Kauai

There are many things to do on Kauai. This is the most beautiful place I have ever been. Make sure you take a day to drive to the end of the road, north. This is the most beautiful part of the island.

Quick Tips:

Pick up coupon books and brochures at the airport near luggage pick-up. You can rent boogie boards, snorkel gear, and any other beach needs at just about any surf shop on the island.

Best Way To Get Around:

You definitely need a rental car to see everything. The driving is safe, but watch out for one-lane bridges.

Best Things Nearby:
Princeville Shopping Center, Princeville Hotel, Hanalei Bay, Taro Fields, One Lane Bridges, Walking/Running Trail, restaurants, lots of beaches, and Kilauea Point Lighthouse

Best Things About the Resort:
Friendly, clean, large, and great for families

Resort Experience:
I will not repeat what other RCI members have said about the resort. Yes, it is large and beautiful. The resort has a great staff that can schedule any activity you might want to do on the island. If you listen to the timeshare presentation, you will get discounts on many activities. Pahio is only selling at Bali Hai Villas.

The resort is the oldest of the Pahio resort but still beautiful with lots of places to get great photos. Two things that stood out to me were the washer/dryer on the back patio off of the master bath and the ability to use a lock-off unit on "check-out" day. This was wonderful so we could "freshen up" (shower) before we headed to the airport, since the pool only has an outdoor shower.

I would recommend calling the resort before you arrive to request an upper-level unit just so you can get the views. We stayed in phase II, which was just fine. We had no problems with roaches, ants, or any other bugs. The resort staff sprays once a month for the insects. The resort was wonderful, and we had plenty of room with three adults and two children. The pool is small but pretty, with a waterfall and hot tub combined. Across the street from the resort is a asphalt walking/running trail that leads back to the Princeville Hotel. The trail is about 2 miles long. Where else can you run with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other? Absolutely beautiful.

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

We drove about 45 minutes south of Princeville to dine at this seafood restaurant. The food was excellent. My daughter and I shared a meal of seafood pasta. Wonderful. The bread that comes with your meal makes the perfect fit. I would suggest making reservations, because this is becoming very popular with locals and tourists.

We booked this kayaking trip through our resort activity desk. It was a great trip - beautiful. We kayaked about 1 hour up the Wailua River, docked our kayaks, and hiked 1 mile back to a very large waterfall - Secret Falls! It was absolutely beautiful. I do want to warn you, though, that the hike is hard, with lots of roots, creeks, and rocks to climb over. It is definitely worth the hike once you make it to the falls.

The kayaking company provides lunch, included in the cost of the trip. Lunch included turkey or vegetarian sandwiches, chips, Oreo cookies, and Coca-Cola. We were able to spend about 1 hour at the falls eating lunch and swimming under the falls. We then hiked back to our kayaks and paddled back down the Wailua River.

The Wailua River is the river on Kauai where the fresh water meets the ocean. This is a guided tour, but the guide leaves you alone unless you want his/her help. I would highly recommend this trip. It is a great family adventure.

Princeville Stables is located about 1 mile from the Ka Eo Kai Resort. We booked the ride through the activity desk at the resort. We were also able to use a one get-one-free ticket since we listened to the timeshare presentation. The price was a little steep for the 1.5-hour single-file ride. Cost was about $75 per person, no matter what the age.

We choose the Ocean Bluff ride due to our children and the cost. The ride took us through the Princeville Ranch pastures. We were able to stop and take a few pictures, but most of the ride was single file and through a boring pasture. We did see a few wild pigs running through the woods. Helmets are offered to the children, and everyone must wear shoes that cover your toes. No sandals are allowed.

There are many restaurants to choose from in Princeville. Depending on the dress code, cost and cuisine is up to you. The following is a overview of the restaurants we visited in Princeville.

Favorite: Paradise Bar & Grill, located in the Princeville Shopping Center. Affordable pricing and great food. The best was the fresh fish sandwich. All sandwiches are served with french fries. They also offer a special every night of the week. Lots to chooses from - steak, fresh catch, salads, and sandwiches. This was our favorite place to eat in Princeville. We ate here three times during our stay. Offers indoor and outdoor seating with a "surfboard" decor.

CJ's Steak & Seafood: Good food, but a bit pricey for a family of four. Located in the Princeville Shopping Center. All meals are served with a salad bar, which was wonderful. I could have had a whole meal with the salad bar. The fresh fish was very good but not worth the price. The cheapest thing on the menu was $24. We saved this restaurant for our last night on the island since lots of people recommended it. Visit CJ's Website at http://restauranteur.com/cjs/.

Lampert's Ice Cream: Located in the Princeville Shopping Center, Lampert's ice cream is only sold in the Hawaiian islands. Each flavor has its unique taste. Great for a evening treat. Worth the stop.

There are other "upscale" restaurants on the road leading back to the Princeville Hotel. The dining choices in the Princeville Hotel are very expensive - Sunday brunch is $50 a person. If you like a beautiful view of the mountains, I guess it would be worth it, but I can sit out on the deck for free and get the same view.

We visited the town of Hanalei a lot for our choice of restaurants. There are many to choose from - every style, price, and taste.

Bamboo Bamboo: We received a $50 gift certificate from listening to the timeshare presentation to use at a restaurant/store of our choice. We choose Bamboo Bamboo. The restaurant is decorated completely with bamboo, including the chairs, glasses, plates, and tables. The food was delicious. My daughter and I shared seafood pasta. The average cost of a meal $20. Children menus were available. I would recommend returning to this restaurant. Visit their website at http://restauranteur.com/bamboo/.

Polynesian Cafe: This is located in the Hanalei Shopping center. Our favorite was the veggie wraps. All items are reasonably priced. There are lots of choices at this restaurant: sandwiches, ice cream, wraps, etc. Soft drinks and water are available. There is outside seating only.

Subway: This is located in the gas station in the Hanalei shopping center. It is just like the Subways on the mainland, but a little more expensive since it's in Kauai. It’s a great place to pick up sandwiches and then head to the beach.

Wishing Well Shave Ice: This is the best place on the North Shore for shave ice. It is located on the right side of the road coming from Princeville. They have a great choice of flavors. The wife owns the business and her husband works for her. Their claim to fame: "First on the island - Everyone else just copies." My favorite was the Tropical Paradise. A lot of customers got ice cream on the bottom of their shave ice. I didn't have a chance to try it but will next time when we go back to Kauai.

We found a fun family activity to do while on Kauai - boogie boarding! The only things you need are a boogie board and some waves. The best place to rent a boogie board is at the Hanelai Activity Center. Cost is $5 for 24 hours.

The best place we found to boogie board was Hanalei Bay Beach. This is a great place for all ages. Several surfing schools conduct their instructions in this bay. The water is perfect and the sand bottom is soft, so you do not have to worry about lava rocks cutting your feet. It’s a great activity for all ages!!!

There are many beautiful places to visit on the North Shore of Kauai. There are caves (wet and dry), taro fields, a guava plantation, and a lighthouse. Beautiful. The caves are at the end of the road near Tunnels Beach. The Taro Fields, Guava Plantation, and Lighthouse are close to Princeville. Make sure you make it to the Guava Plantaion and Lighthouse before 4pm, because the plantation and wild bird sanctuary close at 4pm. The plantation and lighthouse are 5 minutes from each other. They are two great places to stop in and visit when you have a little time.