Kaua’i, Hawai’i, USA

Hawai’i is made up of four main Islands: Kaua’i, O’ahu, Maui, and the main Island of Hawai’i. Tucked in next to all of these are smaller islands, Ni’ihau, Moloka’i, Kaho’olawe, and Lana’i.

Kaua’i gets more rain than any other island in the State of Hawai’i. Despite this, when it is not raining, the lush and beautiful greenery prompted by the rain is mind-blowing and amazing. It is truly a beautiful island, with heart-stopping rainbows, clear air, and perfect breezes. It’s not an island to be missed. The island isn’t small, however; with limited vacation time you want to make sure you hit the best spots and greatest activities. But first, some basics:

Airline travel is pretty straightforward these days; with awesome mile-travel deals and websites like www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.skyscanner.com, and www.theflightdeal.com, you can snag inexpensive airfare during doable dates – pay attention to upcoming deals and consider signing up on some of those websites. They can certainly be worth it! When you land in Kaua’i, you better have sunscreen, a bathing suit, flip flops, a mask and snorkel (renting them can be costly), and rain gear.

Renting a car borders on a must – particularly if you want to travel to other sides of the island. Consider Alamo (877-222-9075), Budget (800-527-0700), or Hertz (800-654-3131). You can also get around on the Kaua’i Bus, which runs fro Kakaha to Hanalei. It costs about $2 or a $35 monthly pass. When researching where to stay, consider the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa, which boasts 602 rooms, multiple pools, a tennis court, 6 restaurants, cocktail lounges, and shopping, to name a few. In addition, whether or not you are staying at the Grand Hyatt, be sure to check out Parrot Time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10am, where you can meet, learn about, and even hold some awesome parrots, including Niele!

Some smaller and more intimate settings are Makahuena located on Pe’e Road, which has 78 units, a pool, BBQ area, and a tennis court. Look also at Po’ipu Shores, Nihi Kai Villas, or where we stayed, The Villas at Po’ipu Kai. I highly recommend the Villas at Po’ipu Kai; they are beautiful and homey – with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and a much more family-feel than a hotel. We really enjoyed our villa and the entire layout of the resort. It is within walking distance to the beach as well.

Regardless of where you stay or how you get there, check out some of these awesome activities:

-ATV Tours with KIPU RANCH ADVENTURES-

ATV tours are not an uncommon excursion on Kaua’i, but not all companies are created equal. The South Shore has two main ATV companies, Kipu Ranch Adventures, and Kaua’i ATV. Kipu Ranch Adventures are the way to go. The scenery is gorgeous, and if you’re lucky like us to get a guide like Mark, you’ll be treated to a detailed and riveting breakdown of the island’s history, including all the Hollywood hotspots where your favorite movies were filmed on the ranch. The best stop is the rope swing, where Harrison Ford famously escaped the natives in Raiders of the Lost Ark – you’ll actually get the chance to swing your way into the water just like Harrison. Your tour will take you along the Ha’upu Range, up and down different types of terrains, and will ultimately end at a view of the Kipu Kai Beach, which, because of private areas, almost no one ever gets to see. Cost is $208 for a three hour tour, and $165 for a four hour tour (the four hour tour is less expensive because you don’t get the Kipu Kai view). Whatever you do, don’t miss this adventure, you’ll be glad you took the time and spent the money.

-Zip Lining With KOLOA ZIPLINE-

This Zip Lining company certainly takes the cake, mainly because of their awesome, reliable, and friendly guides, but also because they boast the longest zipline in Kaua’i – an adventurous 2,150 feet. You zip along with them through the Waita Reservoir and experience some of the most beautiful views you’ll see on your trip. The views aren’t without some work, however; be prepared to hike about a mile total. They provide water, snacks, lots of laughs, and fun facts and history about the area you’re zipping in. What’s also fun is they let you zip in a variety of different ways, including “flying,” “table top,” and even upside-down! Cost is $140, which includes special Hawai’i granola bars and some trail mix. They also provide water. Must be at least 7 years old to participate and must weigh less than 270 pounds.

-BEACHES-

A great beach to check out simply due to its location is Brennecke Beach, located near Po’ipu Beach Park on Hoone Rd. It sits across from a fun little restaurant shockingly called “Brennecke’s Beach Boiler,” a small surf shop, a convenience store, and a couple other small tourist shops. The beach is small, so it can get crowded, but if you can find a place to camp out, the boogie boarding and snorkeling is pretty good.

