Ah, Kauai. My happy place. These are things that Pete and I will do when we are there in June; so take that for what it’s worth. We’re also going to spend a lot amazing amount of time sleeping and reading, that’s one of the main reasons I keep pushing to go back. Lot’s and lot’s of napping, by the pool, on the beach, in the condo. It’s so freakin’ relaxing. I think it’s the scents in the air. Pete always says, “No, No” the whole time I’m planning a trip to Kauai, and then he thanks me when we get there.
This is the first in a series.(Screw that, way too much work while I’m in the islands) I actually started it as an email to a friend of mine as recommendations on what to do while on Kauai. She will be there three weeks before Pete and I! While I was proof reading, however, I realized it was a great pre-amble to the posts I plan from our trip!
So, our favorite place to eat in all Kauai is the sunset seating at The Beach House Restaurant.
This is the best picture I could find (can't get to mine on crashed computer), this doesn't do it justice.
Make sure and bring a camera, the staff is very helpful with sundown photos in front of the beach! The food has always been fabulous. Pete and I usually stay at the Prince Kuhio Resort condos when we’re in Kauai. It’s right across the street, and we make our way to the bar every evening for dessert and a night cap! The Prince Kuhio resorts are a real bargain. We pay around $800.00 for a week for a studio apartment.
Brennecke’s Restaurant and Bar, right across from Poi Pu state beach park has a good view while you have your meal. This is probably the second most popular beach on the island, so don’t try for lunch right at noon. Their drinks are really good, even the virgin ones. Happy hour starts at 4:30. The only reason we’re not there every evening is because it’s too far to walk!
Duke’s is always safe, and makes us feel a little touristy, in a quaint Hawaiian sort of way. It’s in Lihue at the Kauai Marriot Resort, and not only is the food reliable, but it has a stunning ocean view. I’m not necesarilly recommending the Marriot. I’ve never stayed there, and it might be quite nice, but the location is probably the worst on the island. Unless you like being near the airport, and business district. Kioki’s Paradise Restaurant in the Poipu Shopping village is similar to dukes (because it’s owned by the same company), and very “Disney does Hawaii”, the shopping is OK, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually purchased anything here. The galleries are nice, and Pete lusts after a hot dog at Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hot Dogs every time we are here. The hamburger joint here is good as well.
The Oasis Bar and Grill Point at the Sheraton Kauai is one of my favorite spot’s anywhere.
David's happy place, the Oasis Bar and Grill, Sheraton Resort, Poipu, Kauai.
You can sit outside a few yards from the beach and have a pretty decent lunch (well, it turns out they’re not open for lunch for some reason now, but the happy hour is worth the trip!), or even just a cool drink judging by my photo! Just find the swimming pools, and then take the beach path out to the point to your right as you’re looking at the beach. I believe two currents meet here. It’s a rugged sort of beach with a very exuberant surf! This is my happy place when I meditate. I actually “fell asleep” here while reading the second time we were on Kauai. I don’t think you can pass out after one drink, right?
We’ve been to all of these beaches. They’re all very nice. Ke’e is my second favorite beach after tunnels, but Mahaulepu beach is worth the trek, the beach is one of the prettiest on the island, lots of shade, very sheltered swimming cove, and a great walk up the bluffs, the snorkeling’s not great, but it is worth the effort.
Ke’e beach is the one at the very end of the road to the North side of the island. It’s where they filmed the harbor scenes in South Pacific. Somewhere nearby, right across the road from the entrance I believe, is the native gardens. Pete thought the stroll was absolutely nothing, I thought it was a little hot, but it was definitely strolling, not climbing! This is where the Napali coast starts, so when you’re in the water, and you look down the beach, that’s pretty much people free! That’s where the Napali trail hike begins, it’s not a stroll, I don’t recommend it unless you are at least a moderate level hiker. It is considered one of the hardest hikes in the US. Though we’ve never done it, I hear it’s spectacular if you make the trek.
