You Go Girls ~ Our Active Kauai Vacation
luvnkauai
First-time visit to Hawaii for a mom and 20-year-old daughter.
Aug 17, 2008
based on 12 votes
We kept on the go, and so our goList includes places we went and things we did on our May 2008 visit to Kauai. Instead of a fine dining or shop till you drop vacation, we chose to experience the astounding natural beauty that is Kauai through outdoor activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. This goList let's you know what things cost during our week on the island.
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Kauai, Lihue, Lawai, Waimea, Koloa, Poipu, Hanalei, Anahola, Kapaa, Kalaheo
- Category: Recent trip
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Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Never been before, Beachgoers
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Appeals to: Budget travelers, Active/adventure
- Seasons: Spring, Summer
- Tags: snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, Secret Falls, Pihea, Kalalau, Wishing Well, Hula Pie
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Arrival: Our first Hawaiian site was Pierce Brosnan standing near us at the airport baggage claim. That seemed to be a sign of good things to come. And many good things were to come during our week-long vacation on Kauai. We felt truly blessed to have enjoyed all the good things we did! The island is not large, but we kept on the go and in a week put 592 miles on our rental car. Dollar had upgraded us to a Magnum Stealthmobile with dark-tinted windows that worked as well as any trunk for keeping our snorkel gear out of sight. Over the week we drove to the top of Waimea Canyon and took several trips to the north shore which came to $112 spent on gasoline. If we had this vacation to do again, we'd go the same places and do almost all the same things while staying more days and with down-time included between all our activities. |
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Ave price:
$295
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Kaha Lani was a home base that felt to us like a peaceful home. We were happy with our comfortable & quiet unit and its beautiful ocean view. The grounds were lovely, the pool was nice & relaxing, and the central location was ideal for us as no place north or south on the island felt too far away to visit. Both Walmart in Lihue and Safeway (Safeway card applications are on the customer service desk and can be quickly completed and handed in at checkout where you will be given your discount card. With our new Safeway card we spent only $44 over the week) in Kapaa are convenient. Lodging cost: $1144 for the week including our rental car with taxes and fees. |
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| Day 1: We started off for Waimea Canyon but when the clouds began really rolling in we changed our plans and drove to Poipu instead. We got to Spouting Horn first thing in the morning even before the vendors were there. We enjoyed having Spouting Horn pretty much to ourselves while high surf made for especially tall sprays of water and fun photo opps. Then the vendors set up shop and we enjoyed lots of great little finds such as cute shell bracelets and necklaces for only $1. Later in the week we purchased a really cute $15 dollar ring and some matching earrings here. Cost: Mostly inexpensive. |
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| Stopped for yummy banana macadamia nut pancakes which we thought were the best ever! The pancakes were hot, fluffy, and delicious and we went back for more our last morning on the island. We received very quick and attentive service. The restaurant was loud and crowded with what looked like an even mix of tourists and locals; the service is very quick and attentive. But wear short pants and the backs of your legs will stick to the fifties vinyl booth seats. Cost for our two trips to Tip Top: $31. |
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5. Wailua & Opaekaa Falls
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| After breakfast we stopped at both waterfalls and took a few photos. Both Wailua and Opaekaa Falls are easily accessible by car. Cost: Both are free. |
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| We had never snorkeled before. Our plan was to rent gear for the entire week and keep it handy so that we could snorkel whenever we wanted to. The woman at the shop fitted us with masks (I needed the RX mask) and graciously gave us beginner tips so that we were ready to get started. We kept our gear in the car ready to go at all times so that we could snorkel whenever we wanted to. Cost: $79 for the week for both of us. |
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7. Lydgate Beach
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| A short walk from our condo at Kaha Lani, Lydgate was the perfect place for us to get comfortable our first time snorkeling. We loved how relaxing snorkeling is and how the fins seem to just carry you along atop the water. We felt very safe within the large rock rimmed pool. The waters are shallow & calm, and there are lots of different fish which we had somehow imagined lived only in tropical aquariums! Cost: Free. |
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| We drove to Kilauea for the 4:30 pm Thursday Sunshine Market. Two rows of open-tailgated trucks are positioned with an open area between them so that you can, once the signal sounds, walk around and choose whatever you want to buy. We purchased fresh local flowers, apple bananas, passion fruit, pineapple, and the biggest avocado we'd ever seen. Drinking through a straw from a fresh coconut for the first time was also fun! Cost: We spent $16 here. |
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9. Princeville Resort
