[redforever]

Originally Posted by valo403

Anybody have any suggestions for Kauai? I'm headed there pretty soon and outside of the more well known highlights haven't really had a chance to look into the sights. We're staying on the south shore, poipu area, but will have a car.

We have usually gone to Maui, Kihei area, when we have visited Hawaii. We also did a week on Oahu but too busy for us.

This last year, on the recommendation of many friends, we went to Kauai…and really liked it. Very very quiet…what I would call old Hawaii. If you want a lot of night life, I would not recommend Kauai.

We stayed at Kiahuna Plantation, you can rent through Outrigger or privately as we did at VRBO. It offers 1 and 2 bedroom condos, a restaurant, very well kept spacious grounds and gardens, and a nice protected beach so good for families with younger children….cabana with free beach chairs and towels...barbecues scattered through out the grounds...very quiet. We are returning again this winter.

Close by is the old town of Koloa, just 5 to 10 minutes away from Poipu area.

Tomkats Grill is not a fancy or fine dining restaurant but certainly better than average place to eat and a place you can bring the whole family as well.
Excellent kahlua pig, try their pork quesadillas or sandwich….. fish tacos are great too. They also have discounts for happy hour.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g60621-d516899-Reviews-Tomkats_Grille-Koloa_Kauai_Hawaii.html

Koloa Mill Ice Cream and Coffee offers exactly that. Their mango ice cream is the best, but the coconut or coffee ice cream is good too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/koloa-mill-ice-cream-and-coffee-koloa

Pizzetta advertises all kinds of Italian fare but I would stick with the pizza which is very good…..calzones are good too. They also have happy hour. They deliver but we never tried that option.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant...i.html#REVIEWS

Hanapepe is a nice lazy place to spend some time. You pass it on the way to Wailea Canyon. The old part of town, north of the highway, has stores that have been converted into art and craft shops. These are not the tacky type stores that have mass-produced goods from China to sell. Also, every Friday, from 6 to 9 pm, one of the stores hosts a free evening of art, food and music

http://www.islands.com/article/MAIN-STREET-KAUAI-Hanapepe-

The Hanapepe Café and Espresso shop is a must if in that area. It offers vegetarian foods although I believe they have added fish to their menu now. All their salads are great. There is also a bakery on the one side of the shop, excellent pastries and pies to try as well. They have limited hours and are not open very many evenings.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g60614-d495434-Reviews-Hanapepe_Cafe-Hanapepe_Kauai_Hawaii.html

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/kauai/D39527.html

Other worthwhile shops are the Banana patch studio…they have a second location in the Kung Lum Center, Kileaua; Koa Wood Gallery…stunning products made from koa wood and Norfolk pine…There is also a very nice koa gallery on the road north going out of Lihue…Arius Hopman Gallery offers watercolors and digital photos as well as lessons in photography.

Jacqueline, the Aloha shirt lady, has her store in Hanapepe. She designs and sews all her clothing so all originals. She only takes cash.

http://www.hanahou.com/pages/magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=132&Maga zineID=7

We did a 90 minute helicopter tour of the island…was great…the helicopter flew right into the old caldera. Try to go early in the day, before the afternoon showers start. We used Safari and were very pleased. They also offer tours on the big island.

http://www.safarihelicopters.com/kauai/

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g60623-d526233-Reviews-Safari_Helicopters-Lihue_Kauai_Hawaii.html

We also did a day cruise up the Napali side…lots of companies to use, depending if you want to snorkel, whale watch and the like.

Wailea Canyon is a must…lots of hiking trails in the area too. Again, try to go earlier in the day because Kauai is frequented by showers in the afternoon.
The north side is windier, certainly gets much more rain, would be the area to surf if that is your thing.

Oh, and there are feral chickens (Bantams) of every color all over the island…and it is almost impossible to not see turtles.