I am planning a surprise trip to Hawaii for our anniversary in December 2003. We will be spending 5 days in Oahu and only 1 day (our actual anniversary) in Kauai. Can anyone please help me with an itinerary for my trip? I am particularly interested in what I should not miss in Kauai. Since I will only be there for one day (8AM-8PM), my time is SUPER limited and I want to see the best that the island has in the amount of time I have. I will have a rental car, so anything that anyone can suggest would be GRREAT! Thanks in advance.

Congratulations ! But get ready for all the experts who are going to tell you that you are doing it all wrong.

The charm of Kauai is it's laid-back-ness. Trying to rush around seeing everything you can cram into one day you would missing the whole thing. Choose one part of the island and concentrate on that area. The south area (Poipu) is dryer and more populated. If the weather is nice on the north shore (you can ask at the airport), my choice would be to rent a convertible and drive north leisurely, exploring at will, ending up at Ke'e Beach. You might want to have a sunset dinner outside at the Princeville hotel. If the weather is rainy on the north shore go around the other way to Poipu, Waimea Canyon, Polihale Beach and have your anniversary dinner at Roy's. To address Rusty's comment, since you asked for help, we are happy to offer suggestions. Ultimately, you will make up your own mind and you will have a great time anyway. Happy anniversary!

The highlights are many but 1 day here is my take. Drive from airport to Waimea canyon take in the beauty about 2-3 hours. Leave there and drive by blow hole, very close to where you will be ( 45 minutes). Leave there drive to poipu take in the beach 2-3 hours. Leave there drive to princeville, actually Kee beach, great snorkle beach and a mountain ridge hike-1 hour to some really pretty views if you prefer. So as you can see all 8 hours are taken up, so just dont stay as long at each place and if i had to give up one spot it would be poipu beach. At any rate the drive will take you from one end of the island to the other and you will see some of the island scenery. Get a map and plan it out as to your desires and look up on this board ( kauai best sites, things to do , best beaches, hikes- etc.) and you can devise a good plan. nick

Since you are going in December you may experience rainy weather or rough surf up north (Kee Beach). If you plan on snorkeling or swimming at a beach would spend most time at Poipu Beach (south) or Lydgate Park (near airport). Best planning info. guidebookquot;The Ultimate Guide To Kauai"-http://www.wizardpub.com/kauai/kauai.html
Also suggest you might consider and investigate hooking up with a bus tour by roberts-hawaii, website:http://www.robertshawaii.com/roberts...MABVT62B500439
We did the Waimea canyon tour on our first Kauai visit which covers: Spouting Horn, Waimea Town, Hanapepe Valley, Old Russian Fort, Waimea Canyon, Koloa Town, we bailed on the tour after the above listed, before going to the Fern Grotto, and drove on our own North past Princeville(Pville-Hotel also worth checking out-you will see a fountain-turn right) and Hanalei to where the road ends north shore at Kee Beach (the most beautiful area to be explored at your own pace, in my opinion).
The inexpensive bus tour was good for giving some history, and pointing out some of the diverse plant life found on Kauai and saves you the trouble of finding things in south/western Kauai, you can probably hook up with it in the morning as they pick up at the local hotels.

OK Rusty. I'll bite?

5 on Oahu and only one on Kauai?
What am I missing, A-Love?

Limited time=early morning helicopter or small plane tour?
Then go back to the place you spotted from the air you liked best?
Mucho mahalos,
Kal

101 mo' days!
PS...I'm still just a lowly "pert". When does one become an "ex"?

No, no, no..., you're doing it all wrong.

When you leave the airport, go straight into Lihue and stop at the McDonald's for a great Egg McMuffin breakfast, then to the left, is a great clothing store where you can get Gen-U-ine Hawaaian apparel (not like that junk on Oahu). After getting decked out in authentic Hawaaian duds, it will be about lunch time. Head south on the main drag and a within a few blocks you will see a Burger King on the left -- great hamburgers for only 99 cents. Once lunch is completed, just across the perpindicualr street is a shopping mall, you could easily spend all afternoon here, but don't... a few hours will do. Then, you can backtrack through town and stop at Hilo Hatties for a free refreshment and check prices so you know that you didn't get ripped-off by that other store. By now it's getting into evening, and you still have so MUCH left to do. Well, go to the Radisson hotel just a couple miles north of the airport (but still within the neighborhood), have a couple of drinks and watch their torch lighting ceremony. By the time the ceremony is over, you'll be drunk and it will be time to get back to the airport anyway. Return the rental, and have a memorable dinner on the flight back.

