Kauai, Hawaii
Our first trip to Hawaii was to the island of Kauai. Also known as the “Garden Isle” it is the fourth largest and oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. While it may be small, the island is packed with spectacular natural sites of jaw-dropping beauty. The impossibly stunning peaks of the Nā Pali Coast have featured in many Hollywood blockbusters including Jurassic Park. And Waimea Canyon on the Western side of the island, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is a great place for a hike.
Dream
Princeville Resort, Kauai: After in-depth research we decided to stay at the Princeville Resort because of the incredible location on Hanalei Bay and the less crowded feel than the popular Southern part of the island. While the north part of the island may get more rain, the views are breathtaking. When you want a change of scenery, you can walk to Hanalei Bay and its large public beach. This property recently changed hands and was formerly part of the St. Regis chain. Plans are now afoot to convert it to a 1 Hotels location.
Dine
During our stay on the island, our days were packed with tours which included meals, and our resort room rate included breakfast, so we didn’t explore too many restaurants. Here are a few spots we would try:
Bar Acuda, Hanalei: Our favorite restaurant during our stay had a hip feel with tasty small plates.
Tahiti Nui, Hanalei: Famously featuring in the George Clooney movie “The Dependents”, this very casual rustic restaurant is a great spot for lunch.
Do
There is plenty to see and do in Kauai. As first-timers to the island, we wanted to see the best of everything it had to offer. Here are our recommendations:
Nā Pali Coast State Park: The Nā Pali Coast is not easy to see. Inaccessible to motor vehicles, visitors must travel by helicopter, or hike the long, treacherous Kalalau Trail, or arrive by boat. We opted for a boat trip, but unfortunately rough waters got the better of us, and our excursion was cancelled. Every time we see photos of Nā Pali Coast we’re reminded that this is top of our list of things to see on our next trip.
Waimea Canyon State Park: Ten miles long and up to 3,000-feet deep, located on the western side of Kauai, Waimea Canyon is spectacular. Two lookouts have parking and offer breathtaking views. We took a bike tour to see the canyon with the aim of getting a cardio workout along the way. However, we were driven to the top of the canyon and pretty much freewheeled all the way down. So we didn’t get much exercise, and found out during and after the ride that cyclists face significant dangers on the route from motorists. So we recommend a self-drive excursion instead.
Movie location tour: Not only will you see some memorable movie locations, it’s a good way to see a large part of the island. We booked with Roberts Hawaii. Our favorite site on the tour was Kong Mountain, famously seen in the opening moments of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Luau Kalamaku, Lihue: You can’t go to Hawaii without ever taking in a Luau. And we recommend the Plantation Owners Evening at Luau Kalamaku, which includes a special lei and champagne welcome, a good four-course meal at Gaylords Restaurant (rather than the standard luau buffet) and premium seating at the show. It’s well worth the extra cost.
Running from the Princeville Resort: Princeville has a 2.1-mile walk/jog path that runs from the hotel to the Princeville Shopping Center. So you can get some exercise with spectacular coastline views along the way.
