Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is a great island to get outdoors! We went on the Holoholo Boat tour to the Forbidden Island and it is highly recommended. It goes along the Na Pali coast then crosses the channel to the Forbidden Island of Ni'ihau. You snorkel off another small rock outcropping where I snorkeled with sharks and monk seals. Waimea Canyon is another must! Great hiking there! Have lunch at Koke'e Lodge.

Other highlights were the drive to Poipu Beach area which must include a visit to National Tropical Botonical Gardens near Spouting Horn parking lot. The drive to Hanelei must include a stop at Princeville Hotel. Take a boat ride or even kayak to Fern Grotto. The most memorable moment was walking on the beach just outside our condo (Kauai Beach Villas) and seeing a monk seal lying on the beach digesting his breakfast.

Quick Tips:

Great hiking in Waimea Canyon. The best is Cliff trail which goes to a bi-level waterfall! The Pihea Trail is very wet & slick. Prepare to get muddy & wear shoes with good tread on them! Leave a rain coat in your car, especially if you carry around lots of camera equipment like I do.

I prepaid most of our "fun" commerical trips before going which left plenty of money to do "found" fun once we got to the island. Watch the "Island" tourism channel on the TV for current happenings and places of interest but only time to have the TV on! Many free publications also available on the sidewalks for coupons and discounts for fun activities.

Best Way To Get Around:

You must have a rental car to enjoy the Island. Park & walk through the small towns. I found driving to be easy but many different number routes for such a small island.

Best Things Nearby:
Airport (just 5 minutes away, but not under the flight pattern), Wailua Falls, Kapa'a & the Coconut Coast, Wailiua Golf course, Wailua River, and the main highway for great access to the entire island.

Best Things About the Resort:
Two bedrooms and two baths. Oceanside and use of the Radisson Resort adjacent to the property. The activities scheduled by the resort.

Resort Experience:
The condos were oceanside with two bedrooms and two baths. Check in for the resort was at the airport, which was fantastic and convenient. The condo has a small dining room, large living room and large lanai looking towards the ocean. The kitchen is furnished well with cookware and has a microwave and dishwasher. Each unit also has a washer and dryer and is on one floor. Our building had three floors. You are entitled to use the facilites at the Radisson resort adjacent to the property. The grounds of the resort are immaculate and tropical.

Each evening is a torch lighting ceremony with hula dancers. Some of the activities scheduled by the resort was: learn to scuba (free in the resort pool), learn to kayak (free in the resort pool), flower lei making, watercolor class (with professional artist instructor ($15.00) and many other activites. The pool is exotic with waterfalls and grottos. There is also a shallow sand pool with a view of the ocean. In the Radisson is an internet cafe, art gallery, and a gift shop. There is also a restaurant and tennis courts. You can run along the beach which is almost a mile and a half long.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

We ate at the one in Hanelei. It is in Kauai's version of a strip mall in the historic old school house area. The restaurant is in a small, yellow building with a small, inside-eating and small, on-the-porch-eating area. The decor is basic, but the food was good. My husband had the chili dog smothered in chili, and he said it was delicious. I had the hamburger and it was delicious, too. Great price, great food and set in the outdoors of Hawaii. The geckos on the thatched roof picnic tables and the building were an added bonus!

You arrived at the shopping center to sign up at 5:45 am. You then drive to the parking lot by the pier. Board the 61 foot powered catamaran, after removing your shoes (that's right, it's a barefoot cruise and shoes are not allowed) then embarked on a trip of a lifetime. The catamaran has plenty of indoor seating, two very small toliet areas (or heads) and limited seating in the back.

You go right to the Na Pali coast. You slowly motor along the coast while the captain gives you the history of the coastline which is very informative! The captain pulls the catamaran into sea caves when weather permits. We saw feral goats and a very large sea turtle by one sea cave. You then cross the channel to the Forbidden Island where you first snorkel in the clearest 90 feet of water you have ever seen! Its off a bird sanctuary near the Forbidden Island of Ni'ihau.

After snorkeling, you have a great deli lunch. You then cruise along the coastline of Ni'ihau where you gain knowledge of Hawai'ian's last stand. Ni'ihau is owned by the Roberts family and is forbidden to visit or dock on. Then it is back to the harbor where the captain tells you about Kauai, and gives ample opportunities to photographic the marine life of Kauai's oceans. The staff is attentive, professional, and extremely informed on the history and seamanship!

