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Kauai Journals

Kauai in the Fall

A November 2003 trip to Kauai by Coronado Bob & Berie

Quote: Three November days in Molokai in a rented beach house, followed by a week in the Princeville timeshare resort, Pahio Shearwater, followed by three days in a rented home near Princeville called the Jade Lily. It was a wonderful off-season experience for rest and relaxation.

Kauai in the Fall

Overview

Quote:
In November, the beaches of Princeville, Kauai are not crowded. Seeing Secret Beach (Kauapea Beach) for the first time BEFORE the winter storms removed the sand was so surprising and wonderful since we had only seen it narrow and rock strewn in our previous springtime trips! A visit to the Kilauea Lighthouse was a special treat. Waiamea Canyon weather can be tricky at that time of year when rains combine with chilly air and possibly reduce visibility.Quick Tips: Bring a small collapsible cooler (or use one from a timeshare) so that if you hike to a beach like Secret Beach, Hanakapai Beach, Polihale Beach (south end of Kauai), Larsens's Beach, or some of the others that require a hike, you ...Read More

Pahio at Shearwater

Hotel

Quote:
The Pahio Shearwater is located on a high cliff right above the ocean. It is also right next to a golf course. Our lower level unit had a living room and deck view of the ocean and the Kilauea Lighthouse in the background. We saw the most gorgeous full moon over the water and were able to see the light from the lighthouse each night. The amenities are outstanding with high-end TVs and even a Krup’s coffee bean grinder so we could enjoy freshly ground Hawaiian coffees in the morning. It is one of the best units that we have ever had in Hawaii.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Pahio at Shearwater
Princeville
Kauai, Hawaii

Lighthouse Bistro

Restaurant

Quote:
We went back three times because the food was wonderful, the service was excellent and friendly, and the ambience was great. Try getting a table next to one of the garden windows. We will return when we are back in Kauai.

Dishes like Gorgonzola stuffed pork loin, blackened kirigi (swordfish, macadamia encrusted chicken, fusion chicken, and so on are all excellent!! The accompanying Kendall Jackson Chardonnay is just fine.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Lighthouse Bistro
Kilauea Road
Kauai, Hawaii

Kilauea Bakery and Pau Hana Pizza

Restaurant | "Kilauea Bakery/Pau Hana Pizza"

Quote:
They serve the best exotic pizzas in the world with very different ingredients! Take out or eat right there on the patio! Try their signature Billie Holliday pizza with Swiss chard, roasted onions, Gorgonzola and rosemary sauce, and mozzarella. . . yummy! You can also find a Hinano beer here! It is located next to the Kilauea Soap and Candle Factory, which is a delightful place to do a little gift shopping.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Kilauea Bakery and Pau Hana Pizza
2484 Keneke Street
Kilauea 96754
(808) 828-2020

Zelo's Beachhouse

Restaurant | "Zelos"

Quote:
Again, we liked the food here so much that we went back twice. The portions are very big and it was necessary to take a doggy bag back to our timeshare. We saw lots of families eating there, but they also have a full bar. Try to get a table on the open porch in the front or by the open side windows. It is American food but is very well prepared. Try the fish and chips, which will be made of the catch of the day or the fish tacos that will be made up of mahi-mahi and ahi. The deep fried artichoke appetizer is wonderful. There is an Oregon wine called Duck Pond that is very good. The second time there we split a dinner of sizzling prime rob fajitas! Hinano beer is available here, too. ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Zelo's Beachhouse
5-5190 Kuhio Ave.
Kauai, Hawaii 96714
(808) 828-1435

Green Garden Restaurant

Restaurant

Quote:
We ate here 20 years ago and when we told our waitresses, they said that they had both been there then (one a very old woman and the other a younger woman who had been a mere teen back then). They still serve the "relish" tray to start like restaurants used to do. Known for their macadamia nut pie, they were in the process of baking fresh pies for the day when we arrived for an early dinner. Ono with peppercorn sauce is excellent, but their signature dish of roasted ahi in onions, mushrooms, and mayonnaise is to die for. Talk about quantity -- you cannot possible eat it all. You also get homemade soup and a salad bar with the meal. We tried a Lilikoi colada for a starter and then had a $10 carafe...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Green Garden Restaurant
Old Town Hanapepe
Kauai, Hawaii

