My Honeymoon In Kauai, Hawaii

Our favorite things to do in Kauai was EVERYTHING. But the places that really stick out in our minds are Waimea Canyon, Kilauea Lighthouse, the pool at the Hyatt, and the Beach House Restaurant. You can't go wrong doing anything in Kauai - it is the most beautiful place we have ever been.

Quick Tips:

I recommend getting a rental; this is truly the best way to get around the island. Another tip is to fill your car with gas before heading up to Waimea Canyon - there are no gas stations on the way up. Be adventurous and try something new - you will not be disappointed.

Best Way To Get Around:

As I said earlier, the best way to get around is by rental car. Most sites are easily accessible with a non-four-wheel-drive vehicle. We rented a convertible, which was great because every day was perfect.

After about a half hour drive from the airport in our rental, we drove to the entrance of the Hyatt Regency Kauai. Our bags were taken from our vehicle and right after we checked in, the bags were escorted to our room. We had a deluxe ocean view room that had a king-size bed, mini bar, balcony overlooking the pool and ocean, and a bathroom with two sinks, one bath/shower, and a private toilet. When we checked in, we noticed there was a palm tree in our view of the ocean, so we went down to the front desk and discussed our problem with a Hyatt manager. They gave us keys to a room that was the last room on the floor we were on (our room was the first off the elevator). But we decided to hike and stayed with the room we had. My wife and I went out for the remainder of the day and, to our surprise, they had trimmed the palm tree so we could now have a clear view of the ocean. Now if that isn't service, I don't know what is!!!

The pool area is a winding pool with waterfalls, slides, and caves. At the bottom of the pool area is an in-water volleyball net and basketball rim. In addition to the pools, there is a saltwater lagoon where you can rent a kayak, take a leisurely swim, or relax on their own beach. There are eight places where you can eat, including their own luau (not included with hotel stay). There’s plenty of shopping on site with an art gallery. A showing of tropical birds in the lobby area is also a pleasant sight. Not only is this place great for a honeymoon or romantic retreat, there is plenty for families to do. This is a resort that I would go back to every time I visit Kauai.

Located at the Hyatt Regency, the Tidepools is for the couple looking for that romantic evening. Situated on an island in a koi pond, the restaurant features open-air wooden shutters with flickering tiki torches outside to provide a soothing environment.

The menu is mainly seafood, with a couple of meat options. The food was prepared beautifully and tasted just as good. The service could use a bit of a touch up, though. I recommend making reservations a couple of days in advance if possible.

Roy Yamaguchi is not only one of the most celebrated chefs in Hawaii; he is one of the most popular chefs in the world. Mr. Yamaguchi’s opened his first Roy’s restaurant in 1988. Soon after opening his original Roy’s in Honolulu Conde Nast Traveler named it one of its "Top 50" restaurants, and Food and Wine Magazine dubbed Roy’s the "crown jewel of Honolulu’s East-West eateries". Now he has expanded his empire to over 30 restaurants in three countries; 25 in the continental United States, six in Hawaii, two in Japan, and one in Guam. Chef Yamaguchi is also the recipient of a prestigious James Beard award, has written three cookbooks, and has appeared on numerous television shows and programs. With all of these accomplishments, awards and recommendations from our friends, my wife and I were expecting a top notch dining experience in Poipu, but we were utterly disappointed.

When we first checked in at Roy’s the restaurant was already packed. The hostess told us they were running late and we had to wait about 20 minutes after our original reservation time. Granted, we didn’t get seated that late but that was just the start. Our waiter came over and greeted us and said he would be right back to get our drink orders; he did, 20 minutes later. We ordered our drinks, appetizers and entrée’s when our waiter came back and before you knew it we were finished. Our drinks arrived with our appetizers and our dinner came 10 minutes later. Not only did the dining experience feel rushed (maybe because they fell way with their reservations) and unprofessional, we left Roy’s hungry and $125 lighter in the wallet.

