Recreation and Dining in Kauai!
Recreation
We told you Kauai Has everything!
ZipliningFour companies on Kauai offer zipline runs combined with other activities such as swinging bridges or waterfall swims. Each outfitter will take you into its own little slice of Kauai's backcountry, which is a treat in itself. And for those less daring souls who find themselves traveling in the company of more radical thrill seekers, some of these outfitters allow you to bow out of the zipping.
They provide: trained guides, all necessary equipment.
Safety check: All zipline courses operate under the standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technology.
You must: meet minimum age restrictions; meet minimum and maximum height and weight requirements; wear sturdy, close-toed shoes with tread (no clogs or slip-ons); dress for the harness in T-shirt and long shorts or full-length pants; tie your hair back if it's long enough to get in your eyes.
Optional: wearing a swimsuit under your clothing; packing a rain poncho.
You bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, towel.
Duration: 3 to 4 1/2 hours, depending on the outfitter.
Prices: $99-$175.
Forget it if: you're pregnant or have had recent injury or surgery to feet, ankles, knees, hips or back.
Ziplining outfitters: Just Live (808-482-1295; justlive.org); Kauai Backcountry Adventures (808-245-2506; justlivekauaibackcountry.com); Outfitters Kauai (888-742-9887; outfitterskauai.com); Princeville Ranch Adventures (888-955-7669; adventureskauai.com).
Snorkeling & SailingYou haven't experienced all Kauai has to offer unless you take to the ocean. Catamarans go out for snorkeling or sunset/dinner sails along the Napali Coast, and a couple even venture into the waters off the island of Niihau. Expeditions by inflatable rafts (Zodiacs) explore the Napali Coast's sea caves and come ashore on the beaches, when conditions permit. Some outfitters have guided snorkeling from shore, and one offers "snuba," a cross between snorkeling and scuba.
They provide: snorkel, mask, fins.
You must: meet age and fitness requirements.
You bring: sunscreen, insect repellent, swimsuit, aqua shoes, towel, change of dry clothes.
Duration: 2 to 7 hours.
Price: $69-$196.
Take some pills: if you are prone to motion sickness. This is the open ocean, after all.
Forget the Zodiac if: you're pregnant or have back problems.
Sailing, snorkeling operators: Aloha Kauai Tours (800-452-1113; alohakauaitours.com); Blue Dolphin Charters (877-511-1311; kauaiboats.com); Capt. Andy's Sailing Adventures & Raft Expeditions (800-535-0830; napali.com); Catamaran Kahanu (808-645-6176; catamarankahanu.com); Holo Holo Charters (800-848-6130; holoholocharters.com); Kauai Sea Tours (800-733-7997; kauaiseatours.com); Kauai Z Tourz (888-998-6879; ztourz.com); Napali Explorer (877-335-9909; napali-explorer.com); Snuba Tours of Kauai (808-823-8912; snubakauai.com).
KayakingKauai boasts the state's only navigable rivers, most prominently the Wailua, Hanalei and Huleia rivers. Some outfitters combine the Hanalei River and Hanalei Bay. Expect movie-set scenery, a hike and a swim along the way. Then, there's the ocean. Putting paddle to saltwater on Kauai can come as soft as a dip around a resort bay or as challenging as a daylong course along the south shore or the Napali Coast.
They provide: kayaks with dry bags.
You must: meet age and weight requirements; wear hiking/aqua shoes.
You bring: sunscreen, insect repellent, swimsuit, towel, change of dry clothes.
Duration: 1 to 8 hours.
Price: $22-$140.
Kayaking operators: Alii Kayaks (877-246-2544; aliikayaks.com); Kayak Hanalei (808-826-1881; kayakhanalei.com); Kayak Kauai (800-437-3507; kayakkauai.com); Outfitters Kauai (888-742-9887; outfitterskauai.com); Princeville Ranch Adventures (888-955-7669; adventureskauai.com); True Blue and Island Adventures (808-246-6333; kauaifun.com); Wailua River Guides (808-821-2800; wailuariverguides.com).
Mountain TubingThe immigrants who toiled more than a century ago to create the system of irrigation canals and hand-hewn tunnels for sugar farming couldn't have known that one day a section of the former Lihue Plantation would become a backcountry flume ride. This pleasant float approaches Kauai's scenery inside and out, with participants bobbing downstream in colorful, industrial-strength inner tubes. When I took this trip, a foursome in their 70s were among our small group of 11 having a blast.
