Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [407]
Kaua′i Pasta (Map; 245-2227; 4-939B Kuhio Hwy; mains $9-15; 11am-2pm & 5-9pm) For a happy medium between a fast-food joint and a resort splurge, this centrally located Italian bistro is your ticket. Colorful salads meld diverse flavors, such as peppery arugula, creamy goat cheese and sweet tomatoes. Hot focaccia sandwiches, classic pasta mains and luscious tiramisu would pass muster with mainland foodies.
For groceries, Lihu′e’s branch of the Big Save (Map; 245-6571; 4444 Rice St; 7am-11pm) island chain is decent but lacks a deli. Star Market (Map; 245-7777; Kukui Grove Shopping Center; 6am-11pm) carries much the same stock. Vim ‘n Vigor (245-9053; 3-3122 Kuhio Hwy; 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat) carries vitamins and supplements, health foods, organic produce and bulk staples. Finally, the food department of Costco (Click here) might surprise you with fresh poke and gourmet cakes by Icing on the Cake (Click here).
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ENTERTAINMENT
Shows
Luau Kalamaku (877-622-1780; www.luaukalamaku.com; Kilohana Plantation; adult/child 3-11/teen 12-18 $95/45/65; luaus 5pm Tue & Fri) Skip the same-old commercial show for mesmerizing dinner theater with a dash of Cirque du Soleil (think lithe dancers, flashy leotards and pyrotechnics) thrown in. The thrilling stageplay about one family’s epic voyage to Hawaii features hula and Tahitian dancing, and showstopping, nail-biting Samoan fire dancing. The buffet dinner is above average, despite the audience size (typically 550, maximum 1000), and there’s little cringe-worthy ‘embarrass the tourist’ forced dancing.
South Pacific (Map; 246-0111; Hilton Kaua′i Beach Resort, 4331 Kaua′i Beach Dr; adult/child incl tax $71/63; shows 5:30pm Wed) If you’ve never seen Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, it’s worth your while to catch this dinner-theater production directed by Brenda Turville and produced by Alain Dussaud and the Hawaii Association of Performing Arts. Line up early; seating is first-come, first-served.
Cinemas
For mainstream first-run movies, Kukui Grove Cinemas (Map; 245-5055; Kukui Grove Shopping Center, 3-2600 Kaumuali′i Hwy; adult/child $6/4, before 5pm $4) is your standard shopping-mall fourplex. It’s also a venue for the Hawaii International Film Festival (www.hiff.org).
Concerts
The Kaua′i Community College Performing Arts Center is home of the Kaua′i Concert Association (245-7464; www.kauai-concert.org) and offers classical, jazz and dance concerts (tickets $30 to $45) at 7pm. Past performers include African singer Angélique Kidjo, the Rubberbanddance Group and Alison Brown on banjo.
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SHOPPING
Koa Store (Map; 245-4871, 800-838-9264; www.thekoastore.com; 3-3601 Kuhio Hwy; 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun) Other koa galleries carry higher-end masterpieces, but here you’ll find lots of affordable souvenirs, such as sleek chopsticks and desk accessories. Many items come in three grades, from the basic straight-grain koa to the rare, almost-three-dimensional, premium ‘curly’ koa. All woodcraft are genuine koa (not the cheap fakes sold at tourist traps).
Kapaia Stitchery (Map; 245-2281; 3-3551 Kuhio Hwy; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat) A quilter’s heaven, this longtime shop features countless cotton fabrics, plus island-made patterns and kits. Stop here also for handmade gifts, such as children’s clothing, Japanese kimonos, potholders and an assortment of bags.
Edith King Wilcox Gift Shop (Map; www.kauaimuseum.org/store; Kaua′i Museum, 4428 Rice St; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat) Kaua′i Museum’s gem of a gift shop features a variety of genuine Hawaiian crafts, such as Ni