Recommendations for first Kauai trip
 

I'm looking at quickly (over the next few days) booking a trip to Kauai for 5-7 days in August for my husband and I. I've only stayed in Maui and in Kona once last year as my first trip to Hawaii so I figure we'll check out a new island for this trip.

I'm thinking about staying at the Courtyard Coconut Beach location in Kapaa but not 100% on that. We're scuba divers but I don't think we'll be diving this trip so I need ideas on what to see/do. I know for sure we'll have a rental car and I want to see Waimea Canyon, Hanalei Bay.... We love the ocean/beach but we aren't the type of people that like to lay on the beach or at the pool all day. We like to drive the island and check stuff out, like to experience great food (my favorite in Maui was Mama's Fish House but we like great hole in the wall places too). I love all the fresh tropical fruit and macadamia pancakes, fresh seafood....I like to paddle board and my husband loves ATV's, we wouldn't mind taking a boat for sightseeing/views. Would love any suggestions on activities, food and what not to miss!

Check out Songdoc's recommendations--he goes to Kauai all the time. http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...o-in-kauai.cfm

North Shore North Shore North Shore. :)

Since it seems like this is an exploring trip, I think your original choice of hotel is a good one. It is nice, central location. I personally like staying on the north shore, but maybe for you a location that is more central would work. A friend returns to Kauai every year (no, it is not songdoc) and he always stays at the Islander, which is in the same general area as the hotel you mentioned. They have been doing this for over twenty years and they love staying in that area. Food for thought...

wekewoody, they have been doing roofing work at Islander. Courtyard gets good reviews. None of the beaches on the East are swimmable except Lydgate and sometimes parts of Kealia.
Personally I'd stay north given the time of year. Have fun.

jamie, I know all that and as I said and always say when asked, I prefer the north shore and staying in Hanalei, but something drew the OP to Kapa'a in the first place, so I was trying to offer the OP some validation for their location choice. A lot of people stay in the part of the island, so it is the right choice for some set of people.

Alohaaaa weke.....we just got back from a rare June visit to Kauai to do the <i>Haena to Hanalei 8 Mile Run/Walk</i> sponsored by the Hanalei Canoe Club. The Finish Line was right down Weke Rd. Any relation? :-?

We have been going over every year since '89 (missed the Hurricane Iniki year) in either Nov/Dec or Dec/Jan and have stayed at the Islander except for this trip, partially, and yearrrrs ago when it was going thru a MAJOR remodel and we went to Poipu.

This June was our first stay in P'ville. We stayed there the first 3 days because we had to be at the Registration/check in line at Hanalei Pier at 4:30 a. friggin' m. to catch the shuttle to Haena/Ke'e Beach.

Got the Wyndham Bali Hai condos. Nice. After the run, we beat it down to The Islander for the remaining 3 days....after a brief stop for Bloody Marys at The Olympic Cafe, of course.

The only prob with staying up there is us being spoiled by staying at The Islander and being within walking distance to some very good restaurants/shops/stores. And you can't beat our "spit in the ocean view" from our lanai. <see profile pic>.

We had a friend just get back from a trip to Kauai and a stay at Courtyard. He got sideways with the place because they didn't seem to be in a rush to fix the a/c. It was his first trip ever to Hawaii let alone Kauai and he was expecting snap to it vs. hang loose. Other than that I've never heard anything bad about it. Decent restaurant, too.

The Islander was doing some construction during our stay but were about done with most of the ocean front/view wings when we left.
Another fine hotel located next door to the Islander, The Beachboy.
Plus it's restaurant, Huki Lau, is one of the best.
Also within walking distance to Islander/Courtyard Kintaro's, Wahoos, Brick Oven Pizza, Monico's, Bull Shed, Trees Lounge, Kilauea Fish Market, Tropical Dreams Ice Cream and a few others.
And we are one of those people who do like the CocoCoast since it is centrally located to P'ville, Poipu, Polihale, The Canyon and the airport. Couldn't imagine getting stuck in a Kapaa traffic jam and being late for a flight.

Liked the ATV tour in Koloa that takes you thru the mountain and into the area where they filmed Jurassic Park.
The ATV place near Hanamaulu was good too and took us more inland.