The Bill and Jean Lane Visitor Center is the check-in point for tours of the McBryde Garden and the Allerton Garden and is directly across from Spouting Horn in Poi`pu, Kaua`i.It is free and well worth it. Nestled on 10 acres of gardens, the Center is reminiscent of 1920s plantation-style homes and received statewide recognition for its historical restoration. The gardens are immaculately manicured. You stroll through giant palms and flowering bushes and trees. The smell is dreamy. The staff is very informed and the Gift Shop inside the Center features a variety of products made from tropical materials and scientific and popular books, videos, and botanical posters. selection of books is fantastic. See this garden and the knowledge will carry over to every part of Kauai you visit. Call (808) 742-2433. Open Mondays-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Secluded between rugged cliffs dropping down to a verdant valley floor, McBryde Garden is a treasure house of tropical flora. See rare and endangered Hawaiian species and learn about the efforts to save them. Stroll through McBryde Garden's Bamboo Bridge section, visit the living laboratory where scientists are still discovering the secrets of these plants. Take a trip back to ancient Hawaii in the Canoe Garden. Days: Monday through Saturday Hours: 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Duration: Approx. 1-1/2 hours Distance: Combination of transportation by vehicle and one-mile walk at any easy pace. Cost: $15 per person; tours self-guided, self-paced. Trams into valley every hour on the half-hour. Trams exit valley every hour on the hour. Attire: Comfortable walking shoes, long pants and/or mosquito repellant, hat for shade, bottled water. Reservations: Not required; first come first serve basis. Check-in: 15 minutes before tour leaves Also offered for the McBryde Garden Days: Mondays only Hours: 9:30 a.m. Duration: Approx. 2-1/2 hours Distance: Combination of transportation by vehicle and one-mile walk at any easy pace. Cost: $30 per person; guided tour. Attire: Comfortable walking shoes, long pants and/or mosquito repellant, hat for shade, bottled water. Check-in: 15 minutes before tour leaves Tours depart from the Visitor Center across from Spouting Horn in Poipu. Phone: (808) 742-2623

This fantastic park offers a blowhole which is a small lava shelf where water from waves is thrust through an opening, causing water and air to squirt out a blowhole. It is distinguished from other blowholes found around Hawaii in that it has an additional hole that blows only air, which causes this odd sound each time the waves come in. There is a wider blowhole that use to spout up to 200 feet in the air to the left by it was blasted by a local plantation owner in 1920 so the spray would not ruin his sugar cane crops. Stay on the viewing platform for your own safety as one person was killed in June of 2002. Great sea cliff views and a cute little harbor area as an extra. This natural attraction is free and really worth it. Also local craftsman sell there crafts in booths up from the viewing area. Great prices for souvenirs!

Home to the Kalalau Trail. The trail is renowned for its exceptional views of Hawaii's rugged and thrilling sea cliffs.

Hikers must be in good shape to hike the entire 11-mile trail (one-way), which runs from Haena State Park to Kalalau Beach. The strenous trail follows high, green cliffs and dips into lush valleys. Hikers can spend the night at primitive campsites in the Hanakapiai or Kalalau valleys.

You must obtain a backcountry/camping permit which is in high demand. Don't be surprised if the campsites are booked but you can try for cancellations.

Another popular day trip is the two-mile (one-way) hike from Kee Beach at Haena State Park to Hanakapiai Valley. There is a sandy beach and small sea cave at this location. Do NOT swim or wade at Hanakapiai because of dangerous rip currents. It is permissible to shore fish here. This trail allows great coastal views while hiking through kukui and ohia trees and groves of bamboo.

There is also the trail to Hanakapiai Falls which has a small pool for swimming but the trail is 4 miles round trip recommended only for experienced hikers.

Permits are required to hike the trail beyond Hanakapiai Valley.

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge consists of 203 acres of protected land. The Kilauea Lighthouse found on the refuge was built in 1913 and houses a huge, clam-shaped light.

The Refuge is located on the northern part of the Island and is open to the public. It has fantastic views of the Pacific. There is another rock island just off the tip of the penisula; make sure you scan for monk seals there. We saw a sea turtle in the ocean on the left-hand side of the penisula. The waves crashing onto the shore on the right-hand side are spectacular. Look up on the cliffside and there are thousands of birds: frigates, boobies, and albatrosses. Great place for nature conservatory education!

Fees were $3.00 per person or you can use your "Golden Eagle Pass". Be aware that the National Park's Pass will need the upgraded hologram to use it.

Kaua`i National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 1128
Kilauea, Hawai`i 96754
(808) 828-1413
(808) 828-1414 fax

Koke'e State Park is at 4,000' elevation, almost at the top of Waimea Canyon road. The park is 4,345 acres. If you are into hiking, this park has over 45 miles of trails. There is the world's highest swamp named Alaka'i Swamp and hiking there is extremely muddy. The mud is almost slimy and good tread is a must. Be sure to wear old clothes. You will get dirty hiking to the swamp or even Pihue Lookout.

No gas stations are located in the park,so fill up before coming up the mountain.

The lodge has 12 rustic, inexpensive cabins with fireplaces to rent ($35-$45 per night). Call for reservations.

Restaurant open for breakfast and lunch only.
1-800--335-6061 Koke'e Lodge
Koke'e Campground
Tent and trailer camping are allowed in this state park with appropriate permits. Restrooms, picnic tables and pavilions, grills and restaurant nearby the campground.
Permit is required for camping - call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 808-261-6660 for information and application.
It is a great place to picnic and the food in the restaurant is good. Beware of the hotdogs; they are huge! Ordering one is sufficient!

Cruise up the Wailua River to the fern covered grotto. While at the grotto, local Hawaiian musicians play traditional songs.

The trip takes 40 minutes with any one of many companies on a long, flat-bottom riverboat. Boats depart from the south side of the river every 30 minutes. The Wailua River is the only navigable river in Hawaii. You will also see kayakers, motor boats and water skiers. We went on Waialeale Boat Tours which departs for the grotto every 30 minutes - cost is $15/person. While cruising at a leisurely pace to and fro from the Grotto, we were entertained with Hawaiian musicians and hula dancers. Great trip. There are other companies and you can go directly to the marina for your pick of companies to cruise with. At the marina is the Smith's Tropical Paradise also.