Kauai
Beach Time
Late August 2016 the whole family ventured off to Hawai’i: myself, my wife, my parents, my wife’s parents, my wife’s aunt and uncle, our 2 kids, and my future son-in-law. Damn. That’s a lot of people.
My wife’s family stayed at their timeshare and the rest of us opted for a vacation home rental. The place was great. We had a 4 bedroom home outside of Poipu, near the spouting horn, about a 1/4 mile from a small beach park, and we were right on the water. The only 2 things that would have made this home PERFECT was air conditioning and a swimming beach (or at least a sandy beach rather than rock). No such luck, but DAMN it was still awesome!
The weather was a lot more humid than normal. Even the locals were complaining. This was partly due to the tropical storm that was skirting us. Meterologists expected a couple hurricanes to hit the Big Island and that we would see the storms, too, but we lucked out and just got the humidity instead.
Now, we had all been to Hawai’i many times before but this was a first for Kauai. Well unless you count the helicopter tour we did 20 years ago, but I don’t because we really never hit the ground. We went from the airplane to the helicopter and back to the plane. If you ever get the chance, do it! It was great, but you need to experience Kauai on the ground, too. It’s even better!
Tommy at Uncles Shave Ice
Poipu made a great little home base for the week. We had Uncle’s Shave Ice often. They give you A LOT. It’s almost a meal there. The blue rasberry will turn your tongue, lips and anything else blue. Very refreshing! The Poipu Shopping Village was excellent. My shopping-loving wife and daughter enjoyed browsing and my mom appreciated a nearby natural market.
Me ziplining
The trip was filled with action as well as relaxation. We had a zipline tour with Koloa Zipline, which was FANTASTIC! I am not a fan of heights and HAD a fear of falling, so I was very nervous about the zipline. I wanted to try it anyway. We met up with the company in town. They put us in a badass truck and took us out in the middle of the jungle. The first line was of course the short and easy one, which for me was good; it took the fear out of me. The rest of the lines were just fun as hell. The last line was a half mile long!! The guides we had were fabulous locals who knew how to have a great time. They packed up snacks and drinks for us, water and more. Can’t thank the folks at Koloa Ziplines enough, it is HIGHLY recommended!!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HF3540wsYVg?wmode=opaque&enablejsapi=1
We also had a great time tubing the old sugar plantation irrigation canals with Kauai Backcountry’s Mountain Tubing Adventure. Now this was refreshing when we got there. Again, it was hot and humid out. The water, well, let’s just say it wasn’t even close to warm. You get tossed into this old van, head out into the middle of nowhere. You know, looks like a place they could rob you, kill you, leave you and NO ONE would ever find you. Well, instead, our guide, BJ, was an amazing dude who made you feel comfy in an uncomfy ride. You get banged around these old potholed roads through some private land and get told to get into some freezing-ass-cold water, but they do it with a smile and make you laugh. Once you’re in the tube (and numb) you just float on down the canal, through some low overhanging branches, bounce off the walls, bounce off the other tubers, enter some cool ass caves, and make new friends. We started out with our family pretty much together, but by the end, my wife was back behind, my in laws were way back, and my son and future son-in-law were up ahead taking point and racing. It was a blast! Another good recommendation!
We also went up to the Na Pali Coast State Park where we found “da best shave ice on da island”, in my opinion. It was a trailer in the parking lot with a funny and friendly dude. I got a rootbeer shave ice. He asked if I wanted sweetened condensed milk on it. What the hell? At first I said no. With a little convincing, I tried it. HOLY CRAP, it was like a shave ice rootbeer float! Amazing!
Of course, I think ANYTHING you do on the islands is gonna give you great memories. To me, Hawai’i is “home”. Maui is where I feel most at home, but so far Kauai is a close second. Maui was the first island I visited and immediately fell in love, so this will always be my number 1. Hawai’i Island (Big Island) was a lot of fun, too. Oahu has its pluses, but it’s too busy/ touristy for me. Lanai was just a quaint little place.
So go book your flight! Find hotel, a vacation home, whatever. Just get to Kauai and spend a week (or 2). Enjoy what the island has to offer you. Remeber to take with you only memories! Leave the sand, the rocks, and all of mother nature on the islands for others to enjoy!
Mahalo!
Have you been to the Hawai’i? Do you have a favorite adventure or spot there? Let me know so I have an excuse to go back soon.
