Kauaʻi

Beach House Restaurant

Poʻipū

Beach House Restaurant (Lawai Beach, Poipu) — the best sunset dinner seat on the south shore. Tables face directly west over the ocean; the sunset from here is extraordinary. Fresh fish and a good wine list. Reserve specifically for sunset — get the time from local sunset tables and book the sitting that ends 30 min before it. Full 15 min early.

JO2 by Chef Jean-Marie Josselin

Kapaʻa

JO2 by Chef Jean-Marie Josselin (Kapaa, on Kuhio Hwy) — the best restaurant on the east side and one of the finest on the island. French-trained chef using Kauai farm ingredients in creative fusion plates. Significantly better than anything in Poipu resort corridor at a more reasonable price. Reserve at least a week ahead for dinner.

Porky's

Waimea

Porky's (Waimea) — the best plate lunch on the west side, and a smart stop before or after Waimea Canyon since options out there are thin. Kalua pork, smoked meat, local-style plates from a roadside spot.

Tidepool Restaurant

Poʻipū

Tidepool Restaurant (Grand Hyatt, Poipu) — the splurge dinner on Kauai, built over the resort's koi ponds with open-air thatched tables at the water's edge. Book ahead and time it for sunset. Fresh fish, tropical cocktails, the setting is the point.

Wailua Shave Ice

Kapaʻa

Wailua Shave Ice (Kapaa, on Kuhio Hwy) — the best shave ice on Kauai. The machine shaves ice paper-thin; syrups are made from fresh fruit. Order with a macadamia ice cream base underneath. Get lilikoi (passion fruit) as one of your flavors.

Hanalei Nourish

Hanalei

Hanalei Nourish (Hanalei, on Aku Rd) — don't miss it. Healthy, creative cuisine using local Kauai ingredients with a magnificent view of Hanalei Bay from the terrace. Smoothie bowls, fresh fish dishes, and the best açaí bowl on the island. The view alone is worth the detour.

2026-01-03

Quadrantid meteor shower (peak)

The Quadrantids are one of the year's strongest meteor showers, with a brief, sharp peak in early January that can produce 40 or more meteors per hour under dark skies. Because Hawaiʻi has some of the clearest, darkest skies in the U.S., the islands are a superb place to watch. Look in the hours before dawn, away from town lights — a high-elevation spot or a dark leeward beach is ideal. No telescope needed; just let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes.

2026-02-21

2026 Waimea Town Celebration

2026-02-21

Na Heihei A Ola - Waimea Town Celebration Fun Run

2026-04-22

Lyrid meteor shower (peak)

The Lyrids are an annual April meteor shower, active for about a week and peaking around April 22 with roughly 15–20 fast, bright meteors per hour and the occasional fireball. From Hawaiʻi, the best viewing is after midnight into the pre-dawn hours, away from city lights. Find a dark, open sky — upcountry or a leeward shore — and give your eyes time to adjust.

2026-05-06

Eta Aquariid meteor shower (peak)

The Eta Aquariids are debris from Halley's Comet, peaking in early May. Hawaiʻi's low latitude makes it one of the best places in the United States to watch this shower — from the tropics it can deliver 40+ swift meteors per hour, many leaving glowing trains. Look toward the eastern sky in the hours before dawn from a dark location. A standout event for island stargazers.

2026-08-12

Perseid meteor shower (peak)

The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower of the year, peaking in mid-August with up to 60 bright, fast meteors per hour and frequent fireballs, all on warm summer nights. Debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, they are easy to enjoy from Hawaiʻi under dark skies. Watch after midnight, away from town lights, from a high-elevation site or a dark beach; no equipment needed.