1 - March 25, 2010 1:59 am

Name:

Fawcett & Gast from Maui

Location:

Comments:

If hiking is not enough exercise, then kayaking is our next favorite activity. We have taken a kayak from Waimea to the Fern Grotto and hiked into Secret Falls. We have also kayaked on the Hanalei River to the Pines at Hanalei Bay. For the brave at heart, there are also ocean kayaking trips. And a visit to the island is not complete without a snorkeling trip to Ni'ihau or a rafting trip to explore the caves of the NaPali coastline. Fortunately, the island's beauty is accessible to those of us who are not as active as we used to be. There are numerous luaus, helicopter rides, NaPali coast boat tours, dinner cruises, and whale-watching trips from December to April. The taro fields are visible from a lookout point on the Kuhio Highway (Route 56). At least two waterfalls, Wailua Falls and Opaeka'a Falls, are visible from a car, and there's a boat that takes people to the Fern Grotto. The Princeville Resort offers several luxuries to island visitors. They have stables for horseback riders, a spa that includes an exercise room, a swimming pool, hot tub, and one of several masseuses. "Best massage ever - Maria (upstairs next to Yoga Studio in Hanalei)."

2 - March 25, 2010 1:59 am

Name:

the Bobleys of Long Island, New York

Location:

Comments:

My favorite spot is the Hanalei pier at sunset. We sometimes pack a sandwich and go there to swim in the afternoon or to fish from the pier. It's a lovely spot to picnic and watch local kids learn to surf or see more experienced surfers tackle waves outside the reef. On other evenings, we can walk from Sealodge to one of 5 restaurants; Hanalai Bay Resort has a lovely open-air terrace, the Princeville Hotel, while pricey, is worth a visit (see Restaurants) and CJ's, Paradise Grill, or Spinner's Coffee are at the Princeville Shopping Center. A good grocery store, where we frequently rent DVDs, is also there. It is not unusual to have some rain during our visit. All the greenery must be watered. That's when we explore the shops. There's upscale casual clothing and island-made soaps and candles in Kong Lung Shopping Center in Kilauea, jewelry made from the tiny shells of Ni'ihau and vintage Hawaiian gifts in Hanalei, and unique island gifts offered in the Hanalei Dolphin Center. We've learned to take an empty suitcase with us so we can bring our treasures home with us.

3 - March 25, 2010 1:58 am

Name:

The Griffins from North Carolina

Location:

Comments:

On each trip we take at least one hike. The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook says "Of all the Hawaiian Islands, none offers more trails or better hiking than Kaua'i." On this trip we took the Okolehao trail that starts near Hanalei. We are in our 60s now and realize that this hike is almost too tough for us, but those young enough for a challenge will be rewarded by vistas of Hanalei Bay and the taro fields in the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. One fifth of the island is visible from the peak at the end of this hike. Along the way, we passed wild apples, guava, ferns, wild orchids, and a grove of Norway pines. The Kalalau trail that starts near Ke'e Beach offers waterfalls, swimming holes, and incredible views of the NaPali Coast.

Everyone should do the Inter-Island helicopter tour. It was beyond words ... Just thank you so much. We will remember this forever.

4 - March 25, 2010 1:57 am

Name:

The Coles from Oklahoma

Location:

Comments:

We make an annual trip to the Kilauea Lighthouse at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Reserve where an effort is underway to reintroduce some of the native plants and protect endangered birds. In October we can see shearwater chicks emerge from nests in the ground. We take binoculars or use the ones provided at the lighthouse to see boobies nesting in trees that hang from a rocky cliff over the sea, tropicbirds, frigatebirds, and the Hawaiian Goose or Nene whose population is slowing recovering from near extinction. The albatrosses or gooney birds come here to nest. They build their nests on the ground, some in surprising places, like near construction sights or on the golf course. The Department of Fish & Wildlife does what it can to protect a nest by roping off the area and posting signs. "The Kalalau trail was the best part of the trip."

5 - March 25, 2010 1:57 am

Name:

The Bauers from San Francisco

Location:

Comments:

My husband is an avid golfer and I love scenic beauty. The best of both is on the north shore of Kauai. We always play one of the 4 courses in Princeville . For me, it's not a bad way to see some of the tropical plants. Most of what is growing in Kauai now is not native to the island, but the vegetation is beautiful and fragrant. There's pikake, plumeria, birds of paradise, and even poinsettia hedges that turn solid red during the Christmas season. I see most of my houseplants growing wild on Kauai, and they are larger and more robust than any I've seen on the mainland. Other places to see a variety of exotic, colorful fruit and flowers are the Growers' Markets held twice weekly (once near Kilauea and once near Hanalei) and the Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Haena. "We just LOVE the North Shore. In the end, the unsurpassed beauty of the entire island is what's most spectacular!"