Island Tips

The following is a rambling flow of suggestions for you based on our 23 years of island living.

RESTAURANTS -

THE CASA di AMICI - This restaurant is on Nalo Road near Breneckes Beach on the road that leads to the Niki Dai Villas. This place is a foodies dream. Small and intimate, the food is delightful and portions are generous. We love this place so much, we held our daughter's wedding reception there in August of 2000. Owners Randall and Joanna take pride in every dish that goes out of the kitchen.
Check out the MENU.
ROY'S - In Poipu Shopping Center. Fabulous, but sometimes busy and there is usually a wait. Reservations recommended. Pacific Rim cuisine is emphasized and Roy is famous for his sauces. The chocolate soufflé is amazing.
Check out the MENU.
THE BEACH HOUSE - The best for sunset ocean views at dinner. Make a reservation about a half an hour before sunset. Good food, good service and that sunset view! I love the scallops, but the Mahi Mahi is the signature dish.
Check out the MENU.
BRICK OVEN PIZZA - in Kalaheo. What a spot. Stop in after a day on the west side. It's about a twenty minute drive from Poipu, but worth the drive.
HANAPEPE CAFÉ - You will never miss the meat in the amazing Italian vegetarian meals served up here. You will leave full and happy. Owners Larry and Chris keeps everyone smiling and happy. Friday night is Art night in Hanapepe, music too, and a great time to check out the many galleries in this quaint town.
HAMURA'S - in Lihue. Island famous saimin (noodle) shop. You may be the only tourists there, but it is a local hot spot. Open for lunch and dinner. Try the teriyaki sticks. Best deal for a meal on the island. On Kress street. Ask a local for directions.
JOE'S ON THE GREEN - Kaiahuna Golf Course. Great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Music on Thursdays and Fridays.
FISH EXPRESS - Our personal favorite for take out. Sashimi trays, shrimp, fresh local catch, and many other local delicacies that are worth trying. Plate lunches are back on the menu, thank goodness. Fresh fish, served several gourmet ways, as well as fish tacos and sandwiches.
KOLOA FISH MARKET - Also good and you don't have to drive to Lihue. Not as large a menu, but they do have plate lunches as well.

POIPU BEACH BROILER at Poipu Kai Resort - A new reasonable restaurant replacing The House of Seafood. Nice lunch buffet, but we haven't been there for dinner.

AND THE REST - There are so many wonderful restaurants in the area that we enjoy. These are just a few highlights!

GROCERY & POST OFFICE-
STAR MARKET - By far, the best selection of any of the grocery stores on the island. And the prices are very comparable to the rest of the stores. Nice deli section as well.
BIG SAVE in Koloa...yes that really is the name ...is the local grocer. When in Koloa town, instead of turning left towards the Tree Tunnel and Lihue, keep going straight. The Post Office is one your left and Big Save is on your right. My wife likes to do her big time shopping in Lihue. There is a Star Market in the Shopping Center (Kukui Grove) and it has it all.

There are also a Safeway and Foodland in Kapaa. K-Mart, Borders and WalMart are also in Lihue. Borders has great island books and music, K-Mart is a good stop for cheapo tourist trinkets and shirts.

FARMERS MARKET-
If you are visiting on a Monday, a visit to the Koloa Farmers Market is a must. You can load up on flowers for the condo and lots of fresh wonderful and inexpensive island produce. You will never go to a market like this one, believe me. Be at the Koloa Baseball field at 11:50 SHARP. It’s as close to a traffic jam as you will come to on the south side of Kauai. On the Tree Tunnel road just outside of Old Koloa Town, by the ball field & tennis courts.

