Famously, only 20% of Kauai is accessible by car, and most of the coastline can’t be seen from any road, which means this is the perfect island for boat and helicopter tours.

I felt very safe during my entire trip to Kauai. But, as with any destination, you need to take precautions to keep yourself safe. Don’t walk by yourself at night, stay in a secure and well-located hotel or vacation home, use slash-proof, lockable, and RFID-protected bags and purses, and always have a charged cell phone with you.

The peak travel season for Kauai is December-March, when prices and tourist numbers will be at their highest everywhere on the island. So book your accommodation, rental cars, and tours in advance to save some money and ensure availability. These months have the highest rainfall, so choose accommodation on the west or south coast, which are usually drier.

Kauai is one of the wettest places on Earth, so there’s always a chance of rain year-round, especially at the higher altitudes. But rain showers on Kauai are usually brief, and, often, they can cool you off.

July-August is only slightly less crowded and expensive than December-March. The weather is perfect during these months – sunny and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s.

The year-round warm weather means Kauai doesn’t have an off-season. But April-June and September – November are shoulder seasons when you can score some great (by Hawaii standards) accommodation and airfare deals.

The current along the Nā Pali Coast is calmer in the summer than in the Fall, Winter, or Spring. So if you’re here when the surf is calmer, I recommend a Zodiac boat tour that will take you as close as you can get to the Nā Pali Coast, including into some of the most spectacular caves in the world. But if you’re here when the water is too choppy for a Zodiac tour, you can take a catamaran cruise.