin falls because of the two massive streams of water coming from the Wailua River. You can see the falls from the parking lot. It is not recommended to access the falls by going down the trail. Wes and I decided to go down the trail anyway and trek down the steep hill.
Take it from me, if you’re pregnant please avoid going down. It was a little too muddy and I was scrambling on my hands and knees. I’ve hiked Colorado peaks and have hiking experience but being pregnant throws off your balance and it’s not worth the risk of getting hurt. Besides that, it is even more beautiful at the base of the falls!
7. Maternity Photoshoot: A babymoon in Kauai is not complete unless you splurge on a maternity photoshoot! Although my belly bump wasn’t that big, I still wanted to capture and remember our memories in Kauai. There are so many stunning photos of our photoshoot, that I made entire blog post about it here!
Where We Ate
–Tiki Iniki: This restaurant is located in Princeville and has a fun vibe to it! They had a big tiki bar inside and made the best cocktails in the coolest cups! If I wasn’t pregnant during this trip, I would have sipped on Mai Tai’s and Blue Hawaiians all night long.
Although the wait was long and the food is pricey, it was amazing. I ordered the teriyaki chicken and was very impressed!
–L&L Hawaiian Barbecue: This is a chain restaurant that we’ve tried in Colorado and have always loved it. It’s more affordable to eat here than other restaurants nearby. It’s a local favorite because it serves Hawaiian comfort food like chicken katsu and kalua pork with a side of mac salad and rice. I grew up eating spam, but since I was pregnant I couldn’t eat it. If you’re willing to try an island classic, try the spam musubi!
–Hanalei Bread Company: Wes and I had breakfast in our hotel room most mornings. But since I was a pregnant, I was craving a big breakfast and spotted this coffee house in town. I devoured a breakfast burrito and sipped on a cup of coffee. They have a variety of items on their menu, had seating with nice views, and it was delicious.
–Jojo’s Shave Ice & Wailua Shave Ice: These two places are iconic! We ate shave ice almost every day because it was THAT good! It’s made with shaved ice, condensed milk, flavored syrups, and macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom. I miss eating this and want to go back just to have more!
Wes and I truly enjoyed our babymoon in Kauai! Kauai has so much to offer from hiking to snorkeling, there is an abundance of things to do for the entire family! We’ve already decided to go back in a few years with our girls.
There is something so special about the island of Kauai and it holds a special place in my heart because Sophia was in my belly kicking me the entire trip. Sophia is our rainbow baby and seeing the rainbows from our balcony is something I’ll never forget.
Mahalo! Follow along our everyday life with our girls via Instagram! @_cathyjune
