visiting Kuwaii,Hawaii for three days
 

I am looking to travel to Kuwaii this summer. I am arriving from New York. I only have three full days to visit. I was wondering if it was worth the travel time. Please let me know what you think, Thanks

Even a day is worth making the small effort to get over to Kauai from Oahu/Honolulu, a 20 minute flight.

Our favorite is the North Shore - up at Princeville or Hanalei- the most beautiful/lush part of the "Garden Island", an easy 40 minute drive from the airport, unless you run into "rush hour" traffic at Kapaa - and then take the detour to save you 10 minutes. :) You will see the little detour on the map you pick up at the airport with the rental car and also on the good maps in the tourist mags. It's also marked on the road as I recall.

BTW - for most of the island - there is only one main road.

Once settled in Princeville/Kauai - one day drive down to Poipu (an hour or so - again if you don't hit "rush hour" traffic in Kapaa :) ), and then over to the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" as Mark Twain called it, above the town of Waimea on the SW side.
(From Poipu - that's another half hour to start up the hill toward the park at Kokee) -

Would suggest you rent some snorkeling equipment (see the adds and one company - Snorkel Bob's - is on all the islands - and you can take the equipment from island to island) for the beach at Ke/Haena http://tinyurl.com/7swsbrl - all the way at the end of the road over 7 classic one lane bridges.

On your way to Poipu - you might also stop off to snorkel at Lydegate Park - closer to the airport/center of the island - (also quite safe for snorkeling) and also - while I remember - watch the sunset (did you catch the green flash?) at Ke Beach, and maybe do some hiking there overlooking the deep blue Pacific.

The beautiful Island of Kauai is our favorite - but we do like all the islands in Paradise. If you have the time, taking a catamaran ride up the west side of the Island (you leave from Pt. Allen - down by Waimea) - is an incredibly beautiful experience (What - with dolphins swimming along side and all) - and the red cliffs of the Napli Coast are just spectacular:

http://www.holoholokauaiboattours.co...FQQaQgodIi0aDw

Thanks for responding so soon. I am only staying in Hawaii for three full days,that's it. I have temp. hotel reservations on the island of Kauai. Would you still travel all that time from NY just for three days? and what would you say are the top attractions to see?

Well, yes, 3 days is awefully short IMO to fly that far to anywhere in the world. Is this your only choice to see Kauai in your lifetime? If so, must do's are: the helicopter tour of the island, a visit to Waimea Canyon, Kokee State Park, the north shore, snorkeling at Poipu Beach. For more good advice I would recommend the travel guide The Ultimate Guidebook to Kauai by Doughty.

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!! :)

Frick - lost a post. Anyhow - I think the best snorkeling is up by Ke beach - beyond Hanalei - or at Lydegate Park and I have snorkeled and dove all over Kauai. http://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai/beac...gate-park.aspx

And you don't have to get to Poipu if you only have 3 days but should get up to Kokee/the Grand Canyon - and the Napali Cliffs overlook. http://www.kokee.org/kokee-state-park

Also - great reminder about taking the helicopter trip while on uber scenic Kauai. The best way to see the most of the island.

I've made longer drives for just a weekend in places that pale in comparison to Kaua'i, so it's a no-brainer for me. But, I'm curious... Why would you consider flying from NY for just a 3-day visit? What, for you, would make it worth the travel time?

Tom, if you're going to continue to recommend it, you should probably get the name right; it's Ke'e Beach.

Well Tom, I certainly hope you continue to recommend. Many of us enjoy your recommendations and especially enjoy when you share your stories.

ayycc5, I flew over to Kauai JUST to stay here - http://www.waimeaplantation.com/ - because I saw it on Samantha Brown's shows on Hawaii. I've stayed in condos on Oahu, hotels on Maui, a resort with tram and water taxis, a B&B and the Four Seasons on the Big Island - but LOVED relaxing a la Old Hawaii in the plantation cottages. We enjoyed seeing Waimea canyon nearby. The beach is not the best swimming beach but we loved the grounds of the plantation and the pool - and I did swim in the ocean from that beach. It's a LONG flight for just three days but I'd certainly do it. I think the Waimea location would be a good base for seeing the island if the laid back lifestyle in vintage cottages appeals to you.

