Making plans for March '06 trip..help!!! After doing brief research, I need a few questions answered:
1. What is the "blue book"? Is the Ultimate Kauai?
2. Is the drive to the Waimea Canyon accessible from the North? How far? (Princeville)
3. Possible to do a Na Pali am cruise AND the Waimea Canyon drive?
4. Where's the Coconut Marketplace?
5. Where's the Bullshed?
6. Where's Hukilea Lanai?
7. Is there a restaurant at the airport?
8. How long (with no stops/traffic) does it take to drive from Princeville to South shore?..another words...daytrip?
9. Best winter beach option (North shore) for snorkling?

Enough already...I promise to buy a book as soon as possible...thank you bunches.

1. Yes, Kauai Revealed,The Ultimate....
2. No
3. Waimea Canyon is better in the morning when you have less of a chance of clouds obscuring the views.
4. Kapa'a
5. Kapa'a
6. Kapa'a behind Coconut Marketplace
7. I have no idea.
8. Allow and hour and a half to get to Poipu from Princeville. Slow traffic through Kapa'a and Lihue is a fact of life on the island. Breath deeply and smile...your in paradise!
9. Anini

3. Wander around Waimea Canyon in the morning, and take the Holoholo sunset cruise to NaPali -- it leaves around 2:30 or 3:00.

9. I've been told the surf gets pretty ruff in the winter at the North Shore. We liked snorkling at Ke Beach.

The book is excellent.

5. You can easily miss the sign and long driveway -- it's across the street from the area between Safeway & McDonald's.

7. Yes, but more "cafeteria" than "restaurant". And outrageously overpriced.

1. You can order one on bamm.com for $10.79 ISBN: 0971727910

2. Only via the clockwise route through the east and south shores.


4. Right along the main drag just south of the town of Kapa'a. You can't miss it.

6. As you make the turn off the main road into the Coconut Market place, the Hukilau is in the resort directly in front of you.

7. There's barely an airport at the airport. There are many much better places to eat within a mile.

8. Does not require an entire day. We often spend the morning on a north beach and then drive to the south to shop and have dinner. We usually make the north to south drive 2-3 time during our stay.

9. Agree Anini...which has VERY easy access from the road if you drive or you can hike down from Princeville using the short trail at the end of Wyllie road. I don't think many people know about the trail but it's great if you don't have much beach stuff to carry or are just out for a walk.

Well Praise the Lord...I finally receive my "Blue Bible". This read should definitely be a pre-requiste for anyone going to Hawaii. Thanks to all of you for tolerating my pre-read questions. Got it..read it all in one day!!! Mahola...One question: What have they left out?

Here is a great interactive map of the whole island. Has air photos when you zoom in. Better than what Google has.
Make sure to turn off the ocean layer if you are looking at the coast or beaches.


http://gis.hawaii.gov/website/kauaicty/viewer.htm

visomom:
I haven't seen the most recent edition -- but I hope they've put big WARNING advisories on sites they recommend, instead of just the blanket "be careful" warning in the preface of their prior editions.

Here on Kaua`i, the incidence of visitors who are needlessly harmed because the "blue book" failed to warn them of dangers inherent on our island, is legendary.

What dangers, specifically?
In winter, our surf, our shoreline, our hiking trails, our rivers, and the notorious Queen's Bath up here in Princeville.
Rest of the year, it's the ocean, the hiking trails...and bad restaurants.
(just had to lighten the mood, folks!)

I think the guidebook does an excellent job of warning people of the dangers. Actually the 4th edition has 5 pages dedicated to the hazards with many other warnings included with specific topics. Unfortunately no matter how much you inform and warn people there will be that certain percentage of people that think the rules and warning don't apply to them. I've watched people sneak up on the bison in Yellowstone to get a better picture and every year there are people gored to death due to their ignorance. On Kauai I've seen people do similar stunts with the endangered monk seals which is not only a hazard to the person but to the seals themselves. These people don't do this because they haven't been warned but because they choose to ignore the warnings. The guidebook has helped thousands of us enjoy the beauty of Kauai to its fullest and has enabled us to experience things that we otherwise would have missed. Saying that people have been harmed "because" of the bluebook is like blaming Rand McNally for people that get injured while visiting places and using their maps.

Well said DFarr. After Auntie's suggestions, I did check out the book and found exactly what you said. Hopefully, people will use a little common sense...but then again, probably not. I know WE will. As much as I would love to do a heli ride, the one is Maui was the highlite of our trip, I will NOT be doing it in Kauai...ah ha...common sense prevails!!!