Introduction to the "Garden Island"

My husband and I were celebrating our second wedding anniversary. My daughter (age 41) went with us. She loved Kauai so much that she wants to get married there next year. We flew on Hawaiian Air from Sacramento to Honolulu ( each). We used American Airlines frequent flyer miles (5,000 miles for each, plus each for transaction fee) for the round-trip tickets from Honolulu to Kauai (Lihue Airport). The food on the plane was good and we enjoyed the movie. We arrived in Honolulu in time to catch an earlier flight than we had scheduled to Kauai, so we just got in line and, since there was plenty of room, we got on.

Quick Tips:

We went to Safeway in Kapaa the first night after we checked into the Pono Kai. There were still some shortages due to the recent West Coast longshoreman strike. Some of the shelves were half empty. They had no mayonnaise nor cottage cheese, but were expecting it the next day. Prices were higher than in California (Safeway), except for the advertised specials, which were the same. I checked on-line at www.safeway.com for the specials that would be in effect while we were there. We also shopped at a discount store near the Pono Kai a couple of times during the week.

Best Way To Get Around:

I had reserved an intermediate size car (Subaru Impreza or similar) at Lihue Airport (through Budget), but there were none available when we arrived so we were upgraded to a beautiful 2003 Nissan Maxima SE for the same price -- .28 for the week. We also received Hawaiian Air Miles for the rental.

I purchased both the Sea Band wristband and Bonine for motion sickness. I pretty much wore the wristbands from the time I left home. I was able to ride in the car without getting queasy when my daughter or husband drove. In addition, I took two Bonine tablets for the helicopter tour and the Na Pali coast boat tour and the kayaking trip. My daughter took one each time for the helicopter tour and the boat tour, and my husband took one for the boat tour. We had no problems.

Best Things Nearby:
Shopping, restaurants, open-air markets. The Coconut Marketplace is only a few miles from the resort. We spent a lot of time shopping there. The Lihue airport is only 8 miles away. We also enjoyed the Anchor Cove Shopping Center in Lihue, especially JJ.s Broiler overlooking Kalapaki Bay, where we had appetizers and drinks while waiting for our return flight.

There is a place next to the Pono Kai where I had my digital camera photo card tranferred to a CD (51 images) for $12.95, so I could use the card again. I also used the internet there twice -- $2 (minimum charge) for 10 minutes and $.20 a minute after that.

Best Things About the Resort:
We arrived about 6pm. Check-in was quick and we got a beautiful third floor two-bedroom ocean front end unit in Building D. The grounds are beautifully maintained and there is plenty of free parking close to the units. The unit was very spacious and appeared to be newly remodeled -- the kitchen cabinets looked new and the hide-a-bed and table and chairs in the living room appeared to be new. The bedspreads in both bedrooms also looked new. The beds were quite comfortable. We didn't open the hide-a-bed, but it was comfortable using the couch part. I slept there a couple of nights just to hear the sound of the crashing ocean waves through the open sliding patio doors to the balcony. There was plenty of room on the balcony when we wanted to lounge out there. The air conditioners worked perfectly (there was none in the second bedroom, but my daughter liked it that way and kept the door closed at night). The roosters crowed each morning, so we didn't miss the sunrises, which were awesome.

The pool was very inviting and the hot tub was excellent -- very spacious, the water was not too hot, and it wasn't ever too crowded. My daughter enjoyed swimming in the ocean in front of our building every day and took long walks along the beach both ways from our building. She encountered many interesting things, including a pot-bellied pig.

There were several resort activities listed, but we didn't participate in any of them, since this was our first time to Kauai and we wanted to explore the island.

Resort Experience:
The kitchen was well stocked, including salt and pepper. We took coffee and filters and some spices from home. The ice-maker in the full-sized refrigerator worked great. There was a styrofoam ice-chest in the closet, but we didn't use it. The resort provided dishwasher and dish detergent. We ate several meals -- sometimes just sandwiches, in the unit. My husband grilled steaks on the gas barbecue (by the tennis court) one night. We used the oven for baked potatoes. The electricity was off all over the resort that night for about 45 minutes right after I put the potatoes in to bake, but they got done. I had put them in the microwave for several minutes first.

We were a little surprised when we got back from Hanalei Sunday night and discovered housekeeping staff had made the beds. In fact, they came every day and made the beds and cleaned. We gave them a nice tip and left lots of food, which they said they were allowed to take.