I don't have an agenda. I just wanted to provide an encouraging word after reading a snarky remark directed to another poster. As I said, I appreciate Tom's posts on this board. Evidently misspellings bother you. They don't bother everyone. Such is life. ;)

If you are flying only to Kauai from NYC and can only stay days (4 nights?), then it is not worth it in my opinion.

You will hardly be over the jet lag.

Sorry, I failed to notice that it's a summer trip. So I agree that there is no need to go to Poipu when summer offers great snorkeling on the north shore. I've heard that Tunnels is a great spot. But personally have not been there yet.

Jet lag? Flying to Hawaii? U gotta B kidding.

The only jet lag one might have is sipping too many Mai Tais on the way over. :)

And dazed: Thanks for the very meaningful spelling correction. Wouldn't want anyone to be confused now - would we.

And cheers to you Starrs. :)

I don't think alcohol is the solution to jet lag.

Issues for OP to consider:

6 hour time difference NYC and Honolulu.

13+ hour flight time to Kauai.

Would OP fly NYC to New Dehli for 3 days? Not much difference in flight times.

I love Kauai, in fact, I love all of Hawaii. I've been many times, and I appreciate the fact that from the West Coast where I live, it's a short trip. Being a short trip, I've been for as few as four days. Would I fly from NY for a 3-day visit? Not a chance.

Here we go again. The fraidy cats running wild.

And talking about plantations!!! The helicopter flight we took was with Jack Harter - the Dean of heli-flying on Kauai, and it's just amazing how many beautiful plantations there are/were on Kauai - especially down south - going all the way back to the sugar cane days.

And as for stories - my boss when I was practicing law for the Feds - was a junior Coast Guard officer after WWII - and assigned to Poipu Beach - where there were about 5 houses on one section. He was the ranking (and only) Coast Guard officer on Kauai - and his favorite pic was holding a string of rainbow trout - caught in a Kauai stream - with Mr. Robinson - the major Kauai land owner who also owned Niihau way back when.

My ole boss used to oversee the Coast Guard's taking of fuel drums to Niihau - and they were not allowed to touch/land on the island (only Hawaiian natives are allowed on the island). So the crew would just toss the drums overboard - and this huge chief - about 6'7" tall and 400 plus pounds - would wade out and put one under his arm and take it up the beach. :)

Not sure if he was one of the uncles of the famous singing group - the (Makaha) Sons of Niihau - and the dearly departed Izzy. I first saw the Sons of Niihau performing in Waimanalo - about 1977 - and the Ukuleles looked like toothpicks in their huge hands. I think I was about the only haole in the audience, but I had a good tan. :) Pidgin was the language of da day, bra.

Just love Izzy's albums, especially Facing Future - (What - the voice of an angel coming from a guy weighing 800 lbs) - and now he has gone to that great white sand beach in the sky. see http://www.squidoo.com/bruddhaIZ and http://www.e-hawaii.com/iz/israel-ka...woole-his-life

fyi - here are some lyrics/meanings from his songs: “Aloha `Oe”
“Coconut Girl” – Brother Noland
“Crazy” – Kapena
“Hawai`i Pono`i”
“I’ll Remember You” – Kui Lee
“Mele Kalikimaka”
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World” – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
“Sweet Lady of Waiahole” – Bruddah Waltah
“Tiny Bubbles” – Don Ho
University of Hawaii Fight Song

And according to this site - the averge nonstop flight to Hono from NYC is 10 and a half hours, not 13.

http://www.hotel.com.au/Flights/Hono...d-Airfares.asp

Take a nap, read the great novel - Hawaii - by Michenor, whatever. On the way back - ditto.

Tom, why not just give current factual information and stop giving out old reminiscences?

I'll peep up again to say that I enjoy Tom's "old reminiscences" and from what I've read others do too. Why not let people post what they want on this free (to us) travel forum and just live and let live? Correct something if you think it's wrong. That seems simple enough - and a much nicer approach. Just my 2 cents...

BTW - I have flown over to Hawaii (Hono and then on to Kauai) for a Board meeting - and left on a Friday morning from SD - and took the redeye back on Sunday night, and had a great time in the 3 days. :)

BTW - if you could work your way up to First Class - or even Biz class it makes a long flight a lot nicer.

