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| So where do we start? With near-perfect temperatures year-round (70-80 °F), opportunities for fun are virtually endless here on Kauai. The island is packed with idyllic beaches, hiking trails, golf, tennis, water sports, gastronomical delights, and scenic adventures on land or by sea. Best of all, everything is within easily accessible distance! It is truly an outdoor lover’s paradise. For the best resource on Kauai, get The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman. It is the only guide you need. A copy of the latest edition is available at the condo for your reference, but if you want to start planning early, you can get the book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. In the meantime, below are some highlights. You may also want to check out the links available under our resources page. Just remember, you can always speak with the Activities Desk when you arrive if you need any assistance. |
| Anara Spa The ANARA Spa was ranked fifth in the America´s 15 Best Spas survey conducted by Travel & Leisure magazine. It also made Traveler´s 2000 Gold List. So needless to say, it is a world-class spa with indoor/outdoor therapy rooms, pool, gym and a health food bar. It is located at the Hyatt Regency, just a 3-minute drive from Kiahuna. The spa also offers weekly club memberships for those interested in using the facilities often. Call ahead to make a reservation 808-742-1234. Art Galleries There are two galleries across the street at the Poipu Shopping Village. If you are looking for simple prints, go to Pictures Plus at the Kuhui Grove Shopping Center between Kiahuna and Lihue. More original art can be found in the towns of Henapepe and Kapaa. Biking Cruise 12 miles down Waimea Canyon (el.3500') on a smooth winding blacktop to the shore of the blue Pacific. Or check out the entire Poipu coast line. Or ride extreme mountain trails. You can find plenty of mountain biking options in Kauai. Road bikes, cruisers, trail-a-bikes and baby seats are all available for rent at Outfitters Kauai. If you are really serious about mountain biking, a good resource book is, “Mountain Biking the Hawaiian Islands.” To buy the book, click here. Churches There are about 8 churches of various denominations in the Koloa area near by. Please check with the concierge to find one that suits you best. Dinning One of our favorite restaurants is located right at Kiahuna – Plantation Gardens. The restaurant is situated at the edge of the Moir Gardens and was originally the residence for the manager of the Koloa Plantation. Dinning on the lanai affords a wonderful tropical experience. The food is wonderful, too. Also, just across the street from Kiahuna, you’ll find the famous Roy’s, Keoki’s fish restaurants, Pattia’s Thai cuisine and more. There are about 30 restaurants within walking or a short drive, so explore to your heart’s content. Some of our guests’ favorite dinning spots as well as ours are listed in the guest book at the condo. So you’ll have plenty of suggestions once you arrive. Farmers Market Kauai farmers open their market in Koloa weekly on Monday and Wednesday at noon. The market is located directly behind the Koloa Ball Park on the way to the Tunnel of Trees. It’s a great place to stock up on your fresh fruits and veggies during your stay. Fishing The Pacific currents swirling around Kauai create a productive eddy off the south and west shores. According to experts, this sets up a unique habitat that attracts various game fish. If sporting for Marlin or Mahi Mahi is on your list, speak to Sport Fishing Kauai. Golf Championship golf can be found across the street at Kiahuna Golf Club and at the Poipu Bay Resort Golf Club at the Hyatt. Both courses were designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr and are open to the public. Poipu Bay was home of the 1998 PGA Grand Slam. In total, the island has 153 holes of golf among eight courses; four were designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and two designed by Jack Nicklaus. Kauai also boasts three of the top five golf courses in the State of Hawaii – Poipu Bay, Kauai Lagoons and Princeville. Besides world class championship courses, Kauai is also home to one of America's finest public golf courses - The Wailua Municipal Golf. For your convenience, here are links to Kiahuna and Poipu Bay. Grocery Store There is a full grocery store in Koloa, 5 minutes from the condo. We also recommend that you try the Fruit Stand near the corner of Poipu Road and the Koloa-Poipu Bypass Road. They have consistently fantastic papayas. There are also bigger grocery stores in Lihue and at the Kuhui Grove Shopping Center. So stop by en route from the airport and stock up if you are staying long-term. Helicopter Tours If you have not done so already, this is one of the best ways to see the island. It’ll show you places that you can never see by any other means. The beauty of the island truly unfolds from the sky. So try it if you are not fearful of height and prepare yourself for a bit of motion. Popular tour operators are: Will Squire and Jack Harter. Hiking One of the reasons why Kauai is our favorite island is because of its abundance of spectacular mountain trails. If you only have time to go on one hike, drive up North and hike the Na Pali coast on the Kalalau trail. Another great hike is right near Kiahuna. Just head east on Poipu Road. At the first road past the Hyatt, turn right toward the Poipu Bay Golf Course and park at the beach. Walk east along the sand dunes and follow the coast until you come to the end, Maha'lepu Beach. This is a very special place on Kauai with unique sand dunes, native and rare plants, sea birds, and fabulous scenery. Horseback Riding Whether you're an expert rider or a novice, you'll find something suitable at one of the many stables. CJM Stables in Poipu offers a variety of small personalized group tours. They'll take you