Kauai and Home Guidebook

Our home is among the closest to Poipu Beach Park where you'll find a protected lagoon, large grassy areas and playground equipment over a spongy surface. We have a pak-n-play, high chair, baby gate for the stairs at the house and a wagon. For additional gear, try Kauaibabyrentals com They'll deliver to the house and pick up after your departure.

Spectacular beach often good for snorkeling and the start of a demanding 2 mile hike to the first beach down the coast. Hanakapi'ai Beach is often extremely dangerous due to currents. There is also a waterfall and pool another 2 miles up the valley from there. Online only park entry and shuttle or parking reservations are required. Slots open 30 days in advance at 12am HST and go very quickly. No other beach or hike on the island requires reservations. I’d suggest reserving both a morning and afternoon parking permit if planning on hiking to Hanakapi’ai falls. Details at the GoHaena website.

The Maha’ulepu coastal walk can be started right from the house or nearby Shipwrecks Beach. Walk out the front door to the ocean and turn left. Walk along Pe’e Road as it winds up the crater then cut through the parking lot at the Embassy Suites then along public paths to the beach fronting the Hyatt then up the limestone trail continuing along the coast. There are a number of trails that roughly parallel the coast. Total length is about 3.5 miles each way. Better for late afternoons or early mornings. Bring water. Also good for whale watching November-March. The All Trails App is very helpful

The Nonou Trail (Sleeping Giant) can be accessed from the front or back. The front trail is shorter and dries out quickest after a rain and has broad ocean views for much of the trail. Kuilau Ridge Trail is farther inland and very gentle with views of the interior mountains and valleys. They are about 25 and 45 minutes away.

Favorite hikes are Waipo’o Falls, Nualolo, Awa’awapuhi, Berry Flats/water tank trail (best for kids) and Alakai Swamp. Be extra diligent as trails can get undermined and very slippery if it’s been raining. The trails to the NW will generally dry out first after a hard rain. Waipo’o is the easiest to find and most busy. Berry Flats is a nice easy meander through the forest and a birder favorite. I avoid the Kukui Trail - long steep switchbacks and quite hot in the afternoon. The Kokee Lodge serves delicious food and specialty drinks.

The Beach House Restaurant is one of the best for views. Reservations well in advance are required, especially for sunset. La Spezia in Koloa is more casual. We’ve also enjoyed The Table in Kukui’ula Center and Tide Pools at the Hyatt. For a date night, we like the Pool Bar at Koa Kea. It’s an easy walk along the coast from the house. We go before sunset for dinner and drinks then check out the turtles at Poipu Beach on the way back. Kalapaki Joe’s is close and casual. They also have a good happy hour. And there’s Paco’s Tacos at the Kiahuna Golf Club where there’s often live music.

One of our favorites is picking up food from Da Crack and going to Poipu Beach with beach chairs for turtle watching and sunset. Kukui'ula Harbor and Salt Pond Beach Park are also excellent for sunset dining on the sand. Best during the week. Koloa Fish Market is the go-to for lunch take out. Check out the food trucks. There are two areas in Koloa. Some of our favorites are Craving Thai (Koloa) and Shaka Burger often across from Costco gas station.

Generally, the best snorkel beach is right around the corner from the house between Poipu Beach Park and the Marriott. It’s about a five minute walk along the coast and across the beach park. Another snorkeling spot is Hoai Bay about a mile west toward Spouting Horn adjacent to the Beach House Restaurant. Better at lower tides. There are showers and bathrooms there. Tunnels and Ke’e Beaches on the north shore often have nice snorkeling in the summer. Both have lifeguards. Plan to get there by 9am for a north shore day and a parking spot. Reservations are needed for Ke’e. See GoHaena website.

There are 6 main surf breaks on the south shore. The closest is Waiohai, directly in front of the Marriott. It is a right and left hander considered an intermediate break and one of the most consistent surf spots on the island, often with ridable waves year round. There are a few other breaks a mile west of the house. All depend on wind, tide and swell for best conditions. For board rentals, Nukumoi Surf Shop is about 2 blocks from the house and a short walk to  Waiohai. There are several surf schools in the area.