Suggestions for 7 days in Kauai
Sep 30th, 2002, 06:47 PM
#1
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Suggestions for 7 days in Kauai
We are staying at the Hanalei Bay Resort (would have definitely prefered to stay at the Princeville, but price was a big matter!), and know very little about the island. We would love to hear what some of the MUST things to do and see are, and what restaurants you really liked. We plan on doing lots of hiking and seeing the beautiful wonders of hawaii, but are just now looking into our specific agenda. ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and thank you so very much!
Sep 30th, 2002, 07:34 PM
#2
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Suggestions:
If you don't already have it, get the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook (wizardpub.com).
Do a search here for Kauai; similar questions have been posted recently.
Very early in the morning go to Ke'e beach, walk along the beach away from the trailhead, and get a view of Na Pali coastline.
Limahuli gardens is near Ke'e and is beautiful and interesting.
The whole north shore is beautiful, you are bound to have a great trip.
If you don't already have it, get the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook (wizardpub.com).
Do a search here for Kauai; similar questions have been posted recently.
Very early in the morning go to Ke'e beach, walk along the beach away from the trailhead, and get a view of Na Pali coastline.
Limahuli gardens is near Ke'e and is beautiful and interesting.
The whole north shore is beautiful, you are bound to have a great trip.
Sep 30th, 2002, 07:42 PM
#3
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If you have ever considered a helicopter tour, Kauai is the place to actually do it. We took a 1 hour flight out of the Princeville airport. The views are great. I believe they also have 1/2 tours.
You might also consider a drive to the top of Waimea Canyon. From the North Shore, it'll probably take up most of the day.
Assuming you are of legal age!, a sunset cocktail at Princeville's Living Room bar provides a great end to the day.
You might also consider a drive to the top of Waimea Canyon. From the North Shore, it'll probably take up most of the day.
Assuming you are of legal age!, a sunset cocktail at Princeville's Living Room bar provides a great end to the day.
Oct 1st, 2002, 07:29 AM
#6
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Hike the first two miles of the Na Pali coast trail - definitely worth it. But make sure you go after a couple of days without rain, otherwise it is very muddy and slippery.
Definitely plan on doing some snorkelling. You did not say when you are going but when we were on Kauai in August the beaches and snorkelling on the North Shore were wonderful. Tunnels beach is very pretty and has good snorkeling. Anini beach is the calmest since it is protected by a huge off shore reef. But our favorite beach was Hideaways (down a steep path next to Puu Poa condos) - the beach itself is small but very pretty and the snorkelling was great.
If it is rainy on the north shore drive south - you are bound to find good weather somewhere on the island.
The drive to Waimea Canyon is definitely worth it. Make sure you go past the canyon lookouts to the end of the road - there are two spectacular Na Pali coast lookouts there. Stop in Waimea at Jo Jo's Shave Ice - the best we had in Kauai.
If you have a full day, drive to Polihale beach which is on the western side (the other end of Na Pali). It is especially beautiful at sunset.
As for restaurants - we tried a few on the south shore and definitely the best food we had was at Roy's. On the North Shore we liked Zelo's in Hanalei. Good food and huge portions.
Definitely plan on doing some snorkelling. You did not say when you are going but when we were on Kauai in August the beaches and snorkelling on the North Shore were wonderful. Tunnels beach is very pretty and has good snorkeling. Anini beach is the calmest since it is protected by a huge off shore reef. But our favorite beach was Hideaways (down a steep path next to Puu Poa condos) - the beach itself is small but very pretty and the snorkelling was great.
If it is rainy on the north shore drive south - you are bound to find good weather somewhere on the island.
The drive to Waimea Canyon is definitely worth it. Make sure you go past the canyon lookouts to the end of the road - there are two spectacular Na Pali coast lookouts there. Stop in Waimea at Jo Jo's Shave Ice - the best we had in Kauai.
If you have a full day, drive to Polihale beach which is on the western side (the other end of Na Pali). It is especially beautiful at sunset.
As for restaurants - we tried a few on the south shore and definitely the best food we had was at Roy's. On the North Shore we liked Zelo's in Hanalei. Good food and huge portions.
Oct 2nd, 2002, 06:38 PM
#7
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For the hiking there's a nice book by Kathy Morey (search on amazon or BN.com) that's worth getting. North shore is wonderful but implies lots of driving to anywhere else as the road doesn't encircle the island.
For a recommended activity I'd vote for HoloHolo boat ride out of Port Ellen, they go up the Na Pali coast as far as Kalalau & you can see Kee beach from there (well the trees just east of the main beach). The views of the cliffs from seaward are unbelievable and put most photos to shame as the camera tends to flatten it out somewhat. There are Napali trips out of Hanalei Bay again but I have no experience with them.