They provide: tubes, gloves, helmets with head lamps.
You must: meet age and weight requirements; wear sturdy, close-toed shoes with tread. Full-length pants are highly recommended.
Optional: wearing a swimsuit under your clothing.
You bring: sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, change of dry clothes.
Duration: 3-3 1/2 hours, which includes lunch and the round-trip drive from headquarters to the location.
Price: $100.
Forget it if: you have claustrophobia or are afraid of the dark.
Mountain tubing operator: Kauai Backcountry Adventures (808-245-2506; kauaibackcountry.com).
Guided HikingOn Kauai, there's no such thing as "just a hike." Guided outings will, at the very least, include local cultural wisdom and ecological discussions. Some visit waterfalls or beaches.
They provide: guides.
You must: meet fitness requirements; wear hiking boots, sneakers or trail shoes.
Optional: wearing a swimsuit under your clothing.
You bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, hat, rain poncho, towel.
Duration: 2-10 hours.
Prices: $1-$130.
Guided hiking outfitters: Aloha Kauai Tours (800-452-1113; alohakauaitours.com); Kauai Nature Tours (888-233-8365; kauainaturetours.com); Kayak Kauai (800-437-3507; kayakkauai.com); Princeville Ranch Adventures (888-955-7669; adventureskauai.com).
ATV ToursATV tours on Kauai offer various routes -- some with waterfall stops -- on private property and a menu of vehicles.
They provide: leader-guides, all necessary equipment; refreshments on shorter tours, picnic lunch on longer tours. You can ask about rental clothing.
Safety check: vehicle instruction is part of the package.
You must: meet age and/or consent requirements and have a valid picture ID to drive; meet age, weight and relationship-to-driver requirements to be a passenger, depending on outfitter and vehicles; wear sturdy, close-toed shoes with tread; dress in full-length pants.
You bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera; swimsuit, aqua shoes and towel if you take one of the waterfall tours.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours, depending on the tour.
Prices: $105-$155, depending on whether you're a driver or a passenger.
Forget it if: you're pregnant or have back problems.
ATV tour operators: Kauai ATV Tours (877-707-7088; kauaiatv.com); Kipu Ranch Adventures (808-246-9288; kiputours.com).
Horseback RidingJust when you've started to think you're in pretty good shape, along comes a saddle to prove you wrong. Kauai's dramatic scenery can be counted on to keep you distracted long enough to finish the ride, and some routes are further sweetened with waterfall swims or beachcombing.
They provide: horse, tack and guide.
You must: meet age and weight requirements; wear sturdy, close-toed shoes with tread. Full-length pants are highly recommended.
Optional: wearing a swimsuit under your clothing.
You bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, towel.
Duration: 1 1/2 to 8 hours, depending on the tour.
Prices: $80-$375 for adults.
Horseback ride operators: CJM Country Stables (808-742-6096; cjmstables.com); Esprit De Corps Riding Academy (808-822-4688; kauaihorses.com); Princeville Ranch Stables (808-826-6777; princevilleranch.com); Silver Falls Ranch (808-828-6718; silverfallsranch.com)
Downhill BikingNo one visits Kauai without visiting the dramatic sea-cliff Kalalau Lookout in Kokee State Park or viewing Waimea Canyon. This organized tour takes its time as it runs the 12 miles from cliff to canyon to coast, all downhill on paved roads.
They provide: cruising bikes with wide saddles and hi-rise handlebars.
You must: meet age and weight requirements; wear sturdy, close-toed shoes with tread; dress in layers for various climate zones.
You bring: windbreaker, sunscreen, insect repellent.
Duration: 4 hours.
Price: $78-$98.
Downhill bike operator: Outfitters Kauai (888-742-9887; (outfitterskauai.com)
And now, for some Good Eats!
There are so many amazing places to dine in Kauai--and you can still do it on a budget! Here is a list of cheap eats for under $20 courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.
"High-end restaurants abound on the lush, tropical shores of Kauai, as do high-end meal prices. So here we go again, catching the aloha spirit as we dine our way through the Garden Isle, searching for great meal deals. Kauai presents a real challenge to travelers on a budget: Food costs are higher in the outer islands than on Oahu, so it's more difficult to stick to a $20 budget here. But our restaurant survey will help you do just that -- and you'll have a cultural experience as well.
