WuWuWu's Trip Report - Maui/Kauai Part II
May 13th, 2004 | 10:34 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 125
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WuWuWu's Trip Report - Maui/Kauai Part II
As promised...
Part II
Maui/Kauai ? April 15 ? 29
Thursday, April 22 ? Tough leaving our buddies but relieved all the same. Hawaiian Airlines charged us $25. for our overweight luggage. Bummer! Checked in and waited at the gate. Didn?t like the ?no assigned seating? although I know it expedites matters for the airlines. Felt like??I can?t explain it but I didn?t like it. Had to stop in Honolulu, get off the plane, get in line for another plane and then went to Kauai. Talk about wasting my Hawaii time. Anyway, we landed safely, got the luggage and the car (a convertible this time) quickly and headed toward Pu?u Poa condos in Princeville. Drive was very nice. We had the top down and the sun was setting. We didn?t make it to the condo before the sunset but we saw it from the car anyway. We arrived at the condo, looked around, loved it, changed clothes and headed to the Princeville next door for a drink and sushi in ?The Living Room?. ?The Living Room? at the Princeville became one of our favorite spots to hang out in the evening. We saw several sunsets from there and WHAT A VIEW!! Service and entertainment were good as was the sushi.
We stayed in condo #303. (www.vrbo.com) It was very nice and very clean. 2 BR, 2 Bath, granite, tile, well decorated and had about everything you would need. Enjoyed watching the surfers and the whales from our lanai. We paid about $300.00 per night.
Friday ? Didn?t sleep well. Was a little warm for me with no a/c. We did find a fan so I set it up for the remainder of our stay to blow right over the bed. It worked. Ate breakfast at Café Hanalei at the Princeville Hotel. Very good with wonderful view of Hanalei Bay and Bali Hai. Went back to Kapa?a area to shop for groceries, etc Bought my charm for my bracelet. Got a plumeria and love it. Talked hubby into letting me check out the open air craft fair on the main road. It was ok but I didn?t buy anything. Cooked at home. (fish, he had mahi mahi and I had ahi tuna, baked potato and salad). Watched the sun set from the lanai. Walked to the Princeville for a couple of drinks and then home for the evening.
Saturday ? Ate breakfast at the condo. Drove to Hanalei. Ate lunch at Bubba?s burgers. Now for all you people that like Bubba?s, I would like to invite you to Texas for a real hamburger. Didn?t eat the burger or the fries. Wasn?t worth it and I thought I would then be able to try a shave ice. Walked around and shopped for a while then tried out a shave ice at Paradise. Went the ice cream route. To tell you the truth I would rather have a scoop of ice cream and then a shave ice. I didn?t get the big deal with the ice cream underneath. Did I do something wrong? Went back to the condo and went on a 3 mile (guilt) walk in the Princeville area. The birds there are so interesting especially the Albatross? they have nesting on the ground in Princeville. Saw our first and only whale breach. I saw the first one and yelled at my husband to come see. He came and saw another one and then that was it. Walked to the Princeville for sushi and drinks.
Sunday ? Ate breakfast at Café Hanalei (again) Afterwards left for the South shore. Drove leisurely and took in the sights. Checked out Sheraton and Hyatt. Both nice but liked Hyatt better. Was cloudy and beginning to rain when we decided to eat at the Sheraton. It was good. Drove around a bit more and saw what looked like Spouting Horn from a distance. Didn?t go all the way to it. It was raining anyway. Talked my husband into taking me to a shopping area (can?t remember the name)so I could do my thing. Had enough after that so decided to head back to the condo. It was a good thing because I left the windows open and a storm was about to hit along with strong winds. Enjoyed staying in the rest of the afternoon. Cooked at home. (pork tenderloin, asparagus, potatoes, salad)
Monday ? Went on a 5 mile walk in Princeville area. Got in the car and checked out the Lighthouse and did some light shopping in Kilauea (sp?). Tried to find the twin unnamed falls but to no avail. Went back to Princeville area and by the Queen?s Bath before heading back to the condo. Queen?s Bath is a nice short hike. After that I hiked down to Hideaway beach below the condo to check it out. Nice beach so decided we would have to come back for the sunset. Also checked out the Princeville pool and beach area. All nice. Hubby and I watched sun set from Hideaway Beach. So beautiful! Saw whales again. Just the tales this time. Why do we love that so much? Ate in ?The Living Room?. Do you think we like sushi?
