Taking our first trip to Hawaii ever with our 3 small children and we can't wait! We are going with another family and have scheduled a luau @ Smiths and the Fern Grotto but that is it. I have done a bunch of research but I was wondering if any of you veterans have any last tips? We really are just looking forward to relaxing and spending time with our kids. I am so thankful for this board as it is SO helpful.
Thanks

Just a few:
Lydgate-
http://www.kamalani.org/playground.htm

Kauai Village shopping center:
http://tinyurl.com/2udhjj

Fun Factory in the Foodland Shopping Center:
http://tinyurl.com/36rf98

How old are the kids?
Hike up The Sleeping Giant if they are a bit older?
Are you staying in the Kapaa area?

Mucho mahalos!

We went to Kauai with our two boys a few years ago (and will be returning with our 3 kids this summer). The boat ride up to the Fern Grotto is kind of corny (we were the only ones on the boat), but it is a nice afternoon diversion. The kids will have a chance to relax on the boat ride up & back.

We really enjoyed Waimea Canyon. The boys were too young to appreciate it.

Our family enjoyed Poipu Beach the most. It is a great beach for kids. Our kids were really excited to see monk seals on the beach. We drove through Kapaa a few times. The surf seemed really rough. Probably not the best beach for kids. (we went during the summer)

A drive up to Princeville is another way to spend a leisurely afternoon to let the kids unwind a little.

Be prepared- the traffic through Kapa'a is terrible- stop and go for miles. Don't plan your schedule too tightly around getting through there- for example, having to get to the airport.

The horse-drawn carriage ride at Kilohana Plantation (between Lihu`e and the Tree Tunnel) seem to be very entertaining -- to kids, their parents, and even the grandparents. They just added an old-fashioned steam train ride (haven't tried that, yet!):
http://www.kilohanakauai.com/

And Gaylord's Restaurant there is a great place to dine -- breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Thanks you guys. The ages of the kids are 3,7 and 10. Yes we are staying in Kapaa at Pono Kai? It is a timeshare. Though I don't know what to expect I am sure excited and willing to give it a shot.
We may go out for a meal or two but I think we will mostly try to eat at our place. I will be sure to print this out. Thanks so much for the Info!

Pono Kai is a nice place from what we've heard/seen of it.

Close to the Olympic Cafe! Good breakfasts.
Ditto Ono Family in Kapaa.

The beach at Lydgate has a large rock surf break so the kids can enjoy the calmer waters.

One word of caution -- as was lightly mentioned by an earlier poster -- STAY OUT OF THE OCEAN at your condo.

Our eastside rip currents are life-threatening. Stay off the rocks; walk only on dry sand (rogue waves are common), and nevernevernever turn your back to the ocean.

The good news is -- as mentioned earlier -- the eastside has the man-made lagoon at Lydgate Park, which is usually great for swimming and snorkeling (check with the lifeguard first).

For reasonably-priced family dining, you've got L&L Drive-Inn (Hawaiian & Chinese food; eat in, or take out), the deli at FoodLand and Safeway, McDonald's, a pizza place, and a host of other spots in Kapa`a.

When my sons come with their families (grandkids aged 3 through 8), they head for Olympic Cafe (upstairs in the green building, ocean side of the street) for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Very family-friendly -- with kids menu!

Lucky you; have a great trip! Kapaa gets a bad rap for traffic, but somehow it is less noticeable when STAYING there, as opposed to just passing through. I like the easy access to grocery stores and a variety of shops and restaurants. The central location makes it convenient to head north or south, depending on whim and weather. If not on your map, ask about access to the bypass road. Having stayed more than once on the north shore, south shore, and central area, my preference is the central area.

Treat your kids to the best chicken nuggets they will ever have and get some of the fried chicken at Pono Market right down the street from you Condo!

They might also like seeing the lighthouse in Kilauea.

Poipu Beach Park is great beach area with kids. Usually calm waters with a lifeguard.

Have a great trip.

Bill

Thanks again you guys. I have printed this all out. We WILL definitely stay out of the ocean in front of the condo Auntie!
Last second question but we didn't plan on bringing food with us and just to shop @ Safeway or Costco but is there anything that we should bring with us rather than buy?
We are sure excited!

A fun family tour that we took on Kauai was a plane tour. It was in this beautiful small plane that seated six, very comfortable with wonderful big windows. We saw EVERYTHING! The aerial views of Kauai are like none other, they may be the most beautiful landscapes you will ever see. We flew with Air Ventures (808 651 0679) a family owned business that was so friendly and professional. There plane was very smooth and the flight was very relaxing. It was the highlight of our trip!

