Kauai - August 2007

Brief record of our trip (Friday 8/17/2007 - Thursday 8/23/2007):

Day 1 Friday- Arrived in Kauai at 4 PM. Stopped in Kapaa to buy groceries at Safeway. Discovered Papaya Natural Foods store. Arrived at Kamahana condo in Princeville. Stayed in.

Day 2 Saturday- Explored north shore. Found Lumahai beach. Explored shops in Hanalei. Bought ahi salad and smoothie from Papaya natural foods. Ate dinner at Polynesia Cafe - grilled ahi with steamed vegetables and brown rice. Casual outdoor restaurant with good food served on paper plates. BYOB. After dinner stopped into Bar acuda restaurant and wine bar and spotted Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Arquette, Ben Stiller.

Day 3 Sunday - Morning - went to Makai golf course driving range. Visited Hanalei Bay Resort. Started guava gathering. Found hidden Kahili beach. Nice beach tucked away in residential neighborhood. Few campers and surfers. Drove to Kilauea Lighthouse but it was closed. Ate dinner at lounge at Hanalei Bay resort.

Day 4 Monday - Morning- 2.5 mile run, Kiran went to driving range. Drove to Puipu area to see south shore. Took dirt cane roads to hidden Mahaulepu beach . Great long white sand beach with good swimming. Mostly deserted with few sun bathers and kite surfers. After beach, walked through Grand Hyatt Poipu. Drove to Lihue to find Whaler's Brewpub but it was closed for construction. Ate dinner at Norberto's El Cafe - taro leaf enchiladas. Food was not great - would not go back.

Day 5 Tuesday - Hiked Na Pali coast (all day). 2 miles to Hanakapiai beach plus 2 more miles to Hanakapiai Falls. Swam in pond and under waterfall. Ate dinner at Postcards Cafe in Hanalei.
Menu:
1. Porcini encrusted scallops with beet puree, carrot puree and date cashew dressing.
2. Mushroom and acorn soup.
3. Sweet Potato crusted ono fish with fennel buerre blanc sauce

Day 6 Wedensday - Timeshare presentation at Hanalei Bay Resort, snorkeling at Queen's Bath, brown rice sushi lunch from FoodLand, Hiva Pacifica Luau, walked to beach through Princeville Resort

Day 7 Thursday - early morning flight to Honolulu then Sacramento

Things to try next time - Ke'e beach, Secret Beach, raft trip along Na Pali coast, kayaking, waimea canyon, wailua falls, more hikes. Would stay in Princeville again. Some nice condos incluse The Cliffs, Pali Ke Kua has a direct path to the beach and "turtle bay"