Experience Kauai at its most magical in our Winter 2026 issue—insightful interviews, quiet escapes, and essential island highlights.
Welcome to the Winter 2026 issue of Kauai Magazine, where we explore the island through a deeper, more thoughtful lens during one of Kauai’s most magical seasons. In this issue, award-winning photographer John Wehrheim reflects on a lifetime spent documenting landscapes, communities, and cultural change. We wander the streets and shorelines of Hanalei Town, uncover hidden coastal paths and photogenic corners of the North Shore, and head inland to the peaceful trails and shaded picnic grounds of Keahua Arboretum. Couture icon Louda Larrain discusses her Green Acres-style leap from Manhattan’s sophistication to Kauai’s wild beauty. You’ll also find our “Stay Here, Not There” guide, highlighting smarter places to stay across the island, along with the Best of Kauai 2026, our definitive celebration of the island’s best beaches, hikes, restaurants, hotels, attractions, and adventures. From creative lives reimagined on Kauai to whale-watching season along the coast, this winter issue captures the people, places, and moments that make the Garden Isle unforgettable.
Format: Print
Pages: 82 pages of mostly ad-free content.
Size: 8.3 by 11.7 inches (A4 size)
Also available: Digital Edition for immediate download.
Table of Contents
6 / Capturing Paradise: A Conversation with John Wehrheim
Award-winning photographer John Wehrheim discusses a lifetime of documenting communities, landscapes, and cultural change.
18 / Hanalei Town: Hawaii, Pure and Simple
A look at the landscape and lifestyle that make Hanalei iconic.
28 / Guardians of the Shore
How Kauai residents, organizations, and brands are uniting to save the island’s precious monk seals and honu.
32 / Smith’s Fern Grotto Tour
More than just a boat ride, this iconic tour along the Wailua River carries passengers deep into a world where nature, culture, and storytelling converge.
36 / Stay Here, Not There
Whether you’re chasing sunsets on the North Shore or planning day trips from Poipu, here’s our guide to staying smarter on Kauai—without the resort price tag.
40 / In Focus: Where Anini Meets Wyllie’s
At the far end of Anini Beach Road, two beaches join together to create one of the North Shore’s most picturesque and photogenic corners.
46 / A Hidden Path to Paradise
Off the beaten path in Princeville, a shaded footpath leads to a secluded beach far removed from the crowds.
48 / Best of Kauai 2026
Kauai Magazine’s Best of Kauai 2026 celebrates the island’s finest beaches, hikes, restaurants, hotels, attractions, adventures, and more—everything you need to experience the Garden Isle at its best in 2026.
68 / Couture Meets Kauai
Couture icon Louda Larrain and her renowned photographer husband, Gilles Larrain, reinvent their creative world on the island after trading Manhattan’s skyscrapers for Kauai’s emerald cliffs.
76 / Keahua Arboretum: Kauai’s Green Escape Beyond the Beaches
For a change of scenery on the island, head inland to the Keahua Arboretum, a leafy haven offering picnics, hiking, and a peaceful reset amid towering trees and a gentle stream.
80 / Parting Shots
Winter is whale-watching season on Kauai!