0516/07: Arrive around 12:30 noon. Ck in to Islander Beach Resort (Kal's room! - thanks, bud!).

05/17/07: Helicopter tour. Little Grand Canyon (Waimea Canyon) hike(s), Polihale Beach. (Is this too much to do??)

05/18/07 : AM Kayak the Napali Coast & caves.

05/19/07 : Snorkel Tunnels and Ke'e . Hike the 1st couple miles of Kalalau Trail.
Bill suggests:
Here’s what I’d do for the day. I'm sure it's WAY TOO MUCH for one day, but what the heck.

Get up early and drive to the end of the road.

Hike about 20 minutes on the Kalalau Trail.

Spend some time snorkeling at Ke’e Beach.

Drive to Makua (Tunnels) Beach and spend some time snorkeling there.

Drive to Hanalei Bay and stroll on the beach and take in the views.

Spend some time in Hanalei. Eat or get some shave ice if you’re hungry and stroll through the shops.

Check out the Hanalei Lookout.

Go to the Botanical Gardens. ( I may not be able to get DS there, but will try ).

Go to the Princeville Hotel. Either have a fruity drink in the Living Room or have lunch outside in the restaurant.

Spend some time at the Kilauea Lighthouse.

Maybe check out Secret Beach.


05/20/07 : AM ?Robinson or Kipu ATV tour? Flight home @ 7:05PM

For the Kayak, Heli and ATV tours, should I reserve prior to leaving home or wait 'til closer to time?

Any recommendations for streamlining more or is this do-able?

Also, any one there want to GTG the afternoon or evening of the 16th at the Islander?

ttt

Hey, OSB! I remember meeting you at the Atlanta GTG. I think you're going to love your trip to Hawaii.

Re your 5/19 plan: We've done that -- we got Ke'e Beach really early, parked our car, and then walked on the trail for an hour or so. Then we went snorkeling at Ke'e (where my son and several others saw a shark!!!) and then went to Tunnels. Then spent some time at Hanalei and at the lighthouse. That's pretty much all we did that day except drive back to Lihue area and have dinner. It was a full day.

We had lunch at Bubba's, which was pretty good.

On the way to Tunnels from Ke'e, there is a big cave on the right. It's pretty cool to walk back there.

By the time we finished hiking and came back to our car to get our snorkeling gear at Ke'e, the parking lot was packed. So be sure to get their early.

We've also done a helicopter tour on Kauai (different trip). It was very exciting and beautiful.

We've hiked some on Waimea Canyon (the one at the end of the road), and I think the best time to do this is in the mornings (as early as possible) for clearer weather. We had awesome weather while we were there, but I think it got cloudy in the afternoon. So maybe if you have time you could do these things on different days?

Re the ATV tour, we've not done this, but my understanding is that you get pretty muddy/dirty/dusty, so make sure you'd have access to a shower before your flight.

TY for the reply, Samsaf! Were you the lady sitting directly across from me at the GTG? I think I remember you telling me about your Kauai trip then. That was a good GTG!

We are not checking out of our hotel until around 4:30 PM, so we'll have everything there we'll need to clean up - I've already got that arranged., but good point!

I'm not sure where I can do the helicopter tour if I don't do it on that day. Would it be OK to do the Heli in the afternoon?

OSB, if it rains forget the Kalalau Trail. That place is slippery even if it isn't raining. Like the dummies we are, we went when it was drizzling rain. If I remember correctly, you are not very much taller than I am and I had a difficult time in places. Lots of it was climbing and jumping instead of hiking! I loved it and am glad I did it, but it can be tough.

If the tiara arrives safe and intact, you may not want to wear it on the day of the hike/climb/jump!

Be sure to stop by the lighthouse on your way north or on the way back. It's my favorite place on the island. Plus, you turn off there to go to Juny's house to check out his jewelry! He does carvings from the opihi shell and your son will proably like some of his work!

Aren't you just about crazy beside yourself? Not much longer now!

Donita

OSB....this all looks wonderful! We stayed on Tunnels Beach our first week there last summer and I highly recommend a sunset cocktail on Tunnels. Watching the sunset over "Bali Hi" is unforgetable! If you can't find parking, then the sunset view from either the Princeville or the Hanalei Bay Resort is beautiful too.

I'm with Donita on the Kalalau Trail. I started up it but turned back because it was so slippery and I was not about to sprain an ankle on day 3! And the tiara just won't do on the trail either!!

Lucky, lucky you!