Kauapea Secret Beach

Attraction | "Kauapea Beach (Secret Beach)"

Quote:
There is a steep trail that you must walk down to reach Secret Beach. In the fall, before the sand washes away with the winter waves, the beach is very wide and sandy. You look up at the Kilauea Lighthous on one end and the far cliffs of Princeville at the other. It is simply a beautiful beach for sunning, reading, and relaxing. The water is a little rough in the fall as it builds toward the winter. It is calm in the spring and calm at the Kilauea end, which forms a little bay. In the spring, the beach is rock strewn and almost disappears in places where the winter tides wash the sand away, but it is still a beautiful place to be. Bring a picnic lunch and stay for the day.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Kauapea Secret Beach
West of Kilauea off a dirt road
Kauai, Hawaii

Na Pali Coast State Park

Attraction | "NaPali Coast State Park"

Quote:
We hiked the two miles to Hanakapai Beach, which was wide and sandy before the winter tides. The views were spectacular all the way. Then, we went two more miles to Hanakapiai Falls. That is some pretty tough hiking, especially right at the end near the falls, but well worth it to see the falls. It can be done in running or tennis shoes and shorts, but takes some leaping over the stream at points. The four-mile hike back was tiring. In all, it was about a 5.5-mile hike with very little stopping.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Na Pali Coast State Park
End Of Hwy 56
Kauai, Hawaii

Polihale State Park

Attraction | "Polihale"

Quote:
This is an enormous stretch of nice sand. The road to get there is always rutted and rough. Take a picnic and your book on tape and enjoy the sun. The water is too rough to swim and it is usually a bit windy, but it is a nice beach.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Polihale State Park
End of Highway 50, past Kekeha
Waimea, Hawaii 96796
+1 808 587 0400

Koke'e State Park

Attraction | "Koke'e State Park and the Kalalua Lookout"

Quote:
The Koke'e Museum and Gift Shop is a great little stop and has interesting information in it. The Kalalua Lookout is one of the most phenomenal views I have ever seen. It looks out over the NaPali Coast. The weather is so unpredictable and there is so much rain up there that you should try to arrive early and wait for an opening in the clouds as we did. It is amazing!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Koke'e State Park
Kokee Road
Waimea, Hawaii 96796
+1 808 587 0400

Waimea Canyon

Attraction | "Waimea Canyon Trip"

Quote:
Stop at the Waimea outlook for your first awesome viewpoint. Then stop at the Puuhinahina Overlook to see the island of Niihau on one side and Waimea Canyon on the other side from 3500 feet. From there, head toward Koke'e State Park.

Don't forget to wear a jacket because it is chilly up so high. Light slacks would be most comfortable rather than shorts. In the fall, the weather may not be great for hiking because there are frequent cool showers and downpours.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 5, 2004

Waimea Canyon
Koke'e Road (highway 552)
Kauai, Hawaii 96752
(808) 274-3433

Generally Speaking

Story/Tip

Quote:
Kauai in the fall is a little cooler, but less crowded. We normally went to Hawaii as a spring trip around March. You may have to dodge a few showers, but it is lots of fun. The stay at the Jade Lilly was a disappointment even though it came with a kayak that you could take to the beach. The home was too formal and full of antiques to be a beach cottage. The owners were quite proud of the furnishings, which made one feel inhibited instead of comfortable -- after all, it was a beach house. We would not stay there again. We have stayed for three days before on Molokai in a rented house on a beach that was terrifically comfortable. Molokai was also fun and we inspected every inch...Read More

About the Writer

Coronado Bob & Berie

Coronado Bob & Berie
Coronado, California

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