Ultimate Guide to Watching the Best Kauai Sunset

Is there anything more romantic than witnessing Hawaii sunsets with someone you love? If there’s one of the best things to experience in Hawaii, there’s nothing more beautiful than a Kauai sunset.

With a little planning, you can hit up at least one Kauai sunset spot on your next vacation to Kauai.

Whether you’d like to marvel at one of the beaches of Kauai or while enjoying cocktails, I’ve got all the top places to see Kauai’s sunset.

Read my top tips for your first trip to Kauai!

Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Kauai.

Popular Kauai Tours/Activities

Na Pali Coast Snorkeling Tour (this one also goes to the forbidden island of Ni’ihau)
Kauai Helicopter Tour (this is the BEST way to see waterfalls on Kauai)
ATV Tour to a Private Waterfall (this is a romantic adventure that feels like a secret getaway)
Mountain Tubing (this is a low-key adventure down an old sugar cane canal)
Luau Kalamaku (you can do a little train ride and feed farm animals before the luau)
Book a Photo Shoot (this is a Hawaii souvenir you’ll treasure forever)

Favorite Kauai Resorts/Hotels

Grand Hyatt Kauai (this Poipu resort has a luxurious pool area, romantic restaurants, and a stunning ocean view)
Koloa Landing Resort (this is a luxury resort with an amazing pool area and truly spacious rooms)
Royal Sonesta Kauai (we LOVE the pool here because it’s the largest one in Hawaii)

Want to Rent a Car in Hawaii?
One of the best places to rent a car in Hawaii is Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.

Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Kauai Itinerary, complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.

KAUAI TRAVEL GUIDE

Click here for step-by-step Kauai travel planning help

Kauai Sunset FAQs

Which Hawaiian Island has the best sunsets?

To be honest, you’ll find epic Hawaii sunsets on any of the islands. I’m pretty partial to Kauai only because it tends to be less crowded than Maui or Oahu.

Where can I see the sunset in Kauai?

Kauai sunsets are visible on the South Shore in the winter and the North Shore in the summer.

What is the best Kauai sunset beach?

While there are tons of great Kauai beaches to watch the sunset, my top pick is Polihale Beach on the West Shore.

Check out this list of the best Kauai sunset spots for your next Kauai vacation.

Sunset Time Kauai

One of the biggest questions you probably have is, “What time does the sunset in Kauai occur?”

If you’re trying to add Kauai sunsets to your vacation itinerary, it’s helpful to know the sunset time on Kauai.

The tricky thing is that the Kauai sunset time changes throughout the year. To help you figure it out, I’ve included the sunset time on Kauai for each month.

What time is sunset in Kauai?

January	6:06pm-6:26pm
February	6:27pm-6:41pm
March	6:42pm-6:53pm
April	6:53pm-7:04pm
May	7:04pm-7:17pm
June	7:18pm-7:25pm
July	7:18pm-7:25pm
August	6:54pm-7:17pm
September	6:25pm-6:53pm
October	6:01pm-6:24pm
November	5:53pm-6:00pm
December	5:53pm-6:06pm

Best Beaches in Kauai to See a Sunset

Now that you know the sunset time in Kauai, the next step is to figure out where to go.

Kauai has some awesome beaches to watch the dramatic sunset, and these are my top picks:

Polihale Beach

I think Polihale Beach is the best Kauai beach to see the magnificent sunsets. It’s less crowded than Poipu Beach because it’s less convenient to get to.

If you have little kids, this is also a practical option because they will probably fall asleep in the car (it’s kind of a long drive), so it’s a fun date night!

I do want to point out that Polihale gets closed from time to time for repairs to the road or facilities. So, be sure to check before you drive out there.

Poipu Beach Park

It’s super easy to enjoy a Poipu Beach sunset at many resorts that face the Pacific Ocean.

But, you can also just head straight for Poipu Beach Park and find a cozy spot. Because there’s so much close parking, it’s really easy to do this with kids.

There are also lots of Poipu restaurants you can visit before or after sunset.

If you’re coming here with your family, you’re in luck because this is also one of best Kauai beaches for families.

Shipwreck Beach

Another popular South Shore beach is Shipwreck Beach. The sunset here is just as beautiful as Poipu Beach Park, but it’s a bit less crowded.

While Shipwreck Beach, fronting the Grand Hyatt Kauai, faces a bit too far East to see the sun setting over the water, it sets over the lush mountains, and the sky still gets pretty colors.

Book a Family Photo Shoot

Whenever we travel to Hawaii, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND it guarantees that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link.

BOOK HERE

Salt Pond State Park

While Salt Pond Park is one of my favorite beaches on Kauai during the day, it’s also a pretty cool spot at dusk.

Salt Pond Beach Park is a great Kauai sunset or sunrise beach. Image of Sunrise with palm trees in Salt Pond Beach Park on Kauai, Hawaii — Salt Pond Beach Park on Kauai

They have a bunch of picnic shelters, so it’s perfect for grabbing food to go and having a little Kauai picnic as you watch the sunset.

It’s also one of the places to go camping on Kauai, so you can make a whole night out of it!

