Kauai Secrets

Best Things Nearby:
The most breathtaking sunrise you will ever have the chance to see can be found just moments away at Queen’s Bath. The gorgeous saltwater pool, fed by the waves on a secluded stretch of rocky shore, can be reached by a winding little trail surrounded by small waterfalls. It may not be accessible during the winter months. Another favorite sight nearby was the Hanalei lookout, with an inspiring view of a lush, peaceful valley towered by emerald mountains. The town of Princeville itself was charming and picturesque, and the golf course was simply incomparable.

Best Things About the Resort:
Some of the things we loved about the resort were the spacious, beautiful rooms. The kitchen came with everything, and we made very good use of it. The washer and dryer were an almost invaluable amenity with all of our hiking and beach activities. One of the most beautiful things about the resort itself was the pool/hot tub area. With a floor of soft sand and surrounded by cave-like walls of rock, the hot tub was at the bottom of a cascading warm waterfall—very private and romantic late at night. We also have to give praise to the personnel. They were so friendly and helpful, and our concierge did a superb job helping us plan our activities. She was better by far than any other we have worked with on our other vacations.

Resort Experience:
It was very convenient to be able to check in and pick up our room keys right at the airport. If you have the chance, we recommend a quick stop at the Safeway in Kapaa on your way up to the resort, as it is quite a bit cheaper than the local grocery store. When we arrived at the resort, we thought the grounds and room were much prettier than the pictures we had seen of it. Our unit was really spacious and charming. Our balcony had a wonderful view of the mountains. Although we were usually up early and gone for most of the day, one of the things that we really did appreciate about the room (besides the kitchen with washer and dryer, which were life savers) was the Jacuzzi tub, which was a wonderful treat at the end of long day. While we were there, we attended the timeshare presentation and were shown two nearby Pahio resorts. In return, we received tickets to a luau, which was a lot of fun! We definitely plan to return to this resort again and highly recommend it to other vacationers coming to Kauai.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

The North Shore certainly boasts the prettiest beaches. The farthest you can drive to the North is Ke’e Beach. This is where the Na Pali coastline starts, and there are no roads through that part of the island. The beach has a reef just offshore, creating a lagoon with an inlet at the left side. The snorkeling here was the best we experienced on the island. The seas were calm, and inside the lagoon was like a swimming pool. We ventured out the inlet to the other side of the reef, were we saw many turtles, barracuda, and all sorts of marine life. The inlet can have strong currents, and you should only consider leaving the lagoon under calm seas. It is one of the most popular beaches—you’ll have to be there very early if you want it to yourself for a while. Just beyond the dirt parking lot here is the bottom of the Kalalau Trail, which leads up to a glittering view over Ke’e Beach and also the first part of the Na Pali coastline. We heard that extremely serious hikers can follow that trail for 11 miles up to waterfalls and other beaches, which are inaccessible by any other route but hiking and kayaking. At the left side of Ke’e Beach is a very short trail that leads to a small stretch of beach, which is the best spot to watch the sun set.

Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean stands the picturesque Kilauea Lighthouse. From the parking lot, it is a short walk to the lighthouse, where you have great views of Moku’ae’ae Island and Secret Beach. The lighthouse and gift shop are open 10am to 4pm, and there was a fee donation of $2 per person, collected by an honor system via a drop box. To get there, just take Kilauea Road from Hwy. 56 just past mile marker 23.