My fiancee and I are planning our honeymoon to Hawaii leaving from the east coast on Jan. 2. We were originally planning on Oahu, Kauai and Maui. However, I am very concerned that there may be tons of rain on Kauai at that time and wondering if anyone could confirm. Also, if there is should we plan to stay in Lanai? or Big Island (Waikola) instead. I am looking to finalize plans soon.
Thanks. Vicki

We used to spend every other Christmas vacation on the Kona coast of the Big Island at the Mauna Kea. Only had rain once, but sometimes the weather was windy with dangerous surf from undertows. This coast gets much less rain than the one over at Hilo and it's fun to see snow on Mana Kea. Sorry can't help with Kauai--think every island is different. Terrible week of rain in Maui on the Wailoa coast---husband actually took plane over to the Big Island to play golf, he was that desparate. Good luck.

Vicki, Congrats!

We have been lucky enough to go to Kauai for the past 9 years (sat out the year Inkiki hit). The first 2x over we went over T'giving time. The past 7 we have gone over for New Year's.

Since it is "The Garden Isle", you will get rained on no matter when you go. That's why it is sooo beautiful over there.

I hear they are experiencing a bit of a drought recently.

If you are going over during January (we may see you there?) I'd suggest the standard "Poipu in the winter-Princeville in the summer" rule of thumb.

The no'shore usually gets more rain in the winter than the so'shore ("Sunnyside") even though the north is tons more beautiful than the south, IMHO..

If money is no object and it is a honeymoon, there are excellent hotels on both shores...Princeville, Hyatt, Sheraton, Hanalei, Marriott, Embassy Suites, etc plus a lot of nice condos.

The nice thing about the island is if it's raining on one side, sometimes you can drive about 45 mins/1 hr to the other side and it's sunny.

What we usually do is call a business on the opposite end of the island to see how the weather is and if it's sunny...go!

We usually stay on the east coast or "The Royal Coconut Coast" in the Kapaa, Wailua area. No "4-star" hotels but centrally located, 5 mins from the airport, 30 to Princeville, 45 to Poipu and about an hour to Polihale (end of the road on the westside.)

Also within walking distance to a lot of great restaurants, grocery stores (Safeway and Long's Drugs, etc), etc.

Beats the rat race on Maui any day!
"Rather rained on in Kauai than a good day in_ _ _ _ _ _(fill in the blanks)!

Congrats again and Mahalo!
Kal

Thanks so much for the quick responses. We were planning on staying at the Marriott on Kauai. Have tons of Marriott points. Which I believe is in the middle of Princeville and Poipu. So your advice is GO?! We were planning on lots of touring on Kauai, helicopter etc. so we can drive to sun but don't want to miss the beautiful sights. I had read that it can rain for days straight and wasn't sure if we should take the chance...would love to see you there!

Vicki,
We visited Kauai in April and found that if the weather wasn't the best in Poipu to go to the beach at Polihale. There is a beautiful beach there and it is one of the driest parts of the island. It was also a bit warmer there too, it was easy enough to find (I think we had directions in our Ultimate Kauai Guidebook).
Have a great trip!

Vicki,
Remember, it probably will rain so it's your call. The last 2 trips over we've stayed 21 days and maybe 2 days were so we couldn't "do" anything outdoors, like hike or do a helicopter. When the hiking trails get slick, they get slick.

We were golfing one day and got caught in a downpour. Lasted about 20 mins. The other foursomes took off. The wife and I pulled the cart under a tree and "rode it out" (heh heh)...We then had the whole course to ourselves! Kind of romantic, too, getting caught in rain, eh?

Great suggestion on the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. We bought it after our first trip.

The Marriott is the old Westin Lagoons. Real nice place..also about 5 mins from the airport. Right on Kalapaki Bay (Get the John Wayne/Lee Marvin movie "Donovan's Reef" to see what it looked like 40 years ago!) near Nawiliwili Harbor!

It's also near The Whaler Brew Pub. Good micro-brew, excellent Sunday Beer Brunch, beautiful view, but "iffy" service. They have their own website, but the exact web-address escapes me now. Should be easy to find.

Some other little nice restaurants w/in walking distance from there, too. The Beach Hut. JJ's Broiler. Portofino. Duke's and if you go into "downtown Lihue" a good local hole in the wall hangout is Hamura's Saimin Stand.

If you or the future hubby golfs, 2 nice courses right at the Marriott and you're about a 5 min drive down the back way to The Grove Farm at Puakea, behind Kukui Grove shopping center.

Best little 10 hole golf course in the world! They had 10 holes completed before Iniki blew through.

Man! I got 183 more days unitl we go back but I wanna go NOW!
Mahalo,
Kal