re: Where to stay on Kauai?

You should go to Port Allen (there's no Deedy at that one)

I liked Komaniwanalaya. Exquisite.

I went last summer and stayed at Marriott in Lihue. Had the time of my life! Really can't go wrong with whatever you do. I played the Prince course at Princeville. It blew my mind... Also played Kauai Lagoons at Marriott and enjoyed it as well. My favorite hike was at the end of the highway on the north side of the island (past Princeville and Hanalei Bay.) There was a nice restaurant called Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant nearby. I really enjoyed eating at the Beach House on the south side. Did the helicopter tour and it was aww inspiring. That island is probably the greatest place in the world. Incredible food all over the island. Best shaved ice...

Stay at the Coco-Palms. It is beautiful and where Elvis' Blue Hawaii was filmed. I haven't been there in 25 years or so but it was simply awesome. Also make sure you take a helicopter tour of Kauai. We went to several islands but Kauai was, by far, my favorite.

I was grubbing poke like it was no one's business. Definitely get some of that... Hit up a fruit stand along the highway, it is a must. Try the frozen Lychee if they have any. The hike at the end of the highway was called Ke'e I believe. The beach at the beginning of the hike is shallow and crystal clear. Spent a good amount of time relaxing there. The hot spring waterfall at the end of the hike is ridiculous. Highly suggested. The trail might be one of the best views of Na'Pali coast other then from a helicopter. All this talk makes me want to book a flight. Next time I want to rent a house on the north shore. Truly magical. I did enjoy the centralized location of Lihue though.

Mount Wai'ale'ale at the center of the island is the wettest place on earth averaging around 452 inches a year (I think Seattle gets 220.) It carves out rivers and waterfalls to the north east and south while the west is a desert/canyon. You pretty much get a little bit of everything on the island. Our heli tour guide told us that 80% of the island is only accessible from helicopter.

Got one more thing for you that you can surprise your GF with.

The island just west of Kauai is called Ni'ihau. It is family owned. Won't go into the lengthy history of the Robinson family acquisition of that island from the King back in the 1800s but it is worth researching yourself. It is coined "The Forbidden Island" because no one except native Ni'ihau or the family is allowed to be there. The natives there all work for the family's cattle business.

Several hundred years ago, the island experienced climate change that made it less lush and more prairie like. Prior to that, the natives made beautiful flower leis common on all other islands. After the flowers stopped growing on Ni'ihau, they started making shell leis.

The tiny shells that wash up on their beaches are rare and only found there. Gathering these shells is labor intensive. It can take 4 months to get one baby food jar full of these shells and over half of those are lost in piercing. It often takes up to 2 years to complete a lei with multiple strands. The natives, in trying to supplement their income, make these leis and have brokers who sell them on the other islands, but mainly on Kauai since it is the closest island to them.

They are true works of art and the artisans who make them are becoming rare as the craft is dis-appearing because the younger generation on the island is most often moving from the island. The skill and technique is being lost a little more with each generation.

You can negotiate a price with a store owner. Strands and rarity of color are what prices are based on. I bought one for my wife that was 2 strands and had some rare colors for $640.00. I believe the price started at $800.00. They go from $300 for a single strand up to $10,000 for a ton of strands.

If you plan to buy one and surprise her that you took the effort to know all of the history and significance of the craft.....only buy in Hanapepe. There are many cheaper imitations all over the island. Go to Lu's Crafts or JJ Ohana's in Hanapepe. Both sell only authentic leis with paperwork with the information of what shells are in that specific lei and the family that crafted the lei. There are about 5 families that still make the leis and each family often has it's on signature style. Buy from either of those two places and you are good.

As the craft continues to dis-appear, the lei will become more valuable over the years.

If you can get into Kipu Falls you gotta go. They closed it a few years ago because of drownings though. It's awesome. Also go to queens bath.

Captain Andy's is the man to call for the Power Boat tour. LINK

I'll be going back to the Grand Hyatt next year.

quote:

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Stay at the Coco-Palms. It is beautiful and where Elvis' Blue Hawaii was filmed. I haven't been there in 25 years or so

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Yeah....maybe not so much.

LINK /

Oh, and North Shore is where you wanna be.