Beachgirl86's Maui and Kauai Trip Report
Aug 26th, 2006, 07:39 AM
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sea_wahine: Oh my God...that is AWFUL! But looking at the photos, I feel fairly sure that one of the turtles we saw was suffering from that 
How sad...I hope he wasn't in any pain.
texasaggie: I will be finishing up my Kauai trip report later today with restaurants and shopping, etc...on Kauai. And as for the Na Pali trip...the waters were relatively calm. I did take Dramamine before we left because I am very prone to motion sickness. I felt okay, but there were a few people getting sick throughout the trip. The crew was awesome with them, bringing them to the back to throw up, get them water, etc...
How sad...I hope he wasn't in any pain.texasaggie: I will be finishing up my Kauai trip report later today with restaurants and shopping, etc...on Kauai. And as for the Na Pali trip...the waters were relatively calm. I did take Dramamine before we left because I am very prone to motion sickness. I felt okay, but there were a few people getting sick throughout the trip. The crew was awesome with them, bringing them to the back to throw up, get them water, etc...
Aug 26th, 2006, 12:21 PM
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SPOUTING HORN: Definitely a worthwhile and quick stop to make, especially if you are based on the South Shore. This blowhole is really something to see, and makes for some lovely photos. There were some very stupid people, however, who got VERY close to the blowhole. There are also lots of vendors set up nearby that sell beautiful photographs (we bought some sunset ones) and pretty jewelry, etc...
RESTAURANTS: We had breakfast included in our Grand Hyatt package. The buffet at the Ilima Terrace was very good indeed. Am omelet station, lots of fruit, cheeses, pastries, eggs, etc...Plus a couple of different dishes each day that varied it a little bit. After 7:30 or so, it got very busy. We also ordered room service one night...a burger, a mahi-mahi sandwich, and 2 desserts. All were very good.
TIDEPOOLS: A very romantic setting right at the Hyatt! Although the food was very good (DH's shrimp and lobster was excellent) this was definitely the most over-priced of all the restaurants we visited in our 2 weeks away. I would still recommend it, though. The setting, service, and food were all very good.
THE BEACH HOUSE: We LOVED this restaurant. We went for my birthday, and the sunset was gorgeous. The food was excellent...I had the Kauai duet, which was crab-topped fish with scallops. Probably one of the best meals of the trip. You can't beat the oceanside setting, either, especially with people hopping up from their tables to get each and every shot of the changing sunset. This is a great Hawaiian restaurant.
BRICK OVEN PIZZA: We ended up here 2 nights during our week on Kauai, so we obviously really liked it. The pizza was pretty expensive, but excellent, and it gave us a great lunch of leftovers for the next day, too. And even if it was more expensive than pizza back home, it was still cheaper than many other options!
KEOKI'S PARADISE: We ate here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. We enjoyed their pulled pork sandwich and fish tacos (although not quite as good as Hula Grill's!). Great atmosphere, too.
ROY'S POIPU GRILL: OK -- this was the BEST meal of the trip. I can't explain how awesome Roy's is. We ate at the Big Island one last summer and also loved it. Everything was perfect and we felt like we could lick our plates after every course! The bread is hot and fresh out of the oven, and they offer you as much as you can eat. (Which was 3 rolls each for us!) We had 2 apps -- white shrimp sticks (excellent) and beef and pork potstickers (probably the best app I have had anywhere ever). For dinner I got the scallops and DH got a fresh fish. We got the hot chocolate souffle for dessert. Every bite at Roy's is just delicious. And, although it is expensive, I still think they could charge a lot more and get away with it.
RESTAURANTS: We had breakfast included in our Grand Hyatt package. The buffet at the Ilima Terrace was very good indeed. Am omelet station, lots of fruit, cheeses, pastries, eggs, etc...Plus a couple of different dishes each day that varied it a little bit. After 7:30 or so, it got very busy. We also ordered room service one night...a burger, a mahi-mahi sandwich, and 2 desserts. All were very good.
TIDEPOOLS: A very romantic setting right at the Hyatt! Although the food was very good (DH's shrimp and lobster was excellent) this was definitely the most over-priced of all the restaurants we visited in our 2 weeks away. I would still recommend it, though. The setting, service, and food were all very good.
