Traveling to Kauai, could use some info

[beerman]

I'm staying at the Kiahuna Plantation and I fly in this next saturday around 2pm. I'm going to focus on getting the rental car and getting the family settled in but then I want to get a few housekeeping chores done such as finding a close-by grocery store, convenience store, and a snorkel rental place. I'm sure the hotel staff can direct me once I get there but it makes me feel more confident the more I can know in advance. Any info on store names and locations? Thanks.

Oh, and if there's any fun activities I shouldn't miss with the kids (7 & 3) let me know. The weather is going to be cool at 75 so we might not spend as much time in the water as I'd like.

[n-fin-it n-tro-p]

I don't know if this is exactly where you are staying, but if it is, then you have most things you need close by.

http://www.kiahunacondos.com/maps.htm

Poipu shopping village should have most everything you need. Poipu Beach park is a great family place, with lots of kid friendly splashing and snorkelling (unless they have it closed for monk seals - but that shouldn't be happening yet). Brennecke's beach is good for bodyboarding, and Brennecke's restaurant is pretty good, with a great view from upstairs.

One of my favorite spots in Kauai. Can't wait to go back...

Hope this helps.

[anonymouse1]

Absolutely see Waimea Canyon--it's the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, as Mark Twain called it. It was an astonishing highlight for us.

Get the Kauai book from Wizard Press!!!! This the BEST book:

http://wizardpub.com/kauai/kauai.html

And some folks say that the helicopter ride over the highest peak is wonderful

[3d]

I was just in Kauai last August. Beautiful, beautiful island.

For a nice lunch check out:
http://www.scottysbbq.com/
One entire wall of the restaurant is open and faces the beach/ocean. Every table has a view. Low key casual place. Great food for the price.

Also check out Kintaro for sushi. It's on that one highway on the way to Kapaa. Ask any local. They'll know it. I think it's only open for dinner. Get there early right when they open. There's always a line.

For snorkel gear rentals check out:
http://www.snorkelbobs.com

If you want a fancy schmancy souvenir to keep. Willam & Zimmer Woodworks is a local store that makes handcrafted Koa wood boxes and bowls. They are right by Walmart/HiloHattie. You can't miss it.

For one stop shopping for snacks, souvenirs, sunblock, bathroom stuff,,,, I hate to say it but, nothing on the island beats Walmart for price and convenience.

I'm sure i'm forgetting a ton of stuff. I'll post again from home if i remember.

[3d]

[quote anonymouse1]Absolutely see Waimea Canyon--it's the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, as Mark Twain called it. It was an astonishing highlight for us. Get the Kauai book from Wizard Press!!!! This the BEST book: http://wizardpub.com/kauai/kauai.html And some folks say that the helicopter ride over the highest peak is wonderful
HolyCrack, how could i have forgotten about Waimea. YES, to both of Anon's suggestions. Waimea Canyon was one of the highlights of the entire trip for me. Absolutely STUNNING. There's a step-by-step, extremely detailed, guided tour in the book. When you get up top to the canyon, put the book down. Put the camera away. And just soak it all in. Then hop back into your car and continue driving up to the very top and get blown away again. Trust me. You will be floored by what you'll see up there. I could stare at that view for hours. *SIGH* I need to go back

[Cap'n Rusty]

Food:

Duane's Ono Char-Burger (in Anahola)

Pono Market (in Kapa'a)

Sites:

Definitely Waimea Canyon. Some of the hikes might be too strenuous for small kids, however.

Maybe take a Na Pali coast sights/snorkel trip.

A nice, uncrowded, mainly-locals beach relatively near Poipu is Salt Pond Beach Park. There are days when it's almost deserted, yet there are still lifeguards on duty.

I definitely second the Wal-Mart and Snorkel Bobs suggestions.

[Silencio]

Gawd, I really want to go back to Kauai. Our favorite vacation ever.

Kintaro is pretty great. Biggest rolls I've ever seen, and great quality fish. Scotty's BBQ was also pretty good. Brenneke's restaurant was just okay; good spot for lunch. There's a fish market across the highway from Walmart that makes killer poke -- the tuna just tastes fresher and better there than it does on the mainland.

I think you may run into some monk seals. We went a couple of years ago at the end of January and there were a couple of them parked on Poipu beach, roped off by the rangers. I love it when they come up and the locals automatically put up a perimeter of driftwood stuck in the sand to cordon them off.

The kids will love the shave ice. There are good places to get it in Hanalei (a trailer on the side of the main highway) and Waimea (a shabby storefront on the main highway in the middle of town, across from the high school IIRC).

There's a great beach for kids on the east side of the island between Poipu and Kapaa with a nice playground and a breakwater that creates a nice calm lagoon to swim around in.

[haikuman]

WoW everyone has touched on many great spots if you follow the advice so far your trip will be magical.

I will add ""Barking Sands Beach""".... is beautiful, remote, mostly about footsteps in the sand.

Waimea is majestic and dynamic as is the Napili coast.

Waialeale receives over 600inches _ of rain a year. wikpedia mentions more and less

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Waialeale

Enjoy your visit, take a lot of photos, cherish your visit as Hawaii is still a rare jewel in the Pacific... *(:>*

[Frank]

Aloha Beerman,
I've lived on Kauai for 10 years, visited for 19 prior to that. You will find that the Poipu area you are staying in is pretty messed up with construction ... our Planning Dept. is non-functional and has approved several big concurrent developments without the needed infrastructure. Lots of detours, noise and dust. This will only affect you going to and from Kiahuna. Photo in today's Garden Island newspaper shows a monk seal at Poipu Beach Park. No problem, plenty of great places to swim. One good one was mentioned, on the east side: Lydgate Park. Perfect, safe place to swim and snorkle for the kids. Another good spot is in Hanapepe: Salt Pond Park. I don't know how you can predict the temps ... we certainly don't know what the weather will be like from day to day. Poipu is generally sunny, being on the south (leeward) side. Barking Sands will probably be inaccessible due to the closure of the road to Polihale. Be sure to drive up Waimea Canyon and on to the overlook of the Kalalau Valley, end of the road in Kokee (try to leave Poipu by 8am for the clearest views). Drive to the north shore, beyond Hanalei, for the most beautiful beaches, but look only. Swimming on the north shore is dangerous in the winter ... only swim where there are lifeguards ... we have a dozen drownings every year! Be safe and have fun!

[martin]

National Botanical Gardens + Allerton Gardens.

Two AMAZING gardens, worth the trip/tour. I particularly liked the walk about the Allerton Gardens, and the story Allerton.