Once again, we concentrated on the restaurants that locals patronize. Many offer inexpensive, traditional Hawaiian fare, others specialize in ethnic cuisines or American standards. Several are low-key diners or takeout stands. But we also included a couple of splurge restaurants where the ambience is pure tropical paradise and the prices still affordable. And, travelers, please note that some of the restaurants are hard to find. Always call ahead for hours and directions."
Kilauea Fish Market4270 Kilauea Lighthouse Road (in Kilauea)
(808) 828-6244
Price: $9.99 to $14.99
Scoping it out: Light up your North Shore road trip with a lunch or dinner stop at this diner and fish market near Kauai’s famous Kilauea Lighthouse. The cafe, housed in a century-old pineapple plantation building, offers a lighter style of food. Owners Coriena MacNeil and Steve Knox thought traditional Hawaiian foods, often high in carbs and fats, needed a healthier orientation, so they serve brown rice, use hormone-free beef, local produce and cook with olive oil. The result is some of the best ahi and teriyaki chicken we found on Kauai. Get your food to go or dine on a small, shaded outdoor patio.
We loved ... the ahi wrap, the cafe’s most popular dish ($10.99).
We didn’t love ... the flies that assaulted us while we ate.
Tahiti Nui Restaurant & Bar5134 Kuhio Highway (in Hanalei)
(808) 826-6277
Price: $7 to $20
Scoping it out: This Hanalei old-timer looks like a South Pacific dive — tatamis stapled to the walls, carved-tiki bar stools, a faint smell of humid air when you walk inside — but it’s a longtime locals’ favorite. Tahiti native Auntie Louise Marston opened the restaurant/bar nearly half a century ago; since her death six years ago, her son Christian has been running the place. There’s live Hawaiian music nightly, so drop by, try the sear-crusted ono, pulled pork sandwich or smoked ribs, and pretend you’ve just dropped anchor in Papeete, Tahiti.
We loved ... soaking up the local color.
We didn’t love ... slow service.
Hamura's Saimin Stand2956 Kress St. (in Lihue)
(808) 245-3271
Price: $4.75 to $7
Scoping it out: Rub shoulders with politicians, agricultural workers, retirees and savvy tourists at the counters of this locally famous noodle shop, in an aging downtown section of Lihue. We tried the specialty saimin, a steaming, heaping bowl of ham, Chinese cabbage, pork won ton, roast pork and saimin noodles in a hearty pork broth ($6.50). Also terrific: the teriyaki beef or chicken sticks ($1.75). Great for lunch, but expect to wait.
We loved... the cultural experience and great value.
We didn't love... the long line.
Hukilau Lanai520 Akela Loop (in Kapaa)
Next to Coconut Marketplace, inside Kauai Coast Resort
(808) 822-0600
Price: $6.95 to $10.95 (appetizers only)
Scoping it out: Wine lovers take note: This garden restaurant in Kapaa offers 20 different bottles of wine for less than $20 (glasses are about $5.75 to $6) each. And although the dinner menu is out of our reach (most entrees are more than $20), the pupu (appetizer) selection is excellent and most cost $8 to $9. We loved the artisan cheeses, barbecue ribs and sweet potato ravioli with lemon grass cream sauce. And an ample portion of cheese and tomato-crusted focaccia and dipping sauce accompanied our order (for free), which helped make this a full meal. Lovely garden ambience, with tiki torches flaming and the ocean in the distance.
We loved... the vibe and the inexpensive wines.
We didn't love... how hard it was to find.
Blossoming Lotus4504 Kukui St., No. 6 (in Kapaa)
(808) 822-7678
View Website
Price: $8 to $27
Scoping it out: Get your cool on at Blossoming Lotus, a vegan fusion restaurant with a mystical vibe. The cafe, in Old Kapaa, has a nice ambience, unusual flavor combinations and entertainment (mainly jazz) several nights a week. No animal products are used in the dishes, the server said, as I ordered a Greek salad ($9 at lunch, $11 dinner). Portions tend to be small and pricey, but if you’re a light eater, you’ll make it under the $20 cap.
We loved ... heavenly haupia pie ($7), a Hawaiian dessert made with coconut milk.
We didn't love ... the diminutive portions.
