How to Visit Kilauea Lighthouse & More Before a Red-Eye Flight: Your Last Day in Kauai
At last, you have spent an amazing week in Kauai, but now it’s coming to an end. Maybe you are wondering what to do on your last day in Kauai? Well, we have you covered with a few options you can check out before your red-eye flight home. If you’ve got an earlier flight, these are also some great destinations to visit before heading to the airport.
We recommend visiting the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge first. Then, check out Anini Beach for some last-minute snorkeling. Finally, head toward the airport and get a bite to eat before your journey home. Read on for more details.
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Things to Know
- Reservations are required to visit the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Tickets to enter are available on their website.
- Tickets are available 60 days in advance and cost $11.00/person. If you have an annual national park pass, the cost is a $1.00 reservation fee. Children 15 years and younger are free and do not need a reservation.
- Entry tickets are valid for 45 minutes. If you plan on visiting longer, please make multiple reservations. The refuge is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.
- In 2025, the area is closed for construction due to damage from storms and flooding, and the planned reopening date is May 21st.
- When enjoying the ocean in Kauai, you must use reef-safe sunscreen to protect the marine life in Hawaii. Get our favorites here.
🌺 Whenever you visit Kauai, please practice mālama by showing care and respect for others, supporting local businesses, and protecting the environment by refraining from littering. Keep Kauai pristine and pick up any trash you encounter. Take the time to learn about Hawaiian culture and spread kindness by paying it forward.
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
On your last day in Kauai, don’t miss the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. This is a great place to visit before your red-eye flight off the island. If the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is closed, the overlook at the end of Kīlauea Road is always accessible to view the Kilauea Point and the lighthouse from a distance. It’s a spectacular view as shown below.
As mentioned above, make sure to secure reservations before going. Cell service is limited on site, so plan accordingly and have your tickets ready and downloaded before arrival. When you arrive, you’ll be directed to a parking lot, and you can continue to the refuge after a short walk.
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Once on site, there is plenty to explore! Check out the visitor center, where you can learn about the history of the area and even pick up a couple of souvenirs to take home.
The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is also home to the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1913. At times, you may be able to take a tour of the lighthouse, but it was closed during our visit.
Finally, take a walk around outside and check out the amazing wildlife on site. Some of the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawaii are found here. You may also spot humpback whales (November through April), spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, and more.
This is not a huge park, so don’t plan on spending hours here – I would say about 45 minutes to 1 hour is really all you need. Plan to reserve just one time slot for 45 minutes, and you should be good.
Snorkel at Anini Beach
Another thing to do on your last day in Kauai is to go snorkeling one last time. At this point, we recommend checking out nearby Anini Beach. To reach Anini Beach, travel north on the Kuhio Highway after your visit to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.
Then, turn right on Kalihiwai Rd and then left on Anini Road. Take this road all the way to the end for the best spot. Note that Kalihikai Park is located along the road about halfway down and is also a nice place to stop. Convenient showers and restrooms are located here as well.
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Visit Lydgate Beach and Grab a Bite to Eat
One last option before your red-eye flight out of Kauai is to visit Lydgate Beach. This beach has plenty of parking, restrooms, showers, and a large beach to relax on, with areas in the ocean to swim and snorkel. Lydgate Beach is located just north of Lihue, so it’s super close to the airport as well.
If you want to clean up before your flight, this is a great place to do so.
Finally, we recommend stopping for a nice bite to eat at Mamahune’s before your flight. This is a nice restaurant located right by the Hilton Garden Inn with great food. Enjoy a nice lunch or early dinner al fresco surrounded by gorgeous palm trees as you reminisce about your amazing week in Kauai.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! There are plenty of things to do on your last day in Kauai before heading out in the evening. The views at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge were breathtaking, and we enjoyed some beach time after.
Before heading to the airport, we had a nice dinner at Mamahune’s with great views of the nearby coconut palms. Now, maybe you are heading home? But maybe you want to extend your vacation in Hawaii? I mean, you are already there, right? It’s just a short island hop away. So, head to Maui for another 7 days in paradise!
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