Movies in Paradise

Best Things Nearby:
Coconut Grove Marketplace; beach Hukilau Kabau Restaurant.

Best Things About the Resort:
Grounds area with the swimming pool. Inside the actual unit was a great place to be.

Resort Experience:
At our county fair, we filled out a form to visit a local timeshare with the incentive of five days in Hawaii at a sister resort. We were skeptical, but we cashed in on five action-packed days in Kapaa at the Beach Boy. This is a stunning resort from the first appearance of the grounds, to the reception area, pool, into the actual unit, and the adjacent beach. Due to the 1992 hurricane, these units have been remodeled recently with new beautiful wicker furnishings.

The kitchen was fully equipped with everything one needs for a week of meal preparation. The floor plan was a great-room consisting of the kitchen, dinning area, and living room plus a master suite; each of these areas had a TV. The unit would accommodate four, but we did not use the queen sofa-sleeper since we were traveling as only a couple. Outside the living room was a balcony or patio depending on which floor of the building you were residing with a chaise lounge, patio table, and chairs for outdoor dining. The master suite coordinated with the living room in rich décor: bright Polynesian flowers with matching stripes and accessories. The king-sized bed was comfortable and there was ample storage for our possessions. The huge bathroom was accessible from both the bedroom and the great room. The bathroom was divided into two rooms: a dressing area with a huge mirrored vanity area and the water-closet area of a toilet and shower/tub. The unit also had an apartment-sized washer/dryer with a box of complimentary detergent.

As mentioned earlier, the grounds were exquisite. The native flora of Kauai is remarkable and the guest will see many varieties of the Hawaiian vegetation adorning the grounds, from ginger plants to the amaryllis and many more. Large areas of grass and sidewalks meandered through the grounds of the Beach Boy Resort. A large swimming pool, with a snack/beverage bar, Jacuzzi, and several gas barbeque grills is at the center of the resort. A vivid memory is barbequing butterfish on grill with a magnificent view of the waves pouncing on the beach below us. Several couple-sized hammocks were among the coconut palms overlooking the ocean -- very romantic and relaxing. The adjacent beach was beautiful, but the water was very rough as the waves would break and even wadding in the water was a bit frightening. Other areas of the island had safer beaches.

Kapaa has several grocery stores, many restaurants, and gift stores to visit, all within an easy walk. We did not find food to be as expensive as we had anticipated at the grocery stores; it was more expensive than at home, but not double our prices. We recommend barbequing some fresh butterfish and serving it with soy sauce as the locals do.

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

We were there when during a celebration of the restaurant reopening after years of being closed after a hurricane hit the eastern shores of Kauai. I think the entire native population of the island was there partying on the grass when we arrived Sunday afternoon. By dark, everyone had gone home. This grand opening of the restaurant sparked interest in us having a dinner at the unique eating establishment.

Outside on the lanai, overlooking the Kauai coast, we started with a cocktail; I had a nice glass of merlot and my husband had a fancy pina colada. Later, a delicious salad came my way and a mouth-watering bowl of lobster soup was served to my spouse.

Eventually our entrees were served by very courteous wait staff. Paul had succulent steak and I had the savory ahi tuna. The presentation of both entrees was spectacular; the potatoes were first with the meat teetering on the mashed potatoes and then garnishes of fresh vegetables spiking off the top of the meat. The evening was topped off with a specialty of the house fresh baked dark chocolate fudge cake that was specially prepared while we savored our dinner. The torch-lit lanai at the Hukilau Lanai was a special night to remember for us. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

One of my favorite memories was the 4x4 Off-Road Adventure Movie Tour. As a lark, we decided to go on this adventure and I am delighted we spent the money on this six-hour journey. More information on this adventure can be found at this website.

Our hospitable driver and tour guide were local Kauai folks and had fantastic stories to tell us about the filming of some of our favorite movies. Our courteous driver picked us up at the lobby of our resort around 10am in a huge four-wheel drive van. We picked up some other passengers at another hotel and went to the Movie Tours headquarters in Kapaa. Interestingly, the van is equipped with a small surround-sound VCR and TV for our movie-watching experience. The tour guide started with the movie and by the time the driver got to our destination, we would be exactly where the movie was filmed. We meandered around the island of Kauai and saw bits and pieces of close to a dozen hit movies, maybe more. The silver-screen hits included Outbreak, Jurassic Park, Blue Hawaii, South Pacific, Donovan’s Reef, Six Days Seven Nights, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and many more.

A picnic lunch was served at Lydgate Beach Park consisting of a deli sandwich, macaroni salad, chips, fruit, and a cookie. Bottled water and soda were available during the entire day free of charge, along with sunscreen and bug spray. After the delicious lunch, we traveled on dirt roads into Kauai’s interior to Kipu Ranch. We took a short hike into the lush terrain where Raiders of the Lost Ark was filmed and played on a rope swing over one of the rivers; our guide encouraged all of us to take a spin on the swing and we all enjoyed it. As I recall, the adventure ended around 4pm.

We hit a lucky day; we actually observed filming of a car commercial at the head waters of the Wailua River on Kuamoo Road. This was an expensive outing, but well worth our money!

A group of strangers embarks on a five-hour cruise in man-powered kayaks. Everyone suits up in a life preserver and stands on shore learning the way to paddle a kayak. You see a variety of ages from 10 to 70, plus a variety of physical types ranging from body-builder to mildly obese.

Once each pair of kayakers has practiced staying afloat in the boat dock area, off they go upstream on the Wailua for about two-and-a-half miles, passing by an old Hawaiian village where the movie Outbreak was filmed. The guide will inform you of the different kinds of vegetation along the way and Hawaiian folklore.

Once the river becomes too narrow to navigate, you will disembark your kayak and go on a short hike through an old terraced taro plantation to a splendid waterfall called Secret Falls, a.k.a. Uluwehi Waterfalls. Here you will have a deli lunch and fruit punch and time to swim in the crystal clear pristine waters.

Then you hike back to the kayaks for a paddle back to the beginning. The huge-flowering plants that lines the riverbanks are beginning to turn from yellow to bright salmon in color. Everyone stops and picks a flower and positions it on their right ear if they are available and left ear if they are spoken for. Basically, it was a fun-filled daytrip.

Living in Arizona, I could not believe the tour magazine when I read, “Waimea Canyon is Mark Twain’s Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” But once we got there and looked out onto the red rocks, my husband said, “The Grand Canyon on Miracle Grow with a view of the Pacific, wow!”

Lush, green vegetation contrasting with the red rocks make for a spectacular site. If you enjoy hiking there are many trails into the canyon with great views; check the ranger station for detailed maps. Some of these trails are very slippery due to the red mud and hiking boots are suggested. Bring your own food and water plus be sure you have plenty of gas since I do not recall any convenience stores on the 40-mile Waimea Canyon Road. Don’t forget your camera because this day will definitely be one photo opportunity after another. I see no need to pay for a travel guide here; enjoy the day on your own at your own pace. Bring some extra bread to feed the beautiful moa roosters at every stop.