Orientation was Sunday morning. The resort furnished doughnuts, etc. and juice. Representatives of the various tour companies were there to explain their activities. In the drawing, we won a two-for-one for the Luau at Kilohana.

There was a WebTV in the unit to access the internet, which would cost $37.50 for four days or $15 daily, but we didn't use it. The local Channel 3 had an excellent 90-minute presentation of Kauai -- things to do and how to get there. The program repeats over and over. I finally saw the whole thing, but not all at once.

I don't usually do laundry on a one-week trip, but I did it once here. The washer and dryer units are on the first floor by the elevator. It cost $1 each for washing and drying. There is no change machine so you need to take quarters. I took a couple of tablets of detergent and dryer sheets from home.

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

We received a 2-for-1 discount for this tour for taking a timeshare tour to Hanalei Bay Resort. The paid ticket cost $85.41 (including tax). This is the only Hawaiian-owned and operated canoe and kayak adventure company in the world. The crew was very friendly and informative about the history and secrets of the island and related this all through the tour.

We drove to the Kalapaki Market Place in the Anchor Cove Shopping Center in Lihue to check in. I had water shoes to wear, but neither my daughter nor husband had any, so they bought some there ($10 each). We also bought insect repellent there ($5) -- both were necessary for this tour.

We put the kayaks in the water at Nawiliwili Bay. The crew gave basic instruction on how to operate the two-person kayaks. We kayaked up the "jungle" river to Kipu Ranch, where we left the kayaks and hiked a short way through a tropical forest to a mountain pool where we were able to swing out on a rope and drop into the pool. This is the area where the Indiana Jones character used a rope (probably not the same one, however) to swing across the river to evade his enemies in Raiders of the Lost Ark. What a great experience for us. My daughter and I are now (unofficially) Indiana "Janes" (my husband didn't do it). After our "swim", we hiked to a small waterfall and ate lunch. All the lunches and our gear were in large waterproof bags so they wouldn't get wet on the kayak trip. The lunch consisted of a very large sandwich (sandwich choice made when booking), water, soda, chips, and cookie.

After lunch and more photo ops at the waterfall, we hiked back to the river and boarded a boat that towed the kayaks for the return trip. It was a great trip. My daughter was able to ride in a kayak with one of the crew members and videotaped the whole thing.

We won a two-for-one at the orientation at the Pono Kai. The paid one was $60.42 (including tax). We were promised good seats next to the stage, and we got them. The bar was open throughout the night, serving free beer, wine, and Polynesian drinks.

After we got our seating assignments, we went outside and rode in the horse-drawn wagon around the plantation, with the driver providing narration. There were various artists making things and performing around the grounds. We were photographed with one of the costumed staff when we entered the site and the pictures were available for purchase at the end of the evening ($17 each). We opted not to buy, but my daughter bought hers.

Just before dark, we watched the IMU Ceremony where the Kalua Pork is unearthed from the underground oven, where it had roasted all day. The all-you-can-eat buffet consisted of roasted Kalua pig, mahi mahi, teriyaki beef, pineapple chicken, fried rice, fresh vegetables, and IMU baked sweet potatoes, along with salads, fresh fruits, and delicious deserts. It was fantastic.

The Polynesian Review featured the "Reflections of Paradise" show which encompasses dances of all of Polynesian, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori, and the Samoan Fire Knife Dance. There was even some audience participation. Small gifts were presented to people celebrating birthdays, couples celebrating anniversaries, etc. We received a nice Gaylord's Poster (it was our second anniversary). This was the only luau any of had attended and we thought it was first class.

We took the "Kauai Grand" tour with Island Helicopters, which was narrated by our pilot, a pleasant, knowledgeable young man named Kurt. It was a wonderfully scenic adventure, and included the famous Manawaiopuna Falls in the Hanapepe Valley (as seen in the movie Jurassic Park); the Olokele Canyon, the gateway to the Waimea Canyon, with all its rich colors and deep valleys; and the panorama of the isolated Na Pali Coast, with its mountains. cliffs, secluded beaches, and cascading waterfalls, caves, and terraces. We then flew over the Hanalei Valley, Lumahai Beach, and the Princeville Resort.

We also explored the Mount Waialeale Crater, which is the source for the most majestic waterfalls on Kauai that cascade to the valley's floor below. Before we landed at Lihue Airport, we passed by Wailua Falls (better known as the "Fantasy Island" waterfalls).

