Kauai Journals

Heavenly Kauai Vacations

A May 2003 trip to Kauai by vrp1483

Quote: After three fabulous trips to the beautiful garden isle of Kauai, I decided it was high time to rave about it. Plus, all my relatives and friends are tired of hearing me go on and on about it....

Heavenly Kauai Vacations

Overview

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The very best thing to do is buy the "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook", because it speaks the gospel truth about the island. The authors have never steered me wrong through three trips. The next best thing to do is slow down and get on local time. You're on vacation, for gosh sakes! Deserted beaches, lush tropical jungles, and streaming waterfalls are all waiting for you, no need to rush.Quick Tips: The quickest tip I can offer is to stay in the Lihue/Wailua/Kapaa area on the east side of the island; then, when you get up in the morning, if the weather is looking rainy or iffy at all, head south and west. If it looks to be a beautiful, sunny day, head north.Best Way To Get Around: Other tha...Read More

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Wailua Bayview

Hotel

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On our first two trips to Kauai, we stayed at the Wailua Bayview at the north end of Wailua Beach. All units are ocean-front, but there is a considerable drop to the beach from the grounds, so beach access is down the road to the beach park entrance. Since the Wailua Bayview is a condo rental from individual condo owners, the decor can vary widely from unit to unit. Some are quite luxurious, but most are pretty "tropical resort" basic. The central location is great; you are close to all the restaurants in the Kapaa area, yet driving to Poipu or the north end for dinner isn't too much of a chore. There really isn't a central "Wailua Bayview" rental office, as the office on-location only handles about h...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Wailua Bayview

Kauai, Hawaii

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Kapa'a Sands

Hotel

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We stayed at the Kapa'a Sands on our last trip to Kauai, and our stay there was fabulous. The Kapa'a Sands is very small, with only about 20 one-bedroom and studio units in all, so it is very, very quiet. The grounds are beautifully maintained and very lush. All units are ocean-view, but the ones that are ocean-front are fantastic. There is kind of a private little beach in front of the condos where sea turtles come and play every day, and where locals come to do some surf-fishing every evening. The office staff is extremely accomodating -- they even let us store our suitcases and shower up in an unused unit when our ocean-front unit had an immediate back fill on our last day. This allowed us to fully...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Kapa'a Sands
380 papaloa rd
Kauai, Hawaii

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Caffe Coco

Restaurant

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Caffe Coco can be difficult to find. It’s just north of the Wailua Bridge, right after the road sort of "Ys" at the gas station, across from the Kintaro Japanese restaurant. Unbelievable food, very organic, very green. No red meat. No liquor license, but they don't mind if you bring your own bottle of wine, and they will happily provide a corkscrew and glasses for a small corkage fee. The ginger lemonade is incredible, and seriously, the tofu pot stickers are to die for. Seriously. The service is very laaaaaid back, like wow, man, but they know you're there; they're just groovin' their thing. Order at the "counter" and find your seat in the garden in the back and marvel at the delicious smells coming...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Caffe Coco
Kuhio Highway South of Kapaa
Kauai, Hawaii

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Zelo's Beachhouse

Restaurant | "Zelo's Beach House"

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Zelo's Beach House is on the north coast of the island in Hanalei, right on the main drag (not actually on the beach). Best. Mai-Tai. On. The. Island. Accept. No. Substitutes. I'm not kidding here. Awesome fish tacos. I dream of their fish tacos washed down with Mai-Tais. Love the sashimi too. Zelo's can be crowded at right at lunchtime, so off-time is more peaceful.

http://www.zelosbeachhouse.com/home.shtml

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

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

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Keoki’s Paradise

Restaurant

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Keoki's Paradise is in the shopping center at Poipu. Kitschy, tiki-madness fun. You dine in fake thatched huts amongst a Disneyesque, manufactured, exotique-tropical paradise. It is all a lot of fun. The borderline tiki-tacky decor aside, their fresh fish options are among the best on the island, and follow your server's recommendations very carefully -- they really know what they're talking about! Their Thai prawns appetizer is wonderful, and they have this hula pie dessert that you've just got to order. I'd only order one serving for the table. Good thing they're in the mall/shopping center, 'cuz you'll need to walk around a bit, window-shopping, before going back to the car. They have excellent fan...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Keoki’s Paradise
2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr.
Kauai, Hawaii 96756
(808) 742-7534

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Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa

Restaurant | "Tidepools "

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Tidepools is in the Hyatt hotel in Poipu. Beautiful, fancy restaurant, very romantic atmosphere. The menu is fabulous, and the service is terrific. On weekends, you can hear the luau show, slightly muted. It all enhances the atmosphere. If Keoki's is borderline tacky, then Tidepools is the other end of the tropical decor ruler. Their house special Mai-Tai ain't bad either.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
1571 Poipu Road
Koloa, Hawaii 96756
(808) 240-6456