Monico's Taqueria4356 Kuhio Highway (in Kapaa)
Kinipopo Shopping Village
(808) 822-4300
Price: $10.95 to $16.95
Scoping it out: This cheerful, indoor-outdoor Mexican restaurant provides the real deal: Owner Monico Hernandez grew up in East L.A. He serves the food Southern Californians love -- home-style tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Hernandez came here 17 years ago to work at a restaurant owned by entertainer Charo. Four years ago he opened his own. He incorporates some wonderful Hawaiian flavors (the fish tacos, for instance, are made with ahi), but his recipes are pure East L.A. Some other Mexican restaurants we've visited in Hawaii pale by comparison.
We loved... the clean, happy atmosphere, helpful servers and great food.
We didn't love... We loved it all.
Polynesia Cafe55190 Kuhio Highway (in Hanalei)
Ching Young Village Shopping Center
(808) 826-1999
Price: $7.95 to $16.95
Scoping it out: If you’re hooked on ahi, you’ll love the Polynesia Café, where it’s prepared seven ways, including ahi with pesto and ahi blackened. This open-air cafe also offers giant burgers, salads, tofu dishes and sandwiches. You order at a counter, then dine on a raised outdoor platform. Entree portions are substantial and accompanied by steamed veggies and brown or white rice.
We loved ... the macadamia-nut, herb-crusted ahi ($16.95).
We didn't love ... the dining area view: a parking lot. Get the food to go.
Hong Kong Cafe4361 Kuhio Highway (in Kapaa)
(808) 822-3288
Price: $7.95 to $19.95
Scoping it out: "Inexpensive food doesn't have to be unhealthy," says Eric Yeung, manager and part owner of the Hong Kong Cafe, a 12-table restaurant tucked into the corner of a strip mall in Kapaa. The cafe is a favorite with locals -- it was voted best Chinese food in Kauai in the local newspaper's annual reader write-in poll -- and Yeung, a Hong Kong native, says that more than half of his guests are return customers.
We loved... Tai Pan pasta, a chili and garlic stir-fried dish ($9.75).
We didn't love... the heat; the cafe is not air-conditioned.
Kilauea Bakery2484 Keneke St. at Kilauea Lighthouse Road
Kong Lung Center
(808) 828-2020
Price: $3.05 to $11.95
Scoping it out: A host of indulgent pastries, Hawaiian sourdough and Napili brown bread await at Kilauea Bakery on the North Shore. The bakery, in the inner courtyard of a small shopping center, offers unusual breads, desserts by the slice and tropical-style Danish pastries with such fillings as macadamia nut, lilikoi, guava and coconut. There’s also a selection of gluten-free desserts, plus lunch items. Katie and Tom Pickett opened the bakery 17 years ago and later added pizza and sandwiches. So what’s Hawaiian sourdough bread? It’s made with a guava starter.
We loved ... farmers whole wheat bread, covered with sunflower and flax seeds.
We didn’t love ... the calories in the desserts.
Red Hot Mama’s56607 Kuhio Highway (Route 56)
Kauai, HI
(808) 826-7266
Price: $5 to $11.50
Scoping it out: Touring the island? Before you hit the Na Pali Coast, pick up a snack at Red Hot Mama’s in the far north corner of Kauai, almost at the point where Kuhio Highway fades away into the cliffs. This hole-in-the-wall stand, next to Wainiha General Store, features fresh-Mex burritos and tacos to go, with an emphasis on organic foods.
We loved ... big chunks of chicken and beef in the burritos.
We didn’t love ... the grumpy kitchen staff.
Duane's Ono Char-Burger44350 Kuhio Highway (in Anahola)
(808) 822-9181
Price: $4.40 to $7.25
Scoping it out: This red-and-white roadside stand, a Kauai institution, may have the best burgers on the island. Choose from 15 types of burgers, plus fried fish, shrimp and chips or sandwiches. The most popular sandwich (and our favorite) is the juicy local boy burger, which features teriyaki sauce, cheese and pineapple ($6.95). The fries are great too. Order ahead on busy summer days when the wait can be a half an hour or more. Get the food to go; there are a few cement tables, but they look as if they haven’t been washed since the last hurricane blew through. Plus, you can get burgers by the boxload.
We loved ... the totally unexpected combination of flavors in the local boy burger.
We didn't love ... eating with chickens and mosquitoes at sticky tables.
