Kick up Your Feet in Kauai!

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.

The Kiahuna Plantation was once a real plantation. As you walk up to check in at the old plantation manager's estate, you will encounter the most unbelievable fragrances of Hawaiian flowers! The gardens surrounding this building are beautiful, with carp ponds and water fountains. Inside, you can check in or talk to the concierge, and there is a restaurant and bar.

The condo units are not a part of the old plantation. They are two-story buildings with at least four units in each. Our unit was very nice. We had a one-bedroom unit with a living room, dining area, and full kitchen. A nice-sized private balcony had a view of the ocean, though it was about 50 yards away from us. Surrounding the balcony were birds of paradise and other red flowers I can't name.

Our unit was privately owned by a family from Pennsylvania, and they had photos on the wall of monk seals they had found sunning on the beach. Everything was in good shape and clean. Being from Minnesota, it struck me as strange that the windows here did not have any glass. There were screens and wood shutters that kept the rain out, but no glass! Parking near our unit wasn't always easy to find. If you want daily housekeeping, it costs extra, or you can just have it done once or twice. Either way, you pay for that separately to management.

Nearby you can find Old Koloa Town, and right down the street is the Poipu Shopping Village, which had some really nice shops and restaurants!

When I think of Kiahuna Plantation, I think of walking up the path to our unit, coming back after a nice evening out, smelling those fantastic fragrances, and saying goodnight to the cute little geckos that hung out nearby.

Roy’s Restaurant in Poipu was the best restaurant we ate at during our Hawaiian vacation. They serve Euro-Asian style food, with entrées starting at $16. You can find it at the Poipu Shopping Village.

The food was fantastic. I had the lemon grass-crusted shrimp for $19, and John had the sweet butter-seared island ono for $24. We shared a bottle of white wine with our dinner, and for dessert, had a chocolate soufflé that was to die for. If you go, don’t pass it up!! The decor was light and contemporary. We sat overlooking the walkway for the shopping area and could hear the pleasant patter of the rain from our table. We counted at least five different servers that catered to us, from taking our order to pouring water to removing plates in a timely fashion.

If you are with a large group, Roy’s can accommodate private parties of up to 50 guests at a time in their patio room in the courtyard and bar area. It is a great idea for a groom’s dinner or wedding reception.

It was our last night in Kauai, and our palette (and our wallets!) was ready for some pizza! We asked around and we were sent to Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo. This restaurant is family run, not a chain, and a local favorite. The walls of the restaurant are full of whimsical pizza-place murals and license plates from around the US. The tables are covered with bright red-and-white-checked tablecloths.

The brick oven-baked pizza was excellent. The dough (you can choose white or whole wheat) is homemade and brushed with garlic butter. There’s cheese aplenty, and if you like Italian sausage, theirs is made right in their kitchen, with just the right amount of spicy!

Your wallet will love you almost as much as your taste buds. A 15-inch pizza is about $18.