Re HBR I hope you're getting a 1BR suite or better, their regular hotel rooms weren't impressive to us. For eats(snacks) the matsu prawns in the HBR bar are great (avail. after 5pm) and you CAN order a plateful by themselves rather than as part of an assortment. The best quality meal we had up there was Chuck's - a regular steak place - good food at a relatively reasonable price. For sheer view etc the open air HBR Bali Hai restaurant is good though a bit too high priced, but worth it once just because ..
HBR grounds are lovely and well maintained, it's in a great setting overall.
Enjoy !
p.
For a recommended activity I'd vote for HoloHolo boat ride out of Port Ellen, they go up the Na Pali coast as far as Kalalau & you can see Kee beach from there (well the trees just east of the main beach). The views of the cliffs from seaward are unbelievable and put most photos to shame as the camera tends to flatten it out somewhat. There are Napali trips out of Hanalei Bay again but I have no experience with them.
Re HBR I hope you're getting a 1BR suite or better, their regular hotel rooms weren't impressive to us. For eats(snacks) the matsu prawns in the HBR bar are great (avail. after 5pm) and you CAN order a plateful by themselves rather than as part of an assortment. The best quality meal we had up there was Chuck's - a regular steak place - good food at a relatively reasonable price. For sheer view etc the open air HBR Bali Hai restaurant is good though a bit too high priced, but worth it once just because ..
HBR grounds are lovely and well maintained, it's in a great setting overall.
Enjoy !
p.
Oct 2nd, 2002, 07:26 PM
#8
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Cindy, you are getting great advice here. Just back myself from first-ever trip to Hawaii. You are in for a treat of a lifetime! We rented a house on Anini Beach, and as p.spercy said, you must eat at the HBR restaurant. That was my first view of "bali hai" and as we were being seated, I remember I felt like I couldn't breathe, I was so overwhelmed with the beauty of it all. Get a res 1/2 hr before sunset, maybe for your first night?
Also do a catamaran trip with Captain Sundown (as recommended to me by Sarah on this board). Even though we couldn't snorkel (surf was too big) it was a thrill. The captain is an old salt who's not afraid to get close to those caves!
Our favorite restaurant was the Friday night seafood buffet at Princeville Hotel (and we are not buffet people - and we own a seafood restaurant!) Best selection I've ever tasted. A special aspect for us too was meeting another Fodors Hawaii poster (maggi) and her husband. More about that in my trip report, coming soon!
Also do a catamaran trip with Captain Sundown (as recommended to me by Sarah on this board). Even though we couldn't snorkel (surf was too big) it was a thrill. The captain is an old salt who's not afraid to get close to those caves!
Our favorite restaurant was the Friday night seafood buffet at Princeville Hotel (and we are not buffet people - and we own a seafood restaurant!) Best selection I've ever tasted. A special aspect for us too was meeting another Fodors Hawaii poster (maggi) and her husband. More about that in my trip report, coming soon!
Oct 3rd, 2002, 03:51 AM
#9
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Looking forward to that trip report, Joan. We just got home yesterday and am already working on mine, as well as editing my 700+ digital photos. Cindy, I heartily second dinner at the Princeville Friday night seafood buffet. We enjoyed our dinner at Postcards as well. Zelos was great too. The path down from the Pua Poa condos is private, for condo users only, but no one stopped me when I used it. It is very steep, as is the path down to Hideaways Beach. We loved Hideaways, especially watching the sunset. Best sunset photos ever, with Bali Hai in the background. We were almost alone there, very romantic. Parking at Tunnels is very limited. I had to park at Ke'e beach and walk back to Tunnels. Snorkeling is great at Tunnels though, so it is worth it. You will have the vacation of a lifetime. Once you get into the "aloha" you will get laid back and not worry about seeing every single thing. Just let the island wash over you and relax.
Oct 3rd, 2002, 06:32 AM
#13
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Sheila, I am a very poor swimmer and panic in deep water. Here are my observations on snorkelling in Kauai:
I had no problem snorkeling at Hideaways and Anini beaches (although that was in summer time and the water was calm). I think Anini may be well protected all year round so check it out. In summer it had the calmest waters of all the beaches we tried. Tunnels beach was a bit tricky as some of the "tunnels" are really deep and scary.
Lydgate Park is a great place to try snorkeling as it is totally protected - and there is plenty of fish.
Snorkelling on the South shore in the summer was not a lot of fun because the water was quite rough (we tried Poipu beach and Salt Pond beach - both would be great if the water was calm).
