Things to do on Kauai

[ledhedsymbols]

Title says it all, wife and I are on Oahu for a couple days then headed to Kauai. What are the can't miss spots? We'll have a car and don't mind a bit of driving.

[p911dad]

Check out the "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai revealed" on Amazon. Well worth the small money considering how much you have invested in your trip. The author also has ones for Oahu and Maui. We have personally used them and rate them very highly.

[Seahawk]

It is a little touristy, but the raft or sailing trips off the Na Pali coast are great fun.

It has been a while, but a friend of mine used to own one of the charters and gave us a really nice tour.

Enjoy!

[cashman]

Helicopter tour. One of the best experiences of my life.

[LakeCleElum]

Paging: Tevake - He lived there for years....His family still rents a condo in Princeville. It's my Fav Island there. Perfect mix of the old and the new.

[DonDavis]

Check out Waimea Canyon.
Kayak in Hanalei Bay, it's really beautiful.
The Kalalau Trail is very cool.
The Holo Holo Tour was excellent and well worth it.
https://www.holoholokauaiboattours.com/kauai_boat_tours/niihau_boat_tours/

We stayed on the south side of the island for a few days then moved to the Hanalei Bay area. The two sides of the island are vastly different.

[GH85Carrera]

Chase Chickens?

There a zillions of wild chickens running around. I was amazed to see tourists from big cities get off a bus and ignore the fantastic scenery and chase around after a chicken trying to take a picture of a chicken. I guess they had never seen a live chicken.

[ledhedsymbols]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Chase Chickens?

There a zillions of wild chickens running around. I was amazed to see tourists from big cities get off a bus and ignore the fantastic scenery and chase around after a chicken trying to take a picture of a chicken. I guess they had never seen a live chicken.

Bwahahaha! I'm good on chickens, but the wife is a city girl.

[ledhedsymbols]

The

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Check out Waimea Canyon.
Kayak in Hanalei Bay, it's really beautiful.
The Kalalau Trail is very cool.
The Holo Holo Tour was excellent and well worth it.
https://www.holoholokauaiboattours.com/kauai_boat_tours/niihau_boat_tours/

We stayed on the south side of the island for a few days then moved to the Hanalei Bay area. The two sides of the island are vastly different.

Thanks, we've got a couple different places we are staying too. I'll look into your suggestions, I'm all Oahu-ed out, looking forward to some quieter island time.

Elisha has never been here (Oahu) and had been after me for years. I went here a bunch in the Navy, and have been dragging my heels for the duration. I agreed to a couple days here this time... MY vacation starts tomorrow!

[vash]

great island.

i did a lot of hiking. ate a bunch of wild guava. i ate at a local restaurant in some neighborhood and it was amazing.. none of our group can remember that name of the place or how we even came upon it.

[stealthn]

Kayak up the rver, then hike to the hidden waterfall. 17 years ago my wife and I did it and we and another couple were the only ones there, 5 years ago it was packed, but still fun.

[WPOZZZ]

You can hang with Queen Bey and Jay-Z, if they are still here.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by vash

great island.

i did a lot of hiking. ate a bunch of wild guava. i ate at a local restaurant in some neighborhood and it was amazing.. none of our group can remember that name of the place or how we even came upon it.

Don't eat too much guava as it'll plug you up!

[tevake]

The guys have covered it pretty well. The drive up to Kokee is worthwhile, check out the canyon, go to the lookouts over the Na Pali up there.
Driving toward Lihue from the south there is a neat bypass near the animal shelter that gets you off the main road on your way to the harbor, nice scenery.

I'm a north shore guy and would suggest you spend some time up that way. The views from the lighthouse are good. Lots of sea birds nesting on the craters edge nearby.

Anini Bch and Kalihiwai bay are a little off the beaten track and nice. Some good sheltered snorkeling at Anini.

On your way toward the end of the road and the beginning of the Na Pali coast trail. (Should hike in to the first good view point, 20 min, best in the early morning.)
You will go by limahuli valley, nice botanical garden there featuring native plants and restored taro terraces .

Tunnels beach gets crowded but is beautiful and nice for a snorkel .

The ahi at the dolphin restaurant in Hanalei is killer, they have a little shop in the back where you can pick up some nice poki, sushi, etc for your lunch while exploring the area.
Kayaking up the Hanalei river and in the bay is good too.

Have fun,
Cheers Richard

[flatbutt]

There is (was?) a Buddhist monastery at the top of the island which gives (gave?) tours. If they still do its not a bad way to spend an hour or two. The monastery lands are stunning.

[ledhedsymbols]

Thanks again for the tips! We fly out of Honolulu just after lunch today, and I can't wait.

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by cashman

Helicopter tour. One of the best experiences of my life.

^^ this...

[tevake]

I'll just say this quickly, that helicopter ride could be the last thing you do.
I've personally seen a couple of the many helo crashes that happen on Kauai.
And watched one guy die in the front seat while the lady in the back seat that I was helping ended up paralyzed for life, this just days after all aboard were lost in a crash near the airport in P-Ville.

Sorry to be a bummer, but the air safety record on Kauai plain sucks.
You probably wouldn't hear of this otherwise. Just to make you aware.
The flight is really spectacular. But chancy. Sorry Seahawk if you are reading.

Stay safe.
Richard

[ledhedsymbols]

Good to know. We hadn't planned on the helo tour, and it seems like a 65 foot catamaran might be a better way to see the sights. We booked an all day sailing and snorkeling trip for Saturday.

[vash]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Don't eat too much guava as it'll plug you up!

now you tell me!!??