Poipu Construction & Roads West/South
 

My wife and I are headed to Kauai in mid-December for the eighth time but were last there in 2007. How is the construction in Poipu? Is it still creating a mess? How's the road to Polihale--any improvement since 2007? And the road to Maha'ulepu--rough as always? Any new public gardens to check out?

I just returned from a week in Poipu. Construction appeared to be at a dead stand-still. Several projects shrouded by tall vinyl fences. Did not see or hear any activity. The road to Maha'ulepu seemed unchanged. I had not been down that road for several years; the sugar cane fields look like they have been abandoned.

Good to know. We got caught up in the construction mess last year.
Did like the traffic circle near the Spouting Horn turn off, tho.

We were not big fans of Poipu to start and we probably won't make it at all this trip.

Aloha, Kal, what part of Kauai do you prefer? I think you may be in Kauai now so I hope you are having a fabuous time.

We are in the middle of last minute planning for a trip in February, if it all works out. We love Kauai and have been there several times but not in the past 20 years! We were thinking of Poipu but are open to suggestions from you and anyone else here. Mahalo!

Alohaaaaaaaaaa Marianna.
We're on Kauai right now and haven't ventured Poipu way and may not, unless we are dying for a Puka Dog, because we were disappointed in all the building going on last year.

we've been "East Coasters" (CocoCoast-Kapaa area) since our first trip over in '89.
Stayed in Poipu once during a remodel at our regular place and everything was a drive for us.
At least here, about 30 min drives to No Shore and So Shore...and a lot of good places to eat and drink w/in walking distance.
Mucho mahalos!

My wife and I just returned home after 3 weeks on island--our seventh trip to Kauai. As usual, we split our trip, spending half our time in Hanalei and half our time in Poipu. And as usual, my advice to newbies to the island is to avoid staying on the east coast, particularly anywhere near Kapaa or Wailua, so that you can avoid dealing with the DAILY traffic mess in those areas (and Lihue) whether you want to drive north or south. Even when the traffic isn't horrible, if you are staying on the east coast, you have to drive a LOT to get to the best beaches in the north, the south, and especially the under-rated and under-appreciated west.

As Kal notes, from the east coast you have 30 minute drives to both the north and the south shore beaches. (If there is a good beach on the east coast other than Lydgate, please let me know.) When we're in Hanalei, we can easily get to all the great northern beaches and can drive without much traffic all the way to the great northeast beaches like Donkey, Larsen's and Moloaa. When we're in Poipu, we can easily reach the south shore beaches, including the amazing Maha-elupu, and can get to the west side beaches--Salt Pond, Pakala, Kekaha, the somewhat overrated Polihale--in no time at all.

Construction in Poipu while we were there (Dec. 26 - Jan. 6) was slow and not too bothersome. We stay in a small house there that keeps us a bit isolated from the condo and resort hell that so many regulars decry in Poipu. We like to visit the Hyatt once a trip and ask ourselves why someone would pay 750 dollars a day for a small room, ridiculously overpriced restaurants, a weak beach (Shipwreck), and lots and lots of too-well-to-do people jammed close together on chaise lounges beside a fake lagoon or child-crazy pool.

Yes, it rained some in Hanalei, but it was not enough to change our humble opinion that staying on the north shore even during the winter months, when weather can be sketchy, is just about the most wonderful experience on earth.

Which brings me to my last point: another disadvantage to staying on the east coast is that your options are more or less limited to condos and resort hotels. On the north shore and in the south, you can rent a cottage, saving tons of money and giving you much more flexibility in dining and other activities than a condo development or hotels allows.

The only reason to stay on the east coast, if you ask me, is that you are close to Pono Market and its great plate lunches.

Then again, despite all that I've said--and all that has been written on Fodors--on the topic of where to stay on Kauai, the fact of the matter is that you could be staying in a moldy, leaky basement hovel and it'd still be the best place on earth. After all, it's on Kauai, right?

Aloha, Kal and Cidbob! Thanks for all the information. We decided to reserve at a cottage near Baby Beach (Poipu) and then spend the last few nights of our 10 days in Kauai on the east coast at a hotel. We can hardly wait to return to Kauai - it has been 20 years with the first visit being 40 years ago (honeymoon trip)!

Congratulations Marianna, Dec 20th we celebrated our 40th anniversary on Kauai with a vow renewal. Simple ceremony on the beach, a happy, magical time, my husband had just recovered from a major illness and our first grandchild-4 mos old-was here! But our Hawaiian honeymoon was on Oahu, didn't discover lovely Kauai til '97.

Cidbob, Different strokes for different folks. Been on the island since Dec 4th and this was the first time we've stayed exclusively on the East Shore and we love it! Normally divide our time and spend a month in Poipu which prior to Christmas was VERY quiet and traffic/construction was not a problem there. Actually whole island was SO quiet, empty stores, feeling recession. When we overnighted at Grand Hyatt for anniversary, Tidepools Bar was empty, occupancy was 50 %, buffet breakfast 1/4 full, used to have huge lineups that time of year!