Tuesday ? Breakfast at the condo. Headed to THE KALALAU TRAIL (to the falls ? about 3.5 miles each way according to my husband?s new wrist GPS). It took us over 6 hours and was the most difficult and rewarding activity we did. We had no idea how challenging it would be when we started. My husband and I both thought we were in pretty good shape but this trail taught us different. During the first two miles it was (I thought) hard at times. Climbing up and up, going down, then back up and up then to the beach. I was even trying to keep my shoes dry and as mud-free as possible. What a joke that was during the trip from the beach to the falls. Not far into that part of the hike I was stomping in the middle of the mud and walking through streams above my knees. Worried about my shoes? Nah! (and yes, we threw our shoes away after the hike) The last mile or so was the toughest. We even thought we were lost a couple of times. We did pretty good going through the streams until my husband missed my hand once and I plunged into the stream up to my neck. I busted my knee on a rock but made it out ok. I was beginning to feel like a real ?hiker?. We finally made it to the waterfall and it was beautiful. We sat on one of the rocks and enjoyed the view while we ate our Balance Bars and drank the rest of our water. (No, we didn?t bring enough) It was a long walk back. Met some adventurous souls at the beach that were doing the whole trail and the camping thing. I?m a condo camper myself and was glad to see that condo and the shower when we arrived. Cleaned up, rested and walked to The Princeville to eat at their Italian restaurant La Cascata. We got a wonderful table at the window with a great view. My husband didn?t care for their lasagna because it wasn?t what he was expecting (too gourmet?). Everything else was good, including the service. Afterwards, had a drink in ?The Living Room? and went home to some much needed sleep.
Wednesday ? Can?t move without pain. Took Aleve and tried to stretch out. Pretty pitiful. (husband was sore too) Breakfast at Café Hanalei again. Creatures of habit. Afterwards, went to condo and got ready for a day at the Princeville Hotel beach. Laid out until it got cloudy. Had a drink at The Beach House? (restaurant at the Princeville Hotel pool) Talked and did some people watching and then ate lunch at The Beach House. Had our last dinner in ?The Living Room?.
Thursday ? Ugh! Got ready and left the condo. Walked to the Princeville for our final breakfast at the Café Hanalei. I was pretty good all week until today. I got the deluxe buffet and had eggs benedict, a cheese blintz and French toast with macadamia nuts and coconut syrup. I ate it all and it was wonderful. We drove around a bit and then headed to the airport for a very long day. Again, I didn?t like the interisland thing but at least they sent my luggage on to American Airlines for me so I wouldn?t have to claim it and check it all over again. And they didn?t weigh my luggage so no extra fee. We had no problems with any part of our trip back home. Took me several days to adjust back to Texas time though.
Note: This is just my opinion but if I stayed in the Princeville area again I would do my grocery shopping there even if it is a little more expensive. It is a nice, clean grocery store with good selections and it is convenient.