Kekaha Beach

If you want a more intimate, quiet beach for sunset, head to Kekaha Beach on the West Shore.

This is the longest white-sand beach in Hawaii, and you are sure to find a spot without anyone else. You just park along the street, so it’s easy to find a spot.

Plus, you’ll be able to see Niihau from a distance.

And since this is the island’s dry side, it’s almost guaranteed not to rain on you.

Hanalei Bay

I know a lot of people are curious about Hanalei Bay sunset spots if they are staying on the North Shore.

The tricky thing is that since the sun sets in the West, the view from the North Shore isn’t as spectacular as it is from the West Shore.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t still see a Hanalei sunset.

In fact, if you’re heading to Kauai in summer, the North Shore gets some great sunsets!

Ke’e Beach

Again, if you’re heading to Kauai in summer, this is a great North Shore Kauai spot to see the sunset and even go for a dip in the calm water.

To get there, you basically drive up along the North Shore until the road ends. It’s right at the start of the Na Pali coastline.

One thing to note is that there are only 100 parking spots here. If you are going in peak season, you’ll want to take the Kauai North Shore Shuttle.

Tunnels Beach

If you are looking for a super romantic remote beach to watch the sunset, Tunnels Beach on the North Shore is the place to go.

You’ll likely be the only person there because the closest parking is about a mile away.

This would be a great spot if you are on a Kauai honeymoon or going just with adults. It’s not a great option with kids.

This is also one of the top places to snorkel on Kauai.

Kauai Attractions with Awesome Sunset Views

If you’ve already done a Kauai beach sunset and want to try something else, there are a few other places to check out sunset on Kauai.

Spouting Horn Blowhole

One of the most popular things to do in Poipu is visit the Spouting Horn blowhole. Basically, you wait to see the waves crash through the rocks, which shoot water up into the air.

Spouting Horn in Poipu is an awesome place for sunset Kauai photos — Spouting Horn in Poipu.

Check the tide schedule before you go if you want to see Spouting Horn in all its glory. Otherwise, you’ll still enjoy a spectacular sunset.

Visiting Spouting Horn is one of the best things to do on Kauai under $10!

Kalalau Lookout

Another cool place to watch the sunset is from the Kalalau Lookout. It’s the highest point on the island, and you can drive to it.

Head to Kalalau Valley to watch sunset in Kauai. Image of Morning scene at the Napali Coast in Kauai, Hawaii Islands. — Kalalau Valley on Kauai

The Kalalau Valley is one of the most beautiful places on Kauai, and watching the sunset here takes it to the next level.

To get there, you’ll drive up to Waimea Canyon until the road ends.

Waimea Pier

If you want less of a drive, you can head to Waimea Pier for a picturesque sunset spot.

There are usually very few people here, so it’s perfect for people wanting to do a sunset photoshoot.

I also think it would make for a cute place on Kauai to propose!

There’s a parking lot and restroom here and so many restaurants nearby.

Port Allen

Another place to see sunset on Kauai’s South Shore is Port Allen.

This is where many Kauai sunset boat tours depart (see below), but it’s also nice to walk around and take in the views.

Best Kauai Restaurants to See the Sunset

If you’re staying on the North Shore, the St. Regis Hotel is famous for its postcard-perfect sunset views. It’s currently under construction to become 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in early 2022, and I’m sure it will be just as spectacular.

In the meantime, these are my top picks for the best restaurant in Kauai for sunset.

Beach House Kauai Restaurant

Located in Poipu, the Beach House is the most popular restaurant in Kauai, where you can watch the sunset.

It’s right on the beach and has giant windows, so you can see the stunning Poipu sunset from almost any table.

This is also where you’ll find the best Mai Tai in Hawaii. It’s the same one they serve at Monkeypod Kitchen, which is famous for its honey lilikoi foam!

Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kauai

Another popular best restaurant to watch sunset in Kauai is Tidepools. While it’s convenient for anyone staying at the gorgeous Grand Hyatt Kauai, it’s open.

The location is pretty cool. It’s a set of open-air bungalows on the water next to a little waterfall.

And the food is outstanding. It’s been Zagat rated as one of the best restaurants on Kauai.

RumFire Kauai

This is another Poipu restaurant known for having great sunset views. It’s located at the Sheraton Kauai Resort, and you’ll have sweeping 180-degree ocean views from anywhere you dine.

Plus, it’s a great spot to taste a bunch of different rums, including ones made in Hawaii!

Duke’s Kauai

While it may seem strange to include an East Shore restaurant on this list, sunsets here are really pretty.

Duke’s is located at the Royal Sonesta Kaua’i Resort Lihue (formerly Kauai Marriott), which is right on Kalapaki Bay and offers epic views of the mountains and water.

You’ll still be able to see all the dancing colors in the sky, but not the actual sunset.

Best Sunset Cruise in Kauai

Any of these sunset boat tours are pretty much guaranteed a great sunset!

BOOK HERE

Kauai Sunset Tours

Allerton Garden at Sunset

This is a really cool tour of this 80-acre Kauai garden and it ends with an outdoor dinner on the lanai. Check out the latest prices and more details.