Kauai, HI Honeymoon

I hear it's beautiful this time of year

Can't help much, but I will be in O'ahu for all of August. We have family that live out there and they have some great pictures of snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, etc...

We went for our honeymoon and had such a great time, we're going for our 5th Anniversary in April. Can't wait to be back

Maui is great. Best friend owns a home there. Heaven for newlyweds. Kona is great as well. Friend has home there and a large fishing boat, if your into that. You really can't go wrong.

Also, there is an island hopping airline that's pretty cheap. Go somewhere for a few days then hop over to the other destination of you choice.

I would absolutely go for more than a week if possible. Get married on a Friday and go straight from the reception and wake up in Hawaii. That gives you a couple if extra days.

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Get "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook"

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Second.

Stay on the North Shore. Either rent a house in Hanalei or if you want a nice hotel, the St. Regis in Princeville.

Helicopter tour of Napali Coast/Waimei Canyon
Boat tour of Napali
Kipu Ranch ATV tour
Drive to SW Coast/ Waimei Canyon
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Kayak Wailua River
Hike Kalalau Trail
Zip Line
Go to a different beach everyday

I prefer Kauai to Maui but love them both. Check out the Grand Hyatt, the pools are outrageous. Request a walk out lanai on the first floor. Or the St. Regis Princeville for a bit more swank. A day trip I'd recommend is the Power Rafting trip (Captain Bob's) to the Napali Coast. Trip Advisor is the place to start for all things Kauai.

One caveat-the water quality in Kauai in general is not as good as other islands due to the rainfall and the amount of fresh water emptying into the ocean. So if scuba/snorkeling is your main deal, Maui is better. Maui also has much better nightlife and many more restaurants and is probably a younger crowd. But both are almost perfect imho.

A lot of people will recommend Tahiti. It will add another 5k to your trip. It's even better and a once in a lifetime type thing. Kauai captures a bit of that rural, non-crowded garden-like environment. But obviously nowhere near the water quality and over-the-water-type accommodations of Bora Bora or Moorea . That said, Kauai is my happy place and I would highly recommend it. If you go in early June I'll buy you a drink at the Grand Hyatt pool.

Conceived our first child in a hot tub in Kauai....
so be careful about that

Very beautiful island- y'all will love it

Went to Kauai for the first time 10 years ago and have gone back every two years since. I know there are places as beautiful in the world but it is without a doubt the greatest "paradise" I have visited.

The Northern/North Eastern side is the most scenic. The views inland from the coast are gorgeous from Kapa'a through Anahole, Kiluea, Princeville to the end of the road at Ke'e a Beach in Haena.

Princeville is a great jumping off point to go east or west and there are plenty of condos to rent either on the cliffs overlooking the ocean or the golf courses. We stay at Pali Ke Kua condos and always rent one on the cliff. Pu'u Po'a condos are right next door and are very nice also. They share a trail that switchbacks down the cliff side to Hideaways Beach which is small, secluded and good for snorkeling. Both places are next door to the St. Regis Resort overlooking Hanalei Bay. You can walk to Queens Bath from your condo as well.

Tunnels Beach is my favorite beach for a 3-5 hour stay. The snorkeling there is awesome from knee deep water on out to deeper water. It is about 400 yards from where you park at Haena Beach Park. BUT.....The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook tells you a shortcut cut through off the road so you don't have to carry your stuff 400 yards in sand. You are also tight underneath Bali Hai at Haena BP and it's a great scenic place.

Ke'e beach is another scenic place to spend 3 or more hours. It is where Na Pali Coast begins on the North side. The Kalalau trail starts there as well and the 2 mile hike to Kalalau Beach is very worthwhile. That trail is actually 11 Miles one way(9 more miles after the beach) but it's pretty hardcore, requires a permit and most people overnight at the 11 mile mark and hike out the next day.

The Awa'Awa'Pui trail is my favorite hike....ever. It is only 4 miles to the scenic overlook and 4 miles back out. You hike out to the edge of one on the Na Pali ridges towering 3000 feet over the Pacific. The guidebook has the direction to get there but this should be done the day that you visit Waimea Canyon as the trailhead is at the top of the canyon road.

Just get the book no matter what and study before you go. Having been 5 times, I would suggest you spend most time on the North side starting in Kapa'a. Don't get me wrong, the South side is beautiful by normal standards but not nearly as lush and tropical feeling as the North.....due to rainfall differences. The south looks more like Wyoming or places out west. If you were going to play gold everyday, I would suggest PoiPou as that area has awesome golf courses. Knowing what I know now, I would designate one day to going to Waimea Canyon and hiking Awa'Awa'Pui trail and another day exploring PoiPou, Hanapepe and Polihale Beach Park. Two full days on the south and the rest from Kapa'a Town over to Haena.

Not sure when you are going but they only start the Na Pali a Coast cataraman tours in May. If you do one, make sure they start on the North end....not the South. The ones starting in the South don't even get up to the most scenic areas before turning around. Helicopter tour was okay but I wouldn't pay the fee to do it again. Princeville Ranch has a good zip line course and horseback riding for a fun half day excursion.

To damn much to mention. Get the book.

We honeymooned on the four main islands. Spent 3-4 days on each. Checked bags in the morning and caught the 10 pm island hopper flight each night to the next, so we would just check in and wake up already there. Flew into Maui, Big Island, Oahu, and flew out of Kauai. Stayed in a variety of places to have a wide experience. Got to enjoy a good bit of each island and learn which islands we want more time on. Two weeks and about 7-8k for the whole trip including flights.

If only Kauai, our favorite was the helicopter tour.

If Maui, favorite was sunrise bike ride down to the coast. Road to Hana was a fun day with a Camaro SS convertible. We made the full loop with it including the dirt roads on the backside of the island.

I'm actually going to Kauai in the summer for vacation. One week in Kauai and helicopter ride to Honolulu. So I might try to get some ideas from here