Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [68]
Head out west, up to Waimea Canyon. Have warm clothes and be prepared for rain. Get an early start and have breakfast or coffee at the Kalaheo Coffee Co. & Cafe, where you can pick up a picnic lunch. Stop in Waimea town to explore the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park and the Menehune Ditch, then plan to spend most of the day hiking the various trails in the Waimea Canyon area (for hikes). All that hiking will work up an appetite, so for dinner go Italian at Pomodoro in Kalaheo.
Day 5: Spend a Day in the Clouds at Kokee
If you aren’t too sore from hiking in Waimea Canyon, head back up the mountain another 16 miles up the hill from the Waimea Canyon, where at 4,000 feet lies the Kokee State Park. Stop for lunch at the Kokee Lodge, open from 9am to 3pm. Check in at the Kokee Natural History Museum to learn about the forests and surrounding area, locate good hiking trails, and pick up a couple of trail maps. In the afternoon, wander around the park, and stay for sunset. If it’s Friday night, plan dinner at the Hanapepe Café; if it’s not, Toi’s Thai Kitchen, in Eleele , has terrific and affordable Thai cuisine; or, Keoki’s Paradise, in Poipu offers great seafood and steaks in a tropical jungle decor.
Day 6: Out on the Water
After a couple of days in the mountains, it’s time to head to the beach again. If you are coming from the North Shore or from the Coconut Coast, stop for a yummy breakfast at the Tip Top Café/Bakery, in Lihue. If you like sailing and snorkeling, book a sail/snorkel tour out of the Kukuiula Small Boat Harbor or Port Allen (see “Boating,” in chapter 7) for the trip of a lifetime—exploring the Na Pali Coast.
If you pass on sailing, wander into the old plantation town of Hanapepe and browse at the unique shops. Continue west to Kauai’s biggest beach at Polihale State Park. Spend the day here, and be sure to checkout the “barking” sands at Barking Sands Beach. Enjoy the sunset; then head over to Tidepool Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu for dinner on the water.
Day 7: Explore Kilauea
Your beach quotient should be filled by now, so spend the day in the Kilauea area exploring gardens and the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. First, call Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens to make sure they are open, and book a tour. This incredible, magical garden is for people who shudder at the thought of seeing a botanical garden: The whimsical magic of the place will win over even the most stubborn. Build up an appetite for lunch by checking out the very unusual shops at Kong Kung in Kilauea. Pick up a delicious picnic lunch at Kilauea Fish Market. Then head down the road to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (see “Birding”), a 200-acre habitat for Hawaii’s ocean birds. Eat your picnic on the coast, join a guided hike, or just wander through the fairyland of the wilderness area. Have dinner at the wonderful Lighthouse Bistro Kilauea.
Day 8: Cruise the Coconut Coast
For those who just can’t get enough beach time, make your way to Wailua Beach on the Coconut Coast. This beach, which features Hawaiian historical and cultural sites, is also a great place to just sit under a palm tree and figure out how you can move here permanently. For those non-beach people, you can visit Kauai’s Children’s Discovery Museum in Kapaa, and then either explore the great shopping along the coast, or head inland and see the sacred Hindu temple, San Marga Iraivan Temple. Eat lunch in Kapaa at Mermaids Cafe. In the afternoon, consider either hiking up Sleeping Giant Mountain, bicycling along the shoreline, or renting a kayak from Kauai Water Ski and Surf. By dinnertime, you’ll be hungry; head for Caffè Coco.
Day 9: A Day of Adventure
Try something you have never done before. Sign up for a Tubing Adventure with Kauai Backcountry Adventures, for a chance to float down the former sugar-cane irrigation flumes. Or sail through the air on the new Zipline adventure; we recommend Outfitters Kauai’s Kipu Falls Zipline Trek for an adrenaline rush that you won’t soon forget. Plan a quiet afternoon