What to do for 6 days 5 nights vacations on Kauai?

Question

My family (wife, 6 yr old and 8 yr old) is going to Kauai for a few days beteen Xmas and New year. We've never been to Hawaii before and we're looking for suggestions that we "must-do" or "must-see". Or maybe even "don't bother" . I'm sure we'll have a day of just hanging out at the beach or pool with the kids, but I would like to get an idea of what activities we should make time for.

Any info by locals or previous visitors would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

The helicopter tour (about $230 per person for a 55 min ride)
is very pricey but your family might be thrilled. Just one word of caution: last year in Sept 2005 , two helicopters from separate companies crashed in Kauai, ending in passenger fatalities.

My husband and I also went on the Outfitters Kauai kayak, hike and zipline tour ($150 per person for 8AM-3PM) It was very fun and we've already booked space for March 2007 to go again. I think it will be fun for the children and adults alike. During the course of the tour, the children get a chance to feed the pigs and ducks living in the ranch.

ATV tour at Kipu Ranch Adventures ($80-$100) per person was the most fun I had ever in all of my 4 trips to Kauai put together. You can put everyone on the Rhino and drive the rugged dusty trails at this private ranch yourself, or either you or your wife can go on the guide-driven Mule with the children and you can drive the ATV through varied terrain. No speed restraints. The guides are wonderful, friendly and will teach you about the Hawaiian flora and some folklore. Very engaging and friendly, good service. Highly recommended!

You can also hike through the first two miles into the Kalalau trail at the end of the road in Ke'e Beach.
You will have an out-of-body experience because the going is very difficult but children seem to manage just fine. The views are okay if you're an island rat like me but other people describe the sceanery as "beautiful"... *shrug* The Hanakaiai beach at the end of 2 miles (there are a total of 11 miles going in on the Kalalau trail-one way) is not for swimming, though, as quite a few people (86 people and counting!) have drowned because they lost their footing on the steep beach and got swept away, so keep your children close to you at all times!) But there is a
natural shallow pool in the sand dune your kids can play in.
We met the Clintons on this trail last year. Be sure to pack plenty of water for four people and some light snacks because this trail beats it right out of you!

At the return trip, there's an old Hawaiian guy in a beat-up truck selling mangoes, starfruit and coconut drinks in the Ke'e beach parking lot. The prices are not outrageously cheap but whatever fruit he hands you after chopping the top off with his machete will taste like nothing you've had before at the end of your trip back at the parking lot!

Also, there are plenty of chicken running around all over Kauai after Hurricane Iniki emancipated them years back. If you're an animal lover, you can save some table scraps during meal times and carry it in your daypack and try feeding them. Your kids will like it.

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, try to pick up a hitch hiker along the road and give them a ride. You will meet all kinds of interesting people who live on Kauai. We've met a construction worker living in a tent "villa", a female writer, and a
naturalist who's been living in the wilderness in the Kalalau valley for the past 11 years.

Then, if you find yourself with some more time, visit the Kauai useum in Lihue. The museum is quite small but will provide interesting history of the island you're visiting. I think the admission is about $5 and the curator is a down-to-earth lady who will be ectastic to meet and speak with you.

For more information, buy a guidebook called "The Ultimate Kauai Guidbook; Kauai Revealed". This is the best $14 investment you can buy for the $3000+ vacation you're planning.
Highly recommended!!

Answer 2

Kauai's my favorite island. Drive to Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Valley Lookout on the west side of the island. See Opaekaa Falls at the lookout across from the Wailua River on the east side. Take a ferry down Wailua River, which normally would go to the famous Fern Grotto, but may still be closed due to flood damage (check that). The ferry ride is still worth it though, even if you don't go to the Fern Grotto. There are popular Kayaking tours down the Wailua River, dependent if you think your kids are up to it. There's a tour that you can kayak up the river, hike about a mile to a waterfall - - very beautiful. The hike is easy too. You don't need the ferry if you do this. The north shore is also very beautiful. Check out Princeville and golf there if you can. A cheap and just as fun golf course is the Kukuiolono Golf Course. On the north shore, stop at Hanalei Bay (the surf may be too high to swim, but its worthing stopping at). The Na Pali Coast is a must-see, but the road ends at the beginning of it. The only way to see it is by helicopter, a rafting adventure tour, or by hiking. Another tour I would suggest for the kids is by Kauai Backcountry Adventure, its a tubing adventure through waterways that were hand dug in 1870... just a suggestion. Have fun!

Answer 3

Well to start of I have been to Hawaii a little over 4 times. Last summer my family and went to Kauai. We stayed in the Embassy Vacation Resort in Poipu Point.My son has breathing problems and when we ended up in the hospital on my aniversery night we would never come to Kauai again.If anybody in your family has had problems with breathing don't go to Kauai.
If they haven't you should check out the Kauai Coffe Plantation or the Cookie Plantation.If you don't know what the Grand Canyon of Kauai is you should visit that. It also free.Its a beauitiful drive up the mountains once you get up there you can walk around there are beautiful scenic views of the other island and the beach. So if you haven't picked a place to stay go with the Embassy Vacation Resort.Its Located on Pe'e Road,Poipu Point Kaui,they are located on a beautiful beach try to get a 2 floor or above room with beach view when checking in.Its no extra charge.Anyway they have a wonderful breakfast buffet in the morning.They have activites like snorkling and happy hour with snacks and drinks that are FREE! They have a poolside restaurant the pool is a lagon shape sand bottem with huge hottub.They also have a hottub for adults with a view of the ocean.Great Place. don't use ATA airlines or Ryan International They are horrible. Enjoy your first trip to Hawaii!!!! Aloha!!

Answer 4

Kauai is called the "garden Island" and for good reason ! It is the most beautiful of all the Hawaiian islands. You will certainly want to go see the Waimea Canyon, often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. While not as deep or old you will certainly see why it is called that. The other "must see" is the spectacular Napali Coast on the Northern part of the island where dramatic cliffs drop 3000 feet into the sea. I love to hike and these are just two of the many places to hike . Take an umbrella! Enjoy!

Answer 5

I was on Kauai in August for 6 days/7 nights with my wife and twin 6-year olds. We were in Poipu and while we had big plans to visit Waimea Canyon, the Na'pali Coast and Hanalei we had so much fun at the beach we almost never left.

We did try to go to Hanalei one day but the traffic was terrible!

Answer 6

Go to www.gohawaii.com and click on Kauai.
Also check out www.hawaiimovietour.com. Great tours of the island to places you could never get to on your own. Take the 4x4 tour NOT the bus tour. Go to Waimea(sp?) Canyon for the day and take a picnic...drive the road all the way to the end at the canyon..keep going even when the road turns to dirt..the best look out point is at the end. Take a day drive out to Princeville to see Hanalei Bay. There are great beaches for snorkeling. If you (and you should) have a travel agent they can be an excellent source of information.

Answer 7

I live on Oahu - and wouldn't want anyone to miss Kauai ATV. They have 4 wheel ATVs, mud buggies and other outdoor mud activities.

Answer 8

Depends on your income . because the terms "cheap" and "expensive" change depending on the income ! but $1300 doesn't seem much for what you mentioned above . actually it sounds pretty good to me . *AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THOSE 6 GOLDEN YEARS?

Answer 9

Helicopter tours are popular

Answer 10

go to aNNINS BEACH THE KIDS WILL LOVE IT THERE , WAS THERE LAST WEEK. GO KAYAKING, JUST DRIVE AROUND THE ISLAND ITS DO BEAUTIFUL