Visiting Kauai, first time in Hawaii (Kapaa, Waimea: 2009, home, live)

[emmywuvsya]

My husband and I are for sure visiting Kauai this year. Yay! Tickets booked and we are staying with his cousin in Kapaa. We will be traveling there on December 17 and returning home December 26. We have 8 full days to spend there. We will have access to a car so that will not be a problem.

I would love to go whale watching. Is that a good time of year to do so? Any recommendations on which tour to take? Or where to look from the island?

I want to take a plane tour of the island. My hubby is a little iffy with flying, but I still would love suggestions for which charter to take, or someone that can be recommended.

I've been reading a little bit about the Tunnels Beach and I would like to visit there also. Is it going to be too rough to have an enjoyable visit?

There is so much money to be spent there, I would also like to know some of the activities that are free. Both my husband and I want to go see waterfalls, but don't want to spend a whole day with a hard hike to see one. Any waterfalls close to roads or with simple hikes?

Another strange request: Where would you recommend we go if we wanted some good pizza on Kauai?

What about Christmas activities? Are there any that I can go to with little or no cost?

Thank you all so much for your help and suggestions!

[hotzcatz]

Ask his cousin since they'd have all the details of things to do in that specific area. He may be able to suggest something that isn't even in the tourist books.

When you go inside your cousin's house, take your shoes off before you go inside. There will probably either be a pile of shoes by the door or a nice shoe rack handy. Some folks even have a handy seat by the door so you can sit while taking your shoes off but that's only if they have a lot of mainland visitors since most folks who live around here just wear slippers (sandals, flipflops). Also, if you see a gecko (house lizard) don't scream, shoo it away or try to hurt it, they are considered good luck and the sign of a happy home. They also eat mosquitoes and are a valuable thing to have around in the tropics. It is also considered polite to take a gift to the person you are staying with. It doesn't have to be expensive or lavish, just something that lets them know you were thinking of them. My last guest was from Napa Valley and knows I like to garden so she brought me a "grow your own cork tree" kit and a couple bottles of wine.

There will be whales, ask your cousin which beach has the best viewing sites.

What is your cousin doing for Christmas? Wouldn't joining in with family be the proper thing to do?

Sorry I can't help you with the Kauai specific details since I'm on a different island, but we have a few Kauai folks here who will know.

[bresdo]

Anytime of the year is a good time to visit Kauai. During December on the North shore the surf will be high so a little rough for the inexperienced swimmers. Kappa is a good starting point and there are a lot of water falls a short distance away to see, even by car.

Most of the whale watching boats take off from port Allen in the south which is about a 40 minute drive. They are all good for the most part. You can just get a pair of binoculars and go to the Kilauea lighthouse and that is a good viewing area to see whales.

There are a lot of helicopter tours taking off from the Lihu'e airport and you should be able to get a deal for about $100 a person. Have not done this yet but want to one day.

Tunnels is about a 40 minute drive for you to get there and it is a great place for diving. Last time I was there with my girls we saw 3 white tip sharks. Again depending on surf it may be a little rough.

Tons of hiking trails on the north side for you to explore. An easy 30 minute hike is to the Kilauea water fall which you can access the route at Rock Quarry beach. Take a lunch with you and enjoy.

I am a bit of a pizza snob and there is no such thing as good pizza here. There is Brick Oven Pizza in Wailua just a few minutes from where you are staying and in is okay but expensive. There is also a few Pizza Huts if you get desperate. A few good restaurants near you worth going is Olympic Cafe, Eastend, and accross the street is an Italian joint I forget the name.

Not much happening in the Xmas department that I know of, in Poipu there is a Hawaiian Santa that goes to Baby Beach on an outrigger and gives candy to all the Keiki.

Look around there will be some free shows you can go see like a Hula dance in the Coconut Mall that is nicely done.

Just relax and enjoy...

[Mar0]

The Brick Oven in Kalaheo is better than the one in Wailua, but the Pizzetta's in Kapaa is better than the one in Koloa. Still, neither are great and I would just go with a Costco pizza to be honest.

I'm not sure about the dates, but around Christmas there is a festival of Lights on Rice St...you might be too late for the pararde, but the county building is all decorated and you could visit. There are lots of craft fairs and different Christmas hula shows as well. Your cousin should get the Kauai People weekly magazine in the mail and that gives weekly activity lessons. Also, the Garden Island newspaper should give you updates about what is going on.

If you don't want to hike to a waterfall, you can easily drive to Opaeka'a falls or Wailua Falls. You just drive there and get out of the car to see them.

My favorite spot to see whales from the shoreline is either at Ahukini or near Shipwreck's, on the walking path. There are boat trips from Port Allen which would allow you to see them too. The whales will be in their peak viewing time when you are here, but obviously nothing is guaranteed.

The conditions at Tunnels may be too rough, but you could get a smooth day. Generally the North Shore beaches have rougher conditions in the winter, but that is a generalization, so you might get lucky. Just please be careful, sometimes people overestimate their abilities or underestimate the water conditions and go in the water when it really is too rough. 2009 saw choke drownings, so just be careful!!

There are many helicopter companies but I have never been (too scared!). You might want to do some research on trip advisor for more insight. If you did not want to do a helicopter, you could do a fixed wing tour. I think its Birds of Paradise that offers them...

Anyways have a wonderful trip!

[tortoise31]

The best place in the world is Kauai. Make sure you visit Waimea Canyon. You can see stunning waterfalls by taking the road that goes inland near the Wailua River. Wailua Falls was in that old TV show Fantasy Island.
There is also Opaeka'a in or near Wailua. All visited by car.

I did take a helicopter ride once over Na Pali. Stunning doesn't even begin to describe it. We stopped and swam by a falls up in the mountains and it was quite cold!

And don't miss Kalalau lookout.
And there's lots of hiking around Koke'e.

Have a great time!

[jenalove]

My suggestions: Jack Harter for helicopter tour; Kilauea Bakery for pizza.

[Sugarnut79]

Love Kauai! Although it's the smallest and least developed of the four most popular Hawaiian islands, it is by far the most beautiful.

Some suggestions:
- helicopter tour
- hike along the Na Pali Coast
- visit the Limahuli Garden of the National Tropical Botanical Garden
- guided kayak tour (Kayak Kauai Outbound)
- Waimea Canyon
- Kokee State Park
- San Marga Iraivan Temple
- hiking up Sleeping Giant Mountain

[bresdo]

WOW you actually like the Kilauea Bakery pizza......

[jenalove]

"WOW you actually like the Kilauea Bakery pizza......"

Yep - LOVE it, and I am originally from Chicago and have had a LOT of pizza from a lot of different places. I have also tried Brick Oven but greatly prefer Kilauea Bakery.

[psychofan]

Forget the plane tour do the Jack Harter Company for a helicopter tour (take the doorless helicopter!). It's a tad pricey, BUT it would a truly unforgettable experience!

Try Pizzetta in Kappa for a really good BBQ chicken pizza.