An excellent snorkeling tour that we took was with Kauai Sea Rider Adventures (808 332 7238). They took us out to some prime snorkeling spots on the south shore in a zodiac. The kids really loved this one! We saw turtles, dolphins and hundreds of beautiful fish. It was the best under water experience that we have ever had on our many trips to the Hawaiian Islands!

Have fun in paradise!

Ally

I'd save the room in your luggage and just buy items there.

More room to bring back things!

Since your children are small, I'd definitely recommend Lydgate Park for snorkeling. It's completely protected, fairly shallow in parts and it'll be easy to keep an eye on the little ones.

In Kapa'a, try Bubba's Burgers for a casual meal. VERY good!

The road around Kauai is long and can definitely be congested at different times of year, but I recommend driving out to Wailea Canyon for the views (stop at JoJo's Shave Ice on the way back, the kids will love it!) and up to the Princeville area (lighthouse, shopping areas) as well.

Have a wonderful time!

I just wanted to take a minute to follow up on a quick trip report from our first visit. Wow what a terrible stinky place Kauai is...... the Armpit of America and you know we didn't see one single chicken there the whole time!

Honestly though a Huge thank you to all of you for your help and advice. Smith Luau was great and the kids loved it. I could go on but I wont. I will say that I had one of the best meals I have ever had at Coconuts. The wasabi crusted Tuna is the way to go. BAck to REality! Unbelievable trip.
THanks again you guys are great!

Hey shansar, I just left The Pono Kai yesterday! Did we speak? Aren't the gardens there just beautiful?

Did you get over to Pono Market for some fried chicken (I did) and some little manchu's or something pastry like with apple in some and coconut in some? And their mac salad is ono.

Hey Icee2 I loved reading your thread. We flew back on Easter and it was fun yet depressing to read about how much fun you were STILL having. Depressing for me cause I was home and fun for you cause you were still having a ball.
Yes the gardens there were beautiful! We had a ball catching and releasing the frogs at night with the kids. Those things were huge. You ever get any Rooster wake up calls? Did you notice how active the security was there at night?
Unfortunately we didn't get to the Market as I never saw it. I think it is because I honestly was so busy stumbling around with my jaw dropped!
We ate three meals out the whole trip as we had a kitchen unit and I think they got to know me by name at Safeway! Brick Oven pizza I think it is called (over on the west side) was NOT good at all. I couldn't believe how $ it was and that actually would have been ok but it wasn't even that good!
Dukes on the water by the Cruise ship terminal was just ok. I thought it may be a little better but you couldn't beat the view. Coconuts was absolutely amazing. I don't usually get too excited about food but wow that was a great meal. Oh I guess you could also count Smith's Luau and that was awesome. They had something for everyone and it was really well organized.
I'm still walking around with a smile though my jaws are now closed!

By Jove...I think Shansy's got it!

I'2....only 260 more days for me...:-"

shansar, I love the frog tale! One night we were walking thru the grounds and a little boy was squealing! He had tried his darndest to catch a frog and when he finally did, he didn't like it at all. His dad was having fun with him about the frog and telling him to be careful what he wished for!.

Yes, security was very noticeable this trip. Just before we went, I saw where there had been an assault just outside of Pono Kai. I don't know if that was the reason for the security or if it was because they didn't want us out there trying to start up those bulldozers!! We had a nice oceanfront unit with an added bulldozer view!!!! We were in A Building.

I wish housing wasn't so terribly expensive. I think I could live on Kauai......but, alas,.....we're at home and dragging.

Hey Icee,
Yeah both of my boys got peed on by the frogs and they weren't so sure what to think about it especially the 3 yr. old. They really loved the camelions as well. We were in D building so we had a great view (not of a bulldozer!) I mentioned the security cause on one of our first days there it early one AM I awoke to the most terrible screaming (First thought was somebody finally got ahold of that darn rooster!) After the 2nd scream I realized it was a gal right outside of our building. It was about 5:45 AM I ran out on the deck and she was standing on the lawn crying. Lots of guys were coming out to help and then the cops were there pretty quick. Never really found out exactly what happened but I did hear that she was grabbed and they took something from her and ran. She looked like she was going jogging? I don't know if they caught the guy or not but I do know they really stepped up security from then on. Goofy to say but even after that terrible deal we sure felt safe there.
You ever eat at that Pizza place Icee? Sounds like you have the dining experience figured out! My wife and I were just talking tonight about how while it is nice we saved $ by dining in we probably missed out on some GREAT meals! A little tougher though with 3 small ones. Oh Kal, I got it alright! I am doing everything I can to figure out how to make that an annual event! You were sure helpful! Actually got to see whales coming out of the water at Lydgate!