Kauai

   The main airport on Kauai is Lihu'e International Airport in the town of Lihu'e on the east side of the Island. 

   We stayed at the Kauai Sands Hotel about 6 miles north of the airport on highway 56  You can get many of the things you need during your stay at Hilo Hattie's or Wall-Mart in Lihu'e .

   We went to Sunday brunch at Kilohana Plantation.  We continued to drive west on highway 50 to 520 then south through the Tree Tunnel to  check out the beaches.  We stopped at the Salt Pond Beach next to the Port Allen Airstrip south of Ele'ele.   We ended up at Waimea Canyon Lookout.

   Traveling north on highway 56 takes you around the island to the North Shore.  A couple of miles north of our hotel is the Olympic Cafe.  It is located on your right as you head north.  It is the second story of the shops underneath.  You see the sign and an arrow pointing to the right.  Turn there, park, and take the stairs located behind the shops.

   Continuing on north you come to the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge viewed at the Hanalei Lookout. 

   Just past the lookout is the community of Hanalei.  The best food on the island is as a small shop in the Ching Young Village.  The shop is called Polynesia Cafe. 

   Leaving the community of Hanalei and continuing west you get an excellent view of Hanalei Bay.

   After Hanalei, you come to a turnout overlooking Lumaha'i Beach.  This is the beech made famous by Mitzi Gainer with the song "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" in the 1957 Hit "South Pacific".  We continued along the highway until we came a stream crossing the road.  Three tenths of a mile past the stream we came to Ha'ena Beach Park with the Manini-holo Dry Cave across the highway. 

    Just past Ha'ena Beach you come to Limahuli Gardens.  It is part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens.  The garden had just closed for the day by the time we arrived, but it looked like it would be worth the time and cost to take the tour.  It shows terraced farming the way the ancient Hawaiians practiced it as well as many different tropical plants.

Continuing a few miles further north to the 10  mile marker, you have  reached the end of the north road.  You are now at  Ke'e Beach.  This is the start of the Na Pali Coast.  You can see its edges from here.

    On the way back we stopped at the Princeville Hotel for a look. then on to the Hanalei Bay Resort and the Bali Hai Restaurant.  We actually ate at the Bar next to the restaurant where they have awesome hamburgers and drinks.

    The riverboat ride to the Fern Grotto is $20 per person.  You can get coupons for $2 off from most of the tourist magazines.  It is a short boat ride but the trip is nice.

    We spent one night at the Hiva Pasefika Luau.  While not as many food choices as Maui's Old Lahaina Luau, there was plenty of good food and drinks, and the entertainment was first rate, and was approximately half the cost.