Hi there,

I'm starting to research our family (kids will be 12 & 10) vacation to Kauai. We'll be going in July or August. I'm off to buy the Ultimate Kauai guide this afternoon.

A friend just came back from renting a house on the beach in Kekaha and he was raving about it. So, of course, that's where DH thinks we should stay. (having done zero research himself) However, in reading some comments on this board, it doesn't seem like the best choice of locations.

We're interested in snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, helicopter tour, golf and maybe ziplines. Will we be driving for hours for any activities and decent restaurants?

Any help from all of you great Kauai experts will be appreciated.

Thanks!

If you like dry climates and high temperatures, then you'll love Kekaha in August. Daytime temps are usually in the high 90s that time of year...which makes walking on the beaches, hazardous to bare feet.

That side of our island is known for surfing and fishing...the other activities you've mentioned will be accessed primarily from the south/central/north areas of the island -- so you might want to look for accommodations in Po`ipu, Lihu`e, Kapa`a or toward the north shore.

Thanks autiemaria. I knew I could count on you for honest advice. I bought the Ultimate Kauai guide yesterday and have been reading it and the reviews on wizardpub.com, as well as searching VRBO and Cyberrentals for just the right place. (oceanfront, sleeps 5, not too far from restaurants, etc.) Any tidbits you can offer would be appreciated.

Right now I'm leaning toward the North Shore. I'm sure I'll have more intelligent questions once I educate myself a little more.

Thanks Again!

Culling your cue-words (north shore, oceanfront, sleeps 5, restaurants nearby), I'd steer you to Hanalei.

Anything along Weke Road will put you either oceanfront, or just across the street from Hanalei Bay. Surf spots right there, good swimming (sorry, no good snorkeling), and you can kayak the bay or the nearby Hanalei River.

Walk down any of the roads which run perpendicular between Weke Road and the highway, and you'll be in beautiful downtown Hanalei -- shopping and dining, plus the grocery store (Big Save).

Don't know your budget, but this place is great -- owned and operated by a long-time north shore family:
http://www.aloha.net/~seek/other-houses.html
And this one's got a great location, too:
http://www.kauaichill.com/rental_interior.html

Some rental companies I can personally recommend:
http://www.napaliprop.com
http://www.800hawaii.com/hanalei.html
http://www.kauaivacationrentals.com
http://www.kauai-vacation-rentals.com

Yes, I think Kekaha is too hot and isolated, I could not imagine spending a Kauai vacation there.

i stayed in kekaha but it was oct. i did like where i stayed, it was a beach front hotel, kekaha sands maybe? u formation of bldgs with pool in middle, ocean at the end. the main reason i picked it was because i didn't want to stay at the extreme end of the road in either direction, the main road as the maps show is a C with poipu at one end and princeville at the other i wanted to go to both without too much driving, if you want to snorkel go to tunnels beach. this is up past princeville but before the end of the road. enjoy..

There is no hotel in Kekaha, there is really nothing much at all in Kekaha. The above may be referring to the Kauai Sands in Kapaa.

lvk,
Auntiem's advice is right on. I've been to Kauai twice in summer and stayed in Poipu both times. I liked it there, but found myself spending a lot time in the car driving up to the north shore because of the beaches and the snorkeling. It wasn't that bad, but I would have rather been lounging on the beach and swimming with the fishies than doing the "Kapaa crawl". So this summer I am renting a house in Hanalei on Weke Road that is across from the bay. I found it on NaPali Propertie's website. I am really looking forward to being closer to Makua (Tunnels) Beach, Ke'e Beach and the beautiful mountains of the north shore. It will also be fun to be within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of Hanalei.
150 days!
-Bill

Auntimaria, are temperatures really usually in the high 90's in Kekaha in August. Sources I have found indicate that the average high in August for Kekaha is 87 and the record high ever recorded in all of Hawaii is 100.

vivi is right! i got the town wrong, my hawaii books are on lend to a friend, but i'm sorry for the confusion.

Kekaha is _brutally_ hot in the summer time...even the breezes are hot...and overnight summer temps rarely dip below 80. We avoid the west side in the summer -- too hot for us north shore wimps.

Friends who've lived in Kekaha for nearly 15 years always reply "Bakin'!!" when I ask, "How's the weather?" 8-)

Rusty [and others] Trust your Auntiemaria! She knows what she talkin bout!