Yes, I visualized Kal as the Pope doling out blessings to new Klub members.

Kal? Where are ya bruddah?

-Bill

Sea Wahine
Webshots.com and Photosite are two free sites I use. Lots of people on the cruisecritic board use webshots. Works pretty fast and only a few annoying adds popping up afterward.
Check out my site if you want to see
http://community.webshots.com/user/jq4653

Yes, Lydgate Beach Park is very swimmable. There is a huge rock enclosure surrounding the area to keep out the strong currents. There is an adult section and a childrens section. Lifeguards are stationed there also. If you dont want the rock enclosure then there is a another beach {I cant remember the name of it} between Lae Nani and Lydgate that is very nice and also has lifeguards. Another nice place to eat was Dukes next to the Marriot on Kalapaki Bay. Skip the "world famous prime rib" it was expensive and not that good. But the salad bar was exceptional. It had alot of yummy things to choose from, including anchovies. I thought I was the only one who likes anchovies in my salad.

Just a north shore update for visitors...although our pace here may seem slow, when things change, it seems to happen overnight (and with little or no advance notice). Of the things recently mentioned in this thread:

1. Kilauea Theater is now closed; being used by a church and rumored to be available for rent and for showings of special films.

2. Hanalei has the new Tiki Man Pizza, located adjacent to Tahiti Nui. As of this week, pizza is served from 4pm daily (and it's yummy!).

3. Except for Lydgate Beach, the east side beaches are off-limits to swimmers, especially now that our winter surf is a-building.

4. The little market in Kilauea (Farmer's Market) looks like an island 7-11 at first glance -- but in the back, they have a great deli with made-to-order or choose-from-the-cooler sandwiches, plus all the fixins for a great picnic.

And iamq is absolutely correct -- whoever is President of this thread or of the Kal Fan Klub, MUST buy the drinks!

daydreamin,

You poor, poor, misguided soul. You can't be serious about wanting to spend 5 weeks on a tiny, mosquito and rooster infested atoll in the middle of the Pacific.

Allow me to suggest a more suitable alternative: Two weeks Orlando, 1 week Branson, 1 week Laughlin,NV, and one week Tijuana. That would be a much more culturally superior trip, with not a rooster in sight (unless you count the cockfighting in TJ

Seawahine, I used Yahoo to post my photos. It was easy and free:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lvktra...=/8118&.src=ph

daydreamin, you can thank me later.

lvk....your pictures are wonderful! Thank you! They pretty much made our decision for us as to where to stay those 2 weeks. I can't wait for your trip report! And poor, misguided soul indeed! Maybe all five weeks in Vegas instead?

autiemaria & jinxiejo...what great information! Mahalo

sea_whahine...can't wait for your pictures. Maybe a trip report too? Pleeezzzze??!

bill....just what is this Klub anyway?? However fun it might be, these poor old knees are not up to kneeling so that is OUT! But the offer of pupus & cocktails still holds!

Happy Friday, everyone! ><

I had an email from the main Kahuna and he will do his best to bless and initiate (can that be done at the same time?) daydreamin sometime today!

Stay tuned!

So, does that mean, daydreamin, that you will be staying at the HBR? I have looked at staying there a few times and have a website for you to check. It is summitpacific.com

aloha all.......amp; i'2

daydreamin,

No need to wait, here's my trip report...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34662151

Have a great weekend!

Who is Kal????
JQ

hey i2! You haven't banished that little green guy yet?

Thanks for the link. Work is gettng in the way of checking it out thoroughly but HBR does look beautiful. I think we'll end up on the north shore for weeks 2 & 3 but not sure exactly where. Want to check into Hanelei & HBR.

Personal blessings & initiation from the great Kahuna Kal himself???
Oh boy!

lvk...thanks for great trip report!

jq...I think the Kauai Klubbers have to answer your question!!

mahalo

The klub that has been referred to here is the now infamous Kauai Komedians Klub or the KKK for short. I think lvk named us? And we are going to make sure she regrets it! We just call it the klub.

Hey i2, I was just looking at summitpacific's site this morning as I am beginning to think I want to send my parents to the swamp on a trip and thought the HBR would be perfect for them. They really need air conditioning and that is the only condo on the north shore that has it I think.

bye,

-Bill

Where the hey is the Kahuna?

And, Billyboy, I think a privately owned condo at HBR would be perfect for any of us, don't you?

...ok, daydreamin, gonna forget the green guy for now!! i'2

i2...that green boy is nothin but trouble! So glad you're back to !!

Bill....what a son you must be, sending your parents to Kauai! You make this mother of all boys so proud! Bless you!

If you stay at either Lae Nani or HBR, PLEASE rent as per advised by Fodoriteson previous posts, eg for Lae Nnai, via Lenore at ExploreKauai.com (Lenore Howrowitz is a wonderful lady who writes my favorite Kauai guide book "Underground Kauai Guide, and promotes/supports/donates to many worthwhile Kauai childrens's programs/charities). I and my famiy stayed in two Le nani condos last summer and while the location, grounds, and pool were great, the condos themselves (one two bedroom. one one-bedrrom ) left much to be desired--uncomfortable OLD mattresses, a sticky film on the furntiture in one, a bathtub that never drained in another, etc. It's obviouss, and sad, that some condo owners are only too glad to get their $ by using Outrigger as the rental agent, but ignoring the complaints they get (at least, this is what the front desk told me--that they has limited power to get owners who rent out their polaces thru them, to upgade/fix stuff/improve).
Lenore rents her place out directly and as you'll read from previous Fodorite, has a much-improived property.
Re: HBR, location is wonderful but again, per response above from another writer, there is a HUGE variation in quality of the condos. Please see tripadvisor.com, and read comments. Having stayed there twice, and made the mistake of renting though the resort ahe second time, after it had been converted mostly to timeshare condos--we learned this for ouirselves. I came in one day to find the maids cleaning my coffee cup with a dirty bath towel and replacing it in the tray. Maybe this happens all the time and I'm just naive,but seeing it actually happen...ugh! BTW, when asked about this, the housekeeper merely smiled--I don't think she understood my query
So yes, gorgeous locations and grounds at both places..but rent from the sites/folks recommended by readers in response to your questions. AND happy five weeks next summer!!!!!!!!!!!

We stayed at Lae Nani this past August, building 5, condo 511. We rented thru Outrigger. Our experience was very good. The condo was exceptionaly clean, beautifully decorated and the beds were very comfortable. The maids did a good job of cleaning but of course I wasnt there so I dont know how or with what they cleaned with. We had a dishwasher so all the dishes were cleaned in that.

jinkiejo and CaliNurse...thank you for the input! We've used vrbo before with great results so we're inclined to go that way again unless something better comes up. We're getting close to settling on weeks 2 & 3, most likely on the north shore but my husband & I are still "negotiating" that! .

I still can't believe we'll be in that hell hole for five weeks!! It's definitely a dream come true!

mahalo

Time to bring this post ttt

Hi, i2! Can you believe it, we STILL haven't made up our minds about weeks 2 & 3. Probably the north shore. Am checking into accomodations. Doesn't Makai1's pictures & trip report make you want to get on the next plane to LIH?!?

The north shore?

Isn't that the place that gets all the RAIN?

-Bill

YES! Just reliving it while writing it has me ready to plead with Fed Ex along with Kamahinaohoku!

I missed this thread... been away for awhile... fun to read. I need to check out Ivk's photo link. Oh, we are a sad bunch of klubbers aren't we?

Daydrmn, it's fun just to imagine 5 weeks with nothing to do in the rain with all the bugs and no food because it costs too much.

BTW, I your ~gt; !!