Hi gang. I discovered your little group while doing research for a trip to Kauai. My twelve year old granddaughter, her best friend and I are going the first two weeks in July.

We are flying nonstop from Phoenix to Lihue via America West so we don't have to mess with layovers in LA, Frisco or Honolulu.

I lived in Honolulu twenty five years ago for 2 years but have never been on Kauai.

Our plan is to see every inch of the island. Accommodations and a car are already taken car of since one of my daughters lives in Kapa'a, on 5 acres up the hill.

Definite planned activities include Smith's Luau, the Princville Zipline, a helo tour around the island, and a cruise of Na Pali Coast. Also, a lot of beach time. Oh yeah, two twelve year old girls means one hell of a lot of shopping.

Any ideas for other activities will be greatly appreciated. Mahalo...

We enjoyed a helicopter ride over the Napali coast, hiking to the Queen's Bath, buffets(breakfast & Friday night seafood) & sunsets looking at Bali Hai from the Princeville resort, visiting Hanalei. Check out the book :Maui Revealed. It is fabulous & you won't be sorry. We need to return for a longer visit. We fell in love with Kauai

I take it that you mean "Kauai Revealed". I did a search and found it by Wizard Publications. Thanx for the input. I will order a copy.

We spent a week on Kauai this past summer and one of the faves of the two 13 year olds was tha afternoon we spent at Kipu Falls. We found it in the Kauai Revealed. It is a cool place where many locals hang out. It has a waterfall as well as 20 foot rock walls surrounding a swimming hole where people (including my crazy daughter and husband) jump off the sides 20 feet into the water below. They loved it. There is also a rope swing that you swing out over same pool and drop into the H2O. They loved this as well. It is a bit daredevilish--I contented myself by watching the action. The interesting thing is that this is a "local" hangout with some tourists sprinkled in.

They also loved the day spent in Hanalei first snorkeling at Kee Beach and then hitting the shops and geting shave ice after shopping.

We stayed in Poipu at the Kiahuna Plantation which has access to a great beach as well as a shopping center just across the road.

We did not do the zipline and had covered the "luau thing" on Oahu so I can't comment on either of those activities. A drive up to Kokee and the lookouts along the road up to Waiamea Canyon are pretty impressive. We did a long hike that was gorgeous but you may want to think twice about that as it was strenuous.

Have a great time.
Eva

My recommendation for guidebook, in addition to (or instead of) the Kauai Revealed, is "The Ultimate Kauai Guide" by Lenore Horowitz. It is particularly oriented to family and kids' activiites, writtten with obvious love for the island, its people and children. For example, she recommends (and gives some of her profits) to the Kauai Children Discovery Museum, which might be worth checking out while you're there. (It's in the Kapaa Shopping Center with the Safeway, LOng's, and Cold Stone Creamery.
I first went to Kauai with my dtr and her friend when they were 11 and 12. Of course, they wanted to clothes-shop, in both unusual and conventional stores. So know that there is a nice mall in Lihue, if they have to have a Macy's fix.
You've a daughter with 5 acres of hillside land in Kapa?? LUCKY FAMILY!!! .
Aloha, and have a great trip!

There are some slightly swinging foot bridges on the south side of the island. My kids thought they were great fun, and you probalby don't have them in Phoenix. One is in Waimea next to the Menehune ditch--turn up the road at the corner where the firestation is (if memory serves correctly). Also one in Hanapepe town i think??? IF the girls like cats, have meal at Tomkats in Koloa town--follow your nose, as it's down the wooden sidewalk from the yummy smells of the Island Soap Factory. The cats will run against their legs and keep them company at meal time.

Eva,

Thank you for the tip on Kipu Falls. I will definite look into that.


Cali,

Thanks. I will also get the book by Horowitz. We definitely will look for the foot bridges. We don't have very many of them in Phoenix.

I have already gotten more info than I can get from my daughter. She has a computer shop in Kapa'a and all she does is work and go to the beach. BTW, my bad! She lives on 2 acres, not 5.

Jamaltay, it's often like that when you live in a place, isn't it? Your daughter will probably love having you there, in part to share discovery or re-discovery, of special spots on her island home.
Here's another suggestion, though it's really an icing-on-the-cake, big splurge sort of thing. Consider an overnight stay with the 2 girls at the Hyatt in Kauai. It's a great hotel for kids (and adults!) with wonderful pool/waterslide/gardens, and breakfast buffet at awater's edge (sort of duck pond) restaurant (can't recall the name). It's about $300 plus per night, but might be a nice one-night getaway to a different part of the island for you, the grandkids, and even your daugher.