Our starting point was the Island Helicopter Office which is right next to the heliport at Lihue Airport. We had coupons from the Entertainment Book for 25% off of this tour and also had a printout of the internet site showing 37% off if you book on-line. We called them after we got to Kauai and they gave us the internet rate ($133.12 per person -- tax included)

After the flight, we each received an outstanding, professionally made videotape (two videotapes for three of us), which was included in the price and was one of the reasons we chose this company. We really enjoyed this once-in-a-lifetime experience. My daughter said it was the best experience of her life.

The Holoholo is a 61-foot luxury power catamaran. Passenger check-in is at 2:15pm at the Holoholo Charters Office in the Ele'ele Shopping Center (south coast of Kauai). The boat leaves at 3pm from Port Allen and returns after sunset. The bar is open as soon as you leave the harbor and includes all drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and dinner pupus (food!!!). It was the best food I have ever eaten on a boat cruise. They served lasagna, many cheeses, meats, and rolls, fruit, etc. Yummy!

The catamaran sails west and north from Port Allen to the Na Pali coast, where you see towering peaks, hidden valleys, and mysterious sea caves. As we cruised along the coast the crew (Mike, Lisa, and Scott) narrated the history of the coast and the people who had lived in the area, including the "Lost Tribe." We then headed back toward Port Allen to enjoy the sunset and have a champagne toast.

The water was rough at times. We had taken Bonine for motion sickness and didn't have any problems. Some on the boat were getting sick. I stood outside part of the time and got soaked, but it felt great. I did put the sweatshirt on I took with me after I got wet. It was a little cloudy, but the sunset was still magnificent. This was absolutely the best boat cruise I have ever been on.

We used Hawaii Entertainment Book 25% off coupons for this cruise ($64.90 each with discount.) We were asked for the card number when we made reservations, but only needed to give them the coupon when we arrived at the boarding site. This is a barefoot cruise so NO SHOES ARE WORN. It's in the small print and many of us didn't see it. We didn't mind, but some folks weren't happy about leaving their shoes behind.

We took a tour of the Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville. This is a beautiful, rambling resort. Unless you are prepared to walk a lot, you need a golf cart to get around. The staff will take guests anywhere they need to go when requested. We went to the beach with our tour guide -- entered through the Princeville Hotel grounds. The view of Hanalei Bay and Bali Hai are breathtaking from there.

We had lunch at Neide's Salsa and Samba in Hanalei. The food was exceptional. We loved the unique stores and all the interesting places in Hanalei. I used the internet at a photo shop there (it cost $3 for 20 minutes). I had seen an ad that you could check your email at Bubba Burgers there, but they only had WebTV and it was noisy and too warm in there for me, so I passed on that.

After leaving Hanalei, we toured the Kilauea Lighthouse, which is a part of the Hawaiian Island Nataional Wildlife Refuge that shelters millions of seabirds, including the very interesting Red-Footed Booby. The ocean views from there are breathtaking. There is a $3 donation to enter the area.

We saw many gardens of fully blooming poinsettias between the Lighthouse and Kapaa.

Many natives had recommended the food at Ono Charburgers, which is a "drive-in" along the highway between Hanalei and Kapaa, and we fully agree with their recommendations. The bleu cheese burger was excellent, as were the French fries and onion rings. Excellent food at reasonable prices.

Sunday, after orientation at the Pono Kai Resort, we drove up to see Waimea Canyon on the west side of Kauai. We stopped at several lookouts along the way to see this magnificant vision. The pictures don't do it justice. The fog was just starting to roll in when we got to the Kaialau Lookout at the top (end of the road) but we did see a little of the ocean before it was completely fogged in. On the way back down the canyon, we stoped at the Koke'e Lodge for drinks and to visit the gift shop.

We drove back down to Poipu Beach and had dinner at Brennecke's Beach Broiler. Poipu Beach is a lovely curve of soft, golden sand sloping down to the sea. Brenneckes is a great restaurant -- we were seated at a table by an open window with a panoramic view of the beach and the water. The fresh fish and seafood entrees at Brenneckes are perfectly broiled on a grill fueled by charcoal of kaiwe wood, and were delicious. The Kendall Jackson chardonnay was a perfect compliment to our entrees. I would highly recommend this restaurant. We were able to use a $15-off coupon from the Hawaii Entertainment Book, which reduced our bill for three people to $66.

The sunset was spectacular. It was one of the only two sunsets we saw over the ocean while we were there. The other was the sunset we watched on the Holoholo Sunset Sail.