Kiahuna Plantation Oceanfront Renovated Best Location Ground Floor

Car: Necessary

In our unit is a guide book for guests to use…The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook which you can also buy for your use . You can get an interactive copy on ITunes Store. Also lots of tips are in our unit guest book. Here are some of our own VERY favorite things to do and hints to make your stay perfect: I have put things in bold which you may want to book ahead in busy months (when school is out). There is a Costco near airport..hit it on your way to condo..it is a 30 minute drive home from there. There is an o.k. grocery in Koloa (Big Save). On Monday there is a darling farmers make in Koloa at 12 ..hundreds line up before noon when the gate opens. Also a farmers's market 4 - 6 p.m. at Kukui'ula shopping center in Koloa. Good fish can be had at Koloa Fish market next to Big Save . Good take out lunches.

Restaurants

We eat at home mostly because of the view but when we go out here are our favorite restaurants:

Casablanca..at Kiahuna pool..can walk, outdoors, great happy hour. lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch

Joes on the Green - at Kiahuna golf course..nice for breakfast

Keoki's- great fish, good bar, and an early bird special..lots of Hawaii atmosphere and can walk

Tortilla Republic - casual good Mexican..eat downstairs..at Kukui'ula

Pomodoro - terrific Italian, reasonable, a bit of a drive to Kalaheo but pretty drive..make reservation.

Kalaheo steak house- a locals place - old fashioned with salad bar.

Brenneki's - can walk (15 minutes) - nice view overlooking Poipu beach park - good prime rib, bar, sashimi..casual

St. Regis Hotel overlooking Hanalei Bay (Big drive there) expensive but drinks won't kill you

Beach House - near by on Lawai Rd. Have not been for years but it is a spectacular spot at sunset. Pricey, upscale

Roy's - across the street..not our favorite..noisy, over priced and waiters are slick and pushy but some people love it

Kalaheo Coffee - great meals..very casual, deli atmosphere.

Kilohana - in Lihue in an old historic house - most genteel restaurant you will ever be in. Fine for lunch. Combine with Grove Farm tour.

There are several restaurants at Kukui'ula but I have not tried them. Most are expensive and are not on the water so I'd prefer to eat at home

If you really want to do a Luau try Smith's. Hyatt and Sheraton have one too.

For drinks in special places : no. 1 is on our lawn at sunset…it's one big cocktail party and great way to meet your neighbors

or Plantation Gardens,The Hyatt, Koa Kea (next door), Beachhouse. There is a Starbucks at Marriot's next door.

Kiahuna

Swimming - Kiahuna has great swimming, boogie boarding and snorkeling. You can take surfing lessons directly in front of our unit. You can rent equipment and cokes at our beach hut..also they have free towels, beach chairs and can sell you activities/excursions/massages (BTW if you book directly with an excursion Co. you can get a discount). three boogie boards are in our closet as well a a few floaties and a beach umbrella

Be sure to use the safe in your room, lock sliding doors at night. There have been thefts..they like computers, wallet and jewels.

Superb boogie boarding for strong swimmer Poipu Beach Park has great area..also it has a perfect shallow area for babies..and picnic spot. For superb snorkeling go to the beach on Lawai road (about two miles west in front of Beach House restaurant)..you can rent equipment there also.

For a special beach where we picnic but not swim try Maha'ulepu down the road. No facilities and no people and it is GORGEOUS

Hiking

See our book or web sites. Terrific hikes on the island. The one we frequently take starts at the Hyatt down the road and goes south along the coast and golf course. Spectacular views.

Golf

We love golf on the island. Here we rank the courses:

Poipu Bay - pricey and worth it…beautiful course and spectacular views

Puakea - in Lihue..gorgeous mtn. views..reasoanable and challenging

Kauai Lagoons - beautiful in Lihue..two 18 hole courses

Wailua Muni - good value and along the ocean…one of the best muni's in the U.S.

Kukuiolono in Kalaheo, 9 holes..an old estate with beautiful views. VERY funky but what value..under $20 to play incl. cart. Be sure to buy at the 'pro shop' food for chickens on the course. Great fun for the whole family. They rent clubs too. Best teaching pro on the whole island..Pat Hunt..reasonable and superb teacher..call him…808 635- 2193 , 808 332 6452.

Tennis

Kiahuna has a great tennis program. Sign up in the pro shop and they will line up games for you. This brought us to Kiahuna in the first place. You will meet the locals as well. Brig racquets

Excursions

These are our favorites

ATV ride at Kipu Ranch..gorgeous and exciting..on a private ranch

Museum at Grove Farm - tour an original house from the 1800's and learn how the early white settlers fared

National Tropical Botanical Garden- 3 hour guided tour of garden..about 3 miles from