I'm currently on Kauai. Driving is great here --especially in my rented convertible (although there is a lot of rain today -- seemingly all over the island). But there is a ton of road construction and also tree clearing along highways. As a result there are some long waits (but OK when you have great views to appreciate). Some flagged one way areas are up to a mile long.

To remedy the situation, apparently Kauai has developed a special private club for drivers. Those who belong to this special club have a number of privileges. For example, when the traffic is backed up, they have the right to pass on the right, going over hard or soft shoulder, often kicking up dust and rocks at all the people who aren't members. And when the flagman says to stop so that the other direction of traffic can go, these club members instead are allowed to hit the accelerator, ignoring the flagman and add themselves to the tail of the line of traffic going forward. They even have the unique privilege of going between the cones to enter the left lane normally reserved for oncoming traffic, when the oncoming traffic has been stopped at the other end of the flag area. That way, club members can zip right up to the front of the line, then work back in when the oncoming traffic arrives. When signs and traffic cones clearly say "left lane closed ahead, merge right" and clearly the right lane is already backing up from the merging, these club members are even allowed to stay in the left lane and go way up to the front of the line and then barge back in. The club seems to have a lot of special privileges.

I thought about applying for membership in this private club, but alas I rented a convertible, and apparently a beat up pick up truck -- preferably jacked up high -- is the required vehicle for membership. Besides, I don't think I could manage to get my head stuck far enough up my own rear end to qualify for this special club.

Alas, my application to that club was also denied. Didn't stop me from trying over and over again to join though.

Sounds like another reason to go vist that hell hole of an island!

Remind me again where you're staying, Patrick? I'll be in Poipu in November. Usually I don't do much driving, but it will be visit #1 for my travel companion so I suppose we'll be taking in as many sights as possible. Maybe I should try to rent a 4WD so I can drive on the shoulders..and maybe even the lawns?!

Sounds like you need to pay Hawaii state taxes 365 days a year to join the club. Doesn't sound like a bad tariff if you ask me.

Aloha Neo..
We are here right now in Kauai at the Grand Hyatt and have seen all the traffic up in Princeville with the tree trimming but haven't seen the people that pass on the right..at least not yet.

If I saw that going on, I would want to join the private club and would want the preferential treatment like those that are passing on the right..

We've been here for a week and the weather has been beyond perfect in this paradise you all call the 'hell hole'..
It rained pretty good today and we were up at Waimea Canyon today.
Where are you staying in Kauai?

Grand Hyatt has been everything we could ask for and more..the salt lagoon is awesome..grounds are stunning.

We loved the Ke'e beach at the end of the road to Hanalei.
We went to the caves where the 'Puff the Magic Dragon' song was about and written and sung by Peter, Paul and Mary..she died on Wednesday.

Went to Red Salt at the Koa Kea resort in Poipu...yummy
Hamura Saimin's is closed the whole week we are here..
Love this hell hole so much..been thinking of all you Fodor loving Kauaian's..
Aloha and a big ol' Mahalo

NeoPatrick, I was following the thread about the condo in Waikiki. It looked divine. How did you find it? We are planning a week there next late March or early April.

Patrick, that's amazing! They have that same club on the interstate highways here in Georgia! I'm not a member, but maybe if I go ahead and apply, my membership will be active by the next trip to the hell hole!

Watch out for those mean roosters!

Here in the tri-state area (CT, NY, NJ) we have the same driving club, except it's Porsches, BMWs and Benzes. (The folks in the beat-up trucks around here don't seem to be members.) Don't you just love people who think their time is more important than your time? Well, at least you have the scenery! I'd rather be there dealing with the club than be anywhere else on earth!!! Enjoy the rest of your stay. Aloha.

Imagine trying to follow the yellow brick road, with 7 Sundays with Sunday drivers!

The other day I had to stop in a line but it was at a little dip in the road ih full shade. My top was down. As I sat there I heard something, looked to the right and lo and behold, there was a huge waterfall right there that I would have missed when driving. Too bad, I had to look at a waterfall while waiting in the shade for traffic to clear -- not too bad.

I'm at Wailua just south of Kaapa at a simple condo with a great view of the beach and ocean -- Wailua Bayview. I do like the fact that it is mid island so I can travel about the island either direction. I got to Poipu yesterday and started further southwest, but decided not to head to the canyon as it looked like major rain going on there. I think that's on the docket today. Maybe less road construction and tree trimming on Saturday?

Regarding the condo in Honolulu, Nor_Ont, I'm honestly not sure how I found it -- perhaps someone here recommended it when I got canceled from my reserved unit that sold? You do have the link, don't you? I talked to a young guy from LA in the film industry while he was doing his laundry upstairs. He always stays at Ilikai Marina. He couldn't believe my description of the apartment and came to look at it -- still couldn't believe it was in the same building as the many others he's stayed in there. The owners did an exceptional job of remodeling it from scratch -- it is filled with care, class, and quality right down to the Fisher-Paykel stainless dishwasher "drawers" and the plasma TV that appears out of the room divider when you press a remote. I couldn't have been happier with the condo.