Don’t get me wrong the flavors melded great together and the artistic presentations of the cuisine were elegant, but there was nothing on the plate. Example: My wife ordered a calamari steak appetizer. You have all seen the size of a squid (small), or have ordered fried calamari in an Italian restaurant; usually you can eat this for an entrée. This appetizer was exactly one squid cut into three pieces for over $10! It was literally three forkfuls of food (my appetizer wasn’t much better).

Believe me I go to a lot of gourmet restaurants, and I feel well fed, not rushed, and also respected when I leave. Not here. There is a light at the end of my tunnel. Since going to Roy’s in Poipu, I have been to a Roy’s in downtown Manhattan (NYC). My dining experience there was 100% better. Good luck and I hope your evening is not as disappointing as mine.

You can choose numerous luau’s to go to in Kauai, but we were told the best and most popular luau was held at the Hyatt, where my wife and I were staying. The "Drums of Paradise" is held in the rear of the resort, close to the waterfront. Now this was our first luau, so I only expected some hula dancers and a mediocre buffet set up. The "Drums of Paradise" was anything but.

If you are interested in Hawaiian culture, you will be pleased to learn the history of the hula and other Polynesian dances, such as the Maori (traditional dances from New Zealand). From my understanding there are many types of hula dances, but they are classified in two forms: the hula kahiko and the hula ‘auana . The former is an ancient form done with chanting, and the latter is choreographed to song. Both forms are graceful and elegant, but our favorite segment of the entertainment was the Nifi Afi (fire knife dance). The fire knife dance originated in Samoa and has been passed on from generation to generation. This pre-war ritual, of twirling the nifo oti (war knife), was used to rile up the Samoan warriors before battle.

The buffet selection at the "Drums of Paradise" luau was vast and Polynesian inspired (obviously) with choices such as Maui onion and tomato salad, lomi lomi salmon, poi sesame seared mahi mahi, huli huli chicken, pineapple upside-down cake, and guava mousse cake. My favorite by item by far was the Imu style cooked Kalua pig. The pig is cooked in an "underground oven" called an imu. After digging a whole in the ground about four feet deep the pit is lined with sand and/or mats. A fire is then started and large, smooth rocks are thrown into the flames. When the rocks turn white from the immense heat they are then lined at the bottom of the pit immediately followed by split banana stalks and damp mats. Then a couple of stones are inserted into the pig, and the pig is placed in the "oven", followed by more banana leaves another damp mat and a covering of sand about three inches deep. In nine to eleven hours the pig is dug up, cut into pieces and the mouth watering morsels of meat are ready to be eaten. DELICIOUS!

The "Drums of Paradise" luau is held on Sunday and Thursdays (an additional luau is held on Tuesdays during the summer) from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. When I went to the luau the cost was $65 for adults, this included entertainment, beverages (including alcohol), food (buffet style), and a lei upon arrival. In addition to this, there are tables where you can purchase Hawaiian crafts and artwork from local residents.

If traveling to Hawaii (Kauai) for the first time this is a must do. I found the price to be reasonable and my wife and I had a very good time.

Dondero’s restaurant is situated in the Hyatt Regency Resort in Koloa. The menu at Dondero’s features regional Italian cuisine in a romantic setting. The ambience here is perfect for a honeymooner’s romantic night out. Many publications rank Dondero’s as the best Italian cuisine in Kauai. Unfortunately, my wife and I were disappointed, not only with the food but also the service, which is known to be second to none. Maybe we went on an off night, but we are one of the very few who did not like Dondero’s.

Food: Like I said maybe we went to Dondero’s on an off night, but I found the food to be ho-hum. Our food also came from the kitchen at room temperature, like it had been sitting out for awhile. Some of the food on the menu was innovative (marinated Alaskan black cod with prawn and scallop ravioli in a roasted tomato bisque and the lobster picatta with pistachio fettuccine, sun dried tomatoes in a truffle cream sauce), but most of menu items were common in my neck of the woods (I work in NYC).