CaliNurse,

The Hyatt suggestion is excellent. I looked into it today and I think that we may very well do 1 or 2 nights there as a little added treat for the girls. Thank you so much for the idea.

jamaltay,

FYI..rates at the Hyatt start at about $455 a night for July 2006. We stayed there for a week two years ago and really liked it.

-Bill

We stayed at the Hyatt Resort last Aug.
It will be a wonderful treat for all of you.

You can stay for just $249 a night at the Hyatt with Stay Certificates off their website. Click on Stay Cerficates for details.

https://www.certificates.hyatt.com/C...rts.asp?navH=1

8-)

Hey MBnancy, too cool. I was just about to search for your several months ago posting on this, so Jamaltay might be able to save some $$ for him and his family...but you beat me too it.
Jamaltay, another way to go, though not nearly as moneysaving as MBn's suggstion, is to get a (free) Hyatt Gold membership card, vail on their web stie. it will automaticlly upgrade your room (based on availability) at any Hyatt Hotel. We "started" with the basic mountain view (sometimes of the parking lot) rate room and got upgraded one or two room types to "Royal Garden Viw" which,was absolutely gorgeous-- very lush with view of landscaping and pools, palms trees right outside the 3rd floor lanai
I'm recalling how our kids loved the lei greetings at the front entryway, then their excitement as they headed toward the back of the lobby to see that gorgeous huge open view of the ocean.
Again...have a wonderful time!!

Jamaltay, if you go, try to request a room in the Eastern wing. It has a name, but I dont recall it. Better there for your girls, as it is by the pool/waterslide deck. The western side of the resort is nearer to the Anara Spa, and more adult oriented.
If you haven't already checked the Hyatt Kauai's own website, click on their photo gallery of 30 plus pix. Yes, it really IS that gorgeous!!

Jamaltay,

I think the hike to the waterfall (only 1 mile) off the Wailua River would be fun. Not too long of a hike but enough. You can rent kayaks or take a ferry to the Fern Grotto. Actually I am not sure how you get to the trail head for the little hike if you do not rent your own kayak, but maybe there is another way. Of course kayaking is fun in itself, and I always found the Wailua easy to maneuver. (Actually I should confess DH did lions share of the work.)

Many Hawaii properties offer Kama'aina rates for those who are residents of Hawaii. If the Hyatt does, your daughter could book the rooms in her name. The certificates sound like the way to go, though. Wish I had known about them when I stayed there.

The girls may like ATV Kauai. They have other vehicles than ATV's so the girls can be passengers. It's dirty, but fun!

For those who might like to buy the Hyatt gift cards. Get a less expensive price AND Hyatt points:

"Give the Gift of Hyatt and Receive 1,000 Bonus Points"
"Looking for the perfect gift? Now you can purchase Hyatt Gift Cards in any amount from $5 to $500 USD. As a limited time offer, you will receive 1,000 bonus points for every $100 spent when you purchase Hyatt Gift Cards online between December 1 and December 31, 2005. Gift Cards are currently available at all Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® in the U.S. and Caribbean and will be for sale on certificates.hyatt.com later this month. Watch goldpassport.com for more details."

Thanks for the Hyatt discounts tips everyone. I am going to look into that. I don't have a thing against saving money.

My daughter says the Bullshed is a must do and she says it is her treat. I'M THERE!

Instead of a helo tour around the island I am thinking an airplane tour with "Wings Over Kauai". I have heard some good things. Is anyone familiar with them?

When I lived on Oahu a million years ago no one except a tourist or a local working in the tourist trade wore Hawaiian shirts. Now I hear everyone wears them. Is this true?

8-)

137 DAYS! Our flight is booked. The girls did not want to fly with America West because they fly it all the time(living in Phoenix). For Hawaii they insisted on Hawaiian Air. I am such a pushover for the grandkids. So we are flying PHX-HNL-LIH instead of PHX-LIH. Since we are going Hawaiian Air I moved the date to the end of May. That saved me quit a few bucks. We are leaving on what would have been their last day of school. They are also happy about that.

Now comes the fun planning:

I booked Smith's Luau today.

In the morning I want to call the Grand Hyatt and pick their brains for info on the hotel. I think we are going to do two days there, ??maybe??

Is anyone personally familiar with "Wings Over Kauai" or "Holoholo Charters"?

I am also thinking of renting kayaks on our own to do the Wailua River as opposed to taking a kayak tour. Any suggestions on that?

I hear tell that Ke'e Beach is about as good as one can get for snorkeling. Is true?

Mahalo 8-)