The wife and I are headed to Kauai Friday. Any must try restaurants/bars/coffee shops? Recommended hikes or excursions? Is it easy to find medicine of the green variety? We're staying in Kapaa, but rented a car for the week. Mahalo.
You should take the Forgetting Sarah Marshall tour. I have no idea if that's a thing, but it should be.
It's been a few years but I stayed on the north end near Wainiha. Beach-wise, we didn't venture too far away from the house at Tunnels Beach but it was very nice. There is a great hiking trail on North side, basically take 560 until it ends in Ha'ena State Park. Kalalau Trail. You can hike to a secluded little beach and then you can go further inland and there is a great waterfall. I can't remember the distance, but hit it in the morning and have lunch at the waterfall. Queen's Bath is also pretty cool to check out. It doesn't take much time. Waimea Canyon should also be a stop. I stuck to the main lookout point and didn't venture off on any other trails. I wanted to hike Wai'ale'ale but didn't get the chance. There was a farmers market somewhere on that North side that was really neat. Don't forget your Puka Dog!
I'm usually not one for overpriced helicopter rides, but it's a MUST here. Well worth the money and incredible views.
Wifey is from Kauai (born & raised)...from my numerous visits, here's the list of eats that we always seem to make it to... Hamura Saimin - Lihue https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hamura-Saimin-Stand/122014851142236 - people absolutely love this place...me...not so much. The noodles are about as average as you could possibly get...but then again, I'm not a noodle/saimin connoisseur. You will get recommended this place by everyone...try it, but don't expect an elaborate, elegant island experience. This place is the definition of hole-in-the-wall. Duane's Ono Char-burger - Anahola https://www.yelp.com/biz/duanes-ono-char-burger-anahola - pretty decent burger joint; another hole-in-the-wall-outside type place; eat lunch with roosters and chickens noseying around you Village Snack Shop & Bakery - Hanalei https://www.yelp.com/biz/village-snack-shop-and-bakery-hanalei Seriously good chili pepper chicken; located in a touristy strip center area with other food options if others in your group do not want the chicken Da Crack - Koloa https://www.yelp.com/biz/da-crack-koloa Considering how far you are away from Mexico, this place has pretty good Mexican food; can always brag to people you had some good Crack while on Kauai Uncle's Shave Ice - Lihue http://uncleskauai.com/ I'm not a huge fan of shave ice...but this place has this stuff called Honey Toast that is ridiculously good; my family was big fans of the shave ice McDonalds Ok, before I get crucified, the McDonalds on the islands are quite different than what you find on the mainland. They often offer seasonal specials (my wife goes nuts for the taro pie) in the form of different dessert pies (similar to the apple pies you can get mainland). Their breakfasts are great...still, to this day, the best Portuguese sausage, eggs and rice meal I've ever had. Brick Oven Pizza - Kapaa and Kalaheo http://www.brickovenpizzahawaii.com/home My wife went to school with the owner's of this joint and we occasionally get some grub from there. If you're in the mood for pizza, this is definitely the place to go on Kauai. These are all very local eateries. None of these are upscale, five-star restaurants. Hope this gives you some ideas. If you try any of these, let me know what you think.
I have. It was decent, although any Hyatt property in the US, including this one, doesn't stack up to international high-end Hyatt properties (think Park Hyatt Tokyo, Paris Vendome, etc.). For example, breakfast for Globalist members is in the lounge, which isn't anything special. We used points at the Hyatt in Kauai, so if you have points to burn, I'd recommend it.
This is exactly what I was hoping to get out of this thread! This is awesome. We aren't upscale people, so this is right up our alley. This is for sure happening.
Also, no helicopters for me. I don't have a lot of fears, but for some reason I have always been terrified at the thought of riding in a helicopter.
Skip anything coffee related. Buying coffee beans is almost pushed onto tourists in Hawaii because it's the only place coffee can be grown in the United States. African and Central American coffees are still far superior.
Just start trail REALLY early. Gets uncomfortably crowded sometimes. Great hike. Take water and a hat.
Good call. Also, as you'll hear, their noise pollution is awful for everyone else. "Gorgeous view!" Drooooooone. Chopchopchop. "WAT DID YOU SAY?!?!"
My wife wants to go to Hawaii next year. I always wondered if Oahu was good to go, final stop-wise, or if it is worth more to go to Kauai (I assume one flies to Honolulu and then to Kauai).
You can go direct to Kauai from the major west coast airports and probably many others, just FYI. Kauai is much more rustic and out-doorsy. There are beautiful things on Oahu too, but it is much more developed with resorts and shopping and so forth. (I've been to both a couple of times, but I've yet to try the other islands.)