Decor: The ambiance and decor were the saving grace for us at Dondero’s, or should I say it would have been. You can choose to sit indoors, but I highly recommend dining alfresco (outdoors) on the patio. Quiet Italian music playing in the background, tiki torches glowing in the moonlight, and the beautiful Hyatt Regency resort as a backdrop is enough to get anyone in the mood. To our disdain the restaurant seated a group of five young couples (early 20s) next to our table. You can tell right away it was trouble. In no time flat they were drunk, loud, and obnoxious. We could have moved inside but it was such a beautiful night (is there any other in Kauai).

Service: Our evening started out well, as we were seated promptly, and our request to dine alfresco was granted. The staff was courteous and efficient; unfortunately we waited, no joke, at least 45 minutes for each course to be served. Now, I love a great dining experience, and I never like to be rushed through dinner, but this was crazy. Maybe it was more about our noisy neighbors than anything else, but that night felt like an eternity.

I wish I could say that our evening was great, it was everything but. My wife and I would definitely give Dondero’s another shot if we went back to Kauai. Like I wrote earlier, most publications highly recommend Donderro’s, and vote it as the "Best Italian Restaurant" on the island. I guess that night for us wasn’t meant to be.

The Beach House Restaurant was our favorite restaurant in Kauai. My wife and I loved it so much we visited the restaurant twice in the week we were on island. For the perfect honeymoon dining experience make a reservation during the sunset (I recommend doing this a couple days in advance, because sunset reservations book up quickly). The Beach House is positioned on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Koloa. You can choose to sit indoors and look out of the large picturesque windows, or take a seat at one of the outdoor tables to admire the view.

We initially visited The Beach House for the romantic setting, unsure of what our plates had in store. To our palates pleasure, the cuisine was just as wonderful as the view. The menu changes daily, but they do offer some signature dishes on a regular basis. For starters the ahi trio comes with ahi poke sushi, ahi tostados, and an ahi hash spring roll. Their signature entrée is their lightly crusted macadamia nut mahi mahi, and for dessert you can try the molten chocolate desire with vanilla bean ice cream and hot caramel sauce. My favorite was the rack of lamb, definitely a keeper.

Most restaurants that are packed every night usually lacks on service (this was an ongoing problem in Hawaii), but at The Beach House this was not a problem. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. You will not feel rushed here, which is a big plus on my list.

As I said earlier reservations are highly recommended, especially at sunset. The dress code here is resort casual (in Hawaii that means a colorful Hawaiian shirt and slacks), so there is no need to tuck in that shirt. I highly recommend The Beach House and it will be on the top of my list when we make our next trip to Kauai.

The Waimea Canyon, which is also called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is an awe-inspiring gorge on Kauai's West shore. There are two roads leading to Waimea and they intersect higher atop the mountain. They steer you toward Route 552(Koke'e Road), but I took Route 550 (Waimea Canyon Drive), which had hardly any traffic and was an absolutely beautiful ascent up to the canyon.

On Route 550, you will see a lot of the famous Red Dirt, which has small winding streams running through. There were plenty of spots to pull over and look at the beautiful scenery on the way up. One of the views is the island of Ni’ihau, which is clearly visible as you drive up the winding road. As you drive higher you will begin to see a lot of wild chickens -- be careful because some are fearless.

When you reach 3400 feet you will be at the Waimea Canyon Lookout. From here you will be amazed at the breathtaking scenery. There was a restroom at this stop for your information.

After mile marker 13, you will reach the Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, which also has view of the canyon. At this same stop you can see view of Ni'ihau on a clear day at the Ni'ihau Viewpoint.

Continuing on to mile marker 15 is the Koke'e Museum and the Koke'e Lodge. At the Koke'e Museum you will find maps, calendars, souvenirs, and information on facts of the Canyon. The lodge next door has a small restaurant if you are looking for something to snack on.

