One of my favorite things to do in Hawaii is taste local favorites. We passed through these fruit stands after grabbing lunch at Island Taco. Some other good restaurants we tried that I recommend: Puka Dog, Tidepools, Dondero's, Hukilau Lanai, and Kauai Grill. Hanalei also has some fun options in the town village area.
I've never been to the Grand Canyon, but apparently Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It was fun to see it from the lookout after flying through it by a helicopter. The drive up is very windy and pretty long, but you get an incredible panoramic view once you get to the top. And we were so lucky to have it all to ourselves since we heard it can get pretty crowded with tourists.
When we visited Kauai, we stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu, which is located on the south side -- aka "sunnier side" of the island. It's definitely a trek up to Princeville but we had a car, and it was so nice passing through the Tree Tunnel each time we drove out for an adventure.
We were upgraded to the most impressive suite I've ever stayed in. So if you are planning a trip to Kauai and decide to stay at this hotel, book a room with an ocean view and make sure you request the Deluxe Suite 6127 in the Shipwreck Wing -- I promise it's the best! It really made our stay in Kauai special. Plus all the restaurants in the resort are incredible.