Yes at certain times the traffic continues to be a problem on the East Side with the construction, repainting of lines at Wailua Bridge. Can be especially slow from 10 to 2. So you do need to pick your times. Contraflow with extra lane is only open til 8:30 am now because of bridgework. Yet we've driven south several times for beaches, golf, etc to Poipu, Salt Pond, Kalaheo, Waimea and into Lihue to Macy's or Costco, with no waits because we go by 9 am. (Costco still has cheapest gas-ranged from $3.21 to 3.27 gal for us, Chevron Lihue was $3.45 yesterday) Northbound has not been a problem for us. We too love Moloa'a and the North Shore, luckily lots of blue skies this winter but huge surges so didn't swim there.

The East Shore probably suits us because we are here longterm and we love to walk/bike oceanfront (need to walk off those Eggbert/Kountry Kitchen/Ono breakfasts!) You're close to amenities but staying oceanfront you can forget about Kuhio Hwy and traffic. We adore the newish bike path especially the Kealia section. We read under the coconut palms, relax, watch the whales breach and spout and there have been LOTS of whale sightings this trip.

But Cidbob, you summed it up well! "Then again, despite all that I've said--and all that has been written on Fodors--on the topic of where to stay on Kauai, the fact of the matter is that you could be staying in a moldy, leaky basement hovel and it'd still be the best place on earth. After all, it's on Kauai, right?" RIGHT!

We just did a vow renewal in Kauai on the beach at the Grand Hyatt too..
There was no construction going on in September but it was big time up in North Shore.
Only had to wait about 30 minutes each way.
Gosh, we love Kauai!
Aloha

Aloha, jojo46 and ksucat - a vow renewal - didn't think of that! How did you arrange it?

We love Kauai, too!

Mahalo and Happy Anniversary to you as well!

Cidbob, I need to temporarily 'eat my words' about east side traffic. Headline yesterday said "Expect really bad traffic" Now closing cane haul bridge for 8 working days.

kscat and Marianna, I'm sure Hyatt would take care of everything and do a beautiful job (IMy daughter once arranged a most exquisite lei for my birthday there) but we had our vow renewal on the east shore. Afterwards we checked into Hyatt. I think I read on an earlier post kscat that Roland checked you in. Well he was wonderful to us too-we already had the buffet breakfasts with out AAA rate-but he arranged chilled complimentary bubbly for our room.

Marianne, DH and I were sunning/reading on stretch of beach between Mokihana (oldest timeshare on island, has the Bullshed) and Resort at Makawai) when a small wedding party appeared, bride and groom our age. We witnessed a simple and moving oceanfront ceremony...conch shell, leis, ring exchange. Afterwards my husband spoke with Patrick from nearby Kapa'a Missionary Church and arranged our own vow renewal.

Also Marianne, there are several brochures about wedding vow/renewals at kiosks at the airport.

Off on our walk, weather has been so great this trip, hope it continues! Jan has cooler early mornings but heats up quickly! Still have to get to Kal's barstool!

Jojo46, that sounds lovely!

As for Kal's bar stool - where exactly is it? Do you think they will allow others to sit on it and order a drink? Is there a guest register attached to it so we can write comments for Kal to read on his next visit? Where does Kal go for dinner? I need a list of places - Kal must know some great places for dining, I'm sure.

Aloha, Kal! Where are you?

Marianna, I haven't spotted Kal yet! DH (who sat at his barstool) and I visited The Sand Bar this afternoon. Was just after 3 so rather early and I'm so glad that Kal and Mrs K were not there! Talk about making a poor or memorable first impression. Just one drink, went for a touristy Blue Hawaii which I very quickly spilled all over me, the bar and flagstones!?! Luckily I was wearing a blue dress! That bar does curve. Aly the bartender (said she works Sat & Tuesday) was a sweetheart about it! May remember the quiet tall guy and the clumsy blonde.

Plan to go back, want to try a Kauai Tai and Kal have you tried that intriguing Wacky Wiki Woo??????

Alohaaaaaa...came home last Thursday night. BOOOOOOOO...

Traffic was hit and miss during our stay, depending on what time you were on the road. Some of my top secret short cuts worked, tho.

When they said the bridge should be repaired by July, we asked "what year?".

SPILLER!!!!!
Ally is a real sweetie but Karen is Da Gal!
And yes...seen a few people forget about the "curved end" of the beautiful bar.

I'm cut off from Wiki Waki Woos <long embarrassing story> forever and a week but it's like Pat O'Brien's Hurricane in NOLA.

All I can say is if you don't eat anything all day long, drink 4 Wiki Waki Woos and then go sit in the jacuzzi, well you can wind up being a crashing bore and "come to" naked on your bed trying to "get warm" under a wash cloth...

jojo...we rented bikes and rode the new bike path up past Donkey Beach. Sweet ride.
You try Trees Lounge yet? Good grub.
If anyone wants resto suggestions feel free to drop me a line at kalkahuna at ceoexpress dot com.

I think it is smart to rent a vacation house. Hotels do charge way too much. The luau's are over rated too, if you can drop by Smith's luau its great. DO NOT GO TO KIAHUN GAYLORDS the food is cold, service is horrible and the manager was rude and uncaring. If you want good local food do Smith's or better get Saimen at Hamuras

The only thing I ever had at Gaylords were the pupus and they were very good....and we were served by a local friend of ours so no probs there.

They are making rum there now and the dark rum was pretty decent. We brought a bottle home.

Love reading your posts Kal on Kauai..you are the Mayor of the island!
Aloha
((D))

My buddy Dean is the Mayor....well of the Sand Bar anyway.