I have, with the stellar suggestions of my fellow fodorites have decided on the Grand Hyatt in Kauai for 4 nights in September. I was thinking of 1 or 2 fun things to do and would love to hear about your favorites, or least favorites. We do not want to cram too much into each day. 1-2 days we will be pool side or beach bound with the main activities being mai tai's followed with a nap.

Anyone ever done the following? Love or hate it?:

ATV tour?
http://www.kauaiatv.com/book/
or
http://www.hawaiiwebdesign.com/kauai_atvtours.htm

Helicopter VS. Small plane. Which is better?
http://www.wingsoverkauai.com/

Tubing - looks kind of crowded? Not really out in the open, more on a water ‘path’?
http://www.hawaiiwebdesign.com/kauai_tubing.htm

Zip line

Napali tour

A few years ago DH and I did KauaiATV. We were in a mud buggy for 2. We also did the Zipline at Princeville Ranch. Loved both activities, and would do again.

Make sure to wear bathing suit under clothes for ATV, they had outside public shower to rinse off before returning to hotel/condo.

Zipline I would do over and over again. Fun and nice scenery!

We loved our helicopter tour of the Na Pali coast; it's one of our best vacation memories ever. I've never seen anything so gorgeous, and as we were flying, a rainbow appeared over the water. We got great pictures.

We live here and have done both helicopter and private plane tours. Of the two, I prefered helicopter. Because of our normal wind gusts, it was a lot more comfortable and direct.

Another thing we see all the time that friends have tried and liked is the ultralight. Looks like a motorcycle with a wing. They say it is safe, but you are really hanging out there. We just gawk when it flies by.

http://www.kauaiultralight.com/

Aloha,
Jeff
beatofhawaii.com

I don't get paying all this money to do stupid, made-up activities in one of the most beautiful places on earth. My activities are snorkeling, swimming, baby wave surfing, hiking, reading and just enjoying the beauty. I don't want to promote any of the fuel-consuming activities like ATV tours, helicopter rides, etc.

Triple thumbs up on ATV tours.

We've done 2 there and each one was ono!

My fave hike tho is still up a poolside bar stool.

ono? what Kal, you ate dirt?

Alohaaaaaa k-aka! Howsdafishfry at Polihale???

All in due time!

I have flown with birdsinparadise.com a few times.

and adored our kipu ranch ATV tour.

Love dodging tourists at my favourite beaches for the best past time

Oh and burning the blue book bonfire is a good time had by all.

Tons!!!!!!! It had just rained the day before.

Onoliscious!

burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp

About the only paid activity we've done there is an afternoon/sunset Napali trip, we've done that twice, both times with Holoholo out of Port Allen.http://www.holoholocharters.com/tours/sunset.html

Be warned, it can get pretty choppy.

maika'i a'e gyppie. get your soggy red sox popo out here, i'm getting tired of seeing the same feces everyday...

? to Kal, on that atv tour, did you take the tunnel behind kipu. (it meets north of waiia reservoir near tunnel of trees). as idiot teens, we used to play dare and see who can beat the cane trucks out of there. someone said the atv's are using that old route now. just curious?

This is great! Thank you.

I think we are definitely going to do an ATV trip. Maybe I will do one that incorporates ziplines.

The ultra-light / birds in Paradise looks awesome! My hubby is a little afraid of heights but he seemed intrigued. Does anyone have an opnion on how that compares to a helicopter? Can we still go near waterfalls?

That Sunset trip with Holoholo charters looks great too!

Oh, and we plan to make several hikes to the poolside bar! Because we are athletic and avid hikers of course.
Anyone have any thoughts on tubing?

Alohaaa k_a!

Yes. Going thru the tunnel was awesome!
Had no clue it was even there.
I was last in line and it was pretty dusty so it was a bit spooky at times too.

We took the "sunset tour" and wound up at the resevoir over looking the entire SoShore.
Whales jumping and the beginning of a nice sunset was no ka oi!

The 2nd tour was thru Kauai Backcountry. I don't think they have ATV tpurs anymore.

This one started at the Hanamaulu location and went out past 1-2 resevoirs and then waaay back past the crater and then for a dip in a watefall's pond and then a picnic lunch. Sandwiches from that good deli in Kukui Grove Shopping Ctr.

Tour guides were very knowledgeable.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles...9/photo24.html

We have gone with Kipu ATV and loved it. You do get a little dirty so wear sonmething that can stay that way as red dirt doesn't always come out...my cheap white tee still has marks on it...brings back great memories.

I prefer the helicopter ride over the plane because the helicopter can get into places the plane cannot. We have done the waterfall tour with Inter Island twice....it was awesome!

Never tubed or ziplined...yet.

LOVE cruising the Na Pali coast with Kauai Sea Tours. The sunset cruise is great but it can get a bit bumpy!

Have a great time on your trip.

Reply to Kal,
A-hem, stop, yer killin us!

Waddeyedonow????

Howzit JohnD?

The main difference between ultralight trike to consider is that you would not be doing this together, if that matters.

In my 4 experiences, it never dawned on me to be motions sick, but my friends did. And being afraid of hights would certainly be an issue.

I've done just one helicopter tour which was wonderful, but never yearned to go again. That was with Jack Harter.

Good to see BirdsinParadise has some competition. Perhaps I will check them out and have them drop me off at the fish fry at Polihale!!!!

How many mo days

"Blabber on travel websites"

NiceBTW.

Ahhhh....since retirement I threw my handy dandy countdown calculator away but we are shooting for Dec 30th-ish.
But since I may be doing some consulting work I may dig it out of storage. $-)$-)

Congrats on your retirement!

We're looking @ ~114+/-

Aloha sistahlou