Blue Hawaii

Be sure to go to Lighthouse Point. It is a national park, and you may see a whale or dolphins. They give you binoculars to use, and there is a very nice gift shop. There are many small towns on Kauai, and each one is within easy scenic driving distance. The many small one-story Hawaiian churches are historic and worth going in to see. They usually have an adjoining old graveyard that has volcanic rock for headstones, which was very interesting. You cannot drive around the whole island, as the road ends and only hiking in or coming by boat or plane will get you around. A real treat is the feral chickens. They roam everywhere. They are beautiful, colorful birds that are healthy and, fairly tame, and they are often fed out of hand by locals and tourists alike.

Quick Tips:

The airport, the restaurants, the resorts, and the local papers all have discount coupons. They are everywhere. The new sport of zip-lining through the trees and over the water is popular and fun.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is a local bus line that is inexpensive. It runs from the Lihue airport and all around the island. Oddly enough, you will often see older single women hitchhiking, so that must be fairly safe. I belong to Thrifty Rentacar, so I was upgraded to a Chrysler convertible from a Dodge Neon for about .50 more a week! Hey, you can ask.

This a fabulous resort--you can pick up your key right at the Lihue airport. Pahio has a counter of their own right next to United Airlines. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, with reflection pools and waterfalls. On March 3, the flowers were huge and abundant all over the island of Kauai. It is called "The Garden Island" and lives up to its name. Of course, it was spring, so I assumed there would be flowers. You are given a beautiful real-orchid lei upon arrival and free mai tais too.

In the morning, we had a continental breakfast at the beautifully designed clubhouse, and that was followed by talks from the vendors of optional outings. The resort offers many no- or low-cost things to participate in. We enjoyed the bingo night, the potluck dinner night, the free music, dancing, and mai tai nights, the free hula shows, and inexpensive crafts with coconut palm fronds. You can use the Internet free at the Pahio Sheerwater Resort, and all the activities at all four neighboring resorts in this Pahio group are included. That really expands your fun! We had a lower two-bedroom unit. It had four sets of sliding doors, each with its own patio, a Jenn Air range, and a separate bar with stools. They provided a set of four beach towels and straw mats and a foam cooler for the beach or pool area. Near the outdoor pool/waterfall is a nice big hot tub with a sand floor and its own waterfall. Very good maid service and a most accommodating staff.

This is the most elegant hotel in the North of Kauai. As you enter off the street, you are really on the sixth floor. It is probably the most expensive per-day hotel on the island. But look around you, because you will not see this elegance at the luau. The luau is held on the first floor, in a large tented area near the outdoor pool. They have a traditional roast pig, and you can see it unwrapped from the pit area. They have the most skilled dance troupe--the leader is of national reknown as a dance winner, a very beautiful woman, and a skillful dancer. Since Hawaii is a mix of cultures, do all types of dances, Hula, Tahitian, etc. The drummers use various types of drums and other instruments and are very good at what they do. The costumes are of colorful fabrics/real and silk flowers and grasses. You are seated by long rows perpendicular to the raised stage area. The food is served buffet-style, and you get up by row to get what you want. I did not expect this more commercial aspect and was disappointed in this whole procedure. You must get what you want at your appointed time, because they clean up the food very quickly--the free drinks disappear, and the coffee and tea run out. Not a leisurely dining experience, as I had assumed it would be. The dancing is long and becomes too much of a good thing after awhile. This is my first luau, so I have no comparison.