Part II
Maui/Kauai ? April 15 ? 29
Thursday, April 22 ? Tough leaving our buddies but relieved all the same. Hawaiian Airlines charged us $25. for our overweight luggage. Bummer! Checked in and waited at the gate. Didn?t like the ?no assigned seating? although I know it expedites matters for the airlines. Felt like??I can?t explain it but I didn?t like it. Had to stop in Honolulu, get off the plane, get in line for another plane and then went to Kauai. Talk about wasting my Hawaii time. Anyway, we landed safely, got the luggage and the car (a convertible this time) quickly and headed toward Pu?u Poa condos in Princeville. Drive was very nice. We had the top down and the sun was setting. We didn?t make it to the condo before the sunset but we saw it from the car anyway. We arrived at the condo, looked around, loved it, changed clothes and headed to the Princeville next door for a drink and sushi in ?The Living Room?. ?The Living Room? at the Princeville became one of our favorite spots to hang out in the evening. We saw several sunsets from there and WHAT A VIEW!! Service and entertainment were good as was the sushi.
We stayed in condo #303. (www.vrbo.com) It was very nice and very clean. 2 BR, 2 Bath, granite, tile, well decorated and had about everything you would need. Enjoyed watching the surfers and the whales from our lanai. We paid about $300.00 per night.
Friday ? Didn?t sleep well. Was a little warm for me with no a/c. We did find a fan so I set it up for the remainder of our stay to blow right over the bed. It worked. Ate breakfast at Café Hanalei at the Princeville Hotel. Very good with wonderful view of Hanalei Bay and Bali Hai. Went back to Kapa?a area to shop for groceries, etc Bought my charm for my bracelet. Got a plumeria and love it. Talked hubby into letting me check out the open air craft fair on the main road. It was ok but I didn?t buy anything. Cooked at home. (fish, he had mahi mahi and I had ahi tuna, baked potato and salad). Watched the sun set from the lanai. Walked to the Princeville for a couple of drinks and then home for the evening.
Saturday ? Ate breakfast at the condo. Drove to Hanalei. Ate lunch at Bubba?s burgers. Now for all you people that like Bubba?s, I would like to invite you to Texas for a real hamburger. Didn?t eat the burger or the fries. Wasn?t worth it and I thought I would then be able to try a shave ice. Walked around and shopped for a while then tried out a shave ice at Paradise. Went the ice cream route. To tell you the truth I would rather have a scoop of ice cream and then a shave ice. I didn?t get the big deal with the ice cream underneath. Did I do something wrong? Went back to the condo and went on a 3 mile (guilt) walk in the Princeville area. The birds there are so interesting especially the Albatross? they have nesting on the ground in Princeville. Saw our first and only whale breach. I saw the first one and yelled at my husband to come see. He came and saw another one and then that was it. Walked to the Princeville for sushi and drinks.
Sunday ? Ate breakfast at Café Hanalei (again) Afterwards left for the South shore. Drove leisurely and took in the sights. Checked out Sheraton and Hyatt. Both nice but liked Hyatt better. Was cloudy and beginning to rain when we decided to eat at the Sheraton. It was good. Drove around a bit more and saw what looked like Spouting Horn from a distance. Didn?t go all the way to it. It was raining anyway. Talked my husband into taking me to a shopping area (can?t remember the name)so I could do my thing. Had enough after that so decided to head back to the condo. It was a good thing because I left the windows open and a storm was about to hit along with strong winds. Enjoyed staying in the rest of the afternoon. Cooked at home. (pork tenderloin, asparagus, potatoes, salad)
Monday ? Went on a 5 mile walk in Princeville area. Got in the car and checked out the Lighthouse and did some light shopping in Kilauea (sp?). Tried to find the twin unnamed falls but to no avail. Went back to Princeville area and by the Queen?s Bath before heading back to the condo. Queen?s Bath is a nice short hike. After that I hiked down to Hideaway beach below the condo to check it out. Nice beach so decided we would have to come back for the sunset. Also checked out the Princeville pool and beach area. All nice. Hubby and I watched sun set from Hideaway Beach. So beautiful! Saw whales again. Just the tales this time. Why do we love that so much? Ate in ?The Living Room?. Do you think we like sushi?
