Whats up with this Kauai thing?
 

A majority of these postings are about Kauai. We actually hated Kauai. It rained and rained. We stayed at the Hyatt and found the rooms to be as depressing as the rain and we had to drive everywhere to do anything. All our clothes were always damp from the humidity and all we saw was retro hippies everywhere either asking for handouts or thumbing for rides. It was totally boring. We could not wait to get to Maui. Are all you people trying to re-live the 60's and 70's by hanging with the 20 somethings in Kauai or are the 20 somethings trying to be like the 60's and 70's were?

I guess you are just too cool for the island. Glad you enjoyed hip, happenin' Maui, aka L.A. West. Please feel free to take your attitude on many return visits to Maui.<BR>Who would think that it would rain on "The Garden Isle" and that it could be humid on a large rock located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Maybe you'll go back when they build some Interstates, develop a rapid transit rail system and then dome and air condition the island?

Lei_d ([email protected])<BR>why so easily sucked in?

Finally someone speaks the truth about that wretched place. All I saw were luaus with macaroni and potato salad, souvenirs made in China, timeshares, American fast food, Walmart, and lots and lots of young and old hippie types. A total waste of my vacation dollar, and I'm so pleased to see that finally someone can see beyond the scenery into what really goes on there - nothing.

Skip both Kauai and Maui and enjoy the Big Island.

Obviously people expect different things from a vacation. If a place doesn't conform to what you want to do then obviously you won't enjoy it.<BR><BR>My question is: If you are looking for things like nightlife, shopping and other modern entertainment options (that Kauai is decidedly lacking in), why are you considering Hawaii and specifically Kauai, at all? The reason to travel to an exotic place like Hawaii is to enjoy the scenery and the local ambiance that you don't have where you live. It's to see what is different about the world away from your front door. The main difference Hawaii has from Everytown, USA is the tropical geography and vegetation and whatever is left of the Hawaiian culture. If you aren't going to see that then why go at all?

The worst part of the Kauai thing is to try to read anything about it here without some long-winded report from hiking maniac Sarah. Geez her posts put you to sleep if they don't kill you. And god forbid if you don't like Hawaiii/Kauai the way she does. She's quite superior and she can even predict the weather months in advance. Wow!

troll. <BR>

and a mean troll to boot.

John, it's a bit of a contradiction to first write, "people expect different things from a vacation", then a few sentences later write, "If you aren't going to see that [Hawaii's geography, vegetation, and culture) then why go at all?" But to respond to your question, I find myself choosing destinations less by what I expect to see than by what I expect to feel. Eye candy is nice, but it's not what makes memories. <BR>

Kauai is one of those places that is beautiful even when it rains. Thousands of waterfalls. I normally have a highly visible and responsible job and am very visible in my community. I like to drop-out of society and drop-off the map on my vacations. It is still tough to not run into someone I know on vacation anywhere popular. I like to dress down, relax, and hang loose. Kauai is better for this than any other island save Molokai, but there are more resources in Molokai.

I mean Kauai.

To each his own. Let those who do not like Kauai go someplace else. Me, I'll take Kauai any day and love every minute I am there.

me too.

Well, No Name, please tell us some of the places that you DO like to visit!

What else is there to do on Kauai other than hike other than sit in a bar with all the wanna be hippies. Both times I've been there I have just about been accosted by these babies who want a handout. Like ah... mommy and daddy on the mainland won't support their pot habit so they move to Kauai to grow their own and live off the land. All the while they are working full time at mooching from tourists. Hippie wannabe's...Like knarly dude. Hippie has beens...groovy man, can you dig it?

Troll goes trolling again...

Beachbum - <BR><BR>You are actually making my point :-) Which was, Hawaii, and Kauai in particular, have certain things that other places don't (which make up a certain 'feel', if you would) and it makes sense to travel there to enjoy whatever those unique things are. If all that is wanted are things that can be more easily obtained elsewhere, why bother flying 2500 miles into the middle of the Pacific?

"knarly", "groovy" and "can you dig it".<BR>Why would you say this is a troll? Sounds like a 55 yr old Caribbean travel agent trying to deter people from going to Hawaii.

John you are explaining your point to an audience that uses language like "Kauai thing" to define experience. Do you think they could understand if they wanted to?<BR><BR>I also doubt this is a travel agent, who would certainly have reading skills. We only know that this is a troll.

Aside from Kauai's vegetation I'm having trouble thinking of a single other redeeming quality on that haven for hapless hippies. The beautiful beaches absolutely blow. You want nice beaches? Go to Bermuda or anywhere in the Caribbean. Even parts of Florida have better beaches than Kauai. All rocks, lousy sand, and poorly colored water. <BR><BR>The people who can't make it on the east coast move to California, the people who can't make it in California move to Hawaii, and the poor souls who can't make it in Hawaii move to Kauai and sponge off the tourists! <BR><BR>Back where I come from we call those shoeless people "homeless".<BR><BR>

I agree, probably a mean troll. But seriously, during the week we were on Kauai, I must have missed the hippies and the rain. All I saw were blue skies and tourists and locals. (The humidity on Kauai was mild compared to the humidity in the Midwest!) And my kids complained about the lack of fast foods. So, please don't go to Kauai - leave it unspoiled for our next visit.

Gimee, folks are free to express their opinions. Those who post here are fans of Kauai - so what? You had a bad experience and don't like Kauai - that's your business. Others, including myself, love Kauai. Quit criticizing. It makes me think you're just doing it to incite trouble since the postings have been slow.

John,<BR>I'm glad I made your point, because you sure didn't!

A forum such as this one is for opinions, both pro and con. Readers od the forum want to hear both sides so that they can decide for themselves.

Everyone has their opinion, Right? I have been going to Kauai for the last 15 years and I fail to understand the "hippie" fear thing that some posters have expressed. Who the heck cares? Personally, I was a hippie back in the 60's and I am glad to see the younger generation admires or emulates what we were about. By the way, I am pretty establishment now and I certainly didn't come to any harm from the 60's era..... Lighten up, People. Peace and good will to men. Right? Kauai Rocks!!!!

No Name--thanks for your response, and I do agree and disagree with you on some counts. For one, I never saw any "hippies" (and I'm SO GLAD, Brenda!) at the Hyatt or the Princeville, which might have something to do with that. Perhaps they were hanging out at the lower end hotels, bars and on the hiking trails, I don't know. I also agree with you about the beaches in Bermuda and the Caribbean--they are quite superior (especially compared to Poipu!)! As a matter of fact, many times I've said to myself, "I wish I could transpose some of these beaches to ALL of the Hawaiian islands! Then it would be 100% perfect!" BUT--on the other hand, Kauai, and the other islands have, in my opinion, a very special "feeling," "atmosphere," etc., and the scenery is vastly superior to what you'll find in Bermuda or the Caribbean--and the standard of living (VERY important!), ease of getting around, comfort level, familiarity are also superior. But thank goodness for Grand Cayman, St. Barts and even Cancun, oh yes, even Bermuda (places that you probably don't like, no doubt, excluding Bermuda), for I can quite comfortably visit those places and feel perfectly fine about them, and their wonderful, marvelous beaches!!