Aloha Neo..
Make sure when you go to Waimea Canyon that you go all the way to the Lodge and the they have several lookouts besides the first one..
Yesterday, someone was sitting on a ledge in the canyon with chairs drinking it all in..
I didn't know that NASA has strategic missile defense stuff up there.
This island is pretty darn big and when you get traffic seems to take forever to get from one side to the other..
Gorgeous today with very little humidity..going for breakfast right now and a long salt water lagoon swim...
Damn hell hole!

Patrick, sounds like a nice place to be. Oh, darn, having to sit in the shade, viewing a waterfall, while waiting for traffic to move... what a waste of your time .... NOT

We talked about you a bit at dinner at our Himalayan Kitchen GTG in HNL last night. Were your ears burning? It was all good... Hope you will jump into the travel discussions over on the Asia boards, now that you know some of the group members.

When you get to Maui, I don't know if you want to be brave and drive on the no-no roads (rental car contract)... but if you do, there are some really awesome ones! It's a bit bone jarring, as there isn't much pavement...

Going to lunch with fodorites today, here in HNL.

Aloha!

Carol

Glad to hear from you, and can't wait for a full trip report. Hows the temperature?

Here's a driving tip for when you are on the Big Island. Go the speed limit. Not 6-10 miles over on those long stretches of 55 mph.

The police use their own cars with blue lights on top. Rental cars are more likely to get stopped. Because the towns are so small, locals know each other's cars, so you'll see everybody nodding to each other.

Now, the cops are less likely to pull over their buddies for speeding. If a car is on your tail, pull over and let them pass. If they are local, they know what they're doing.

I think drivers in Hawaii are fantastic, for the most part. You really see the aloha spirit.

Well, a new adventure today. I had noticed that the brakes on my Sebring convertible worked rather hard -- I had to push almost to the floor to stop the car -- but I just assumed that's the way they are. But today on the Waimea Canyon Road, they actually caught, slipped and released, then caught again. Scared the hell out of me. I drove easy down the mountain in second and used them as little as possible, but they kept getting worse and louder. When I was on level ground and stopped at a stop sign, they made a loud grinding sign as I came to a stop. I headed to National at the airport with one hand on the emergency brake. As I pulled into National and came to a stop, the attendant jumped at the sound my brakes made -- really bad. They couldn't have been nicer and exchanged the car pronto, and added that I can return it empty and there will be no fuel charge (I filled it just before returning it). Then the manager called me just after I got home to apologize and said they really shouldn't be sending out cars that are in that bad of condition. Really scary now that I think about it. I guess that should teach me not to assume that brakes that work hard are just indicative of that kind of car. But shouldn't there be a warning light or something if brakes are failing???

And this was after my two day rental in Honolulu had a door lock system that wouldn't work, so I had to get out and circle the car opening, locking, and closing all four doors every time I stopped and got out -- which was a lot. Why do I seem to have such problems with rental cars? Well, at least no school bus has backed in to me this time -- YET!

How's the temperature? Warm -- very warm. Less humidity that at home in Florida, but I have to laugh at those who say you don't need AC here in Hawaii. My condo is right on the beach, but in the afternoon I close it up and turn on the AC -- it's damned hot and humid no matter what anyone says. Breeezes? Sure, but hot humid air moving is still hot humid air. I'm sure glad I didn't fall for the rental people saying "Oh you won't need AC on the beach". Duh! The mornings and nights are beautiful however. And 9:30 AM up on the mountains was almost cool!

Thanks for the temp update Patrick. I laugh at people who say that Vegas heat is better than Fla because it is a "Dry" heat. Yeah, well, my hair dryer has dry heat but is still damn hot.

Guess we will time our next visit to Kauai to avoid summer.

Hi there Patrick! Good grief, you have had some back luck with rental cars as of late. Thank goodness you were able to get the car back to National without having an accident.

And regarding not needing A/C in Hawaii, that gave me a chuckle. Of course where I live it is very different weather then in Hawaii but I was interested that you too need A/C at times when in Hawaii.

Have more wonderful days, you are in my thoughts.

Patrick, sounds as though you're having a great time in Hawaii, even with some aggravations. Speaking of temps there, about the hottest I've ever been was on Maui during the first week of October one year. The tradewinds decided to just about STOP, and it felt like hell in Lahaina! I would never rent in Hawaii in Summer without a/c. Continue to have a wonderful time, and have a Mai Tai for me at Brenneke's!

OMG.......glad you kept a level head and a hand on the emergency brake! I would have died an early death coming down the canyon road with no brakes....holy frijoles!...so where has been your favorite place to eat on Kauai?

Wow brakes going out while coming down from the canyon! Scary. Good thing everything turned out ok. You were more then understanding to the car rental company.

As for the weather, my good friend lives in Kalaheo and she has told me that September and October are usually the hottest months, the trades are more likely to die or slow down at that time and the humidity goes up. Well have fun anyway!