Kauai
Kauai is a nature lovers' dream destination best appreciated by land, sea, and sky. With some of the most incredible natural elements anywhere - including my top pic for the best hotel, the 1 Hotel Hanalei - here are my top ways to experience the beauty of Kauai.
Island Helicopters is the go to choice for touring the island by air because they’re the only company licensed to land at the Jurassic Park waterfall. You’ll feel like you’re starring in the Speilberg blockbuster when you land the helicopter at the base of Manawaiopuna Falls. Our awesome pilot, Isabella from Belgium, even brought along a little dinosaur to make our photo op complete. At around 80 minutes, you’re able to fly around the entire island - seeing Wimea Canyon, the amazing Na Pali Coastline and up close and personal with about a dozen waterfalls. Cannot reccomend this enough while you’re on Kauai! Check out these views!
Captain Andy’s
Another great way to see the island is by boat, and Captain Andy’s was superb! While our Na Pali tour got diverted due to high winter surf on the north shore, it was a blessing in disguise as we were able to cruise the southern and southeastern sides of the island and encountered a whole range of animals - whales on their annual mating migration, turtles and pods of spinner and bottlenose dolphins. We also stopped for an hour to snorkel and saw some cool fish along the reef. Captain Andy’s was just great - we had only about 1/2 the guests aboard, so it felt very private and roomy on our 64’ catamaran, the Southern Star. Our chef grilled some burgers and chicken and a cool drink was never far away. Here are some pic, along with me and my ‘brother’ Brian R and his husband, Kevin. I highly recommend it!
Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon is equally impressive as the original, if not more, due to its remoteness and its dramatic geographical distinction amid the vast ocean. From our home base on the south side of the island, Poipu, it’s about an hour and a half drive thru the slowly ascending, twisty, and turny road that runs deep into the island’s interior and deadends at the dramatic Kalalau Lookout. There is a campsite with a small museum and gift shop (that was awesome) near the end of the road and a few scenic lookouts to catch a glimpse of waterfalls, birds flying below you, and vistas out to the Pacific Ocean. At 10 miles long, a mile wide and 3,500 feet deep, the canyon is mindblowing and well worth the drive.
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a luau, and even among Hawaiians, the Smith Family Luau is considered to be the best. In addition to the lavish dinner and drinks, complete with Kalua pig roasted in an earthen imu oven, the luau is set within a 30-acre park that has flora and fauna from across Polynesia and Asia. You first jump on a tractor-pulled train for a tour of the grounds, then you can wander and enjoy the Japanese-themed garden, the Polynesian and Filipino huts and stroll among peacocks and many other bird species. To top it all off is the show - complete with hula, Tahitian drums, Samoan fire knife and New Zealand dance. Four generations of the Smith family have lovingly curated this luau into a whole evening of family fun. Check this out!
This might be the best place I’ve ever stayed at…the stunning cliffside hotel overlooking Hanalei Bay, eco-luxurious rooms, pool, beach and spa - plus a nightly cocktail hour overlooking Mount Makana. This hotel was tops. I did everything from early morning yoga, rented a beachside cabana, had midday mai tais at the Sandbox bar and finished up the night with sushi made by their own sushi master from Japan. The sheer beauty of the views was enough to rate this hotel one of the very, very best ever. Here are some snaps of this magic spot. Even Conde Nast Traveler said “This beachfront location overlooking the iconic Hanalei Bay, with the waterfall-striated Hihimanu, Nāmolokama, and Māmalahoa mountains in the distance, has to be one of the prettiest on the planet.”
And here’s my ‘room with a view”
Restaurants, bars and morning bagel
Here are some other local spots that I loved, including the newly opened and awesome Koloa Thai Bistro and the effervescent hostess Nikki, a wine bar call The Tasting Room (both in Poipu town) and Java Kai in Kapaa.
Parting Shot - Kilauea Point Lighthouse