Hawaii, Kauai

Napali Coast

FEAR AND LOATHING IN KAUA'I

SHOPPING:  There's a Farmer's Market every Monday in Koloa town at the park on the Tree Tunnel Road as you come into town from the main highway.  You will go through Koloa on your way to Po'ipu.  The market is quite a scene and everyone shows up early.  There is also a Farmers' Market in Hanapepe which we believe is every Wednesday.  It's not such a scene and Hanapepe is a cute little town to visit.   For groceries there's Big Save and Sueoka Store in Koloa. Even the poki (raw fish salads) is good in the grocery stores.  

Ke'e Beach


PLACES TO EAT AROUND PO'IPU:  Keoki's in the Po'ipu Shopping Village has great fish tacos.  Good for lunch or a casual dinner.  If  you're able to get out one night without the kids Roy's is a must (also in the Po'ipu Shopping Village).  The Beach House also fits that category.  We've been to Brennecke's for lunch and liked it.  The Kalaheo Steak House is very good basic food at reasonable prices.  Lappert's Ice Cream in Koloa is great.

EATING ON THE NORTH SHORE:  For lunch we love the plate lunch place on the right side of the road just as you're coming into Hanalei.  We think it might be called Hanalei Plate Lunch but not sure.  There is a burger stand, shave ice stand you must try the shave (not shaved) ice and a surf shop across the street.  Eric loves the Kalua pig sandwich and I always get the Mahi Mahi sandwich.

Hanapepe Swinging Bridge

BEACHES:  Po'ipu Beach Park is great for the kids.  Just on the other side of the sand bar is usually very good snorkeling and adjacent is Wai'ohi Beach which has deeper water than Po'ipu Beach Park.  Brennecke's is to the left of the park and is great for boogie boarding and body surfing but be careful for the rocks.  

Maha'ulepu Beach

Maha'ulepu is a great beach.  To get to it you go to the end of Po'ipu Road (past the Sheridan and the Hyatt) where it turns into a dirt road.  Go down dirt road a ways and turn right and continue till you get to gatehouse that says "private".  Go through and park where you see cars.  Although the land is privately owned the access to the beach is open to the public.    It's windy so it's very popular for Para surfing, which is a lot of fun to watch. 

Po'ipu Beach

To the west is Salt Ponds in Hanapepe.  There should be signs indicating where to make the left turn off the highway.  In the North Shore is Anini Beach which is shallow and safe for swimming for the kids.  Hanalei Bay is great and my favorite is Ke'e Beach at the very end of the road (also good for snorkeling) but swimming on the North Shore will be subject to surf conditions.  October can produce either a winter break which will affect the North Shore or a summer break which will affect the South and East Shore.  When the surf's up on the North Shore most beaches will not be safe for the kids.  

Dancers at Salt Ponds Beach

OTHER THINGS TO DO:  The drive along Waimea Canyon and on up to Kokee and the Kalalau Lookout is definitely worth the trip.  We take Waimea Canyon Road up from Waimea, which follows the canyon and then connects to Kokee Road where you will turn right to continue up the mountain.   Stop at Waimea Canyon Lookout and then continue up to the end to Kalalau Lookout and Puu O Kila Lookout where there will be great views of the Napali Coast.