Lihue Barbecue Inn2982 Kress St. (in Lihue)
(808) 245-2921
Price: $11.95 to $25.95
Scoping it out: Take a step into the past at Lihue Barbecue Inn, where Mildred Sasaki believes in giving customers value for their money. A typical dinner plate special: chicken, shrimp and spare ribs with soup or fruit cup, beverage, bread and cream pie. The cost: $11.95. The Sasaki family opened the restaurant 68 years ago, and now Sasaki runs it with daughter Donna Muramota. The food isn't fancy, but it's filling and a real bargain.
We loved... getting a three-course meal for less than $12.
We didn't love... that it's closed in the middle of the day.
Mark's Place1610 Haleukana St. (in Lihue)
(808) 245-2722
Price: $3.25 to $7.95
Scoping it out: Construction workers line up here each day to score a bountiful plate lunch. "They say all you have to do then is find a tree to take a nap under," says chef Mark Oyama, whose plate lunches are among the most popular on the island. The Lihue location opened 10 years ago and is in an industrial park because Oyama thought he would do only catering. (He caters many weddings and other events.) But the takeout lunch business is great, and three years ago he opened a tiny storefront near Poipu. Family dinner specials range from $26.95 to $31 and will feed four.
We loved... the beef teriyaki, made of sweet, succulent top sirloin.
We didn't love... lack of seating if you want to eat in
Keoki's Paradise2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive (in Poipu)
Poipu Shopping Village
(808) 742-7535
View Website
Price: $5.50 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Most of the restaurants we list here are local favorites -- places where you'll mingle with residents and dine on regional foods. Keoki's Paradise isn't one of those. It's where you'll meet other tourists. But it's fun anyway. A waterfall runs through the middle, dropping into a lagoon; a palapa-style thatched roof covers the bar; tiki torches burn; a giant banyan tree shades a bamboo forest. Keoki's is really two restaurants. Ask for seating in the Bamboo Hut Bar, which is family-friendly -- and affordable -- and offers such items as nachos, ribs, fish and chips. It's not gourmet, but in Poipu, where expensive restaurants reign, Keoki's Paradise is a breath of fresh air.
We loved... the tropical atmosphere.
We didn't love... the line outside and slow service inside.
Sueoka's Store and Snack Shop5392 Koloa Road (in Koloa)
(808) 742-1112
Price: $1.95 to $5
Scoping it out: You can pay $40 for lunch in some of Poipu's pricey restaurants, but at Sueoka's Snack Shop, about three miles away, you can get a burger for $1.95 and a plate lunch -- meat or fish with rice and potato/macaroni salad -- for $4.75. The snack shop, next to the market, isn't much to look at, but the fare is hearty and oh-so-cheap. And you can pick up some groceries while you're here.
We loved... the prices, which were the lowest we found on the island.
We didn't love... trash cans and other parking lot refuse where you order food.
Brick Oven Pizza2-2255 Kaumualii Highway (Route 50) (in Kalaheo)
(808) 332-8561
Price: $4 to $36
Scoping it out: Owned for more than a quarter of a century by the Demoss family, Brick Oven Pizza changed hands last March, but the recipes seem to be the same -- and that's a very good thing. The crust is light (available in white or wheat), toppings are liberal and the sauce is mellow and pleasing. The restaurant itself is cute and clean, with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and ample seating. You may want your order to go, which is 5% to 10% less expensive. And that makes a difference when pizzas are pricey to begin with.
We liked... the crust, which is brushed with garlic and oil.
We didn't like... the higher price for eating in. Is this a way to discourage tourists?
Jo-Jo's Shave Ice9734 Kaumualii Highway (Route 50) (in Waimea)
(808) 338-9727
Price: $2 to $4
Scoping it out: Yes, we know. Shave ice does not constitute a meal, and there's nothing else on the menu here. But we couldn't overlook this popular Kauai food stand, which offers one of the island's favorite treats. It's an easy stop if you're on the way to Waimea Canyon. You can spot it from a block or more away: a small storefront with blaring red-and-yellow paint, a hand-sprayed sign reading Jo-Jo's and a dozen or more people holding Styrofoam cups full of shave ice, the sweet Hawaiian version of a snow cone. The ice is the distinguishing characteristic here: It's as fine as powdered snow. Choose from 60 flavors, many of them tropical tastes such as coconut and mango, and others such as cotton candy and pistachio.
We liked... the surprising consistency of the ice.
We didn't like... trying to find parking at this popular place.
Enjoy!
