Hi,
I'm thinking of going to Kauai this August. I've been to Maui last august, when i first stepped off the plane, i was a bit worried that my 5 day stay would be a dread b/c I'm a city girl. I really love the city, and when i'm away from the city, i get depressed. luckily, lahaina in maui was not bad, i loved the ppl walking on the streets, the shopping, the shops, etc.
I know kauai is not as polluted with tourists, but are there any area in kauai that is similar to lahaina in maui? please help. thanks.

I am a city girl, too; cannot get enough of DC, NYC, Chicago, LA, Honolulu. We lived on Kauai for 6 years (until last May) and I can tell you with expertise and certainty that there is nothing on KAuai that is city-like!

Well...Kapa`a can get pretty crowded at commute time...and Wal-Mart/Sears/Home Depot on a Saturday morning is pure insanity! 8-)

How about Walmart on Christmas Eve?

We're planning to stay at Barking Sands, with day trips to the North & East Shores. Is that too desolate?

oh no! this crushes my heart. do u think i'll be miserable when i'm there? are there any souvenir shopping in kauai?
vivi... have u been to maui? what do u think of it compared to a city?

kalunchi - shounds like Waikiki is the place for you! Kauai is definitely not the place for a city girl!

I've been to waikiki in oahu, i loved the shopping, but i hated the crowds. maybe b/c i went to maui first and i absolutely loved the beaches there. well, maybe i'll just go to kauai for a couple of days. thanks!

I'm not sure I understand your reasoning in choosing Kauai as a vacation destination if you love the city. The words "Kauai" and "city" are definitely not synonymous. In fact, people choose Kauai to get away from it all.

If you are looking to stay in the city, choose Honolulu.

kalunchi - maybe you should re-consider Kauai - have you thought about Oahu - not necessarily in Waikiki itself, but maybe somewhere on the North Shore, Kaneoha, Kailua, Turtle Bay, Ko'Olina, Makaha? That way you'd be away from the crowds, but still have access to all the city stuff you enjoy? There's SO much more to Oahu than just Waikiki, although I personally absoltely LOVE Waikiki and the energy it pumps out and you can't beat people watching there. One of my favorite things to do when I'm there is to perch myself in one of the rocking chairs on the front lanai of the Moana Surfrider - with a lava flow in hand - and watch the people pass on Kalakaua. Oh, to be there right now ..........

Good luck with your plans - but I'd seriously re-consider going to Kauai if I were you.