Highlights from our Maui and Kaua'i trip (lots 'o pics) - Tiki Travel

H Hibiscus Member Boston-ish Joined: Sep 22, 2008 Posts: 211	H Hibiscus Posted posted on Fri, Feb 11, 2011 8:13 AM On 2011-02-11 07:11, christiki295 wrote: Aloha Hibiscus, Any additional Kaua'i tips? We will be staying near Lihue. Some options: Drive to Hanalei and beyond to the "end of the road" at Ha'ena State Park. Kilauea Point lighthouse and bird sanctuary is on the way north - also worth a stop. Once in Hanalei, make sure you take the back road and see the beautiful bay and pier. You can't see it from the main road. Stop for a bite and a drink at Tahiti Nui. Waimea Canyon - an easy if twisty drive to the spectacular canyon. Keep going up the road past it to Kokee for more great views. Na Pali Coast - by sea or air, whatever works for you and your budget. Take a river cruise on Hawai'i's only navigable river - the Wailua River - and visit the Fern Grotto from there. Smith's has tours that do both. Go to Kilohana Plantation between Lihue and Poipu to see the plantation, as well as the Koloa Rum distillery and tasting room on the property. Sunset at Spouting Horn near Poipu - a good place to watch the sunset turn the waterspout pink and orange. Restaurants we really liked: 22 North at Kilohana Plantation - lovely garden setting and super-fresh food, great cocktails with ingredients from their own farm Plantation Gardens at Kiahuna Plantation - already mentioned this one! Lovely setting and fantastic food. Keoki's Paradise - right across the street from the Kiahuna. One of the more tiki places on the island, if 'nouveau' tiki. Finish the meal with a Hula Pie! They have a 'sister' restaurant in Lihue - Duke's - which we didn't get to (but we did go to the one on Maui and liked it). The Shrimp Station - a low-key little shrimp joint right in Waimea Town, with shrimp done in a variety of ways. Paper plates, affordable (for a change! :^) ) The great thing about Kaua'i is how small and accessible it is. You can drive from one end to the other and back in the same day and still make a some stops along the way. The drive along the north side is beautiful - twisty and very green, with a few one-lane bridges and views of mountains and taro fields, as well as some amazing beaches. It's a wonderful island - one of my favorites. I'm sure you'll have a great time! PS - You pretty much MUST have a rental car on Kaua'i - you can't get around any other way. [ Edited by: Hibiscus 2011-02-11 08:15 ]

On 2011-02-11 07:11, christiki295 wrote:
Aloha Hibiscus,
Any additional Kaua'i tips?
We will be staying near Lihue.

Some options:

Drive to Hanalei and beyond to the "end of the road" at Ha'ena State Park. Kilauea Point lighthouse and bird sanctuary is on the way north - also worth a stop.

Once in Hanalei, make sure you take the back road and see the beautiful bay and pier. You can't see it from the main road. Stop for a bite and a drink at Tahiti Nui.

Waimea Canyon - an easy if twisty drive to the spectacular canyon. Keep going up the road past it to Kokee for more great views.

Na Pali Coast - by sea or air, whatever works for you and your budget.

Take a river cruise on Hawai'i's only navigable river - the Wailua River - and visit the Fern Grotto from there. Smith's has tours that do both.

Go to Kilohana Plantation between Lihue and Poipu to see the plantation, as well as the Koloa Rum distillery and tasting room on the property.

Sunset at Spouting Horn near Poipu - a good place to watch the sunset turn the waterspout pink and orange.

Restaurants we really liked:

22 North at Kilohana Plantation - lovely garden setting and super-fresh food, great cocktails with ingredients from their own farm

Plantation Gardens at Kiahuna Plantation - already mentioned this one! Lovely setting and fantastic food.

Keoki's Paradise - right across the street from the Kiahuna. One of the more tiki places on the island, if 'nouveau' tiki. Finish the meal with a Hula Pie! They have a 'sister' restaurant in Lihue - Duke's - which we didn't get to (but we did go to the one on Maui and liked it).

The Shrimp Station - a low-key little shrimp joint right in Waimea Town, with shrimp done in a variety of ways. Paper plates, affordable (for a change! :^) )

The great thing about Kaua'i is how small and accessible it is. You can drive from one end to the other and back in the same day and still make a some stops along the way. The drive along the north side is beautiful - twisty and very green, with a few one-lane bridges and views of mountains and taro fields, as well as some amazing beaches. It's a wonderful island - one of my favorites. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

PS - You pretty much MUST have a rental car on Kaua'i - you can't get around any other way.

[ Edited by: Hibiscus 2011-02-11 08:15 ]

Post #575632 by Hibiscus on Fri, Feb 11, 2011 8:13 AM