kauai
 

My family and my brother's family are renting a house a kayak ride from the beach in early March, midway between Anahola and Kilauea.

It's up a long dirt road. I've rented a jeep.

We're in our 50s and 60s, kids in 20s.

I've never been to hawaii. Will we have fun? Will it rain all the time? Who are these kmart people I read about?

Yes you should have fun and no it will not rain all the time but that far north will have more rain than the south.
Is the house a legal rental? Some are, some aren't. Ask for the TVR number (not to be confused with the tax id) if concerned as illegal rentals are a big problem all over Hawaii.
Not sure what you mean by KMart people, there was a lady who used to sell malasadas in front of KMart but she retired recently.
Sometimes people from the cruise ship will visit there, which seems an awful strange way to spend limited time, but to each their own.

Thanks jamie. Apparently, there used to be, long ago, a cabal of fodorites who responded to questions like mine with a lack of seriousness. I'll report back here with news of how much fun, and rain, we're having. Suggestions welcome!

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-silliness.cfm

My brother arranged our rental, it looks nice and has lots of positive reviews.

Songdoc says the north coast doesn't rain all the time in the winter, and has some good suggestions (nature preserve, secret beach, farmers market).

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-silliness.cfm

Songdoc knows his North Shore so I would listen to what he has to say. Have a great trip.

Songdoc is currently on Kauai's North Shore. I arrived January 27th and had fifteen consecutive bright, hot, sunny days. But ... there has been a lot of rain and cloudy days the past week--definitely not beach weather. Today, like every day, there was a break for a couple of hours and I did a beautiful walk. It's supposed to clear up after the weekend and it looks like we should be back to beautiful weather. There are no guarantees about the weather, but hopefully, you'll get lucky.

Re: "will we have fun?"
It depends on what you like to do. If your idea of fun is the glitz of Las Vegas, or the museums and action of NYC, then "no," you won't have fun. If you love natural beauty, stunning beaches, whale watching, and awesome mountain vistas ... then you'll have LOTS of fun!

I will soon post a trip report.

"fun" is different for everyone. I have fun on kauai because it is so low key, has water, and mountains and sun and sand but that is why I go to Hawaii and Kauai especially. I have been to Kauai 10-12 times (lost count) and have never been rained out. yes, it has rained off and on and mostly at night but it has never stopped me from hiking, swimming, walking, enjoying the sweet life. If you are a "night person" and like the bar scene, perhaps not Kauai but maybe Maui or Oahu. If you like swimming, whale watching, surfing, paddle boarding, hiking, watching incredible sunsets then by all means go

Songdoc, This is a great summary you wrote of fun stuff to do on kauai:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...o-in-kauai.cfm

"...renting a house a kayak ride from the beach..midway between Anahola and Kilauea."

Would that be Moloa'a? Beautiful beach, but not safe for much besides sunbathing in early March. Anini is probably your closest, best bet for swimming and snorkeling, but expect fairly strong currents there too at that time of year.

"Will we have fun?"

Do you all like each other? :-? The problem with that location is that you'll mostly have to drive to find your fun. And one person's idea of fun isn't always the same as another's, so I'd for sure suggest at least two rental vehicles, and maybe more depending on how many in the group. We rented three for three couples when we stayed on the remote northwest corner year a year or two back, and were glad we did.

"Suggestions welcome!"

Pack Cards Against Humanity? Otherwise, from Songdoc's list, the most memorable paid tour we've done on Kauai is a helicopter flight, which you can do in any season, weather permitting. And in that regard, if you're interested, book for early in your stay to allow for possible rescheduling.

I forgot about that summary! I hope it helps.

KMART!!!!
<i><b>Harummmphhhhhhhh</i></b>....I's K9s!!!! X(

Wow...that thread brings back some memories. And memories of FFFs who left the board. :'(

Since it was written, Calinurse and I became good friends and we have been back to the <i>Hellhole</i> about 17 times. 2 week minimum stay, a couple 3 week stays mixed in.

