We are planning on being in Kauai in 4/2001. Are trying to plan our accommodations. Are considering: Lae Nani Kapa'a Sands and Po'ipu Kapili. I really would like input on any of the above. Have done a lot of research and all seem to be good. I am leaning towards Lae Nani. HELP PlEASE. Thanks Cheryl

Poipu - Cheryl! That area is much classier and prettier than the East coast where Lae Nani is. Also the beaches will be nicer in April! Kapaa is a little more central for island sightseeing but it's a small island so I don't think it matters! I stayed on that East coast once, and would not do it again. It's worth a little more money to stay at Poipu, really!

Aloha,

Joe

Well Cheryl, There goes that snob Joseph again!?!?!

I've had friends stay at both the Lae Nani and Kapaa Sands and both were quite pleased with them and have gone back.

If the trip is something special and you want to hang out at some of the most expensive places on the island and you have the dough, do Poipu.

The East area has just as good as scenery (Sleeping Giant Mtn., Wailua River, Fern Grotto, Mt. Kalepa, Mt. Waialeale, King Kong, etc) but it is a "local" hang out and has a few power lines thru it.

Nice condos, hotels, inexpensive restaurants, movie theaters,etc.

The one thing Joe gets right is the central location. Less money on the hotel and meals, the more you can do and the closer you are to it.

If you really want a place with better scenery stay in Princeville or the Hanalei valley area although you may take a chance on the weather in April.

I stayed in Poipu once and would never do it again. Then again, I'm just a plain jane and not such a snob.

PJ

Cheryl,

Back again with a couple of more comments - if you read a few travel guides describing Kauai, you will find that they agree with my evaluation of the East Coast, compared to the rest of the island. The most beautiful part of the island, in my opinion, is the North Shore but I wouldn't recommend it in April.

If you want to see some litter on the beaches, and lots & lots of shopping areas, and the area that's more congested (tho central, it's true), then go to Kapaa. I also saw a homeless guy sleeping on the beach behind the Sunspree, which I'd never seen anywhere else in Hawaii.

It's your choice, of course. You have to decide what you want to spend your money on. I think you should have an accurate picture of where you're going.

Aloha,

Joe

Aloooha Cheryl,
We've been to Kauai 9-10 times within the past 12 years. We've always stayed on the east coast at a property near the 2 you mentioned and have had a good time.

I recall the time Joseph may have been there when he mentions all of the trash on the beach. It may have been 3-4 years ago when Kauai had problems with fishing boats dumping their garbage overboard and the currents were washing it all up on the east area shores. Other than that, I've always found the beaches on that side pretty nice.

Not too swimmer friendly due to the lava
caps/coral and rocks in the surf but it's do-able. Lydgate is still a nice beach and has a good, safe snorkel reef.

The "Bum" Joseph mentions is known as "Jeffie"...He has been hanging out near the stop light across from the old Coco Palms resort until about 2 years ago, when somebody cleaned him up and got him into a Fed/State program and he's been in a house ever since. (as of 1-15-00 anyway).
He was a character. People would give him money or food and he had a little "Camp Jeffie" set up using 2 lounge chairs and some canvas. A local artist even painted a pic of it! Wadda island.

The north side is more beautiful, IMHO, than Poipu. Poipu disappointed us back on our first trip. We heard so much about "the sunny side" and while it's sunny, there really isn't that much good beach like on the north or west sides.
The beach between the Sheraton and Kiahuna Plantation was the nicest but it's small. Shipwreck was ok, too.

Since we were just starting up businesses back then, money was tight and the places to eat in Poiupu were a bit on the high side so we had to watch it.

One good thing about the east coast is decent restaurants within walking distance to the condo/hotels.

Poipu Kapili looked nice during a drive by, but I don't recall it being near a big beach..but it's within walking distance to the Sheraton beach.

As discussed, April may be risky with the weather on the north side. Might be worth the risk, though. Gorgeous.

Either way you can't go wrong...You're on Kauai!

Kal

ps to: "Joseph" and "plainjane"...Do I recall a similar "dust up" a few postings ago?
Ahhh America..Wadda country!

We stayed at Poipu Kapili a few years ago and I would definitely return. It is oceanfront but has a small service road in front of the complex. It is not beach front as in sandy or swim beach. Surfers do go there some afternoons and at sunset it's great to sit on the retaining wall with a glass of wine and watch the sea turtles ride the waves. We had a 2 bdrm/3bth townhouse type condo that was oceanfront and very nicely decorated and very spacious, about 1900 sq ft and it nicely accomodated 4 of us. The 1 bdrms are set back on the property but you can still get an ocean view place. They are individually owned so the decor will vary. We saw 2 other units that were for sale and they were much plainer than our unit.If it's important to you, quiz them about it when you make a reservation. It is definitely the sunnier side of the island at the time of year you plan to visit.

I have stayed on the east part of the island and would not do so again because of the weather at the times that I visited (June and Nov). I found myself going to Poipu everyday since it seemed to be the only place not raining during the previous trips.

If someone has the money and enjoys staying at a better hotel or eating at the better restaurants, why does that make them a snob. I don't feel like a snob or act like a snob and yet I enjoy the better things in life and the better things on Kauai. Vince

My feelings exactly, Vince. I don't consider myself a snob - I just like to know exactly where I'm going and what I'm getting for my money. When I go to Hawaii, I like things to be special after flying all that way! I can stay in a semi-budget hotel for mundane travel the rest of the year, but in Hawaii, I want special!!! That's all I'm saying ...........

Vince, Joseph and I go way back.
You're walking into the middle of a movie. (hehehe)

I have no problems as to how and where people spend their money but I got a bit annoyed at Joe a few months ago about some comments he made about Kauai's East-Coconut Coast accomodations based on his visit and what he read in the guidebooks. We stay at a very nice hotel in Kapaa even though we can now afford to stay eleswhere.

Instead of paying $200+ per night we get an oceanfront for $120 including breakfast. There are around 10-15 good restaurants within walking distance, or short drives to the hotel.
That part of the island has a lot to offer,too plus it is a good central location to the airport, Princeville, Poipu and the Waimea Canyon.

Is it a Hyatt, Princeville, Shearton, Marriott or Embassy Suites. No!
But don't try and make people feel like paupers or shouldn't go to Kauia if they can't afford to stay in hotels.

PJ

ps to "kal"
He started it!

We are a family of six planning on visiting Kauai next August for five days. We are seriously considering Hanalei Bay Resorts or Pali Ke Kua, but then following the discussions of the East shore, we are also considering Lea Nani. We enjoy a good beach but also enjoy touring, sightseeing, etc. Would the North Shore be inconvenient for sightseeing, meals, etc if we want to stay on some kind of budget and would we be better off on the East coast. Thanks, Dawn

DAwn,

We have stayed at Pali Ke Kua, twice and had no problem with sightseeing. The natural beauty of the North Shore is incredible.

However, there isn't much of a beach at Pali Ke Kua( it is a small beach down a steep walkway)..We only went there once for a short time.
There are so many other beaches nearby, we just drove to one that we liked better.