Poipu is a resort community on the South Shore with amazing scenery and one of the island's best beaches, but also has an assortment of incredible restaurants, gift shops, and boutiques too. Along the spectacular coastline, you will find plenty of outdoor activities, whether you love golf, scuba diving, fishing, or tennis.
Low amounts of rainfall make for consistently beautiful days, and nights are for the bars and lounges of resort hotels and local restaurants. From sunrise to sunset, your vacation days in Poipu can be spent living true beach town style, driving along the ocean, surfing, swimming, and ending with a sunset.
One of the more classic vacation areas on the island, Poipu is not to be missed.
Most Fun Things to Do in Poipu:
See the Spouting Horn - One of Kauai's most popular natural sites, Spouting Horn is a geyser-like blowhole, located on the southern coast of Kauai, that delights visitors with its explosive energy. The word, Poipu, actually translates to "crashing". The incoming surf rushes into an ancient lava tube and is forced upward and outward in a dramatic spray. At times, the geyser can reach up to fifty feet high. If the light is right, you may be able to catch a rainbow in the sea spray, which makes for a great photo opp. One weird thing is that the water also creates a low, moaning sound, leading ancient islanders to speculate that a giant lizard was trapped below ground, calling out to escape. According to Hawaiian folklore, a giant lizard once protected this area of the island. At times, local folks sell their wares in nearby tents, full of souvenirs and crafts. The Spouting Horn is a part of the Koloa Heritage Trail, a 10-mile trail in the Koloa district. While it may seem enticing to explore the rocks near the entrance of the blowhole, it is extremely dangerous and the reason for the guardrail and warning signs.
Dine Seaside at Roys -

Under the masterful talents of chef Roy Yamaguchi, who skillfully fuses European and Asian cuisines, Roy's Poipu Bar & Grill has earned a reputation for lively ambience, attentive service, and incredible food. They are devoted to impeccably fresh ingredients and a penchant for artistic presentation. Menu temptations include steamed Hawaiian onaga, tri-peppercorn-crusted ahi, and ginger-steamed Chinese chicken. There's also steak, lamb, pasta, pork, and duck. Nightly specials are common as well. They have several vegetarian options for main dishes as well as enough vegetarian apps to satisfy. This is a great spot to dress up or go in casual, but not so casual that you've got sandy feet and are wearing a bathing suit. Make a reservation so you can have a good view and go early enough to dine as the sun sets.
Shop at Kukuiula - The Shops at Kukuiula are both a lively diversion and a dynamic connection to Kauai. Located at the traffic circle in Poipu, this upscale shopping center has the easy ambiance of a sugar town and local culture for all the senses. Along with the varied shops and dining opportunities, there's the fresh and fun weekly Kauai Culinary Market. The Shops at Kukui'ula is Kaua'i's premiere dining and shopping destination. Its local boutiques, art galleries and renowned restaurants provide a unique and unparalleled retail experience. Offering a variety of shops, restaurants and retail stores you will enjoy. Poipu Shopping Village is a fun place for free entertainment, such as authentic Tahitian Dance Shows, Fire Knife Dancing and Live Drumming, all free right in our central courtyard. HOURS: Monday-Saturday: 9:30am-9pm and Sunday: 10am-7pm. FREE VALET PARKING HOURS: Sunday-Saturday: 5:15 pm-10:15 pm. Located at 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive.
Picnic on the Beach - Poipu is one of the sunniest

areas of the island and with its coastline dotted with small sandy beaches, it is the perfect place for a beachside picnic! These are the few easily accessible beaches.
Kukui'ula Harbor Beach - a small beach with its rocks can be pleasant at sunset or for a picnic thanks to large expanses of grass and a few picnic tables in the shade. Shower and toilets on site.
Keiki Cove Beach - a charming little bay that hides a tiny but beautiful sandy beach below the road. The small cove is protected from the waves by a reef that is clearly visible at low tide, forming a small lagoon when the sea retreats sufficiently. The place is really cute and somewhat hidden so it could possibly provide a private retreat.
Lawa'i Beach - Located 3 kilometres west of Poipu Beach Park on Lawa'i Road, the small beach of Lawa'i is a popular snorkeling spot. A grassy area to the west of the beach can be nice to sit under some tall palm trees. Here, the coral reef does not protect the beach, which exposes it to waves and sea currents, and therefore may not be suitable for small children. Although the seabed is not beautiful (no coral here), the fish are much more numerous here than in Poipu Beach Park.
Explore the Makauwahi Cave (Free!) -a small cave that is easy to explore by scrunching into a small hole that marks its entrance. Once inside, the first cavity is decorated with a few small stalactites in the process of formation, which leads to an open area where a few palm trees grow. Then you cross this open area, formed by a collapse of the roof of the large cave a long time ago, to reach the second cave. The latter ends in a dead end in the dark. There is no charge for the visit but donations are recommended for the preservation of the site. Brochures to understand the formation of the site and the local ecosystem are available at the entrance. Access to the cave is open every day from 9am to 4pm. There is a dirt car park near the cave at the end of the trail. In front of the cave's parking area, you will notice several enclosures where large land turtles live. Land turtles have been reintroduced here to try to reproduce the original ecosystem, when one of now extinct large birds once populated the area. It is possible to get closer to the tortoises by using the small stepladder that allows you to step over the fence at the parking lot.