into Hidden Valley, past secluded secret beaches, on breakfast rides or beach-swim-picnic rides. Guides will share stories of ancient legends while you enjoy beautiful coastal views and spectacular mountain scenery. For information on other staples and rides, click here. Kayaking Plenty of options are available for kayaking – calm ocean, rivers or waterfalls. For a guided experience, Outfitters Kauai can take you on an exclusive National Wildlife Refuge paddle and waterfalls hiking tour. You will go downwind on the Huleai, a beautiful and historic jungle stream, deep into the heart of the island. Huleai has been the location for a wide range of major motion pictures, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park and its sequel Lost World. You end in Hidden Valley Falls, which has a series of beautidul waterfalls cascading over lava rock. Koloa Town Minutes away from Kiahuna, historic Koloa Town is the site of the first sugar plantation in the State of Hawaii. It is located between Kiahuna and the famous Tunnel of Trees, en route from the airport. Today, Koloa is home some 100 businesses, all located within a colorful 15 minute walk of each other. You can stroll the streets enjoy dining and shopping in these authentically restored buildings. Again, some of the grounds of Kiahuna Plantation Resort once belonged to this old sugar plantation. Luau A luau is something one should experience at least once. The food is sometimes less than memorable, but the pageantry is always enjoyable. The Hyatt offers luaus on Sundays and Thursdays. Gaylords restaurant presents its luau Monday through Thursday on its beautiful plantation estate. According to the luau experts at hawaii-laus.com, Smith's Tropical Paradise Luau ranks as the most memorable on Kauai. If a luau is not your thing, you should at least grab a drink at the Hyatt Patio Bar just before sunset one evening to watch the torch lighting and hear the conch and drums. If you want to learn more about luaus, go to: www.hawaii-luaus.com Moir Gardens, Kiahuna Moir Gardens at the Kiahuna, otherwise know as Pa’u a Laka Gardens was named in honor the Hawaiian Goddess of Hula. According to locals, the ancient Hawaiians once farmed this area and channeled streams of water through the garden ditches. It’s a beautiful garden and right in your backyard. So walk over for a visit and take evening strolls on the grounds of Kiahuna. Sailing/Boating Sailing into the sunset aboard a luxury catamaran with Kauai as a backdrop is a memorable trip! Experiencing the Na Pali Coast by boat is another great adventure. To learn more, go to Captain Andy’s and Liko-Kauai cruises. SCUBA diving Kauai is ranked as one of the world’s top dive destinations. It offers an interesting topography of lava ridges, pinnacles, archways, caves and caverns formed by molten lava meeting the sea. These warm tropical waters are teaming with marine life, coral reefs and cowry shells in an array of pastel colors. Average visibility is about 50 feet. For more information, go to either Dive Kauai or Seaport Divers. Shopping The Poipu Shopping Village just across the street from Kiahuna is home some 30 businesses ranging from French boutiques, sandal shops, t-shirt stores, tropical gift shops, convenient store, island fashions, and about 5 restaurants. Gift and clothing shops at the Hyatt are also recommended. For other basics, Kuhui Shopping center has Kmart, Macy's, and Barnes & Nobel Books & Cafe. Snorkeling One of the best little snorkel coves is just at the end of the beach at Kiahuna, where you can often find those humuhumunukunukuapua reef beauties. Snorkels and fins can be rented at the Kiahuna Beach Hut. Surfing / Boarding Surfing, body surfing, body boarding and windsurfing, all abound in the waters off Poipu Beach. But experts say that for beginners and intermediates Anini Beach is considered truly world class with its consistent 5-15 mph wind, flat waters and shallow sandy bottom. For expert wind surfers, the north shore is lined with world class reefs for wind surfing. Other great spots include Mahaulepu Beach just east of Poipu and Salt Pond near Hanapepe. And where there's great wind surfing, there's bound to be great board surfing not far away. This has never been more true than on Kauai's north shore. A fabulous learning area for surfing is Hanalei Bay where its 2.5 mile crescent beach brings larger waves to the west and smaller ones east. For the advanced surfers, the saying is "winter on the north shore and summer on the south." Rentals are available at Kayak Hawaii 808-826-9844. Tennis Kiahuna condo renters can play next door at the Sheraton for free. As a guest of Unit 16, you also have an option to play at the Kiahuna tennis courts. Tennis lessons can also be arranged with the Activity Desk. Water Skiing One of the best places to water ski is on the Wailua river, especially before sunset with dark flat waters and lush green mountains and field on either side. Call Kauai Water Ski and Surf to book a boat and driver in advance. Water ski rentals are also available there. 808-822-3574. Weddings Kauai is an awesome place to get married! Perhaps we are biased. We were married on the island and celebrated with friends and family totally over 120. Our rehearsal dinner was held at Kiahuna’s own Plantation Gardens. If you decide to exchange vows in Kauai, we highly recommend hiring a coordinator to help you. Fern and Michael at Island Weddings were FANTASTIC. Rainbow Weddings is also highly recommended. Yoga Joy from Yoga & Fitness offers morning yoga classes right on the beautiful sandy beaches of Poipu for a donation of $10. They also offer group or private lessons, personal fitness training, yoga & fitness classes for athletes, meditation & relaxation techniques and reflective walks that take you along breathtaking views of the coastline and mountains to pristine waterfalls. Learn from from: Yoga with Joy. |
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