Lihue, Kauai, 2003
Sara and I had some great wedding gifts, and this one was one of the bests. My friends, Jorge and Lynn Gallegos gave us a 7 night free stay at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club while uncle Dan and antie Lynn Love provided the airfare, so right after our wedding we headed to heaven on earth.
On any list of the world's most spectacular islands, Kauai ranks right up there with Bora Bora, Huahine, and Rarotonga. All the elements are here: moody rainforests, majestic cliffs, jagged peaks, emerald valleys, palm trees swaying in the breeze, daily rainbows, and some of the most spectacular golden beaches you'll find anywhere.
A Kauai rule is that no building may exceed the height of a coconut tree. There's no real nightlife here, no opulent shopping malls. But there is the beauty of the verdant jungle, the endless succession of spectacular beaches, the grandeur of Waimea Canyon, and the drama of the Na Pali Coast.
Kaua'i Marriott Resort & Beach Club: An enormous 26,000-square-foot swimming pool characterize the grand scale of this resort, which is oceanfront on stunning Kalapaki Bay.
This was the beautiful view of Kalapaki Bay from our bed. It was a great sight to wake up to.
On the road to Kee Beach, you can find tons of caves.
Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai Falls: 2 miles from Kee Beach you find Hanakapiai Beach, the first mile is all uphill. This tough trail takes about 2 hours one-way, but it has amazing views.
2 miles inland from Hanakapiai Beach, you will find Hanakapiai Falls, a 120-foot cascade.
Hanakapiai Falls: After about a 3+ hour hike, we arrived at the falls. The hike was one of the most difficult hikes that I have ever done. My wife was ready to divorce me after I took her on such a difficult hike.
Kee Beach is known to be the best place in the island to watch the sun go down. We watched the sunset after our hike to Hanakapiai Falls.
Two days after our treacherous hike and almost certain divorce, we treated ourselves to one of the best restaurants in the island, Gaylord's.
Gaylord's is the anchor of a 1930s plantation manager's estate on a 1,700-acre sugar plantation. The main dining room winds around a flagstone courtyard overlooking rolling lawns and purple mountains. The ambience, historic surroundings, and soothing views from the terrace make Gaylord's a special spot. We went to Gaylord's with a couple from the East Coast (I forgot their names) that we met at the hotel's pool.
Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific).
Napali Coast: Certain things in life are unforgettable. The Na Pali Coast is one of them.
A distant fall in the Wimea Canyon. It is impressive. Some of the views of the bay and the canyon itself are unbelievable. In Waimea, there is the Captain Cook Monument, where British Captain James Cook first landed in Hawaii in 1778(no picture).
Whalers Brewpub: It has a great view of Kalapaki Bay and the Kauai Lagoons golf course. On Sunday, the beer brunch is a beer fest (all you can drink), with omelets, smoked salmon, and more seafood pub fare than you can shake a stick at. You can see me enjoying the beer sampler.
Finally, Sara decided to face her addiction.
Smith's Tropical Paradise: This 30-acre botanical and cultural garden offers a glimpse at exotic foliage, rare birds like the "singing tree ducks," fruit orchards, bamboo rain forest, and tropical lagoons.
At Smith's Tropical Paradise, you are invited to stroll through the one mile of garden pathways before the luau.
As you stroll the gardens, you will find beatiful flowers.
You enjoy lagoons teeming with fish and exotic peacocks(albino peacock) and exotic fruit trees (tamarind tree).
Smith's Tropical Paradise Luau is located along the beautiful Wailua River in a rich, tropical garden, Smith's offers one of the most spectacular luau settings in Hawaii.
Simply put "Paradise on Earth."
Smith's Tropical Paradise Lu'au: This lu'au begins with the traditional blowing of the conch shell and imu ceremony, followed by cocktails, an island feast, and an international show in the amphitheater overlooking a torch-lighted lagoon.
Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club is one of my favorites hotels. It has the biggest pool in Hawaii; the pool is a few yards from Kalapaki Beach.
Reception area at the Marriot Resort.
In the Marriott's gardens, you can sit on a bench overlooking a pond that has multi-colored fish.
You don't need to go outside the hotel to enjoy a calm walk. The central gardens at the Marriott are expectacular.
Kukui's Restaurant at the Marriott.
All you can eat crab buffet at Kukui's Restaurant.
After a belly full of crab and wine, we decided to head over to our favorite bar, Duke's, before going to sleep.
Duke's Canoe Club's Barefoot Bar: The popular open-air restaurant dedicated to surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku. The focal point of the restaurant is a spectacular 30-foot waterfall that splashes into a koi pond below.
After having a few Jamba juices at Duke's, I decided to go for something with a little more alcohol. The restaurant also features a large collection of Duke memorabilia, including historic photos, a 40-foot outrigger canoe and three of Duke's own surfboards
Wailua Falls: Wailua Falls is the waterfall that used to be shown on the old TV show, Fantasy Island. It is also where old native chiefs used to dive off (over the falls) to prove their worthiness (if they lived, they became chief).
Here is Sara having a Jamba juice at Duke's the day before our departure. It is so great to sit back and watch the beautiful Kalapaki Beach while having a drink.