When you travel through Hanalei, and you will since it’s on your way to the North side of the island, time your trip to stop for lunch at the Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant. It’s right across the bridge, I’m pretty sure it’s the first thing on the right when you enter town traveling west to east (and north). If the weather is right, you should sit on the deck. From the deck you will see people kayaking past on the river. The last time we were there, there was a gallery connected to the restaurant that Pete and I enjoyed perusing.
Practically every town in Kauai is cute, and worth stopping in for a short time, with the exception of the Princeville area, just kinda normal high end modern resort town, and Lihue, which is sort of like Vacaville. Hanapepe Town, which is really easy to miss, Old Koloa Town, and Hanalei Town (of Puff The Magic Dragon fame) are the ones you should plan to stop and spend a few hours in. Hanapepe for instance is an artists colony. A quite funky one, I’m not sure how many times we’ve stopped here, but we have always found interesting shops, don’t let the run down appearance put you off. Old Kaloa has a couple of good restaurants, a Lapperts Ice Cream shop, which we go to every day, and my very favorite shop on the island, the Island Soap and Candleworks. I’ll be featuring there products at the salon when we return!
Though I do recommend you drive west to Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park, which is where you end up at the end of the canyon road, there’s not much to see in general on the west side of the island. A client of mine loves the beaches all the way to the end of the road (past the base) on the west side, but Pete and I didn’t think it worth the effort. Not much shade, not very safe swimming, and quite a long drive on rutted roads near the end.
Kokee State Park has the best view on the Island, if you’re there before the fog/cloud cover moves in! I’m such a late starter that Pete and I have never seen it! And Waimea Canyon really does resemble a miniature Grand Canyon. Most of the towns and views in this area are pretty pedestrian. None are dangerous, just boring.
If you decide to snorkel, start at Poipu State Beach. It’s simple to get in, it’s not deep most places, it’s very protected, and there are lifeguards. Honestly, I snorkel about 4 hours a day. It’s the easiest sport in the world, it’s easier than swimming. Just learn to breath through the tube normally, make sure to go to Snorkel Bobs and get the premium package, they will fit you quickly, explain how to use the lens goo (you’ll fog up without it), and tell you the good beaches for that day. You can bring the equipment back if you don’t like it, but the best mask you can afford is absolutely essential. Breathing is something we like to do water free. Especially salt water free. But if you stay calm, and float gently (you don’t want to scare stuff away by Swimming) you will see a whole new world. If you don’t forget your sunscreen for your back and legs, you will have the best day of your life after you see your first Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (that’s Reef Trigger Fish for non-natives). The stingrays, eels, coral, octopi, pipefish, puffer fish, sea turtles, crab, parrot fish, etc. are just bonus after that!
If you’d like to see sea turtles, they are always at Tunnels beach (and as we found recently, they are also at Ke’e, Lawai, and along the point at my happy place!). Tunnels is a beach that is rather hard to find, ask for extremely detailed instructions at Snorkel Bob’s (or somebody that likes to snorkel there), it is before Ke’e beach, off the highway, or at the parking lot near the caves. If you get in at the eastern beach area, near the parking, you can swim west along the beach line (out near the rocky area, the tide will be very gentle if you’ve been told it’s safe and you stay within the reef. I’ve seen Turtles every single time I’m there. But this is not a good beach to learn on, you have to go out a ways where it’s calmer, by the reef about 10 yards out, so you want to be comfortable with the feel of swimming in the ocean. As long as you stay near other snorkelers you should be fine. I’ve never experienced a rip tide here. Ask a lifeguard to explain how to deal with a riptide, knowing how easy it is to escape, I didn’t worry about being out there after the first few minutes.
If you insist on doing a Luau, I think they’re all cheesy, but here’s a little advice if you haven’t made plans already. If your resort doesn’t have a good one, you can try the Sheraton, they have a beach side Luau, the one we did at a Plantation near Lihue was fine, it’s called Gaylord’s.
Don’t forget to stop and see the Spouting Horn, and the open air market right near it, at the western side of Poipu. We get a lot of inexpensive gifts for friends and relatives at the market.
Here’s a fabulous website about Kauai, it’s where most of the above links derived. www.gohawaii.com. Have fun and let us know if you have something we shouldn’t miss!
Mahalo!