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| We went to Princeville for the sunset over Bali Hai. The gentleman manning the parking booth asked us if we were hotel or dinner guests. When I told him we had come simply for the view he graciously directed us to a nice parking spot and we enjoyed our first Hawaiian sunset from the adjacent resort lawn. Cost: Free; That particular sunset: Priceless! |
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| Day 2: Weather conditions were clear so we got up early and drove straight to the top of Waimea Canyon. We reached the end of the road and highest lookout not long after 8 am. From Pu'u o Kila Lookout we hiked the Pihea Trail to the Pihea Vista and back. The Na Pali views along the trail, which ran along the clifftop, were breathtakingly beautiful. We started back down Waimea Canyon a few minutes before noon, stopping at Kalalau, Puu Ka Pele & Waimea Canyon Lookouts. These lookout points had by now become somewhat crowded and clouds threatened to obscure visibility. We had just enough time to enjoy clear views at each stop. Cost: Free. |
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| Pihea Trail is a great hike with spectacular postcard perfect views all along the trail which runs runs along the top of a very steep precipous. I didn't dare get too close to the edge. We recommend this trail for those with some hiking experience who want to enjoy the stunning Na Pali views. We saw only a half dozen others along the trail and feel this hike is not for beginners. If you go, wear enclosed hiking shoes with tread and know where to step. Tip: Train before you arrive on the island, even if just by walking around the mall. We both strengthened our leg muscles by taking lots of brisk walks prior to coming, which prepared us for the hiking we weren't used to. The Pihea Vista portion of the hike gets very steep in places and I had to use potruding tree roots as grips to help pull myself up it. The reward for getting to the vista is not compensatory with the effort, because the view there does not exceed the views all along the Pihea Trail proper. In fact, we got to Pihea Vista without even realizing we'd arrived and, in expecting some sort of culmination of the hike, we were tempted onto a pig trail which could have been very dangerous had we not immediately realized it and turned back. Cost: Free. |
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| We were seated outdoors beneath an umbrella next to the railing near the bar. Our waitress was mostly inattentive so we had our post-hiking opportunity to rest and enjoy a very slow but relaxing late lunch. Becky ordered a half-pound Wisconsin cheeseburger, I had the kalua pork & cole slaw sandwich on ciabatta bread, and we shared some waffle fries. Later we split one very large serving of yummy Hula Pie! We liked the food, open air dining, and laid back environment at Keoki's. I hope to go back some evening when the tiki torches are all ablaze. Cost $32 & a chunk of your time. |
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| After practicing at Lydgate's enclosed pool, we decided to try an "easy" open ocean beach. We hung around the keiki area until getting brave enough to venture out a bit further. While visibility wasn't great, we saw a lot of fish and had a wonderfully fun time beginner snorkeling at Poipu Beach. Cost: Free. |
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| Day 3: We had never kayaked before, but had reserved a kayak for the Wailua river. My husband was determined that Becky and I would be swept out to sea and kept saying so. Although just teasing (or maybe he wasn't seeing as how we live where people really do drown in the powerful Rocky Mountain May river run-off) he eventually eroded my confidence to the point that I thought it best to get some professional kayaking help and made a reservation with Kayak Hanalei for a kayaking & snorkeling trip. The reservation was made two days in advance with Goldie, who said that most who take the Bay Explorer tour are beginners. Our guide Phillipe was great. He taught our group the basics and reassured us we were doing excellently having not steered ourselves immediately into the overhanging tree branches along the banks of the Hanalei. He was kind, considering that Becky's and my kayaking looked like some strange unsynchronized double windmill. But it was all good and with some practice we worked it out. We, along with the two twenty-something married couples in our group, were guided by Phillipe up the Hanalei River. Then we turned and went back down the river and out into Hanalei Bay. We put up our kayaks at Hideaways Beach where we snorkeled. Phillipe took the group away from shore through a channel to a good snorkeling spot, but when Becky had a mask issue we went back to shallow waters. The visability at Hideaways (my second favorite snorkeling beach of the six we tried) was excellent and the easy snorkeling near shore was fun with lots of fish. After snorkeling, we all enjoyed a wonderful beach picnic served graciously by Philippe, who actually spread our beach mats, red carpet style, out before us for the meal. Finally we paddled back to our starting point and were shuttled back to the Ching Young Shopping Village. Our tour ended up being over five hours which exceeded what was promised or expected. We think this tour is a great value and that Kayak Hanalei is an outstanding customer-oriented company! Tip: Book directly with Kayak Hanalei and you'll be given a discount. Go with this company if you are a beginner or unsure of yourself. No one there will make you feel badly even if your kayaking technique "blows" windmill style. Cost: $87 each. |
