Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [59]
Lei-making is a tropical art form. All leis are fashioned by hand in a variety of traditional patterns; some are sewn of hundreds of tiny blooms or shells, or bits of ferns and leaves. Some are twisted, some braided, some strung. Every island has its own special flower lei. On Oahu, the choice is ilima, a small orange flower. Big Islanders prefer the lehua, a large, delicate red puff. Maui likes the lokelani, a small rose. On Kauai, it’s the mokihana, a fragrant green vine and berry. Molokai prefers the kukui, the white blossom of a candlenut tree. Lanai’s lei is made of kaunaoa, a bright yellow moss, while Niihau uses its abundant seashells to make leis that were once prized by royalty and are now worth a small fortune.
Leis are available at the Lihue Airport, from florists, and even at supermarkets.
Leis are the perfect symbol for Hawaii: They’re given in the moment, their fragrance and beauty are enjoyed in the moment, but when they fade, their spirit of aloha lives on. Welcome to the islands!
13 Tips on Accommodations
Kauai offers a tremendous variety of accommodations, from ritzy resorts to simple bed-and-breakfasts. Before you book a room, read this section to find out what each option typically offers. We’ve included tips on how to get the best rates.
TYPES OF ACCOMMODATIONS
HOTELS In Hawaii, the term hotel can indicate a wide range of options, from accommodations with few or no on-site amenities to those with enough extras to qualify as resorts. Generally, a hotel offers daily maid service and has a restaurant, on-site laundry facilities, a pool, and a sundries/convenience-type shop (as opposed to the shopping arcades that most resorts have). Top hotels also provide activities desks, concierge service, business centers, bars and/or lounges, and perhaps a few more shops. The advantages of staying in a hotel are privacy and convenience; the disadvantage is generally noise—due either to thin walls between rooms or to loud music from a lobby lounge late into the night.
RESORTS In Hawaii, a resort offers everything a hotel offers and more. What you get varies from property to property, of course, but expect facilities, services, and amenities such as direct beach access, with cabanas and chairs; a pool (often more than one) and a Jacuzzi; a spa and fitness center; restaurants, bars, and lounges; a 24-hour front desk; concierge, valet, and bell services; room service (often round-the-clock); an activities desk; tennis and golf (some of the world’s best courses are at Hawaii resorts); ocean activities; a business center; children’s programs; and more.
The advantage of staying at a resort is that you have everything you could possibly want in the way of services and things to do; the disadvantage is that the price generally reflects this. Don’t be misled by a name—just because a place is called “ABC Resort” doesn’t mean it actually is a resort. Make sure you’re getting what you pay for.
CONDOS The roominess and convenience of a condo—usually a fully equipped multibedroom apartment—make this a great choice for families. Condominium properties in Hawaii are generally several apartments set in either a single high-rise or a cluster of low-rise units. Condos generally have amenities such as some degree of maid service (ranging from daily to weekly; it may or may not be included in your rate, so be sure to ask), a pool, laundry facilities (either in your unit or in a central location), and an on-site front desk or a live-in property manager. The advantages of a condo are privacy, space, and conveniences—which usually include a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer, a private phone, and perhaps your own lanai or balcony. The downsides include the absence of an on-site restaurant and the density of the units. (The condo may be more private than a B&B or hotel but not quite as private as your own cottage, villa, or house.)
Condos vary in price according to size, location, and amenities. Many of them are located on or near the beach, and they