ggrtist,
Yeah Cafe Hanalei is pricey for sure. It was our big splurge. Some places that have been mentioned before as good places for sunset picnics are Kekaha Beach Park, Polihale and Ke'e. While snorkeling at Makua (Tunnels) Beach we met a couple who had rented a house within walking distance and they brought dinner down to the beach for a sunset picnic almost every evening. How cool is that? Bring mosquito spray! They are small, but nasty!

I used to eat at Cafe Hanalei about once a month for lunch with a friend. The burger was $16!

We went to their T-Giving buffet in 2003. The total tab for 3 was $240!!!!!!!

Indeed it is a splurge, but the view is incomparable. You can dally, take a long time to savor your meal and drink in the view.

I like The Living Room for sunset cocktails tho some of the entertainment seemed sub-standard to me.

The one thing I dont like about the Beach House is that the lawn outside will be covered with people lounging about at sunset while you are inside paying mega bucks for a meal. Almost makes you wish you were out on the lawn with a sandwich, LOL.

Another romantic spot nobody has mentioned is Gaylords at Kilohana Plantation. No ocean view but it is a unique spot, very lovely in the evening.

I bet the patio at Grind's Cafe in Eleele Shopping Ctr would have a nice sunset view. Very causal tho.

thanks, those all sound great. As for a picnic spot, we surely will expect plenty out there to share in the beautiful views, that's okay as long as they're not blocking ours! ;)
$240 bucks for a turkey dinner, yikes! Thats a lil less than my airfare..lol

So excited, can't wait to see Kauai and the sites you all have mentioned... Sounds like we'll be in for lots of great photo ops!

Stayed at the hyatt in 2000 for Honeymoon. TIDEPOOLS restaurant in the hotel was so good we ate there 2x! We normally stay away from hotel restaurants, prefer local places, but these were some of the best meals we had in the 2 weeks we were in Hawaii. Both of us had Lomi Lomi massages at the Hyatt and were in heaven!

Also went to the Beach House for sunset and dinner. Although I am sure the food was good, I don't remember it at all. I would go back for drinks and sunset, maybe have dinner somewhere else. If I am remembering correctly we were not allowed to take our drinks outside of the bar area (they have sliding doors that open onto the lawn others have mentioned) may want to check on that and just bring your own picnic.

I am jealous, have a great time!

Auntie Maria,

Thanks for the bounty of information.

I has wondering if you could recommend any fish/seafood markets in the Princeville or Poipu areas? I'd prefer to buy local rather than line the middle-man's pockets, if possible.

Thanks much!

Here on the north shore, there are 2 fresh fish markets -- a new-ish one in Kilauea town (sorry...can't remember the name), and Dolphin Restaurant in Hanalei has a fish market 'round back (and killer homemade salad croutons, too).

Thank you Auntiemaria for your wealth of information and to eveyone else that gave their favorite choices. I almost did not ask you for fear everyone would think I was strange. I am so glad I did. I feel very prepared to go.

I hope everyone keeps chiming in on their favorites. I do have one more question? Ummm I am not a skinny mom in the least and it sound like everyone at the Princeville goes on their honey moon so I am assuming they are a size 6 complaining they are not a size 2. On Maui I was so comfortable but on Waikiki it felt like a meat market. Is that how the Northshore is?

Also on the helicopter tour that has no doors, they put the lightest up front right? So is it okey for my 9-6 year old to be their? How scary is it.

Thanks again

Mo'5-If you AREN'T strange on this board you ARE strange! 8-}

157.5 mo' days until
((R)) ((#)) B-)

Mom of 5:
One of the best things about living on Kauai was the fact that nobody cares what you look like! It's not a fashionable place filled with Beautiful People. You will feel fine on the beach in a bathing suit.

Momof5

No worries about how you look -- you'll see all shapes/sizes/ages/colors here. We celebrate diversity!! :-)

As for the helicopters, the reason they get everyone's weights is so that the passengers will be properly placed onboard. They're experts at distributing the total passenger (plus pilot) weight.

Auntiemaria, have you been by Caffe Coco recently? I never hear anyone on here mention going there so I fear by the time I come back to Kauai, it will be kaput! I guess it's not knocking out the clientele, otherwise, you'd hear about it. I don't understand - everytime we were there, and our friends were there, the service was slow, but food great, and we loved the atmosphere. Thanks for all your insight here.... I'm sure it makes a difference in the trips of so many people who visit Kauai (from this board).:-)

Bonniebroad:

Caffe Coco is still open; still for sale.

I love their food, but the slow service -- and the hoardes of mosquitoes -- put it low on my list of dining spots. :-(