I had no problem snorkeling at Hideaways and Anini beaches (although that was in summer time and the water was calm). I think Anini may be well protected all year round so check it out. In summer it had the calmest waters of all the beaches we tried. Tunnels beach was a bit tricky as some of the "tunnels" are really deep and scary.
Lydgate Park is a great place to try snorkeling as it is totally protected - and there is plenty of fish.
Snorkelling on the South shore in the summer was not a lot of fun because the water was quite rough (we tried Poipu beach and Salt Pond beach - both would be great if the water was calm).
Oct 3rd, 2002, 06:45 AM
#14
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Must: Sunset at Polihale (pronounced Polly Holly) Beach. The last five miles to this beach is a dirt road, but keep going, don't turn back as this was (to us) the most impressive beach on the island. Beautiful sunset.
Snorkeling: The only time we snorkeled was on a 1/2 day sailboat ride that left from a port on the southwest side of the island (the name of the town eludes me right now) and they sailed up the Na Pali coast. Dolphins swam alongside the sailboat, and they stopped several times in good snorkeling spots you would NEVER have been able to reach from the land.
I strongly suggest you do the helicopter ride. We used Will Squyres (perfect safety record when we were there 5/2000). He is the guy that flew Steven Spielberg around the island when he was scouting film locations. I am normally a nervous flyer, but the helicopter ride was the one thing I would go back and do if I could only go to Kauai for one day. Enjoy -- don't forget to spend a lazy day or two just beaching it with a Mai Tai.
Snorkeling: The only time we snorkeled was on a 1/2 day sailboat ride that left from a port on the southwest side of the island (the name of the town eludes me right now) and they sailed up the Na Pali coast. Dolphins swam alongside the sailboat, and they stopped several times in good snorkeling spots you would NEVER have been able to reach from the land.
I strongly suggest you do the helicopter ride. We used Will Squyres (perfect safety record when we were there 5/2000). He is the guy that flew Steven Spielberg around the island when he was scouting film locations. I am normally a nervous flyer, but the helicopter ride was the one thing I would go back and do if I could only go to Kauai for one day. Enjoy -- don't forget to spend a lazy day or two just beaching it with a Mai Tai.
Oct 3rd, 2002, 06:53 AM
#15
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Cindy about snorkeling on Oahu. Try Hanauma Bay. This bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967.
Get there early or take The Bus. It's shallow and protected and you can actually stand with your face mask to the water and see lots of fish.
Here's more info:
$1 per car parking fee
$3 per person admission fee for those 13 years or older
$1 per person shuttle bus fee each way (this is optional - there is a good, but steep, road from the parking lot area to the beachfront)
Open from 6:00am - 7:00pm daily
Closed on Tuesdays
Get there early or take The Bus. It's shallow and protected and you can actually stand with your face mask to the water and see lots of fish.
Here's more info:
$1 per car parking fee
$3 per person admission fee for those 13 years or older
$1 per person shuttle bus fee each way (this is optional - there is a good, but steep, road from the parking lot area to the beachfront)
Open from 6:00am - 7:00pm daily
Closed on Tuesdays
Oct 3rd, 2002, 07:07 AM
#17
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Sheil Iza suggestions are good. I think it is best to try snorkeling at lydgate but you want to go with "Ultimate Guide to Kauai" guide book. I like reading about each beach before I stick my toes in. Hawaii and I don't want to freak you out but it is the drowning capital of the U.S. You can still have a great time if you are just smart about where you swim. Don't follow the idiots who ignore danger signs blah blah blah.
Hanakape beach first beach on the Kalalau trail coming from North Shore has a plack to about 17 people who drowned on this beach (mostly in winter months)(most were wading!), tells you not to go in water year round still you see people who think they are bigger than mother nature, swimming away.
Hanakape beach first beach on the Kalalau trail coming from North Shore has a plack to about 17 people who drowned on this beach (mostly in winter months)(most were wading!), tells you not to go in water year round still you see people who think they are bigger than mother nature, swimming away.
Oct 3rd, 2002, 12:37 PM
#19
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Postcards Cafe in Hanalei has great seafood and vegetarian meals... their Chef's Specials were incredible both nights we went there last October. Best seafood I ever ate.
http://www.postcardscafe.com/
http://www.postcardscafe.com/
Oct 4th, 2002, 04:01 AM
#20
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Sheila, I made reservations for the Princeville seafood buffet a month in advance, but they still had seating when we were there. If you want an outside table at sunset, you do have to "line up" about an hour before as tables are given on a first-come basis. Tacky, but oh-what-a-view!