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Brennecke's Beach Broiler

Restaurant | "Brenneke's Beach Broiler"

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Brenneke's is upstairs, across from Poipu Beach park. I've heard they've been slipping lately, which is too bad. Their open-air upstairs dining area has a nice view of the beach and the activities, and some people believe they have the best Mai-Tais on the island. We happen to believe they have the second-best Mai-Tais on the island. I can recommend the veggie quesadillas and the ceviche. Nice place to take a break and people-watch.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Brennecke's Beach Broiler
2100 Hoone Road
Kauai, Hawaii 96756
(808) 742-7588

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Jo Jo's Shave Ice

Restaurant

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Jo-Jo's Shave Ice is in Waimea, west of Poipu, right on the highway in town. The shaved ice is so good here, we've actually parked the car and waited an hour for them to clean and service the ice-shaving machine, rather than driving on. When it is sunny, there is absolutely NOTHING like a shaved ice from Jo-Jo's, with Lappert's macadamia nut ice cream in the bottom to cool you off completely. It is always sunny in the western part of Kauai, so there's no excuse to drive by without stopping.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Jo Jo's Shave Ice
Kaumaualii Highway
Kauai, Hawaii
(808) 635-7615

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Roy's

Restaurant | "Roy's Poipu Bar & Grill"

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Wow. We'd heard great things about Roy's, so this last trip, we finally took the plunge and made reservations for dinner. We didn't order off the menu, but elected to have a "Sake Tasting Dinner," with multiple courses accompanied by different types of sake. We knew nothing about sake, but figured a place like Roy's was just the place to learn something new. By the end of the evening, we were still not sure about sake, but completely convinced that we'd be back for the food. The service was excellent, probably the best we've had yet on the island, and as crowded as the restaurant was, we never felt rushed. I can't really describe everything we ate that night, since each course came with a...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 17, 2004

Roy's
2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive
Poipu, Hawaii 96756
+1 808 742 5000

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Ke'e Beach

Attraction

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This is the Bali Hai beach, the absolute end of the road. Perfect picturesque palm trees, lagoon, surf--it has it all. It’s the best in the morning--leave your condo early because it will take you a while to get there. Head north on the highway and keep going around the island counter-clockwise until you get to the end of the road. Go slowly when crossing Limahuli Stream, which runs across the road in a shallow depression, as sometimes there's a large pothole lurking under the water. Don't be terribly concerned if the parking lot is packed-it doesn't necessarily mean the beach is likewise packed. The Kalalau trail takes off from here, and a lot of the cars are from the backpackers. The beach it...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Ke'e Beach
Foot Of The Na Pali Coast Trail
Kauai, Hawaii 96722

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Tunnels Beach

Attraction

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By far my most favorite beach. It has it all: awesome snorkeling, views of the Bali Hai promontory and lush, vegetation-covered hills, waterfalls arcing down the aforementioned lushly green hills, beautiful sand, and surfers out on the breaks. The only problem is that parking is an issue, and because of the awesome snorkeling, it is more crowded than its location would ordinarily warrant. There is a definite current, so enter the water at the far right (east), snorkel with the current, and get out on the far left (west). The fish are, quite simply, enormous. They are the grown-up versions of all the other fish you've ever seen while snorkeling. Early morning is best to snag the parking. We like to get...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Tunnels Beach
8-mile Marker After Princeville
Kauai, Hawaii

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Kepuhi Beach

Attraction

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Kepuhi Beach is the next beach east of Tunnels. When you can't find parking at Tunnels, head back toward town on the highway, turn toward the ocean at the next set of streets, and keep working your way toward the beach. There should be beach access signs at either end of the road furthest in. There is more current here, but also good snorkeling when the conditions are right. Usually deserted. And I mean completely deserted. When Tunnels is packed like Waikiki, all you have to do is come here for blissful solitude, and snorkeling is almost as good as Tunnels--which means fantastic. The last time I was there, I saw a turtle the size of my dining room table. Parking is easy, and you just walk down the pa...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Kepuhi Beach
Hanalei
Kauai, Hawaii

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Hideaways Beach

Attraction

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If you’re driving through Princeville, there is extremely limited public parking by the Princeville Hotel. Access is via the narrow path between the fences by the tennis courts. The path to the beach can be extremely difficult, with stairs down half of it, and then a scramble to the beach, but what a beach when you get there. There is awesome snorkeling if the conditions are right. There are really two beaches here, the larger one that the trail leads to and another one around the lava outcropping at the east end of the beach. At low tide, and low surf conditions, it is possible to wade (use reef shoes) around the lava rock to get to a smaller and more private--albeit rocky--beach. There is a pr...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Hideaways Beach
Princeville
Kauai, Hawaii

