Ahhhh Kauai!!!!

We are from Edmonton, Alberta Canada and this was our first trip to Hawaii. We spent our entire time in Kauai and had a budget of under 2000$ Canadian each (including airfare).

Went to Kauai from April 30th-May7th. It was wonderful and beautiful and relaxing! We stayed first night at Kauai Palms Hotel. It was more than adequate very very comfortable mattress...alarm clock provided-- the roosters work us up around 4am. Fantastic views from the hotel room. Second night we camped at Salt Pond beach....some locals were nearby having some drinks till the wee hours. I was concerned at first, but then delighted as I got to lay in my sleeping bag and get lulled to sleep by them playing the Ukele and singing beautiful tunes! Second night we camped at Koke'e. Campsite was beautiful and private and only one other couple in the whole area. The weather was cool up there..but refreshing. Third night was at the Tip Top motel--nice staff, good restaurant....the best cookies I"ve ever had! The room was very bland and boring....but again, adequate for our purpose of sleeping and showering. Fourth night was at Anini beach park--by far my favorite campsite even though throughout the night I became preoccupied with how loud the waves sounded...and thought they were comming to swallow me up. Fifth night was camping at Ha'ena beach park...and finally, the last night was at the Tip Top Motel because it was the cheapest at 65$/night.

Here are the higlights and my recommendations for people going there:

-We did a helicopter tour with Jack Harter...this was a big chunk of our budjet...we had to eat peanut butter sandwiches and granola bars for breakfast every day in order to be able to afford this. But definately well worth it! The pilot Jason was fantastic....and the tour, breathtaking. Our helicopter had doors.....I would recommend doors-off to anyone concerned about taking good pictures..and having a bit of added fun....nearly all my pictures have reflections and glare....oh well...the images I saw on the tour are engraved forever in my mind!

-We did the Jungle Hike....fun, beautiful and easy. The most difficult part was driving the road to the trail head...but it wasn't bad at all with the 4X4. May need a 4X4 if it's been raining a lot. It's a great early morning hike on a day when you've got other plans for the afternoon. The whole thing only takes maybe 2 hrs..if you stop for picnic at the end of the trail.

-We did the Pihea to Alaka'i Swamp trail. (You know how they sell those red dirt shirts all over the island....well I now have a pair of red dirt socks and red dirt hikers and I didn't pay a cent for the dye-job.) This trail is absolutely phenomenal. Probably the highlight of my trip. The misty, almost eerie forests in the early morning and the fog constantly rolling in and out are unlike anything! The swamp itself was also unlike anything I have ever seen or imagined. I definately recommend this hike simply for it's uniqueness. It's a bit of a long one...At about 6 hours return...it takes the better part of the day. Most of the hiking is easy enough...with a few slightly more challenging parts. The views are unlike anything as well. You get shocking views of the Kalalau Valley several times through the hike and then the end view is a wonderful one of Ha'ena.

-Of course we set out to do the Kalalau trail....well the portion of it that we could do without permit. (the first couple of miles). Kalalau trail was also spectacular and definately a must-do. A couple of really nice views of the NaPali cliffs. (I enjoyed seeing NaPali on foot as much as I did by helicopter). We got pounded on by rain about a mile into the trail. In minutes...the dry trail turned into a muddy stream. We trudged on...and made it to Hanakapi'ai beach. Once at the beach, I was greeted by a kitten who begged me for my lunch and eagerly bit my finger thinking it was something yummy to eat. We would have loved to take the side hike to the falls, but the rain was comming down so hard, and I didn't want to take any chances with the river rising. At the time we crossed it...it was already up to my waist in some spots...and I hear that the river can rise and speed up in no time with the rains. A side note---don't let the rain ruin your hikes...I say go ahead with your hikes anyways...just inform yourself on rising waters and flash floods beforehand and don't take any unnessesary risks..

-Snorkelling Tunnels: Tunnels beach is a beautiful spot and good snorkeling...the water was a big rough..and a strong current came quickly....at which time I was grateful to have not been far from shore and to have been wearing fins. In Kauai conditions can change very very quickly. At tunnels....my boyfriend and I were in about neck deep water when suddenly my boyfriend's face became panic stricken. He jumped around and said what's that...what was that? Immediately, I thought of tiger sharks. My heart raced. I stuck my head in the water...and looked in front of us and behind us...trying to be brave. I didn't see anything...but was suddenly overwhelmed with spook.... so I make a beeline for the shore....I had fins on...I forgot my boyfriend didn't wear his. He thought I saw something...maybe a tiger shark...and that I left him there to battle it out on his own. IT turned out his finger was bitten by a fish...but when he saw me look into the water and then take off....we was a little worried at what I"d seen. The moral of this story...is....don't be overpreoccupied with sharks to the point where it ruins your snorkeling like I did. Odds are overwhelming that you won't even see one let alone be bothered by one. Another moral of this story...is don't feed the fish...they are starting to bite the tourists fingers.

--Anini beach also had some nice snorkeling...waters were nice on the day we went..but as my camping experience there proved....they are not always calm. Never go in the water if it doesn't feel right. We saw a few nice fish there...and there's a reef a little ways out..although you do have to swim farther to get to it than you would at Tunnels or Ke'e.

--Ke'e beach was my favorite. (many people love Queen's Bath for snorkelling..but I prefer Ke'e. Queen's bath had a difficult entry and you have to constantly tread water when not snorkeling...when you get tired..there's not anywhere to stand and rest.) The snorkeling at Ke'e was specatacular. We saw a turtle, the most beautifully and brilliantly colored fish.....and an -oh-my-gosh 4 foot long needle fish(?) I think. Wow! Ke'e is not to be missed! The water there is amazing....crystal clear....the sun makes a reflections through the water on the sand below..that I"ve only ever seen on pictures before...I thought it was a camera trick!

--Driving around the entire island was another one of my favorite things we did on our trip. Relax and enjoy!!

--My favorite place to eat was Scotty's Seaside Barbeque. Ammaaazing pulled chicken sandwich and the best bar-b-que sauce I"ve ever had. Delicious Mango smootie! My second favorite place to eat was at Polynesia Cafe. Very good fish burger and fries. If you are going to Kauai please try both these places...and you won't regret it. Service was best at Scotty's. To try local food, we ate at Oki Diner....I found the food there to be greasy....but the best shave ice I found was there! (and I tried many many places including Jo-Jo's.) IF you are looking for good bang for your buck Garden Island barbeque gives heaping portions for very cheap. Not bad tasting.

-Sorry this entry is sooo long..I figured...you can just stop reading when you get tired or fall asleep. It's difficult for me to stop writing when I"m passionate about something...as I am about Kauai!

--Michelle