Kauai went from a “what if…” tease to reality. I’ve only been to Oahu, so it is great having the opportunity to discover other Hawaiian islands. I had an amazing and enlightening time in Kauai, and words cannot describe the scenery I’ve had over the few days. Although Kauai is the fourth largest island in Hawaii, 97% of its land is undeveloped (forest or farm land). Welcome to the Garden Isle.
Getting to Kauai
There are direct flights to Kauai through the Lihue Airport. We flew out from LAX and landed in a few short hours. It is highly recommended that you have a car rental, because this is not a walkable island compared to being in Waikiki. If you’re looking for high-end places to stay, consider Princeville, Hanalei, and Poipu. If you’re not the pickiest person, Coconut Beach will do just fine. Expect Kauai to be just as expensive as Oahu.
The Food
The most important part is being able to enjoy the food during your trip.
One Hotel – Hanalei Bay
After golfing at Princeville Makai Golf, we stopped by the restaurant at the One Hotel for lunch. I ended up with the fresh catch ceviche, which has a touch of Kauai citrus, jalapeno, red onion, and radish, while served with chips. We also had poke and shrimp tacos. The ceviche was seriously an appetizer more than anything.
Sheraton Coconut Beach
I was seriously craving short ribs, but settled for their Hawaiian BBQ Beef plate, which comes with tender sliced marinated grilled beef, steamed bok choy, rice, and macaroni salad. Surprisingly, the beef was really good. I liked this more than the poke. I’m just not a fan of ahi tuna poke. It has to be salmon, halibut, or yellowtail.
Beach House – Poipu
This restaurant has a gorgeous ocean view—you can’t go wrong with it at all! I am a huge fan of enjoying the ocean while waiting for your reservation to kick in. Best of all, this restaurant has valet parking. The fish is very seasonal, so you must be mindful of what fish you like.
I had a hard time deciding on what to get. What ended up getting my attention was the Maui Nui Venison. This is no ordinary venison—it is from Maui. I guess I’m eating deer. As it is red meat, you can have this served medium rare. This dish is served with saffron rice, golden raisins (basically tomato), green beans, and roasted poblano adobo sauce. I highly recommend enjoying the venison with the adobo sauce – it made a huge difference. 10/10.
Haulani’s Restaurant – Timbers Kauai
Our last meal was at Haulani’s, which is in the Timbers resort. After playing a round at Hokuala Golf, we enjoyed an oceanfront dining experience. During the entire trip, I was looking for beef short ribs. I finally found it! It was delicious. Now I know what to expect when I cook my own.
Etc.
I got to enjoy the marketplace (owned by ABC Stores) quite a bit during my stay. The convenient store poke actually slapped – especially the salmon poke. I was also a huge fan of spam musubi’s for breakfast. Oh, and Uncle Willy’s Beef Jerky was top tier. The beef jerky is locally sourced within the island.
Aloha Kauai
Kauai was such a magical place. I had a fantastic time. Although my trip was short and I didn’t get to experience the entire island, I experienced enough to have great memories. The islanders were very welcoming and gave us fabulous hospitality. I was very fond of the roaming chicken throughout the island. You’ll see the Hawaiian chicken breeds being dominant. You’ll also discover that many species of birds fly throughout the island. Oh, Hawaiian ducks and geese are their own breeds, too.
Aloha.