SPORTS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES-
Kaua’i is filled with natural beauty that should be explored to the fullest. We recommend spending your days at the beach and on the road touring. Just be sure to get back in time for sunset!
RUNNING-
A four mile run to Poipu Beach along the ocean. Keep bearing to the right and you will eventually pass the Sheraton (you can run on the oceanside of the hotel and get a feel for the property). At the end of the road take the path into the Kiahuna and wind your way through the property working your way up to Poipu Road. You'll get confused the first time but after that it will be snap. Then you can either run to Poipu Beach or down to the Hyatt for a big loop back to Poipu Beach and then to Kuhio Shores. Big time runners can pass the Hyatt and follow the cane road towards the Black Mountain. A mile and a half run or stroll would be down to Spouting Horn and back.
TENNIS-The Kiahuna Tennis Club on Poipu Road next to the Poipu Shopping Center has daily court memberships. Nice pool to cool off in, too.
GOLF-All the golf courses on the island are available for play by visitors. Most courses are cheaper in the afternoon, so ask when you make you tee times.
Poipu side has Poipu Bay at the Hyatt. Home of the Grand Slam of Golf, it is an all-world course. About $125.
Kiahuna Golf Course is down the road from the Poipu Shopping center. Less expensive and no oceanside holes. Getting a little worn, but worth the price.
The Marriott in Lihue is host to two Jack Nicklaus championship courses. You flew over them when you landed at Lihue. Oceanside, gorgeous and first class all the way.
My personal favorite is Kukuiolono Golf Course in Kalaheo. Nine-hole course for seven dollars a round. Spectacular views of the entire south and west sides. Very fun way to meet local folks. First come first served. My wife and I were married at the Japanese Garden on the vast property there. You will never forget playing here.
Princeville hosts three extraordinary courses on the North Shore. Always in Golf Digest’s Top 100 usually in the top 20. Give yourself 1 1/2 hours to get there. Watch out for rain. The North Shore is not the Sunny South Side!
SNORKELING-
Great novice area at Poipu Beach. Just go to the right of little sand peninsula, called Nukumoi. Also great sights at the Lawai Beach next to the Beach House Restaurant on the way to Spouting Horn. All the way at the end of the road on the North Shore is Ke’e beach. This is a must see. Make the North Shore drive a full day. Leave very early so you can see it all.
HIKING-
There are books and articles galore on this subject. Best hike is all the way at the end of the road on the North Shore (see above). Two mile hike into Hanakapiai Beach. Don’t wear those sparkling white tennis shoes cuz they will get dyed red! Also head up to Waimea Canyon. Drive to the very end of the road for the best vistas. Go early before the clouds fill the valley. Plenty of hiking up there as well.
For more info, check out Na Ala Hele.
HORSE BACK RIDING-
CJM Stables is in Poipu down the dirt road past the Hyatt. Two rides that my kids absolutely love. There are also stables up on the North Shore.
FISHING AND BOAT EXCURSIONS-
Check out the brochures in the office, ask other tourists and go for it. Those sunset sails and day trips to the Napali Coast are fantastic. Summer is the best time to go.
HELICOPTER TOURING-
You can't see the whole island by land. A helicopter ride will let you see some of the most incredible views on the island, namely, the Na Pali Coast. The tour affords you the most amazing views you will ever see! This is well worth the money you will spend. It is one of our top experiences on the island.
GIFT SHOPPING-
We have some very dear island friends who have the best taste and finest quality gifts and art for you. At Spouting Horn, see Don. He has the yellow awning. His wife and mother-in-law own the Hawaiian Trading Post. They house the world’s largest collection of Niihau Shell necklaces and you must see this incredible native Hawaiian art. They have a huge store loaded with anything you could possibly want, and plenty of things you didn’t even think about! Tell Lizzie or Auntie that Tom and Pat sent you. They are located at the corner where the road from Koloa meets the road to Waimea Canyon in Lawai. They are wonderful people and exemplify the spirit of the local people.
We highly recommend both of these stores.
TOURING-
These are some of our favorites, but we know you will find plenty of your own.
National Tropical Botanical Gardens. An island treasure! Visit their site.
Polihale State Park-Wow! Take the road to the West side and go past the Waimea Canyon road and just keep on going. No, you are not lost. You will drive on haul cane roads and finally stop on the sandy road at the park. Go as far as you can without getting stuck. What a beach. What a view. One of the many reasons why Kaua’i is so special.
Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Park. Just do it. As mentioned earlier, leave early. These vistas will rival anything you have ever seen,
North Shore-Make it a day trip. Check out the Kilauea Lighthouse, the guava plantation, drive into Princeville, explore galore. When in Hanalei, be sure to head towards the water and see the pier, and as you are driving around the bay, pull your car over and stop by your own little beach and see why Hanalei is world famous. Be sure to go all the way to the end of the road. Lumahai Beach is also spectacular, with a hike down to the beach.