Welcome back Glitter!!!

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Glitter,

Whew. I was concerned that you might not like it. I believe it's a top 3 resort on Kauai.

[iceeu2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close iceeu2]

How beautiful...Those photos make me wanna cry...they are so beautiful. We were going to wait until 2009 to go to Kauai again, but I'm not sure we can wait that long....Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Glitter,

Whew. I was concerned that you might not like it. I believe it's a top 3 resort on Kauai.

Our "Ritz-y" friends loved it, too. We went over to the Princeville Hotel for a drink at sunset one night, and the view was no better than we had from our lanai --

We were lucky to split the two bedroom unit with another couple. But the studio/hotel side was beautiful, and rents for $165/night. Try to do that at the Princeville hotel...

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

And so...what say you about Kauai?? I was so dissapointed that you didn't venture over last time that I am anxious to hear what you think now?

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I've always loved this old Hawaiian favorite and this version by Iz takes me back to living there:



Israel Kamakawiwo Ole' - Hele On To Kauai Lyrics

There's a place I recall
Not too big, in fact its kinda small
The people there know they got it all
The simple life for me

Hele on to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home

When I was young, not too smart
I left my home, looking for a brand new start
To find a place that's better still
now I know, I know I never will

Hele on to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home

Hele on to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home
It's calling me back home

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Iz sings the song here. This will make you want to return to Kauai again, Avery!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

And so...what say you about Kauai?? I was so dissapointed that you didn't venture over last time that I am anxious to hear what you think now?

Iz sings the song here. This will make you want to return to Kauai again, Avery!

I love Iz, but I don't need any song to make me want to go back. I absolutely fell in love with Kauai and will definitely be going back. Though I preferred the north to the south, I still think I would do both again. Our highlights were Polihale Beach Park and Waimea Canyon (from the south), and on the northern part of the island we just loved everything (starting with our view)! And there was plenty we didn't do since one of our friends couldn't walk much, so there is some hiking I'd like to go back and do.

I still love the Big Island, and snorkeling with the Mantas there was just unreal. So I'd have trouble choosing between the two, but I think for beauty and relaxation Kauai wins hands down, at least for me, for now.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I love Iz, but I don't need any song to make me want to go back. I absolutely fell in love with Kauai and will definitely be going back. Though I preferred the north to the south, I still think I would do both again. Our highlights were Polihale Beach Park and Waimea Canyon (from the south), and on the northern part of the island we just loved everything (starting with our view)! And there was plenty we didn't do since one of our friends couldn't walk much, so there is some hiking I'd like to go back and do.

I still love the Big Island, and snorkeling with the Mantas there was just unreal. So I'd have trouble choosing between the two, but I think for beauty and relaxation Kauai wins hands down, at least for me, for now.

Great now we wanted to do a week on BI and a week on Maui in 2009. and now you are saying the island I've already been and loved to is your fave <I think the north side is highly reminiscent of St John USVI>

So now I need 3 weeks on Hawaii in 2009. In order would be Maui, BI then the Garden Isle.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Lawren

I think the north side is highly reminiscent of St John USVI>

I was wondering what the difference between the north, and the south was. I was going to do some reading later.

Now I can envision the north side. What's the south side like?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I was wondering what the difference between the north, and the south was. I was going to do some reading later.

Now I can envision the north side. What's the south side like?

The south side is drier. Quite beautiful as you may imagine. All the hi-end hotel chains are in the Poipu area. So there is development and nice restaurants. You are closer to Waimea Canyon <the Grand Canyon of the Pacific> the blowing holes, snorkle ships to Napali Coastline, Sunset Beach and the coffee plantations. When we went to Polihale Beach there was a harbor or monk seal in the swimming area with us!

The north side is less developed. Rainier so more rainbows, hiking, kyaking or canoeing and I think we spent most of our time snorkeling at Ke'e Beach. The town of Hanalie is small but quaint.

We stayed in Kapaa which although in the middle of the eastern coast was a hike to either. I'm thinking Lihue is closer but not much closer to the south.

Of course our trip was some time ago and you will get more recent and much more expert opinions.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Great now we wanted to do a week on BI and a week on Maui in 2009. and now you are saying the island I've already been and loved to is your fave <I think the north side is highly reminiscent of St John USVI>

So now I need 3 weeks on Hawaii in 2009. In order would be Maui, BI then the Garden Isle.

You need at least 3-4 weeks to do Hawaii right. 7-nights in Maui, 7-nights in Kauai, 7-nights on the Big Island, 3 nights in Molokai, 4-nights in Oahu.

If you did that, you'd only need to go once every 5 years.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

You need at least 3-4 weeks to do Hawaii right. 7-nights in Maui, 7-nights in Kauai, 7-nights on the Big Island, 3 nights in Molokai, 4-nights in Oahu.

If you did that, you'd only need to go once every 5 years.

Well we did Oahu and although I would have liked a couple of days more to explore the north shore I think we will pass until we are independently wealthy, on a 4 week visit. Even 3 will be a stretch.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks Lawren....Both sides sound beautiful. I will explore the north, as well as the south. I'm sure that I will love them both. Can't wiat.

The south side is drier. Quite beautiful as you may imagine. All the hi-end hotel chains are in the Poipu area. So there is development and nice restaurants. You are closer to Waimea Canyon <the Grand Canyon of the Pacific> the blowing holes, snorkle ships to Napali Coastline, Sunset Beach and the coffee plantations. When we went to Polihale Beach there was a harbor or monk seal in the swimming area with us!

The north side is less developed. Rainier so more rainbows, hiking, kyaking or canoeing and I think we spent most of our time snorkeling at Ke'e Beach. The town of Hanalie is small but quaint.

We stayed in Kapaa which although in the middle of the eastern coast was a hike to either. I'm thinking Lihue is closer but not much closer to the south.

Of course our trip was some time ago and you will get more recent and much more expert opinions.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I was wondering what the difference between the north, and the south was. I was going to do some reading later.

Now I can envision the north side. What's the south side like?

The Hawaiian Islands have several micro climates due to the prevailing tradewinds. The tradewinds come from the Northeast and act as the air conditioning of the islands. It's what keeps us nice and cool most of the time.

The "wet" side of each island is known as the windward side of the island. It is where the clouds drop their rain. As a result, the leeward side of the islands are drier and sometimes so dry that you get desert conditions. That's why we have Waimea Canyons, the Grand Canyon of Hawaii on the same island that we have the wettest spot on earth on Mt. Waialeale.

Personally, I prefer the Poipu area mostly because it is closer to the things we like to do. Princeville is a great place to spend a day or two. It's a good 45-60 minute drive between Poipu and Princeville depending on the traffic in Kapaa.

The one issue with Princeville is it is pretty much on the far end of the island. Think of the main road in Kauai as being like a horseshoe. Princeville is near the end of one side of the horseshoe. So, you end up doing a lot of driving if you want to see more than just the North Shore area.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

BB

You need at least 3-4 weeks to do Hawaii right. 7-nights in Maui, 7-nights in Kauai, 7-nights on the Big Island, 3 nights in Molokai, 4-nights in Oahu.

Lawren

Well we did Oahu and although I would have liked a couple of days more to explore the north shore I think we will pass until we are independently wealthy, on a 4 week visit. Even 3 will be a stretch.

Hmmmm, I wonder if I should try and talk DH into going for three weeks. After our trip to Europe, he said he can't go for more than two weeks, at a time. Too much catching up to do, when he returns.

It would be nice, tho, and we have the weeks.