So, such is a day on Kauai... hectic, but satisfying. quot;>

DB, FUNNY!
You forgot about the Red Dirt Store near Hilo Hattie's!

Also swing by the tables set up at Spouting Horn. I swear I saw Elvis there!
Kal

Thanks so much for your responses! It is our first time in Hawaii and my husband has been dying to visit the North Shore of Oahu as he heard Dec is the best time of the year to surf. That is why we are doing only 1 day in Kauai. Thanks again!

I would say if you could only spend one day on Kauai (and I would still try like heck to change that) then take a helicopter ride, then maybe a boat ride or kayak down that river (forgot the name but it's the only one) drive up to Hanalei to check out the town, sunset cocktails and dinner on the outdoor restaurant at the Princeville resort, then back to Lihue for your flight.

I saved you from a flood of experts telling you to change your plans. Enjoy your five days on Oahu and one day on Kauai !!

I used to be a private guide on Kauai, I met crusie ship passengers who only had 6-7 hours to "see Kauai." We almost always went north because of the unique scenery. I would suggets renting a car and stopping at:
Opaekaa Falls
Kilauea Lighthouse
Anini Beach (right at the second Kalihiwai Rd) then left at the fork onto Anini Rd.) Beautiful, shallow waters. See the camping showers that Sylverster Stallone built!
Princeville Hotel for lunch on the terrace (you do not have time for sunset cocktails/dinner there as you won't make it back for the last flight in time.)
Hanalei Town, drive down Weke Rd to the pier area. Look for Puff the Magic Dragon.
Hanalei to Ke'e Beach---about 10 miles of twisty roads across one lane bridges.
MAYBE you will have time for an hour on the Kalalau Trail. Also Lumahai Gardens is along the way, you could take a quick self guided tour.
If you do make it to Ke'e Beach, when you walk out onto the sand turn right and go for several hundred yards. When you turn around you will be treated to a fabulous view of Napali Coast. There is also a short trail to the left as you approadch Ke'e Beach that leads up to a "hula platform" which is suppsoedly the birthplace of hula. The trail is along the rocks and around the point, then uphill thru some brush and over some boulders; it is not clearly marked. great view form there. Parking at Ke'e can be problematic. I always park in the dirt lot to the right
just before the gridlock at Ke'e. Keep your eyes open for a small sign that says "public parking" around mile marker 10 if you want to avoid a traffic jam.

If you get back to Lihue with time to spare, go to Duke's at the Marriott for pupus and cocktails.

This whole plan get get messed up by rain, alas!

All ya had to say, A'Luv, was "NoShore Surf"!

We went the NoShore one time about a week or so after a big e'quake in Japan.
Tsunami warnings were up on all island's north shores.
We drove up to Oahu's NoShore and saw some waves. It looked like there was a small stick in a wave.
Turns out it was a surfer and they were getting 20'+ waves.
Awesome.

Enjoy. Good choice in not spending your one free anniversary day on Maui. :-"

You know its funny i read no message that tried to change your island schedule. Seems some like to just cry from the gallery and give( No ) good advise. And Viv i like your schedule , in fact one day my wife and i were killing time till the clouds lifted for the helicopter flight and drove around the area where the cruise boats docked and i told my wife. Look at all the people boarding those buses and just walking toward the small town near by. I bet most will not get to snorkle or go to the beach. So in our scrap book she pasted my head on a tour operator all decked out hawaian style ( lol nick's guide service). To the nay sayers help or zip it. Lets see this board is travel talk , travel help, travel advise- etc. not travel sour puss!! Sorry Aprilove have a great trip and look for the( free) hula show most every nite on the beach near the duke surfer statue, starts just before dark. nick

Aloha Aprilove,

GREAT choice of islands for your surprise trip.... do tell.... how and when will you share the surprise with your surferboy??

BTW, the north shore of Kauai is NOT TO BE MISSED, if the weather is good. The hula platform at Ke'e Beach is one of my all time favorite picnic spots. You will dream of Hanalei forever...

My husband and I had a romantic getaway to the north shore on Oahu last Nov/Dec and we LOVED it! The Triple Crown of Surfing competiton was in full swing, and it was just unbelievable!

Have a wonderful time...