Tuesday ? Breakfast at the condo. Headed to THE KALALAU TRAIL (to the falls ? about 3.5 miles each way according to my husband?s new wrist GPS). It took us over 6 hours and was the most difficult and rewarding activity we did. We had no idea how challenging it would be when we started. My husband and I both thought we were in pretty good shape but this trail taught us different. During the first two miles it was (I thought) hard at times. Climbing up and up, going down, then back up and up then to the beach. I was even trying to keep my shoes dry and as mud-free as possible. What a joke that was during the trip from the beach to the falls. Not far into that part of the hike I was stomping in the middle of the mud and walking through streams above my knees. Worried about my shoes? Nah! (and yes, we threw our shoes away after the hike) The last mile or so was the toughest. We even thought we were lost a couple of times. We did pretty good going through the streams until my husband missed my hand once and I plunged into the stream up to my neck. I busted my knee on a rock but made it out ok. I was beginning to feel like a real ?hiker?. We finally made it to the waterfall and it was beautiful. We sat on one of the rocks and enjoyed the view while we ate our Balance Bars and drank the rest of our water. (No, we didn?t bring enough) It was a long walk back. Met some adventurous souls at the beach that were doing the whole trail and the camping thing. I?m a condo camper myself and was glad to see that condo and the shower when we arrived. Cleaned up, rested and walked to The Princeville to eat at their Italian restaurant La Cascata. We got a wonderful table at the window with a great view. My husband didn?t care for their lasagna because it wasn?t what he was expecting (too gourmet?). Everything else was good, including the service. Afterwards, had a drink in ?The Living Room? and went home to some much needed sleep.
Wednesday ? Can?t move without pain. Took Aleve and tried to stretch out. Pretty pitiful. (husband was sore too) Breakfast at Café Hanalei again. Creatures of habit. Afterwards, went to condo and got ready for a day at the Princeville Hotel beach. Laid out until it got cloudy. Had a drink at The Beach House? (restaurant at the Princeville Hotel pool) Talked and did some people watching and then ate lunch at The Beach House. Had our last dinner in ?The Living Room?.
Thursday ? Ugh! Got ready and left the condo. Walked to the Princeville for our final breakfast at the Café Hanalei. I was pretty good all week until today. I got the deluxe buffet and had eggs benedict, a cheese blintz and French toast with macadamia nuts and coconut syrup. I ate it all and it was wonderful. We drove around a bit and then headed to the airport for a very long day. Again, I didn?t like the interisland thing but at least they sent my luggage on to American Airlines for me so I wouldn?t have to claim it and check it all over again. And they didn?t weigh my luggage so no extra fee. We had no problems with any part of our trip back home. Took me several days to adjust back to Texas time though.
Note: This is just my opinion but if I stayed in the Princeville area again I would do my grocery shopping there even if it is a little more expensive. It is a nice, clean grocery store with good selections and it is convenient.
May 13th, 2004 | 12:38 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,943
Likes: 0
wuwuwu- Great reports! In order for others to enjoy the whole thing, I copied this onto your earlier (part 1) post.
If you put your second part as a reply to the first it keeps them together forever, plus keeps all the follow up replies and questions in the same spot.
lots of people don't know how to find other posts by clicking on your name.
If you put your second part as a reply to the first it keeps them together forever, plus keeps all the follow up replies and questions in the same spot.
lots of people don't know how to find other posts by clicking on your name.
May 17th, 2004 | 05:26 AM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,559
Likes: 0
Great report! I am not a fan of Bubba's. I think they have a lot of first time visitors, and they are lucky there is a steady stream of them! You wont see many Kauai rsidents eating there.
Hawaiian Air tried seat assignments for awhile for interisland flights, I think they have reverted back to the free-for-all method of boarding. (I fly Aloha about 95% of the time.) I don't like it either but since I am a frequent flyer I get to board first which is nice.
Hawaiian Air tried seat assignments for awhile for interisland flights, I think they have reverted back to the free-for-all method of boarding. (I fly Aloha about 95% of the time.) I don't like it either but since I am a frequent flyer I get to board first which is nice.