From here, we kept traveling northward to mile marker 18; if I recall correctly, some or all of this was a dirt or gravel road. Here you will see Kalalau Lookout (4000 feet). To the right, there was a road that was closed off so we parked here to get to Pu'u o Kila Lookout(5148 feet). This is an ascent that you have to hike. It was about a 25- to 35-minute hike, but you will not be disappointed. When you reach the top you will see a sign proclaiming, "The Wettest Spot on Earth, Average Annual Rainfall 451 inches"!! Plus the view is jaw dropping.

I hope I have navigated you to the top of Waimea Canyon with ease. A couple of tips: you should pack some snacks before you leave, bring a couple of bottles of water (especially for the hike), and at the top, it is a bit cooler, you might want to bring a sweatshirt. Enjoy.

I recommend this if you are going to be in the area, but it's probably not worth a trip from the North Shore. Spouting Horn is a lava shelf where water is pushed through an opening and is powered skyward through a blowhole. There is a moaning sound that also accompanies this scene. When I was there, they also had a little flea market where islanders were selling jewelry and souvenirs.

From Route 56 (Kuhio Highway), take route 583 (Ma'alo Road) to reach Wailua Falls lookout. These falls are the ones pictured in the beginning of the TV show "Fantasy Island".

The Kilauea Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge is located in the town of Kilauea, off of route 56 just past mile marker 23. You should see signs. We weren't really expecting to go to the lighthouse, but, as it turns out, it was arguably one of our favorite stops. As in most of Kauai, the scenery is breathtaking. The view is a postcard come to life.

After you park, you can walk to the National Wildlife Refuge visitors’ center. Here they have interesting facts about the area, souvenirs, maps, T-shirts, artwork, and restrooms. There is a voluntary fee to enter the facilities, --this is for upkeep of the venue and area.

When you are complete with your intake of information at the National Wildlife Refuge, take the walkway to the Kilauea Lighthouse. On the walk, you will see ground-burrowing birds and if you get close enough, you can see them inside. Continue on the path and you can't miss the lighthouse. You can't visit the top of the lighthouse, but they do have interesting facts inside. Head to the railings and offshore you will see Moku'ae'ae Island, which I think is a bird sanctuary.

This was really a surprise visit for both of us and we enjoyed every minute of it. If you are in the area, don't miss it.

I would recommend the Tree Tunnel only if headed into the area. A good time to drive through is on your way to Spouting Horn. The Tree Tunnel is about one mile long and is pretty neat to drive through.

The 'Opaeka'a falls cascade about 150 feet high from the 'Opaeka'a stream. 'Opaeka'a translates to "rolling shrimp", which were apparently once abundant in the stream at the base of the falls. These falls have been featured in a few movies and TV shows, including "Wackiest Ship in the Army" featuring Jack Lemmon.

'Opaeka'a falls is probably the most accessible waterfall in all of Kauai. From route 56 (Kuhio Highway), take route 580 (Kuamo'o Road) to get to the Opaeka'a Falls Lookout. The parking area is on the right hand side, a couple of miles up the road.

Hiking down to the base of 'Opaeka'a falls is not recommended, but you can do it if you are feeling a bit adventurous. We chose not to do this because I was told we would basically be burning a trail.

Not far from the 'Opaeka'a falls is an ancient, sacred Hawaiian site, Pohaku Hoohanau (Birthstones). This birthplace of Alii (Hawaiian Chiefs) is marked by several large boulders. A child born here was assured high-ranking status. If you visit this site please respect the cultures and tradition of the Hawaiians and please stay off the stones and walls. These walls are hundreds of years old and are very fragile.

Legend has it that the conceiving royal mother would support her back against the birthing stone. When the child was born and the newborns umbilical cord fell off, it was wrapped in kapa, which is cloth of beaten bark, and deposited in the Pohaku Piko for safekeeping. The Pohaku Piko is a sacred rock area where the newborn Hawaiian's umbilical cord would be placed to let the Gods decide his/her fate.