<<<BTW - I have flown over to Hawaii (Hono and then on to Kauai) for a Board meeting - and left on a Friday morning from SD - and took the redeye back on Sunday night, and had a great time in the 3 days>>>

And you live in San Diego, not New York. This would be like you flying to Mallorca for 3 days.

monterreybob: Tunnels is a nice place to snorkel/dive - and after my wife was certified in Hanalei Bay - we dove there. It's also very good snorkeling out at Haena Beach (will use that term - hopefully spelled correctly which is what they used back when I first went there in '77)- and it has a reef protecting the swimmers/snorkelers - and if you have access to a boat - in Hanalei Bay there is also good snorkeling/diving.

Anywhere there are rocks/reefs - you can find fish - such as in front of the Hanalei Colony Resort - where we stayed during our honeymoon in '86, to the right side of Lumahai Beach, places along Anini beach, and on and on. :)

More on Haena park/Ke'e beach: http://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai/beac...each-park.aspx

<i>I don't have an agenda.</i>

Not buying it. Otherwise, why not also come to the defense of posters he's labeled as "obnoxious, fraidy cats running wild, grouchy.." just for posting something he disagrees with.

<i>Correct something if you think it's wrong.</i>

Isn't that what I did?

sf7. Did enjoy a week on Majorca - after law school in '75, during a two month jaunt around Europe. Lots of cute Scandinavian girls vacation there, as well as lasses from the UK. Not too many Yanks though :)

But don't think you can get any nonstop flights from here in San Diego to there. :)

However - you can get nonstop flights from NYC to Hono - which again, take about 10 and a half hours.

What is the reason you want to visit Kauai? Are you looking to explore the island? Are you looking for a resort destination? What hotel have you booked? What are your expectations? Are you planning on 3 nights or 4 nights lodging as it is hard to decipher 3 full days. I have visited Molokai for 4 nights from the east coast and would have been completely satisfied returning home had we not had another island to visit. But I don't think I would travel over 12 hours to sit by a pool and drink Mai tai's.

The shortest flights from NYC to LIH (via LAX) are 13 hr 55 minutes. The next best connection makes it a 15-16 hr travel time.

Giving information about a flight to Honolulu doesn't seem to be helpful. OP would still have to take another flight to LIH, again adding connection and flight time.

Tom, not so sure I would swim at Lydgate these days, over on the TA forums for Kauai, the report is that the government recently undertook some repairs to the pond area and as a result the water is very murky now as the water is not flushing properly and even the lifeguards will not go in unless they have to.

All your other recommendations are spot on, though.

Now here's even a Hawaiian Air flight from NYC (JFK) nonstop to Hono. When you step aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight - you almost feel like you are part way to Hawaii.

I guess going east to west takes a bit longer - this being 11 hours. You can leave NYC at 10 AM - and arrive in Hono by 3 PM - and walk over to the Inter-Island terminal and catch the first flight over to Lihue - and land 20 minutes later. On this flight - usually by the time the flight attendant is serving your beverage - the Captain is announcing the descent.

Pick up the rental car - and be dipping in the Ocean within an hour. Double :)

https://apps.hawaiianair.com/reserva...ghtPrices.aspx

If there was any way you could swing a 4th or even 5th day - it would make for a better trip - but I would take 3 days if I could get it.

So why is this comment still up?



islandazeon Apr 25, 12 at 9:32am


I don't have an agenda.

Not buying it. Otherwise, why not also come to the defense of posters he's labeled as "obnoxious, fraidy cats running wild, grouchy.." just for posting something he disagrees with.

Correct something if you think it's wrong.

Isn't that what I did?

Thank you all for taking out the time to comment about my trip. You have all been very helpful. I did book the tickets. I will be arriving from NYC to Hono.and then taking a flight to Kauai from Sunday until Thurs. I will take what I can get. Anyone have a good top "to do" list for Kauai? Also which beaches can you swim in? I heard there aren't many.

I just responded on your other post.

Well it's already decided I guess. I was coming to post, that no, no way, would I spent the time and money on a plane ticket all the way from New York just to go anywhere in Hawaii for 3 days. I would have waited until you could stay longer. You're going to be flying practically as long as you're going to be there!

I'm only in Seattle with a relatively short 6 hour flight, and the shortest I've ever gone for was 5 days, which was WAY too short!!