In our bright green Jeep Wrangler, we drove around and enjoyed the natural beauty of Kauai. We spent one day going west from Poipu, one day golfing at the Poipu Bay Golf Course, and one day driving north up around to Princeville.
Going west, we came upon an endangered monk seal. Don't disturb them, as there's a huge fine! We stopped at the Wiamea Brewing Company for the "Last Beer Before Tomorrow." (It’s the last brewery before the International Dateline.) The beach behind here was empty, and we took advantage of the hammock for awhile.
We couldn't see Waiamea Canyon due to the fog. I hear it is a fab sight, though!!
Sunsets were almost nonexistent during our stay here, as it was cloudy and raining, with flash-flood warnings, but we still went to the beach. In fact, during one of those evening respites from the rain, we went to the beach with a bottle of wine, and John surprised me with a proposal and vow renewal right there on the beach!
We went north, and the bridge to Hanalei was closed due to the flooding, so my favorite sight was Queen's Bath. It's a hike, and the surf was very high, but the raw beauty of the lava shelf and the power of the waves hitting it was astounding. We could see Na Pali in the distance, and we sat and watched the waves for a long time.
Quick Tips:
We went to see Spouting Horn and found a great place to shop. The vendors here had very nice, unique items at good prices. Actually, this holds true about the island of Kauai. You will find a lot of the same items at all the islands, and the prices in Kauai were better.
Best Way To Get Around:
Get a jeep! It's fun, and you have to have a rental here.