THE BEACH HOUSE: We LOVED this restaurant. We went for my birthday, and the sunset was gorgeous. The food was excellent...I had the Kauai duet, which was crab-topped fish with scallops. Probably one of the best meals of the trip. You can't beat the oceanside setting, either, especially with people hopping up from their tables to get each and every shot of the changing sunset. This is a great Hawaiian restaurant.
BRICK OVEN PIZZA: We ended up here 2 nights during our week on Kauai, so we obviously really liked it. The pizza was pretty expensive, but excellent, and it gave us a great lunch of leftovers for the next day, too. And even if it was more expensive than pizza back home, it was still cheaper than many other options!
KEOKI'S PARADISE: We ate here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. We enjoyed their pulled pork sandwich and fish tacos (although not quite as good as Hula Grill's!). Great atmosphere, too.
ROY'S POIPU GRILL: OK -- this was the BEST meal of the trip. I can't explain how awesome Roy's is. We ate at the Big Island one last summer and also loved it. Everything was perfect and we felt like we could lick our plates after every course! The bread is hot and fresh out of the oven, and they offer you as much as you can eat. (Which was 3 rolls each for us!) We had 2 apps -- white shrimp sticks (excellent) and beef and pork potstickers (probably the best app I have had anywhere ever). For dinner I got the scallops and DH got a fresh fish. We got the hot chocolate souffle for dessert. Every bite at Roy's is just delicious. And, although it is expensive, I still think they could charge a lot more and get away with it.
Aug 26th, 2006, 12:24 PM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TREATS: We ordered dessert at many restaurants. Roy's was awesome, and the chocolate coconut cake and bananas foster at the Beach House were our faves. We also got Lappert's Ice Cream in Koloa a couple of nights, and that was excellent (but expensive) as well.
SHOPPING: We mainly stuck to Poipu SHopping Village and got our usual sweatshirts and t-shirts at Honolua Surf. Co. during their 25% off sale. We also picked up some silver jewelry (a charm for my charm bracelet) for me in the lobby of the Hyatt.
SHOPPING: We mainly stuck to Poipu SHopping Village and got our usual sweatshirts and t-shirts at Honolua Surf. Co. during their 25% off sale. We also picked up some silver jewelry (a charm for my charm bracelet) for me in the lobby of the Hyatt.
Aug 26th, 2006, 12:34 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NORTH SHORE DAYTRIP: We took one full day and drove to the North Shore, stopping at Kiluea Lighthouse on the way (which was very picturesque). There is ALOT of traffic through Lihue and especially Kapa'a. So much that it reminded me of Lahaina on Maui. I didn't realize it would be that bad, and although the location is central, I don't think I would want to stay on this part of the island.
We drove through Hanalai (very cute little town) and spent the afternoon at Ke'e Beach, which was VERY crowded. I loved seeing the cliffs of Na Pali from there, and the water was wonderful. We also stopped at the Princeville, which was beautiful, and although you can't beat the view there, I still preferred the Hyatt as a resort.
The North Shore was beautiful, as I always have heard it is. I could see just getting lost in looking at all those gorgeous, velvety cliffs and mountains. I hope next time to explore the North Shore much more in-depth. However, it was much more crowded than I thought it would be. Every beach we passed was filled with people! It must be that damn blue bible
Seriously, though, the North Shore has its own charm and seems to have so much to explore.
Next up, final Kauai and trip notes....
We drove through Hanalai (very cute little town) and spent the afternoon at Ke'e Beach, which was VERY crowded. I loved seeing the cliffs of Na Pali from there, and the water was wonderful. We also stopped at the Princeville, which was beautiful, and although you can't beat the view there, I still preferred the Hyatt as a resort.
The North Shore was beautiful, as I always have heard it is. I could see just getting lost in looking at all those gorgeous, velvety cliffs and mountains. I hope next time to explore the North Shore much more in-depth. However, it was much more crowded than I thought it would be. Every beach we passed was filled with people! It must be that damn blue bible
Seriously, though, the North Shore has its own charm and seems to have so much to explore. Next up, final Kauai and trip notes....
