Hawaiian Green

Kauai is a garden island. See all of it. Cruise to the Fern Grotto, drive in Waimea Canyon, visit the botanical gardens. The mountains and beaches are gorgeous. If you're in shape, hike the trails to the waterfalls. There is not a better nature spot in the world.

Quick Tips:

Early on your visit, take a full day tour of the island (About ). Get a feel for what's there to see. Then spend the rest of your time seeing it on your own. Great picnic spots everywhere.

Best Way To Get Around:

You have to have a car. Convertibles and SUVs are popular on the island. Drive to the ends of the roads east and west. Scenery is fantastic. Great hiking trails for those of you who are fit.

Best Things Nearby:
Golf course next to resort. Shopping mall with restaurants within three miles. Only two miles from Lihue Airport.

Best Things About the Resort:
Quiet and close to beach. Access to all facilities at Radisson Hotel on property.

Resort Experience:
The staff was friendly and helpful. Checking in at the airport was convenient and quick.

The suite, though not large, was neat and well decorated.

The resort's layout featured a large lagoon with ducks. There's a nice pool centered in close proximity to all the villas. It's about a 300-yard walk to the sandy beach. The surf was not good for swimming, however.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

This is the only Japanese teahouse on the island. It was only open Tuesday-Saturday. A beautiful Japanese garden sits in the center of about 12 teahouses. To assure a teahouse, you should make reservations.

There is a full menu of Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Meals include hot tea, soup, and entree. The service was outstanding and waitresses wore traditional Japanexe attire. The food -- I had beef teriyaki -- was excellent. My wife enjoyed the chicken.

The absolute best way to view Kauai is from a helicopter. They fly out of three airports, Lihue, Poipu, and Princeville. 45- and 60-minute flights are available and prices vary greatly. We took off from the Princeville site and covered the entire island. Dipping down into Waimea Canyon is exhilarating, but soaring alongside the cliffs overlooking the NaPali coast is even more breathtaking. We were lucky enough to spot humpback whales, but that is seasonal.