What to do on Kauai for 7 days?
Jan 13th, 2001, 02:34 AM
#1
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What to do on Kauai for 7 days?
My wife and I will be on Kauai for a week, after Maui for 5 days. What are some specific beaches, scenic island roads to explore, places to visit, and things to do? Any neat hiking paths? Horseback riding tours? etc. thank you, Robert
Jan 13th, 2001, 04:51 AM
#2
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Hi Robert-
We've owned time share on Kauai for 12 years and travel there almost annually. A lot depends on which end of the island you're staying on and what time of year you're going. My favorite beaches are Ke'e Beach, Hanalei Beach State Park, Anini Beach on the north shore, and Poipu Beach State Park (great for calm waters and seeing whales and Hawaiian monk seals) and beautiful Mahaulepu Beach (remote and hard to find, ask for directions)on the south shore. To the west there's Polihali Beach, also difficult to get to but well worth it, and a great place for sunsets. There's really only one main road around the island, but a must would be the ride up to Waimea Canyon (west side), and exploring Kokee State Park once you get to the top. There are many hiking trails there, and the island in general offers many great hiking experiences. If you're going during non-winter months, the Kalalau Trail is a breathtaking (in more than one way!) trail to take, bring you along the Na Pali cliffs for views that would be hard to get unless you were going by helicopter. For beginning hikers, it's usually advised to do the first 2 miles of the 11 mile trail, then turn around and go back. That is a rigorous workout in itself, and will take a good 1/2 day. Helicopter tours are essential - I recommend Interisland Tours - they have one where they land at a private waterfall and you have a picnic lunch during the stop. There is horseback riding on both north and south shores, I recommend Princeville Ranch Stables on the north shore. There's so much more to say, so if you have any more questions, feel free to e-mail me and/or reply in this forum. Good luck!
We've owned time share on Kauai for 12 years and travel there almost annually. A lot depends on which end of the island you're staying on and what time of year you're going. My favorite beaches are Ke'e Beach, Hanalei Beach State Park, Anini Beach on the north shore, and Poipu Beach State Park (great for calm waters and seeing whales and Hawaiian monk seals) and beautiful Mahaulepu Beach (remote and hard to find, ask for directions)on the south shore. To the west there's Polihali Beach, also difficult to get to but well worth it, and a great place for sunsets. There's really only one main road around the island, but a must would be the ride up to Waimea Canyon (west side), and exploring Kokee State Park once you get to the top. There are many hiking trails there, and the island in general offers many great hiking experiences. If you're going during non-winter months, the Kalalau Trail is a breathtaking (in more than one way!) trail to take, bring you along the Na Pali cliffs for views that would be hard to get unless you were going by helicopter. For beginning hikers, it's usually advised to do the first 2 miles of the 11 mile trail, then turn around and go back. That is a rigorous workout in itself, and will take a good 1/2 day. Helicopter tours are essential - I recommend Interisland Tours - they have one where they land at a private waterfall and you have a picnic lunch during the stop. There is horseback riding on both north and south shores, I recommend Princeville Ranch Stables on the north shore. There's so much more to say, so if you have any more questions, feel free to e-mail me and/or reply in this forum. Good luck!
Jan 13th, 2001, 09:08 AM
#3
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Margot; Thanks for the great reco's. We will be staying at the Hotel Coral Reef on the eastern shore, since it's equidistance to both the north and south shores. We love to explore, so will rent a car and probably take trips everywhere. Thans so much. Robert
Jan 13th, 2001, 10:00 AM
#4
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When we were there, we rented a small boat and took it up the Wailua river.
Best day of the trip. Was told of a hawaiian "village", well..really a recreation of one along the way, that hurricane Iniki had pretty much trashed..they told us that peacocks had pretty much taken it over. We stopped and they were right..dozens of them wanting handouts..then going as far up the river as you can, you come to a nice swimming hole with a cliff for cliff diving and a rope swing. Taking a fork in the river, there is a trail head that takes you back to a water fall..very scenic..about a mile walk,,Then on the way back we stopped at the fern grotto, was lucky enough to time it just right so we got there just as the big tour boats was leaving and before the next ones got in,,so we had the whole place ALL to ourselfs.
Pack a lunch and make a day of it....
Best day of the trip. Was told of a hawaiian "village", well..really a recreation of one along the way, that hurricane Iniki had pretty much trashed..they told us that peacocks had pretty much taken it over. We stopped and they were right..dozens of them wanting handouts..then going as far up the river as you can, you come to a nice swimming hole with a cliff for cliff diving and a rope swing. Taking a fork in the river, there is a trail head that takes you back to a water fall..very scenic..about a mile walk,,Then on the way back we stopped at the fern grotto, was lucky enough to time it just right so we got there just as the big tour boats was leaving and before the next ones got in,,so we had the whole place ALL to ourselfs.
Pack a lunch and make a day of it....
Jan 13th, 2001, 01:27 PM
#5
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Alooohaaaa,
Just got back yesterday from 2 weeks on Kauai. We had to put up with 2 straight weeks of 80-85 degree, sunny weather! Darn!! The best weather in our 10 visits to that gorgeous island.
Can't add much more than what Ms. Margot has said.
2 new, hot restaurants just opened up in the Kapaa area.
Lemongrass and Coconuts. We had fantastic meals and great service at both.
Lemongrass had some great sushi (rivals Kintaro's which is located down the road about a mile away) and a mahi mahi special that was great. I had it Thai style, spicy eggplant, over garlic mashed potatos. Mrs. Kal had it with wasabi butter . WOW!
Coconuts...get the lobster raviolis appetizers!!!! I had the ahi special, cooked "island style", let it touch the grill for about a second and serve it. Mrs Kal had the seafood paella. Both excellent dishes.