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Anini Beach Park

Attraction | "'Anini Beach"

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Anini Beach is very shallow and very protected -- if the surf is raging everywhere else, this is the place to be. It's a very long beach, so you can usually get a patch of sand to yourself, but the snorkeling isn't as good as you might think with that huge reef offering shelter. Beautiful, sparkling sand. One bit of sand where the sparkles are better than the rest is where I lost my diamond earring. The road along and into the beach is where all the glitterati of Hollywood have built their homes. Supposedly Steven Spielberg and Sylvester Stallone, among others, have homes here.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Anini Beach Park
At the end of Anini Road
Hanalei, Hawaii 96714
+1 808 822 5065

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Larsen's Beach

Attraction

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There is a trail to access this beach, but it is a gently sloping, wide trail -- almost a road -- down to the beach, so it isn't that difficult. If you can't find a patch of sand without anyone else in sight at this beach, then you're just not trying hard enough. This is a beautiful, deserted beach to just veg out on.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Larsen's Beach
North of Kapaa
Kauai, Hawaii

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Moloa'a Bay Beaches

Attraction | "Moloa'a Bay"

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This is a beautiful, sheltered bay. Palm trees swaying in the wind, surrounding a white sand beach with blue water and fair snorkeling. Just lovely. Great place to while away an afternoon. The drive to it is pretty, too. Access can be tricky, as there weren't signs posted when we went, and the beach is surrounded by homes, so just go carefully along the best path you can find.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Moloa'a Bay Beaches
North of Kapaa
Kauai, Hawaii

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Mahaulepu Lithified Cliffs

Attraction | "Gillan's Beach/Mahaulepu Beaches"

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You really have to follow a guidebook to find these beaches, but once you're there, they are spectacular. There's no other word for it. The trail to the beach is not difficult at all -- it's mostly flat. Once on the beach, you can go to the west and climb a trail to walk along the cliffs, if you want. The view from there is fabulous. The beach itself is usually deserted too. That little house is also available for rent as a bed-and-breakfast. If the wind is up, you'll likely get sandblasted here, but the sailboats and sailboards love it then.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Mahaulepu Lithified Cliffs
off Poipu Road
Kauai, Hawaii

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Lawai Beach

Attraction

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Little Beach by Lawai Beach Resort. Doesn't really have a name, doesn't really have a beach. It is on the road up to the spouting horn out of Poipu -- you'll know you're in the right place when you see a lot of people snorkeling right by the road. A restaurant is on the east end of the beach, and the Lawai Beach Resort is sort of across the street. Basically, it's a place to just get out of the car, snorkel gear in hand, get in the water, snorkel 'til you get cold, get out, get back in car, and drive to beach to veg. Not very relaxing, but awesome snorkeling. Sort-of facilities across the road by where you park.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Lawai Beach
Next to 5022 Lawai Road
Kauai, Hawaii

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Salt Pond Beach Park

Attraction | "Salt Pond Beach"

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Salt Pond State Park is west of Poipu in Hanapepe. Follow the signs from the highway. Protected by a couple of rock shelves, this is a terrific place to swim, snorkel, and just a fabulous place to spend the day. It is popular with locals, so it can be crowded on the weekends. We usually hit this beach a couple times per trip during the weekdays if the surf is bad elsewhere on the island. There is fair to decent snorkeling by the rocks on the left-hand side. This is an official "park," so there's lots of paved parking, showers, bathrooms, fish-cleaning areas, picnic tables, grills, camping sites, and lifeguards. I particularly like the slope of the sandy beach around on the left side. You can real...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

Salt Pond Beach Park
Lolokai Road to the end
Hanapepe, Hawaii 96716
+1 808 335 5871 (Haw

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Polihale State Park

Attraction | "Queen's Pond at Polihale"

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Queen's Pond at Polihale can be found by heading towards Polihale Beach Park on the can-hauling road at the end of the highway. Then turn left at the monkeypod tree. "Queen's Pond" is kind of a shallow, sandy-bottomed, sheltered lagoon formed by a dead fringing reef. It is the only place on the whole Polihale Beach where it might be safe to swim and float. The snorkeling sucks here. We swam a grid-pattern search in the pond and found two tiny fish. That was it. But it is worth it for the sunny weather and the safe swimming. It honest-to-god never rains here. If the weather is crappy elsewhere on the island, this is the place to be. It is in the rain shadow of the wettest place on earth, so it is prac...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 9, 2004

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