When we stopped at The Shack this last time, they were having a wet t-shirt contest in the back. It was something like $15-20 to watch (we didn't). The parking was so crowded, we had to park at the very rear and then walk by the back door where many of the girls were hanging out (pun intended) -- some people just can't appreciate that -- the fair next to the Shack is a shopping magnet for the wife.

We also visited Hilo Hattie's for the first time and found it reasonable. But for clothing, another place we like and have visited a few times is a small shop just down the road and next to McDonald's. The lady there is very nice (can never remember the name of the shop, but don't need to, since it's right next to McDonalds).

hey iceeu2, we'll be in Kauai 2/27-3/12 - perhaps a rendez-vous??? Where would you be staying?

Hi Margot
We will more than likely end up at The Pono Kai in Kapaa, unless we are fortunate enough to get an exhange at Alii Kai or The Cliffs both in Princeville.
Glad to hear that you weren't in the dark last evening. We have some Canadian friends...who are still without power.
Hang loose.

Hi everyone. I have read with great interest this thread on Kauai. Everyone seems to be quite enthusiastic about this island, so perhaps you can help. We have been to Maui twice and the Big Island once, and are now planning a trip for September 2004. We would like to include Kauai on this trip but I would like some opinions on why you like Kauai so much. Perhaps your comments will help us decide how to split up our trip of 16 days.

Aloha, pinnacle - you might want to first try doing a search on this board on Kauai to look at past threads along the lines of comparisons, i.e. "Mauai vs. Kauai" or "BI vs. Kauai" That being said, to put it as simply as I can, my husband and I have been to the 4 major Hawaiian islands, and the reason Kauai is so special to us is its pristine beauty and its relative lack of overdevelopment, which has tended to invade the other islands. The pace is most definitely slower with little active nightlife on Kauai, and the terrain is amazingly diverse gievn its relative size, i.e. you have desert conditions on the west side, while you also have Mt. Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth as the other extreme, with everything in between. The word I always use to describe my emotioanl experience of Kauai is "intoxicating" ! ...Anyone else want to weigh in on pinnacle's subjective question?!

P.S. to iceuu2 - mahalo for your good wishes re: yesterday's blackout - we're fine in NJ, but outages are still spotty on Staten Island, i.e. traffic lights are out on major roads, making them even more dangerous than usual!!! See you in Kauai???

Pinnacle:
Margot stated it the best. Kauai to me provides me with all I want in a vacation, beautiful scenery, great quiet beaches, fantastic golf and world class reataurants. I go on vacation to relax, do not look for adventure nor night life though there is some of that available but at a slower pace.

I do have a few pages of notes on Kauai. If you would like to see them, please drop me an email.

To Anyone: Kal had asked me if I was going to post any of my 262 pics I took this year on the web. Can anyone tell me where I would post them and how. Have never done that before. Is anyone interested in seeing any of them, first.

Rich, would love to see photos.. try webshots.com yahoo also lets you post them as does AOL (members). I'm sure there's others.

Rich, you can also try ofoto.com.

Thanks for the trip report
Did you like The Cliffs?

Hi Rich,
Glad to hear you had such a great trip! We should have been there the same time as you but had to cancel because DH lost his job...a bummer in many ways. I'm keeping notes on all you're posts though, and am still hoping to get over there sometime soon!

As for your photos, I would suggest a website called EachDay.net. It's an excellent site, the best in my opinion. You post your pictures by date and scroll through the calender to view pictures. Plus you can make slideshows, add video and audio clips and make journal entries. And if you ever get a camera phone you can "phone in" your pictures each day and it'll post it on that day automatically. There is a free 3-month trial and then it's $7.50/month. I know that many of the photo posting sites are free but I think this one is so worth the money, especially if you have kids or pets and want to show their growth over time. From the main page if you go to the "Showcase" and look at "AZ Stachowskis", that is our site (the only vacation pictures are from our week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico in May, the rest is our dogs and bbq's!). Enjoy and let us all know where you end up posting your pics - can't wait to see them!
Sheri

First off thanks too all that seem to be close buds with RichinPA and RichinPA himself for all of the great advice that I've read about in the past 6 months. It seems like each of you have given me some kind of advice through all of the strings that I've read while planning my honeymoon to Kauai and Maui. Thanks

Question: My fiancee cannot stand bugs at all. The girl is afraid of small lizards for gods sake. I've heard bugs can be a real nuisance in Hawaii and was wondering what type of bug spray seems to repel the bugs the best? We'll be in Kauai and Maui during the first two weeks of Sept. How are the bug populations during these months?

Aloha dandrews42! Gosh, I can honestly say that in our many trips to Kauai, I've never found bugs, other than an occasional mosquito, to be a problem! We packed Deep Woods Off only to have on hand for our hiking for our last trip there last month, but other than that, we never used any bug repellant simply because bugs were never an issue. Don't know if that helps answer your question, but that's been our experience, just the same. Good luck!

Just a few more notes to answer and repley to:

Thanks to all for the notes on where to post pics. Imhave a busy week at work coming up, but will try to find some time to post ay least a few somewhere.

CRAZYLADYBUG: We love the Cliffs. Have owned timeshare there since 1987. Survived Iniki's wrath and continue to go back every year. It seemed to be in the best condition ever this year with a new on site manager we got. There are also permanent residents there, so you know the place is not going to fold like some timeshare places I've heard of.

DANDREWS42: There are mosquitoes in Hawaii. I don't get bothered by them, but my wife gets eaten alive unless she wears her DEET. Hawaii, being in the tropics also has roaches and some nasty looking centipedes that grow several inches long, but they are few and far between.

Skin So Soft by Avon is supposed to work. Don't eat bananas either. And I read it is good to bathe in Lavender or Eucalyptus. There will be critters and geckos everywhere you go. They don't hop on you though.

Rich, as a one year member of the "Kauai is heaven" club we are looking forward to going back next August, God willing. (My DH has recently developed a mysterious illness that has yet to be diagnosed.) Reading about Kauai and planning to go back are an escape for me and I eagerly read every word of your report. We are planning to rent a house directly on a secluded section of Anini Beach. Do you think that's a good beach to be based on? The owner says there is a calm lagoon directly in front of the house that is good for snorkeling and beginner kayaking. Welcome back, and now comes the hard part - getting your mind back from that island enchantment.

Maggi: Anini Beach is a fine beach to rent a house on. It is quiet, a very clam piece of water, views of the lighthouse and only about two miles off the main road, so not too far out of the way. Sounds like a great choice.

Glad to hear you had a wonderful time!!! Though I'm not surprised...;-)

Thanks for the report, Rich. How 'bout those pics?

aloha!

R'PA, Sorry I haven't gotten back to you but it looks like our FFFs <Fine Fodor Friends> have given you some good suggestions for posting you pics.
Let us know when/where.

Never really been bugged by bugs in all of our trips to the islands but we've always gone in the Nov thru Jan months.
Mucho Mahalos,
Kal

:-" 132