Sandra_E

Hi folks,

Here's our first attempt at an itinerary for our honeymoon in Kaua'i. I have 10 questions in here and would appreciate your input on restaurants, grocery stores, farmer's markets, hikes, kayak & sail tour companies, gardens, etc. Thanks!

Sunday:
Arrive in Lihue ~6 pm. Pick up rental car, have dinner in Lihue.
1. Restaurant suggestions? Something quick & inexpensive but yummy - plate dinner or that sort of thing.

Visit a grocery store in Lihue, Kappa, Kiluea...
2. Grocery store/alternative suggestions for produce & fresh fish?
Drive to condo in Princeville.

Monday:
Beach & snorkel day - Hanalei bay, Tunnels. May also visit caves, Wai'oli Mission house, Hanalei Valley lookout, Kilauea Light House/Secret Beach.

Tuesday:
Hike Kalalau trail (first 2 miles), snorkeling afterwards at Ke'e beach, and visit Ke ahu a laka Heiau.
2 pm Farmer's Market in Hanalei.
3. Anyone ever been to this one?

If time, may visit Limahuli Gardens in Ha'ena.
4. Anyone been to the Limahuli Gardens?

630 pm Living Room at Princeville Resort, Hawaiian stories, dancing, chanting.

Wednesday:
7 am Wailua river kayak trip (half day).
5. Suggestions on kayak tour companies?

245 pm Farmer's Market in Kapa'a
6. Anyone ever been to this one?

May visit the Na'Aina Kai gardens in Kilauea.
7. Anyone been to the Na'Aina Kai gardens?

Thursday:
Another beach & snorkel day. Kilauea Light House/Secret Beach if we didn't get to it on Monday. Other ideas: Beaches at Princeville, Lumahai Beach, Aninia Beach, Hanalei Valley lookout.

Friday:
Check out of condo & drive to Poipu.
Things to visit along the way:
Holo-holo-ku Heiau, Keahua Forestry Arboretum (picnic 2nd breakfast perhaps), Old Kapa'a Town,
Opaekaa Falls, Poliahu Heiau, Kaua'i Museum in Lihue, Hikina Akala Heiau, Lydgate State Park, Pohaku Ho'ohanau
Wailua Falls.
8. Any input on these activities? Which are fantastic, which can be skipped?

Check into Hyatt in Poipu.
Dinner at The Beach House

Saturday:
9 am Kekaha Farmer's Market
9. Anyone ever been to this one?

Waimea Canyon/Koke'e Forest hike - possibly Canyon Trail.
10. Other trail suggestions in Waimea Canyon area?

Drive to Polihale beach for sunset.

Sunday:
Anara spa at Hyatt.
Sunset cruise to Na Pali coast.
11. Suggestions on cruise companies? We are considering Captain Andy's.

Monday:
Beach & snorkel day. Poipu, Maha'ulepu, Shipwreck.
Leave paradise ~10 pm. *sigh*

Thank you again for your input!
-Sandra
220 days til

vivi

Dinner first night, try the Barefoot Bar at Dukes at the Marriott for inexpensive drinks and pupus. Very casual, great tropical ambience.

Get your groceries at Safeway in the Wailua Village SHopping Center. Get a Safeway club card before you start to shop.

I have been to Limahuli GArdens many times, it is my favorite of the botanical gardens because it's OK to go self-guided. They have an odd schedule of days-off, check and make sure they will be open.

Cocktails at the P-Ville Living Room not to be missed. Stunning spot.

I have been to the Kapaa Farmers Market about a million times. Get there early. Sometimes it's possible to "reserve" the produce you want before the opening bell rings. (No shopping officially allowed til the bell rings!) It can be hot hot hot there.

The Keahua Forestry Arboretum baffles some folks upon arrival. (I used to live nearby and many visitors would ask us "where is the arboretum" when in fact we were standing in it!) It is not an organized place with signs to identify plants. Rather it is a wild, grassy area near a stream. Very idyllic, about 7 miles up Kuamoo Rd. When you see the stream crossing the road you will know you are there. The Kuilau Ridge trailhead is nearby, this is an easy hike with other-worldly views of a giant fern canyon, highly recommend.

I like Blue Dolphin or Capt Andys for Napali tour.

The Kauai Museum in OK, tho if you are into history I would instead recommend a guided tour of Grove Farm Homestead in Lihue. 2 hours, about 5 bucks a person, very fascinating from a historical perspective.

You can paddle the Wailua on your own without a tour group.

Sandra_E

Thanks for your input Vivi!

-Sandra
219 days til

iceeu2

vivi...where is the Kapaa Farmers Market..and, what do you mean reserve your produce, is it on Saturday...and how early do you call early?

spartanap

There is a grocery store just past the turn off to Princeville. Get a discount card at the customer service counter. Prices are not as bad with the card.
I would also recommend a helicopter tour. We used Air Kauai and loved it!

vivi

The Kapaa sunshine market is on Wednesdays, its at the ballpark about a block behind the ABS store. I used to get there early, many vendors allowed us to claim what we wanted (with names on scraps of paper) and then when the market officially opened we would go pick up our stuff. There is not supposed to be any earlier-than-opening cash transactions.