Aug 28th, 2006, 02:53 PM
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FINAL KAUAI NOTES:
* We were unsure of what to expect since we have enjoyed Maui, Oahu, and BI so much over the past couple of years. We liked Kauai a lot, and will return, maybe in 2 years.
* Kauai was very pretty, green, and residential. However, it was busier than I expected. I know everyone always says that it is the quietest island, but in my opinion and experience, that is the Big Island. (Maybe because it is so big, there are so many places for people to be!) This could also be because we went to Anguilla in the Caribbean in June...now that was really quiet and had deserted beaches
* Kauai is lovely in many ways, and next time I hope to experience the North Shore more...it's just so damn hard to tear myself away from the Grand Hyatt!
FINAL TRIP NOTES:
* We love Hawaii more everytime we go. We are lucky to have enough time off to go (and no kids yet) and enjoy it for 2 weeks each summer. We thought that next summer we would try something new, but now we are saying we should probably go back to Hawaii! We are thinking Maui and Big Island for next summer
* A big MAHALOS to everyone who always helps with my questions in advance!!
* We were unsure of what to expect since we have enjoyed Maui, Oahu, and BI so much over the past couple of years. We liked Kauai a lot, and will return, maybe in 2 years.
* Kauai was very pretty, green, and residential. However, it was busier than I expected. I know everyone always says that it is the quietest island, but in my opinion and experience, that is the Big Island. (Maybe because it is so big, there are so many places for people to be!) This could also be because we went to Anguilla in the Caribbean in June...now that was really quiet and had deserted beaches
* Kauai is lovely in many ways, and next time I hope to experience the North Shore more...it's just so damn hard to tear myself away from the Grand Hyatt!
FINAL TRIP NOTES:
* We love Hawaii more everytime we go. We are lucky to have enough time off to go (and no kids yet) and enjoy it for 2 weeks each summer. We thought that next summer we would try something new, but now we are saying we should probably go back to Hawaii! We are thinking Maui and Big Island for next summer
* A big MAHALOS to everyone who always helps with my questions in advance!!
< =D> >
Aug 28th, 2006, 04:45 PM
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Fabulous job! So sorry silly tourists brought you down at Spouting Horn....hate when that happens, everyone is uncomfortable except for the foolish tourist. Good job. Everytime fate allows us to return to the islands is an amazing blessing. Mahalo for sharing.
It's a most excellent TR. Mahalo.
8-)
Sep 1st, 2006, 07:02 AM
#29
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Enjoyed your report beachgirl Boy I was salivating at the thought of Kauai (even though I had my own Hawaiian adventure this summer). lol I agree, it's hard to tear one's self away from Hawaii.
DH has been wanting to go to the Kauai Hyatt ever since we explored there during our first trip to Kauai a couple of years ago...maybe our 1st anniversary will be the perfect time. If only we could score like you did, how fabulous to get upgraded!
Glad you had such a great time and btw..we did indeed love the Hapuna Prince just as you predicted
Boy I was salivating at the thought of Kauai (even though I had my own Hawaiian adventure this summer). lol I agree, it's hard to tear one's self away from Hawaii.DH has been wanting to go to the Kauai Hyatt ever since we explored there during our first trip to Kauai a couple of years ago...maybe our 1st anniversary will be the perfect time. If only we could score like you did, how fabulous to get upgraded!
Glad you had such a great time and btw..we did indeed love the Hapuna Prince just as you predicted
Sep 1st, 2006, 07:15 AM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
gg: Thanks! We loved the Kauai Hyatt so much, and it would be a perfect place to spend your anniversary. I'm glad you liked the Hapuna Prince...we may be back there next summer. Did you write a trip report? I don't remember seeing it....
Sep 1st, 2006, 02:20 PM
#32
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi beachgirl86,
Great report - we are going in two weeks and looking forward to it.
Next time you go back and are driving through Ka'paa look for signs for the bypass road, starts in lower Ka'paa and ends near Bubba Burger. Great for missing all that traffic, unless you are going up there to eat (Coconuts is good).
Great report - we are going in two weeks and looking forward to it.
Next time you go back and are driving through Ka'paa look for signs for the bypass road, starts in lower Ka'paa and ends near Bubba Burger. Great for missing all that traffic, unless you are going up there to eat (Coconuts is good).
