August 5 — Royal Coconut Coast Day

Day Summary

An anniversary day on Kauai's beautiful east side — the Royal Coconut Coast. Start with breakfast at Lava Lava Beach Club with your feet in the sand, then head out on a five-hour guided kayak up the sacred Wailua River to the hidden 120-ft Uluwehi Falls. The afternoon fills out perfectly with a quick stop at Wailua Falls (view from the parking lot — no hike needed), a swim in the protected cove at Lydgate Beach, and a stroll through eclectic Kapa'a Town. End the evening with fine dining at Hukilau Lanai.

Meals

☀️Breakfast

Eat Out

Where🌊 Lava Lava Beach Club

Location420 Papaloa Rd, Kapa'a · Beachfront · (808) 241-5282

NotesWalk-up only · Arrive by 7:30 AM · Kayak check-in 8:45 AM · Tour departs 9:00 AM · Feet in the sand

🌿Lunch

Included on Tour

Where✅ Included — at Uluwehi Falls

MenuDeli lunch served at the waterfall pool after the hike · Ham, turkey, chips, fruit & cookies

🌙Dinner

Eat Out

Where🌊 Hukilau Lanai — Kapa'a

Address520 Aleka Loop, Kapa'a · (808) 822-0600

NotesFine dining · Ocean view · Kauai surf & turf · GF & V options · $30+/person

Reservation✅ Confirmed via Yelp · 7:00 PM

Activities & Schedule

~5:50 AM

↕

~7:00 AM

🌅 Ke Ala Hele Makālae Trail (optional — sunrise walk)

Lydgate Beach Park, Lihue · Kauai's iconic east-side coastal path — a paved, flat trail hugging the shoreline between Lydgate Park and Kapa'a · One of the most scenic morning walks on the island, with unobstructed ocean views the entire way

Sunrise at 6:15 AM · Walk north from Lydgate toward Kapa'a and catch the sun rising over the Pacific · The trail passes rocky coastline, tidepools, and the occasional monk seal · Perfectly timed so you're already near Lava Lava Beach Club for breakfast after

Free Starts at Lydgate Beach Park — same location as the afternoon swim · Flat & paved · No hiking shoes required Turn around by 7:00 AM to make the 7:30 AM Lava Lava breakfast window

~7:30 AM↕
~8:30 AM
🍳 Breakfast — Lava Lava Beach Club
420 Papaloa Rd, Kapa'a · (808) 241-5282 · Beachfront restaurant with island favorites · Eggs, acai bowls, fresh fruit & tropical mocktails · Option to dine with your feet literally in the sand

              Walk-up only — no reservations · Arrive early to avoid a long wait
            

9:00 AM

↕

2:00 PM

🛶 Wailua Sacred Falls — Kayak Kauai

Wailua Marina Store · 3-5971 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa · (808) 826-9844 · kayakkauai.com · 5 hours

Safety briefing & gear-up → Paddle 2 miles up the sacred Wailua River (double sit-on-top kayaks, calm flat water) → Dock & hike 1 mile through lush jungle trail to Uluwehi Falls → Swim in the 120-ft waterfall pool & enjoy included deli lunch → Paddle 2 miles back to marina

Includes: deli lunch · PFDs & paddles · water-resistant bags · walking sticks · 3 Adults · Booking #STAM-280426 · Paid in full

✓ Booked & Paid · #STAM-280426 · 3 Adults · All waivers signed River shoes required on trail · No flip flops permitted Leptospirosis advisory — avoid swallowing river water · Cover open cuts · Shower at Lydgate Beach Park showers immediately after Pack from hotel: body wash & a few washcloths — use the outdoor showers at Lydgate before continuing the afternoon

Afternoon · 2 PM – 7 PM

~2:15 PM

↕

~2:45 PM

💦 Wailua Falls Viewpoint

End of Maalo Rd (Route 583) · ~10 min drive from the marina · Twin cascades plunging 80 ft into a misty pool — recognizable from the original Fantasy Island opening credits · Full view right from the parking lot overlook

Free Small parking lot — cars turn over quickly if full · No hiking below the overlook permitted