When we go up to Waimea Canyon and then up to the Kalalau lookout we like to turn on Hwy 550 and when we come down we take 550 until it veers over to Kokee Rd. Beautiful views coming down. We try and then see a sunset from Polihale or Kekaha...depending on the condition of the road to Polihale.

We've been known to stop at Kauai Brewing Co in Pt Allen for a good beer and a platter of Nui nachos.

One of the better "tours" I have done on Kauai is renting a golf cart from Princeville Golf Course and just touring the course. I think they still do it maybe after 3pm.

Our next place to stay on Island is Kekaha/Waimea either at The Cottages or VRBO.

179 mo' days. :-X

Kal, you'd think that after 25 years of visits and posting about it, YOU would be the expert around here. "Walking that walk" must have been amazing!

It was fantastic...it may even have us going over for it again. I KNOW I can walk it under 2 hrs! Grrrrrr....

Hanalei Canoe Club puts on a good event.

It's really <b>DARK</b> at Ke'e/Haena at 4:45am. Even the roosters were still sleeping! ~:>

For Lenleigh...no interest in a helicopter ride? We did a before and after Iniki. Breathtaking both times.

Lenleigh, paddle boarding in Hanalei bay in August would most likely be awesome. The Bay is usually pretty calm that time of year. More paddle boarders than surfers. Kite surfing is big at Anini as well as around the point in Haena.

The original hole in the wall on Kauai is Hamura's Saimin in Lihue. It comes complete with great noodles AND sloping linoleum counter tops.

Good fish can be had all over. I like the Ahi at the Hanalei Dolphin and the fish tacos at Pat's Taqueria food truck by the pier in Hanalei. We like Postcards, but last time gave it a pass because the service was a little strange.

For your trip to Waimea Canyon/Koke'e, drive all the way to the end of the road to the last parking area called Pu'u O Kila for far better views of the Kalalau Valley than the Kalalau lookout one stop before it. You can also pick up a moderate trail called the Pihea Trail that skirts the top of the Valley here. Go early for a better chance of no clouds.

Kal, all of this talk about roof renovations got me to thinking...my first post on fodors back in 2003 was a question asking about how bad the roof renovations were at the Hyatt and would it ruin my vacation. No one answered my question and I have been around (in different incarnations) ever since. :)

<i>2003</i>???
ROOKIE!

Couldn't even imagine paddle boarding HB in August either. Probably like glass at times.

BTW...Chicken in a Barrel now has a Hanalei location. So does Puka Dog....an acquired taste, of course.

Def missed Hanalei Pizza. Heard they were looking for a new spot to land.

If Lenleigh does pick Pville area, a dinner right before sunset starts at The Tavern is very nice.

"If Lenleigh does pick Pville area, a dinner right before sunset starts at The Tavern is very nice."

Molto bene!

IMO - staying in the middle of the island is a poor compromise - neither fish nor foul.

Not in the middle.....too mountainous...but on the shore.

The middle is too rainy also. 300 inches per year a good holiday does not make.

Wow, lots of great tips and ideas! The main reason I'm really drawn to the Courtyard is that we stay at Marriott's a lot, the Coconut Courtyard has a very good rate. Reviews are pretty good and I guess it could be a plus that it's a little closer to the airport.

I'm tempted to look at staying in Princeville or near Hanalei Bay but then I read it's a little isolated near Hanalei? I thought I saw online from Coconut Coast to Hanalei it's about 40 minutes, not sure if that is accurate? I would definitely spend a day visiting Waimea Canyon, a day or partial day doing an ATV trip (liking the sound of the Jurassic Park filming location), a day driving up to Hanalei Bay to Paddle board and hang out in that area (catch the sunset)....Maybe something on the water would be cool if I have 4 full days.

I always stay on the North Shore. But I typically spend the first night at the Marriott Courtyard at Coconut Beach, so I don't have to do the 1-hour drive north from the airport after interminable flights. A couple of times I stayed longer until the condo was ready. I really like the Marriott Courtyard and I think it's a good choice for a base to explore from. I've never had anything but excellent experiences there. It is indeed about a 40 minute drive to the North Shore.

See if you can do a Na Pali coast boat tour if you have time, worth every penny. I have gone out with both Captain Andy and Holo Holo. Both are good boats, with good crews and food.