We found driving from north shore to south took a lot longer than you expect due to the traffic in Lihue. You might want to try to consolidate your trips. Also, there was only one place that rented kayaks to take by yourself. Just call around. I'm sorry I don't remember which one it was. Be sure to take a hat upriver--it was HOT.
And I really like
Anini beach. Ooooh, I want to go back TOMORROW!

excited: I'm not sure if will be cloudy if you go in the afternoon you go to the canyon, but it generally gets cloudier throughout the day. I would still go, even if the afternoon was the only time I had to see it. Be sure to take your camera, because there are incredible views.

Thanks you so much for replying everyone. We plan on going to the North Shore on 2 days out of 6, one day will be the helicopter tour from Port Allen & the canyon, one will be the Botanical Gardens & Smith's luau. & 2 days will be spent (I hope) relaxing at the beach.Thats the reason I spelt out my tentative itinerary above, I wanted to get input on how feasible the distances are & how well the grouping together of places/restaurants to visit works. I am still waiting to hear back on that.
jrecm, thanks so much, your input is very useful, do you remember the place you rented kayaks from? And would it be easy to load them on the roof of a mid-size car? What time of day did you go to Waimea?
volcanogirl, did you buy your gear at the Target there?
dallasdeb,I keep forgetting about the heat since out last trip was in Dec. Have heard a lot about Anini Beach, will surely check it out.

Hi ec - we actually bought our gear at our local Target. It's pretty cheap and didn't take up too much room in the luggage. We have fins, but we usually don't pack them - just the mask and snorkel. I went on a tour once, and the masks they provided leaked, so we like to just have our own with us. In Hawaii, we were able to snorkel right off the beach in so many places that it was nice to have the equipment with us when we wanted to use it.

I will check with a local Target.
Also, I was considering the idea of an overnight stay on the North shore so we sre not driving back & forth on 2 separate days. We have Poipu booked for a week but if we can find something relatively inexpensive for one night on the north side, we do not need to pack up. We are 4, this will probably be the night of Tues Jul 3rd or Sat June 3oth if I change our helicopter flight. Any suggestions of B&B's, hotels, motels etc for 1 night would be much appreciated.

excited,

I believe Port Allen is down on the West shore, not the North shore. We went on a helicopter ride last year with Inter-Island and that is where they flew out of.

There is a heli outfit that goes out of the airport at Princeville on the North shore but I think that is the one that has had at least two crashes in the last year or so.

Have a great trip.

Yes, that's why I said I would have to change our helicopter trip, I meant to another date, when we could go from Poipu.
Did you take the doors-off flight? How was that?

Can anyone give me the names of any kayak rental places close to the Kalihiwai River so I can reserve the canoes in advance. Also, are there any fireworks visible from the Poipu area?
Thanks.

excited,

We did the helicopter flight with the doors off but did not do the waterfall landing. We enjoyed it, but the seats are very small and crowded (I got stuck in the middle front seat) and was crushed the whole trip between my husband and the pilot. The seat might have been big enough for my 5 year old granddaughter but not for me (I am 5'2" and weigh 140lb).

We had done the heli our first trip to Kauai and only did it this time so my husband could try out his new digital camera.

This September if we splurge on any activites, it will be another Na Pali boat tour (I have done 4) or maybe Kipu Ranch ATV if my back can take it.

Have a great trip.

Thanks jamie99, I am sure we will, just hope we find time to relax with my relentless planning! I had not planned a Napali boat tour due to time/budget constraints but now am wondering if we should do a plane tour instead of the helicopter, which is half the cost & include a Holahola sunset cruise. Is the boat cruise a must-do? Fodorites, what do you suggest?

I would not skip the helicopter ride - it's one of our favorite memories - loved it! The boat tour was nice, but we don't really have amazing memories of it. Also, the water was pretty rough when we were there.

One thing about the helicopter ride is that they arrange you by size for safety purposes, at least our outfit did. They actually weighed us when we got there, and then the little tiny people got put in the front with the pilot, and the really tall/big people got put on one side and us on the other. Not sure if they all do it this way, but that's how ours was arranged. The pilot gave us a CD full of pictures when we left - it's great and shows all the views and waterfalls that we saw. You will never forget your first view of the Na Pali coast from the air. We had a slight mist during our flight and a gorgeous rainbow formed over the water. Really magical!

Well, our boat ride with Cap'n Andy around the Napali Coast remains one of my greatest all-time memories. We've done the helicopter, too, and I liked it, too, but if given a choice of one to do again, I would choose the boat ride in a heartbeat.

We were happy with the selection and pricing of snorking gear at the Walmart. Hint - for reef shoes (you'll want them) look in the footwear department, not with the snorkling gear.

Oh dear, conflictng opinions, maybe we will have to do both! I am thinking of booking the Holohola Sunset cruise on Tuesday 7/3 & then we can drive up to the North Shore on Wednesday instead if we feel it warrants a return visit which I am sure it will! Wednesday is July 4th so maybe the traffic will not be that bad? Or it could be worse if it is mostly tourist traffic.

We took the Holoholo sunset cruise and loved it. They serve maitais & other beverages, champagne at sunset, and some food items. You will really like it.

It's a barefoot cruise, so when you get to the pier, you take off your shoes before you board. My wife was very happy that she got that pedicure before we went to Hawaii. :-) ((b))

Well, I guess you'll just have to do both then! Life's rough, right?! We did like the boat cruise and are glad we did it, so if you can do both, I'd say go for it. Seeing the coast from the air and then from the sea is wonderful. Maybe I remember the helicopter so well because we've done so many cruises that the helicopter seemed like something really special. Also the lady next to me on the boat was lying down groaning from seasickness most of the trip. If you're at all prone to seasickness, I'd wear Seabands or take some Dramamine before you head out. We were fine without it but other people were looking pretty green. Have a wonderful trip!

I agree with Volcanogirl -- do both if you can!

My family is going to kill me for so many planned activities, they just like to hang loose! We would have done both -air & sea, but I was contemplating switching the helicopter for the plane tour which is less expensive. Have not got much feedback on that, I guess the helicopter seems to be far more popular.

We have gone out on HoloHolo twice but did the morning snorkel tour and goes to Niihau. Long day since you have to check into their office at 6am (we stay in Lihue and last trip their shuttle picked us up at the Marriott) but seeing Niihau was wonderful. Doubt you could get your kids up that early, maybe leave them alone to hang by the pool and beach and you and husband go?

Or alternately consider the sister boat, Leila, of Holo Holo, they do a 5 hour tour starting at 1pm which includes snorkeling.

I am personally not a big fan of sunset cruises, I can drive to the beach to see it without paying.

I will doublecheck but I believe the Holoholo cruise I am talkng about goes to the Napali coast, that is the only reason we would do it, so we can see the Napali coast close-up.