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| On this big beautiful expanse of mostly empty beach we walked along and picked up little shells and just enjoyed the peaceful solitude & loveliness of the day. Afterward we drove to Wishing Well for some shave ice but, even though it was Saturday afternoon, they were closed. Cost: Free. |
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| We visited the lighthouse on its annual free-admission day, complete with hula show and the opportunity go up top and look through the original clamshell lens. We were thankful to simply enjoy a quick look-see of the Kilauea lighthouse, grounds, and beautiful ocean views. Cost: Free one Saturday each year, otherwise there is a small admission charge. |
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17. East Kauai Products Fair
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| Souvenir shopping in an outdoor market setting. Among the cute and inexpensive treasures we found there were a carved bamboo flute, pua shell bracelet , and a $22 Hawaiian-style sundress for Becky. Over the week we also purchased souvenirs from Hilo Hatties, Walmart, Spouting Horn Vendors, and Sueoki's. Cost for souviners: Varies but mostly inexpensive for us. |
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| Day 4: We hiked the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai Beach and back. We arrived early while parking was still plentiful then enjoyed this hike just as we had enjoyed the Pihea Trail. But by the end of the hike we were pretty tired, even without having taken the four mile side trip to the falls. We spent about four hours on the trail and just hanging out at Hanakapiai Beach. On the way back the trail had become fairly slick thanks to several mini downpours. Since we observed a few people sporting big mud smears after having evidently slipped and fallen, we feel this is another non-beginner hike. Just go to the first view point and back if you are not in decent shape and wearing decent shoes with tread. Cost: Free. |
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| Ke'e was crowded Sunday around noon when we returned from hiking, so we spent only a short while there before making someone very happy by vacating a parking spot. We wanted some shave ice and drove straight from Ke'e to Wishing Well, but they were again closed. Cost: Free; The relieved look on that lucky guy's face when we gave him our parking spot: Priceless. |
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20. Duane's Ono Char-Burger
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| Lots of people getting food to go and there were plentiful chickens for dining companions. We ordered mushroom burgers with swiss cheese & grilled onions along with fries to share. One pesky chicken jumped up onto our table and began sharpening its beak upon the concrete tabletop. Pretty funny actually, and our burgers were good! Cost: $20. |
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| We visited twice. Once in the evening for pupus and a frozen Mai Tai and virgin Lava Flow; and once during Tuesday's happy hour for mango ribs with sticky rice, $2.50 fish tacos, and Hula Pie. The food and drinks were good, and we were very happy with the ambiance and excellent service both times we visited Duke's Canoe Club. I prefer the seating nearer and with the great view of Kalipaki Bay versus inside next to the Waterfall & Koi Pond. Cost for both trips to Duke's: $49. |
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| Day 5: Having been reassured we could avoid calamity by our good experience with Kayak Hanalei, Becky and I picked up our reserved kayak from Wailua Kayak & Canoe at about 7:30 am and paddled ourselves to Secret Falls. We were the only persons on either kayaking trip whom I observed wearing lifejackets. Everyone else left them strapped to their kayak. But after the picture of us being swept out to sea created in my mind by my husband's incessant teasing, I thought it best to be safe. We never had any problem, never turned the kayak or anything like that. It had rained overnight, but the hiking today was easy in mere aqua socks. There were only a handful of others present when we arrived at the falls. There is a legend that standing under these particular falls changes one's destiny. And so, even though the water was oh so cold, we had fun changing our destinies by getting soaked under the waterfall. It was not long before three tour groups and several individuals joined us, spreading out their various morning picnics all around the falls. It was getting pretty crowded by the time we left. Hiking out, we passed several more individuals along with another three tour groups, thus we laughed and decided to rename the place "(the) Secret (is out) Falls." We had heard the headwind paddling back can be bad in the afternoon; it was still strong enough to provide us with a good workout in the late morning, and so we suggest going early in order to beat both the crowds and the headwind. Tip: On our first kayaking trip I developed big blisters in the base of both the Vs that are my extended thumbs and pointer fingers. I was forced to come up with various oddball ways of holding my paddle in order to not rub it against those blisters too much. I wished for bandaid protection, but the one time my mini first aid kit would have come in handy on this trip I (oops) left it in the car! All in all, a fun trip! Kayak rental cost: $68 (we used a discount coupon; a cash discount is also available) Changing our destinies along with the name of this waterfall: Priceless. |
