A quick photo stop — unfortunately the weather doesn't allow for much more today — but otherwise this beach should be great for swimming.

The Lighthouse at Kilauea is located within a wildlife refuge. For a $5 entrance fee per person, you can take a wonderful stroll through the birdlife of Kauai and Hawaii. This is where we spot Hawaii's state bird for the first time — the Nene, an endangered species of goose. There are plenty of nesting birds to observe, along with powerful surf crashing against the cliffs beside the lighthouse.

The Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, a beautiful old church built from lava rock, prompts us to make a short stop. A small cemetery with graves dating back to the 18th century sits right next to the church.

The Hanalei Lookout offers a stunning view of the Hanalei Valley with its many taro fields. Definitely worth a stop.

Hanalei has a laid-back, village-like charm with plenty of shops and a few waterfalls on the mountains in the background. There's no shortage of restaurants either — reason enough for a late lunch. We happen to end up in a bar that had a role in the movie "The Descendants" with George Clooney.

Another beautiful beach is Tunnels Beach. Shortly before, you cross two narrow, old steel bridges, and the drive offers stunning views.

We reach the Maniniholo Dry Cave a few curves and a river ford further down the road. Since it's raining heavily today, driving through the ford is an extra bit of fun. The wide cave extends several meters into the mountain — the deeper you go, the quieter the voices sound. A tripod is recommended for photos. Across the road, there's also Maniniholo Bay with a lifeguard on duty.

Haena State Park with Kee Beach lies at the end of the road. Lifeguards and restroom facilities are available.

This is also the starting point of a fantastic hiking trail, the Kalalau Trail. The longest route runs 11 miles (about 18 km) along the coast and promises spectacular views. Plan one to two hours for each 2-mile (3.2 km) segment. We arrive quite late and only manage to reach the lookout over Kee Beach after about 500 meters. Another 500 meters further, there's a beautiful view of the Napali Coast.

Make sure to bring good shoes and proper gear. This is not a typical paved American hiking trail. It had been raining all day, and streams of water were rushing down the rugged rocky terrain toward us.

Beyond Kee Beach, the Kalalau Trail begins. The hiking trail is 11 miles (17.7 km) long and crosses five valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach on the Napali Coast. The Napali Coast stretches impressively rugged and emerald green for 27 kilometers along the island's north shore. A helicopter tour over Kauai gives you a fantastic perspective of this stunning coastline.