I'm not sure I saw where you had listed going to "The Pouting Whore". daydreamin call tell you how to get there!!

daydreamin: You mean, TAKE our cocktails to Tunnels? There's no restaurant/bar on that beach, is there?

iceeu2: I figured it was a matter of time before the jewels would show up! I so glad they are on the way to you!

OK, I'll abide by the rules and keep the tiara out of the mud!
Somehow, I thought all tiara's came with a magic wand to help you over the rough spots, but I guess Kal thought it was a hikiing stick and broke it?!

Please email me the specifics I need to find Juny and (who was the other crafty islander friend?)


...And yes, I just can't contain myself right now, with anticipation!!!

osb, go to kauaimade.net

Juny is listed under jewelers. Email him or call him when you get there. Tell him that Charlie and Donna from Georgia sent you!

He may still be at the Merrie Monarch festival on the Big Island right now. Not sure when it is over.

He likes to talk hunting, so you should know his language!!

The other guy, Lono, is no longer doing anything but carving fish hooks out of mother of pearl. Does that interest you? If so, I will find his number and email it to you.

Fish hooks as in necklaces? Yes, it interests me.
Last time, I bought a fish hook necklace for my oldest DS, but it was too short for his neck.

I tried to get someone to re-string it, but the clasp stumped all I asked. I think he liked it and was disappointed that I couldn't get it adjusted.

Even if he wouldn't adjust this necklace, I'd be interested to see his work, if it's good.

Also, I did end up getting the car rentals through Alamo.

Using the ET card and the Sam's Club, got it for $230.19 on Kauai and $292.79 on BI.
This is for a Sebring or Mustang convertible (whichever is available).
That seemed to be the best I could get.

Were you able to use any of the ET coupons I shared with you??

If you are hungry or thirsty when you are down near the canyon, stop here -
http://www.waimeabrewing.com/

Good food, great beer!

My favorite Tshirt from the islands came from here.

Check out the beer labels -
http://www.waimeabrewing.com/waimea/brewery-beer.htm

DS may find one he likes here.

BTW, I loved the adjacent plantation. It's where we stayed on Kauai. It felt like "old Hawaii".

We went there because Samantha Brown said we should. GREAT place. Actually, our favorite casual place to eat in Hawaii. The spirit of the place reminded us of Off the Wall in St. Croix.

Yes, take your cocktails and beach chairs to Tunnels for sunset! We were just steps away our first week so it became a nightly ritual for us!

Donita...LOL! Thanks for the Pouting Whore reminder! OSB, you don't want to miss that!

And agree with Makai about the Waimea Brewing Company. Also, to the right of the front door is a little gallery. The woman there is a fountain of information on not only the island artists but just about anything else you want to know about Kauai!

starrsville: Thanks for reminding me about the Brewing Co.! I'm not a beer enthusiast, but DS certainly is! Do you happen to know how far it is from Islander Beach Resort to the Brewery or to the Canyon itself? (Looking for a time line).
Also, I presume it's on the main road to Waimea Canyon?

Donita/Daydreamin: Where is the Pouting Whore in relation to the above places?

I just flew over it on the Blue Hawaiian website! Neat!!!!!!

DS wants to eat at a good sushi place too. Any suggestions for the best one?

You'll probably want to stop at The Waimea Brewing Company on your way back from the Canyon or from Polihale Beach. It's really too far just to drive from Kapaa for a brewsky.

While you are in the Waimea area, you may want to try The Shrimp Station....we usually don't because I don't need the cholesterol and the real icee doesn't like the heavy garlic. Also, Waimea is where both JoJo's are for shave ice....and stop at AuntyLilikoi's and ship some mustard of other passion fruit products home. You can sample all of her products. Just up the road in Hanapepe is where The Taro Chip place is.

Taro Chips were one of my favorite Hawaiian snacks! Is it on the main road?
Does it have a name you can recall? I'd like to send a case home! Do they make any 'lite' ones?

Which Jo's Jo's is the one to stop at? How will I differentiate?

My hairdresser is into eating a 'raw foods' diet. She asked me to find an ordering source for non-processed mac nuts. Any suggestions?

The taro chip place is in very non-descript bldg in Hanapepe. You will just have ask a local to direct you. I really don't think they will ship very well, do you? OSB, you would never in a million years stop at this place unless someone told you to stop there.

Thinking about it....you may talk Lori at AuntyLilikoi into packing the chips for you...it' worth a try.

Can't help with the non-processed mac nuts.

AuntieMaria or matnikstym might be able to direct you.

http://molokai-aloha.com/macnuts/orders.html