DanM

What should the North Shore of Kauai be like in April? Should the water have settled down by that point? We are looking at renting a house on the bay. Thanks!

hgjames

Typically a very nice month to visit. The water isn't "settled" yet, expect days of moderately sized surf about 35% of the days. Great for surfing and boogie boarding.

DanM

Thank you.

Tomsd

Agree with hgj - and have been to the north shore/Princeville/Hanalei area several times in April - and did have a couple of short rainstorms - and some surf, but depending on how long you are there - you should have a good number of chances to go snorkeling/swimming in the ocean - perhaps at our favorite beach - Ke'e - at the end of the road - over 7 cute one lane bridges. As I have posted elsewhere - a benefit of a rainstorm is you have these many beautiful waterfalls (counted 21 one time) - cascading down the Bali Hai hills.

Also - if you haven't read Sondoc's numerous blogs/ongoing trip reports - they are a HUGE wealth of info.

Here are a few web pages/snorkeling U Tubes for Ke'e - also known as Hae-ena state park and below this - some great Honeymoon U-Tubes of visits to Kauai. http://www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/ke-e-beach.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOG3g_SOT3g and http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=...ture=endscreen One of these last two is a "Kamaina" couple - from the big city of Honolulu? - and he is cool and she is one saucy little Wahini.


The 3rd Honeymoon U Tube shows some surf - so be sure and double check on the local conditions - and there is usually a lifeguard around Ke'e beach (tidying up the lifeguard station in one of the Utubes) and Tunnels is just up the beach is also great for snorkeling but sometimes can have current/undertow beyond the bigger/2nd reef. Again, ask the lifeguard what's happening that day.

Lydegate Park - with great/protected snorkeling - at mid-island south of Kapaa - is usually pretty clam/flat - but again, always check around before you go out, and don't get near any river mouth as the current from the river can also take you for a ride out to sea.

IF you do get caught in a rip tide/undertow/river wash - DON'T PANIC!! and make the sometimes fatal mistake of trying to fight it. Just swim one way or the other - left or right - parallel to the beach and come back in where you see the waves breaking toward shore. Simple really - but once you are in a panic mode - sometimes it's hard to think clearly - so be forewarned - please!!!!


This first honeymoon Utube is about as "stunningly informative" - (with great map checkpoints) - as I have seen when it comes to the Garden Isle, aka - Kauai. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5bIt...eature=related It also includes good shots of their plane ride and they are a fun couple.


And this next one is special because it has the music by Izzy - the fabled Hawaiian - Sons of Nihau performer - may he RIP. Izzy sang Over the Rainbow - on the final installment of General Hospital was it? - and he has the voice of an angel - yet weighed almost 800 lbs when he finally passed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSPWjA3F1Ao

I/we have several albums by him and they are the traveling music when we drive anywhere around the West. Just love Maui - Hawaiian Superman, and Country Road, Country Road - take me back to Makaha (or some such) - a Hawaiian takeoff on a John Denver? song.

And this third Utube - with a cute young couple obviously in Honeymoon "glow" - has a good intro to the Kauai Marriott/Poipu- and other activities as well, including a cruise up the Napili Coast, Zip lining, Helicopter Ride, Hula lessons, incredible Firedancing, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIigj...eature=related

This fourth one gives a good presentation of the Grand Hyatt, and other fun Kauai stuff such as hiking, good pics of sailing the Napili Coast, and the like. Is she more of a trooper than he is?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eg2d...eature=related

Finally - this last one is short - but it also has some great stuff - including this beaming couple renting a jeep - which we did the first week of our Honeymoon on Big Island - before heading over to Princeville for the 2nd week - where we wound up buying a timeshare at the Cliffs Club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H81Kr...eature=related

Hey - not for nuting is Kauai our favorite Isle - with Big Island a very close second - but truth be told - we love them all!!

DanM

Tomsd- You rock! Thanks for the help. We have decided on Hanalei and have a house on the beach the first full week in April.