~3:00 PM↕
~4:30 PM
🏊 Lydgate Beach Park & Pond
Leho Drive, Lihue · Man-made rock cove that shields against the rougher east-side surf · Usually has a lifeguard on duty · Protected enough for easy snorkeling — large colorful fish regularly spotted inside the cove · Outdoor showers and restrooms on site

              Free
              Shower here first — use body wash & washcloths from hotel to rinse off river water before swimming · Leptospirosis precaution
              Bring snorkel gear · Even in the cove — observe lifeguard signs before entering
            

~4:30 PM↕
~4:45 PM
🍧 Wailua Shave Ice — Must Try
East Kaua'i · Gourmet artisanal shave ice known for fresh fruit syrups, haupia foam, and natural flavors · A quick but essential stop on the way from Lydgate into Kapa'a Town

              ~$8–14
              15 min · On the way into Kapa'a — no detour needed
            

~5:00 PM↕
~6:30 PM
🛍️ Kapa'a Town Exploration
Kuhio Hwy (Route 56), Kapa'a · Eclectic east-side town with walkable shops, local galleries, and a laid-back Hawaiian vibe · Easy parking along the main strip
Kamoa Ukulele — handcrafted Hawaiian ukuleles, a Kauai institution · Shipwrecked Kauai — local art, gifts & curiosities · Kiko Kauai — boutique clothing & tropical accessories · Bamboo Works — Hawaiian crafts & bamboo goods

              Hukilau Lanai is right in Kapa'a — no need to move the car before dinner
              🧥 Pick up sweatshirts at Shipwrecked Kauai — you'll need them for Haleakalā on Maui · 4-1384 Kuhio Hwy · (808) 821-0805
            

7:00 PM

↕

Evening

🌊 Anniversary Dinner — Hukilau Lanai 🎉

Kapa'a · Fine dining on Kauai's east side · Ocean views · Kauai surf & turf · Fresh Hawaiian fish & locally sourced ingredients · GF & vegetarian options · $30+/person

Consistently rated one of the best dinners on the island — farm-to-table Hawaiian cuisine in an open-air setting, right in Kapa'a Town where you just explored

Anniversary — Courtney & Eric 🎉 ✅ Confirmed via Yelp · 7:00 PM Arrive a few minutes early — enjoy the ocean breeze before being seated

Day Highlights — Royal Coconut Coast

🛶5-hr guided kayak on the sacred Wailua River — completely off-road landscape, ancient Hawaiian history

💦Uluwehi (Secret) Falls — 120-ft hidden waterfall with freshwater pool · Swim at the base

🐠Lydgate Pond — protected snorkel cove with lifeguard, big colorful fish, calm water

🌅Wailua Falls — iconic twin 80-ft cascades viewed from the parking lot · No hike required

⚠️

Leptospirosis Advisory: A naturally occurring bacteria found in Kauai's rivers. Risk is generally low for kayakers. Avoid swallowing water, cover open wounds, and shower thoroughly after the tour.

Notes & Reminders

🗺️ Map → 🧳 Packing List →

✓ Booked & paid — Booking #STAM-280426 · Kayak Kauai · (808) 826-9844 · [email protected] · All waivers already signed
Lava Lava Beach Club is walk-up only — no reservations · Arrive by 7:30 AM to leave time to eat and reach the marina by 8:45 AM
River shoes are mandatory on the kayak tour — no flip flops permitted on the trail
B.Y.O. water bottle — fill up at the purified cold water station at the marina before departure
What to wear & bring: bathing suit under light long-sleeve shirt · reef-safe sunscreen (legally required in Hawaii) · waterproof camera or GoPro · warm change of clothes, towel, lotion & deodorant left in the car — you'll want dry, warm layers and a quick freshen-up after the kayak tour and snorkeling before heading into Kapa'a
The return paddle has headwinds — more demanding than the outbound leg; your guide will pace the group
🧼 Pack from the hotel: body wash & a few washcloths — use the outdoor showers at Lydgate Beach Park immediately after the kayak tour · Thorough wash-down is the key Leptospirosis precaution after river exposure
Snorkel gear: bring your own for Lydgate Beach or rent in Kapa'a town · The rock cove has excellent visibility and big fish

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