What my father eventually started calling “The Secret Beach that isn’t Really a Secret,” (because everyone talked about it) the Maha’ulepu Beaches do have an air of exclusivity to them, mainly due to the fact that it takes a tad bit more work to get there. Once you do, however, the beauty is endless and you truly will find yourself in a secluded area with a whole lot of sand to yourself. The “Maha’ulepu Beaches” actually consist of three main areas, which run roughly Southwest to Northeast up the Po’ipu area: Gillin’s Beach, Kawailoa Bay, and Ha’ula Beach.

To get there, drive as if you were going to the Hyatt on Po’ipu Road and continue on until the road turns into dirt. Eventually the road will end and you’ll make a right. Eventually you’ll run out of safe road – find anywhere along that area to park and make your way down to the beach, spitting you out on Gillin’s Beach. Boogie boarding and swimming here is fun – be cognizant of the often choppy waves – but don’t waste your time snorkeling here. There’s very few fish. As my frustrated father said, after donning his awkward snorkel and fins and trying not to trip in the sand, “I saw ONE fish. ONE. And it was COMPLETELY DEVOID OF COLOR.”

 

If you veer more to the right after you park your car, you’ll be treated to some gorgeous views of the ocean atop beautiful tortured sandstone cliffs.

If you have extra time, as you’re walking back to your car, look for an offshoot to your right which will lead you to the Makauwahi Cave, with some really neat history. If the cave is open, you can even go into it.

Also be sure to check out Kiahuna Beach, located along the Sheraton Hotel and the Kiahuna Resort, Lawa’i Beach next to the Beach House Restaurant, and Keiki Cove, right past Lawa’i Beach.

-Driving the WEST SHORE-

Start out with Waimea Canyon, starting on Waimea Canyon Drive in Waimea. Just past the 23 mile marker is where you’ll turn; the road will eventually turn into Koke’e road. Mile marker 10 is where the lookout will be. The canyon didn’t always look like this – it was created with the help of three rivers that ran through the area and into the ocean. Mother Nature forced these rivers to combine after a fault, and now what you see are breathtaking views of red, green, and orange canyon dotted with green trees and soaring birds.

As you continue on, keep an eye out for the Waipo’o Falls and the Ni’ihau Viewpoint. Keep on going until you reach the Pu’u o Kila Lookout, with the most jaw-dropping views in the entire State of Hawai’i. You’ll be looking at the Kalalau Valley and the Pacific Ocean, made, without a doubt, of a little bit of God’s magic. It was Don’s favorite spot on the island.

-AWA-‘AWAPUHI HIKE-

If you’re into hiking and beautiful views, considering taking quick glances at Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Valley and make time for the Awa-‘awapuhi Grand Loop hike. This hike is strenuous and includes slightly scary cliffs and significant elevation gains. The views are certainly worth it, but don’t push yourself if you’re not physically inclined.

There are really many ways to do this hike – you can do it as a loop, coming in from the Nu’alolo Trail, catching the Nu’alolo Cliffs Trail, and coming out on the Awa-‘awapuhi trail. This is a roughly 9 mile loop, not including the roughly 1 mile trek down Waimea Canyon Drive back to your car. If you don’t want to do that, you have a few other options – you can either leave a car at both the Awa-‘awapuhi trailhead and the Nu’alolo Cliffs trailhead and do the loop sans walking down Waimea Canyon Drive; or, you can simply leave the loop part out by going either out the Awa-‘awapuhi trailhead to very end, or traversing along the Nu’alolo Cliffs and heading back. The husband and sister chose to head out to the end of the Awa-‘awapuhi trailhead. Regardless of the way you choose, wear lose-fitting clothing, and bring PLENTY of water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

If you choose the husband/sister way, the hike will start at the Awa’awapuhi trailhead at a parking lot at mile marker 17 on Waimea Canyon Road. The trail is towards the top left of the lot. The hike starts pretty flat and is mostly downhill from this direction. You’ll traverse through some wooded areas and eventually end up on the Nu’alolo Cliffs Trail after passing by the Seasonal Waterfall. Prepare yourself for some amazing beauty – wonderful views of the Nu’alolo Valley soar beneath you.

Keep in mind, this is just a sprinkling of the amazing sights, activities, adventures, and experiences Kaua’i has to offer. For the hands-down best guide to Kaua’i, which can deliver you a much better and more detailed walk-through than we ever could, be sure to check out Andrew Doughty’s The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook/Kaua’i Revelaed. He has written books on all of the Islands of Hawai’i, and has a pretty sophisticated website (and app!) located at www.hawaiirevealed.com. His books are well-written, incredibly honest, and highly trustworthy. We highly recommend them above all other mainstream guide book companies.

Stay tuned for our Kaua’i dining recommendations!

Happy Hawai’i travels! //TS&AS//