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| Using Snorkel Bob's directions to Anini Beach, we turned off Hwy 56 and onto Kalihiwai Road, which led to a peaceful bay and beach we did not recognize as Anini. It was a lovely place that reminded us of a smaller scaled version of Lumahai, as both bays have a river at their west end. Very few people were present, so we stayed and enjoyed the beauty and solitude for awhile. Turns out there are two Kalihiwai roads and when going northbound you must take the second Kalihiwai road if you hope to get to Anini Beach. Tip: Kalihiwai Beach would be a good location for honeymooners to get away from the crowds. Cost: Free. |
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| If going north along Hwy 56, take the second Kalihiwai road to Anini Beach. It is huge and said to be a good place for snorkeling. But, as beginner snorkelers, we didn't necessarily feel completely safe there. Not many people were around, it was sort of windy, and there was no lifeguard stationed. We didn't know the best places to snorkel and didn't want to foolishly venture too far out in search of marine life. And so, while the kite surfing going on that day at Anini's east end looked fun, our snorkeling time there (my least favorite snorkeling spot on the island) was brief. Cost: Free. |
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25. Scotty's Beachside Barbeque
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| We were seated right next to the window where we enjoyed the great ocean view near dusk, along with very tasty pulled pork nachos, grilled shrimp, and delicious frozen fruit smoothies. Becky had strawberry-banana and I had a mango smoothie ~ Yum! Tip: If you are worried about your dinner at Scotty's not being worth the expense, go for the nachos, the smoothies, and the view! Cost: $37, or less if you skip the shrimp. |
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| Day 6: We toured with Na Pali Catamaran from Hanalei Bay to Nu'alolo Beach and back. We chose a tour departing from Hanalei since our objective was to experience views of the Na Pali Coast. We left Kaha Lani about 6 am for the Hanalei check in. Along with fourteen others, we were shuttled to the bay and then ferried by outrigger canoe through the water to the catamaran. Captain Lance and First Mate Sam said we had the best ocean conditions in days. The Na Pali coastline was incredibly beautiful. We got to cruise along next to a pod of about seventy spinner dolphins. We did not get to go in any sea caves because of the surf, but at Nu'alolo the water was clear and we got to snorkel with sea turtles. Sam and Lance served us a very nice lunch. The ride home was choppy and fun. I held onto the catamaran rail, let my knees absorb the bounces as if skiing, except instead of gliding through Utah snow I just put my face forward and enjoyed the refreshing ocean spray. Tip: Book this tour weeks in advance by telephone if there is a particular day you want to go. Na Pali Catamaran staff were always great to talk with and the first welcoming Hawaiian voices I heard before coming to Kauai. Tour cost: $150 each. |
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| Last the best! Tunnels was my favorite snorkeling beach. It was a well worth the long sandy walk to get to the good snorkeling area where the water is clear and calm. There are many fish and much reef area to explore even where the ocean is still shallow. We had a great time snorkeling and, afterwards, drove to Wishing Well in hopes of finally trying some shave ice. But, as we might have expected, on a Tuesday afternoon they were closed. Cost: Free. |
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28. National Tropical Botanical Garden
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| Day 7: Our final day we took in the sunrise from the east Kauai coast near our condo and went again to TipTop for more of their yummy banana mac pancakes. Then we packed up, checked out, purchased a few souvineers, and went to NTBG. There we enjoyed the free display gardens and taking macro shots of flowers. It's a lovely place and we had a lovely time there. Next year we will be sure and go through Allerton Gardens. Tip: Book the 2.5 hour Allerton tour in advance of your trip. And the display gardens are worth a few minutes of your time if you like flowers like we do. Cost: Allerton is $40 for adults; the display gardens are free. |
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29. Brennecke's Beach Broiler
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| It was our last afternoon in Kauai, and we still hadn't tried shave ice. We planned to get some at Halo Halo Shave Ice, but ended up instead at Brennecke's for happy hour (3-5 pm) nachos and frozen drinks. I had the Mango Madness Colada and Becky had the Blue Crush. Our waiter was very personable and nice to talk with. He shared his interesting story of hiking the Kalalau Trail during a hurricane. Then Becky and I lingered over the wonderful ocean view from our table next to the railing, knowing somehow we'd most likely be coming back. We have yet to sample our first real Hawaiian shave ice, But, for that, there is always the May 2009 Kauai vacation we are hoping to take! Cost for one trip for two to Brennecke's: $21. |
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30. Total Trip Cost: $3367; Our Kauai Experience: Priceless!
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| Here's what we actually spent: Direct flight for two from SLC with LAX connection was $1128; lodging, rental car, & fuel was $1256; tours, tips, equipment rentals, & souvenirs was $721; food & tips was $262. So the total trip cost was $3367 or $1683 each for one glorious week in Kauai. A basic budget for our active week in Kauai is air, lodging, car, & fuel costs plus $1000 to spend on activities, food, tips, souvenirs, and misc. Well worth saving up our pennies for a possible next time! Thanks for reading our goList and here's hoping to see you soon in beautiful Kauai. |
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Compliment luvnkauai