Sandra_E

ttt

iamq

Sandra,
Your trip sounds like it will be fun.
We love Hamura's Saimin in Lihue. It might be a fun place to eat on Day 1. They have great noodle soup and very yummy lilkoi chiffon pie. It is a VERY hang loose place with mostly locals.
Here is my trip report from our trip last summer.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34513767
-Bill

aloha

Sandra, re Lydgate Park--since you are planning to snorkel at Tunnels, Ke'e, etc., the pool at Lydgate may seem quite tame and you might want to skip it....but if you are looking for very calm water it is a good bet.

Budman

An aggressive itinerary. Make sure you save some time for honeymooning.

Don't feel you have to do it all in one trip -- there's always anniversaries.

Sandra_E

Thanks everyone for your input

Budman said:
"An aggressive itinerary. Make sure you save some time for honeymooning."

No worries We work better with a plan beforehand, and then picking & choosing what we want to from there. We may have a couple of really on the go days, but we will probably just pick a couple of things most days to ensure we have lots of relaxation time too! And yes, I'm already planning anniversary trips too, though one will have to be to the BI to see the volcanoes.

-Sandra
216 days til

aprilmay

Naina Kai gardens-- on North side of Island- went there a few weeks ago-- lots of sculpture-- was nice but the ALLERTON gardens were by far much nicer- the guides much more knowledgable. !! I dragged my husband to Allerton and Na ina Kai and he said the Allerton by far was better for him at least- more interesting more tropical plants. Naina Kai has artwork from sculptors in Colorado of all places-- gardens seemed a little out of place in my mind -- Anyway check it out for yourself but definitely go to the Allerton gardens.aprilmay

mlgb

Is Tip-Top still in business (Lihue)? Loved the breakfasts. Great preserves too.

Ashley24

Bill,
I really enjoyed your trip report from last summer. I would love to read your report from the summer before that too. Can you include a link so we can all enjoy it???
Thanks! We will be in Kauai this August...Can't wait!
By the way, do you get the Safeway club card at the store itself or do I need to get one before my trip? We don't have Safeways where I live.

iceeu2

Ashley, you can get the Safeway Club Card at the store. Probably at the register or customer service counter.

I got mine when we were on vacation in Montana. We don't have Safeway's either, but they are good stores.

kalunchi

sandra, what a great itinerary, i'm going to kauai in august, only for half the days you'll be staying there, hope u dont mind but i'll probably be taking alot of ur ideas. and thanks everyone for the great tips.

iamq

Ashley,

Glad you enjoyed the report. I actually did not do one from the year before.

The big difference between the two trips was that we spent 6 nights at the Hyatt the first time after staying at my friend's place. The Hyatt was a great place to veg. We went to Waimea Canyon the first time and did a hike inside the canyon to a waterfall. We spent more time on the north shore this last time and loved it. I fell inlove with Hanalei, that's why we are staying there this summer. There is a wonderful vibe there. On the first trip we did the Holoholo trip to Nihau and NaPali coast. Good trip but once was enough.
This year we are planning very little in advance (except for the lomi lomi at Anara!), do very little in the way of organized tours and wing it most days.

You will love Kaua`i in the summer!
-Bill

Ashley24

Bill,
I am hoping we will love it in the summer...we loved Kauai in the winter and it rained a lot! I know what you mean about Hanalei. It's my favorite spot so far, too.
By the way, can you book a spa appointment at Anara Spa if you aren't staying at the Hyatt?
Do you remember what the hike was called that went to the waterfall? Was it in the Blue Book???

iamq

Ashley,

You will! If you loved it in the rain, just wait!

Yep, you can make reservations at the Anara Spa and not be a guest. You can actually buy day passes to use the facilities whether you have a treatment or not for around $30 a day. Check out their site: www.anaraspa.com They have a great lap pool, wonderful facilities and good therapists.

The trail at Waimea/Koke'e that we took was the Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls and it is in the Kauai Revealed book. It was an nice hike, but since the falls were very meager (it was July afterall) and it was posted for lepto we were a bit let down. Beautiful views of the canyon though! Moderate in difficuly. If we can drag ourselves away from the North Shore this year I'd like to do the Pihea Trail as far as the Alakai Swamp Trail. We'll see...
Hope this helps.
-Bill

PlumeriaTattoo

Do NOT miss a helicopter fight over the island. We used Jack Harter for ours. It is the coolest thing we did in 2 weeks on Kauai and Maui. Absolutely breaktaking, and a definite must-do.

Also, no trip to Kauai is complete without at least one meal at Bubba Burger! We loved the one in Kapaa.

Finally, make sure you get the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook - Kauai Revealed. It was invaluable on our trip.