Just park in the Safeway/Longs parking lot and walk up to either as parking was limited in their parking lots. Try and get an upstairs window seat at Lemongrass.
We saw our best sunset ever from Polihale. Set right over Niihau. Hope the pics turn out. Polihale is worth the drive. Be careful because there were pot holes big enough to eat a tire or muffler on the cane haul road you have to drive on to get there.
Watch a sunset and then on they way back stop at Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo. You can get regular or wholewheat dough with garlic butter on the crust.
One hike people seem to overlook is the hike up the Sleeping Giant mountain in the Kapaa area.
Not as long as the Napali hike (about 45 mins up if you know the shortcut) but once you get to the top, you have a 360 view of the entire Coconut Coast, Mt. Waialeale, Makalena Mtns, Kilohana crater, King Kong, Wailua River, etc.
Anini never looked better. Good snorkeling.
The Hanalei Valley...ahhhhhhh. For some reason, the north shore was getting hit with 15-20' waves so the whole valley was full of ocean spray making the pre-sunset hours simply radiant!
A kayak/boat trip up the Wailua, as Rick suggests, is also a good little trip.
And, if you golf, The Grove @ Puukea is still one of the nicest 20 hole golf courses I've ever played. No ocean winds to put up with either.
I could go on but it's time to go work off the 10 lbs I added sampling all of the island fare and Fire Rock Pale Ale.
Only 350 more days until we go back.
Have fun and Mahalo!
Kal
Just got back yesterday from 2 weeks on Kauai. We had to put up with 2 straight weeks of 80-85 degree, sunny weather! Darn!! The best weather in our 10 visits to that gorgeous island.
Can't add much more than what Ms. Margot has said.
2 new, hot restaurants just opened up in the Kapaa area.
Lemongrass and Coconuts. We had fantastic meals and great service at both.
Lemongrass had some great sushi (rivals Kintaro's which is located down the road about a mile away) and a mahi mahi special that was great. I had it Thai style, spicy eggplant, over garlic mashed potatos. Mrs. Kal had it with wasabi butter . WOW!
Coconuts...get the lobster raviolis appetizers!!!! I had the ahi special, cooked "island style", let it touch the grill for about a second and serve it. Mrs Kal had the seafood paella. Both excellent dishes.
Just park in the Safeway/Longs parking lot and walk up to either as parking was limited in their parking lots. Try and get an upstairs window seat at Lemongrass.
We saw our best sunset ever from Polihale. Set right over Niihau. Hope the pics turn out. Polihale is worth the drive. Be careful because there were pot holes big enough to eat a tire or muffler on the cane haul road you have to drive on to get there.
Watch a sunset and then on they way back stop at Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo. You can get regular or wholewheat dough with garlic butter on the crust.
One hike people seem to overlook is the hike up the Sleeping Giant mountain in the Kapaa area.
Not as long as the Napali hike (about 45 mins up if you know the shortcut) but once you get to the top, you have a 360 view of the entire Coconut Coast, Mt. Waialeale, Makalena Mtns, Kilohana crater, King Kong, Wailua River, etc.
Anini never looked better. Good snorkeling.
The Hanalei Valley...ahhhhhhh. For some reason, the north shore was getting hit with 15-20' waves so the whole valley was full of ocean spray making the pre-sunset hours simply radiant!
A kayak/boat trip up the Wailua, as Rick suggests, is also a good little trip.
And, if you golf, The Grove @ Puukea is still one of the nicest 20 hole golf courses I've ever played. No ocean winds to put up with either.
I could go on but it's time to go work off the 10 lbs I added sampling all of the island fare and Fire Rock Pale Ale.
Only 350 more days until we go back.
Have fun and Mahalo!
Kal
Jan 14th, 2001, 04:30 AM
#6
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Thanks to Kal for those updates! It really has me salivating now and counting down the days until we leave for Kauai Feb. 3! Now, as my initial posting of this question hasn't gotten any responses, I'll try this route: anyone have any input on the "do-ability" of a one day trip to Molokai from Kauai, in other words, in and out the same day? Thanks!
Jan 29th, 2001, 06:47 AM
#7
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Add to the excellent suggestions above:
If you are a snorkeler, try Kayak Kauai's trip to Tunnels Beach from Hanalei. The ocean kayaking can be a little rough but the views are sensational and Tunnels is a snorkeler's dream. We are also going to repeat our sunset trip on the Blue Dolphin Catamaran out of Poipu. It was a little on the cheesy side but the sunset over Niihau was breathtaking and boy, do you get the whales, dolphins and occasionally sea turtles. My husband is nuts for White Sands beach--long drive but secluded and spectacular cliff scenery. Hard to go wrong on Kauai--have a wonderful time!
If you are a snorkeler, try Kayak Kauai's trip to Tunnels Beach from Hanalei. The ocean kayaking can be a little rough but the views are sensational and Tunnels is a snorkeler's dream. We are also going to repeat our sunset trip on the Blue Dolphin Catamaran out of Poipu. It was a little on the cheesy side but the sunset over Niihau was breathtaking and boy, do you get the whales, dolphins and occasionally sea turtles. My husband is nuts for White Sands beach--long drive but secluded and spectacular cliff scenery. Hard to go wrong on Kauai--have a wonderful time!
Jan 30th, 2001, 08:07 AM
#8
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Great recommendations so far. I would also check out Queen's Bath (we saw huge turtles swimming there) it is worth the hike and has a spectucular view of Bali Hai, and good snorkeling. You must go to the canyon, and also see all of the beautiful waterfalls, wet & dry cave, etc. Buy or borrow the book Ultimate Kauai Guidebook - it is the best book and has great recommendations which are unbiased. Have a fabulous time!