I'm still conducting exhaustive research into the phenomena of why people actually want to go back there. :-?

You sound like you'll be staying at a place near where our Kauai Comm College instructor buddy lives.

We're headed back over for a rare June visit since we can do the "Hanalei Canoe Club's 8 Mile Haena to Hanelei Run" and the next day "The Taste of Hawaii".

You'll have fun regardless of rain or shine. :-X

"Who let the dog out???"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkuu0Lwb5EM

Use caution if you rent a dog for a walk from the local humane society. There are newly policed, no dogs allowed in this park or this beach rules that are being enforced. Well according to the local rag Island News

Thanks for the ideas. Here's a link to the house we rented. It's a kayak ride from the beach, but the beach might not be very nice in early March. We'll rent two cars and explore.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/7037?s=...28acd70786c66c

If you can't have fun in Hawaii your doomed! Haha, just kidding. It'll be tough but I think you'll find paradise will be fine.

The north Shore will have some rain, but it seems to kinda blow across the island. Remember too even when it rains it's still tropical and beautiful.

Song doc does have the best advice.

Step aside Kaaaalll. Dere's a new sheriff in town!

Star wars is a dumb movie. We're watching it on the way to Kauai. We arrive early afternoon. Its not raining. Thursday we visited my brother in pacifica California. We walked around golden gate park. Saw a couple old windmills. A restaurant with a wpa mural. What was left from a water park next to the ocean. The golden gate bridge from a distance. Friday we helped a neice move into her new apt in oakland. We saw the Berkeley museum of art and had lunch in a cajun restaurant. Then, before dinner, a nice walk near my brother's house to the taco bell on the beach in pacifica. Today we're watching star wars on the plane to kauai where it's not raining.

We arrived. We rented a jeep from fox car rental. They talked us into insurance against liability for losses from the company not being able to rent the car while it's being fixed if we have an accident. $5/day. Probably a scam. Also, the jeep isn't four wheel drive and drives like a truck. But the house is nice. Six of us took two kayaks to the beautiful beach, went swimming, and didn't get swept away to our deaths. So that was good. And it hasn't rained yet. Our older son arrives from saigon tonight at almost midnight. A long day in paradise.

Sunday. Kayak and swim. Warned away from a riptide. Then we headed up to the north coast. We had lunch in Haena at the Mediterranean Gourmet which has a beautiful view of the ocean. I had falafel, a traditional Hawaiian dish. Then on to kee beach at the end of the road. The beaches are beautiful, the surfers amazing. Back home for dinner. Gotta hunt for a birthday present for dw tomorrow.

Greetings from a very different island -- Scotland! It's gorgeous here. I feel like I'm either on a movie set, or I've stepped off a time machine into the 1600s.

I'm so glad you're enjoying Kauai so far. I don't know what kind of gift you're looking for, but I've often found gifts in the little shopping center in Hanalei where BarAcuda and Neide's are located. I bought beautiful coconut wood salad servers that were a big hit as a gift for friends in Ireland (where I was until yesterday).

Keep us posted!

PS. Thanks, nanabee :-)

Greetings from ANOTHER island - in a bay of Lake Huron, surrounded by ice. I live here.
But dreaming of Hawaii helps pass the winter.
I envy you right now. And with reference to many past Fodor's posts of Kauai, I am somewhat disappointed that there has been no mention of early morning roosters, nothing said of hordes of man-eating mosquitoes, or huge traffic jams while going through Kapaa.
Nor has anyone stated, "if you love Kauai, send all your friends to Maui".
Ahhh, for the good old days....
The first time I was on Kauai, 5 nights, there was a slowly developing low pressure area, and the only place in all the Hawaiian islands that had any sun for a 3 day period was Poipu. Lucky for us. I realize that was maybe not a normal weather pattern, but I have loved Kauai ever since.
I am looking forward to more of your reports.