hi all, just join this forum today and few Q's about Kauai.
Plannin a first trip to hawaii with three of my friends, narrowed it down to Kauai for 1 week in late August. Been readin all ur posts, its pretty addictive, and thinkin of renting Puu Poa unit in princeville area. How soon should i book this condo? and not having AC in the unit really matter? and is there any local shopping area in princeville to satisfy one girl member in our group??
Thanks for readin and any suggestion would be great, esp. from people who has stayed at PuuPoa and Princeville area.

you need to book as soon as possible for the best options. www.vrbo.com, Century Reality and and a number of others just do a condo search for Princeville on Yahoo.

Kauai is not really a place you go to shop. There is a mall on the west side but again you want a shopping trip high tale yourself to Italy. Kauai is more of a place to go for outdoor activities. Oahu is a different story but I won't lie to you there are shops here and there on Kauai but nothing I am sorry to say to plan your day around.


I never have AC in Kauai in August, strong trade winds make up for this. If you do find a unit with AC you will find yourself turning it off.

Thanks Sarah! I'll do little more research and book ASAP! and yeah, thats what i expected for shoppin in Kauai... i think she just wants to browse local shops, nothin to plan a entire day around.... i hope.

Regarding shopping while on Kaua`i -- we've got _lots_!

In addition to the mall and the various shopping centers, my favorite place to blow off "shopping steam" is Hanalei town.
And since you'll be on the north shore, be sure to check out the Kong Lung Center in Kilauea -- bring $$$$

autiemarie you are on Kauai? Also are you Autiemaire that runs www.mele.com. You should know you make a lot ot NYC based Hawaiians very happy.

dreaminkauai if you don't already know www.mele.com is a great source for Hawiian music, videos and coming concerts. A calendar I check out before any trip!

Mahalo for your kind words...yes, I'm one and the same.

As for "when to book?", don't delay -- many northshore condos/cottages/houses are already booked full for June-September and the November-January holiday seasons. Good for the local economy, but "tight" for first-time visitors.

Thank you ladies, ur suggestions are very helpful... have one question for auntiemaria or anyone for that matter... i read in one of the thread that u started to golf?... i wanna golf one of the days in Kauai but can't decide if its worth the time to waste the entire day... i shoot around low 90's and i thoroughly enjoy day of golf, but my friends are beginners... and not sure if there are courses in Kauai that they could enjoy too... out of all 9 golf courses in Kauai, which one do you recommend?? in term of value, scenery, easy enough for the beginner to enjoy.. etc. or is it better to enjoy the day at the beach or hiking, or thousands of other activies available in Kauai??

Alohaaa,
If your pals are beginners, take them to Kukuilono in Kalaheo.

Very inexpensive public course. Club rentals available too.
9 holes so it goes by pretty quick.
GREAT scenery too.

After a round, stop by either The Brick, Kalaheo Steak House or Pomodoro's or drive out to Polihale and see a sunset and hit them on the way back.

The newly renovated Puakea behind the Kuikui Grove Shopping Mall is also very nice and not too difficult for a beginner. But it could cost them around $65 after 1pm.

Wailua is one very nice public course too.

Ahhhhh....319 until I'm swearing at my bad clubs, tees and defective balls again! :-"

Although I'm still a student golfer, I second the recommendations given.

Kukuilono is on the west side of the island, built on a slightly-inland bluff, with lovely views to the ocean. Chickens all over the place, but that's what we love about this island. Green fee is low, low, low:
Kukuiolono Golf Course
9 Holes - Par 36 - 3173 Yds.
P.O.Box 987, Kalaheo, HI 96766
(808) 332-9151

Wailua is the municipal course, on the east side of the island, oceanfront has very reasonable greens fees:
Wailua Golf Course
18 Holes - Par 72 - 6585 Yds.
3-5350 Kuhio Hwy., Lihue, HI 96746
(808) 245-8092

My son golfed the Wailua course a few years ago when he was thirteen. He didn't have any problems at all.

The pictures that his friends took it looked like there were some nice oceanview holes. I think the cost was only like $35.

It seems your set on Princeville but take a look at Whalers Cove in Poipu. I stayed there for Thanksgiving..absolutely fabulous !!!!

thanks again for all the suggestions!
in terms of golfing, all the suggested courses sounds great... esp. Puakea sounds pretty reasonably priced with all the resort golf perks.... may be i'll hit the wailua and kukuilono to satisfy my golfin needs if my group allow me... but another question to all the "golfers" which kindly responded to my neverending Q's.... has anyone taken their own clubs to hawaii? thru airline, airports, numerous connections?? is it worth the hassle? or should i just rent clubs at the club house? and do they have ladies clubs to rent? since we have a lady in our group.... and are the rental clubs halfway decent? or are they persimmon drivers with 20yr old irons? nothin against persimmon drivers ofcourse... anyway, this is kind of golfer questions rather than hawaii q's.. but im contemplating on if i should buy one of the travel golf bag to take my own clubs..which are like 7yr old but im quite fond of...anyway if any golfers are reading this post, i greatly appreciate any suggestions... thanks for reading.