My Daughter is graduating from high school in 2 weeks and we are taking her and a friend to Kuaui for her senior trip. ( I think I got a clock radio when I graduated) There will be five total in the group. Anything aviation related we should see on the island or anything else that we would to see?

Thanks

Dave

Been there several times, my favorite island. Favorite because it's relatively undeveloped and you can just kick back and do nothing. Not much aviation related that I found unless you want to take a helicopter tour. I'd skip the zodiac tour unless you like chafing and sea sickness. Take the kayak tour up the river to the falls. Hike along the cliffs starting on the NW end of the island. Take comfortable hiking shoes and be prepared to get muddy. Don't swim at the nude beach at the end of the hike.....serious currents in that cove will suck you out around the rock point and down the cliff face. Good swimming at the start of the hike with fair snorkeling. Good zip lines if you're into that fun kid stuff. Skip the snuba excursion (floating tank, long hose with a regulator), water where they take you is only about 8' deep and the "instructor" wont let you get more than 10' away from him. You can see just as much with a mask and snorkel. If you're into hunting you can whack pigs there.

Have fun!

My son had an internship at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Kauai last year. When we went to visit him we took an aerial tour of the island with Wings over Kauai. There are numerous air tour operators, both fixed and rotary wing. We also did some hiking on the northwest coast, and some scuba diving. Most of the dive shops have intro scuba courses available and then there is also good snorkeling around the Sheraton Hotel on the south shore. The rest of the time was spent trying to pronounce words such as Humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Have a great time! You won't want to return.

Heck, I'll buy her the clock radio, if you'll take me instead!

Never been to Kauai, but on a couple of different trips to Maui, I rented an airplane and flew around Maui and Molokai. It's a different experience, but very beautiful. The biggest issue each instructor had was whether I could handle crosswinds--and after telling them I'd learned that trick in Laramie, it was just once around the patch to make sure I wasn't fooling. Ground school was mostly a detailed discussion about the island reporting process and checkpoints, a form of flight following.

Take a look at this, might be interesting: http://www.wingsoverkauai.com/

Have fun!

Cary

Dave,

The first time I went to Kuaui, I was so broke I sat through a timeshare demonstration just to get a two-for-one rate on a helicopter tour for me and my wife. The ride was worth every minute of timeshare seminar agony. Pretty spendy, but my favorite memory of Kauai.

Second time, we kayaked the Napali coast for a couple days and camped on Kalalau Beach. That coastline is stunning, but I wouldn't want to try and sea kayak it all in a day. If you want to see it but don't have several days, I'd do it from a tour boat rather than a sea kayak.

If you're in the Poipu area, Brenneke's has good food and drink, and they can set you up with plenty of rental gear. If you or your kids want to surf but aren't experienced, don't let your pride get in the way of renting the biggest foam surfboard they have. If you're as bad at surfing as I am, you'll be thankful for every extra inch of foam underneath you! If you have access to a bbq grill, the fish market in Koloa has good fresh fish every day.

If you're going to do a luau, the Grand Hyatt luau is pretty incredible.
http://grandhyattkauailuau.com/

The best tip anyone ever gave us about Kauai was to buy this guidebook:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0981461018
I highly recommend it.

We're taking our niece to Poipu for a graduation trip in a few weeks too, but we'll be there the second half of June so it sounds like we'll just miss you.

Was there before the last hurricane, enjoyed body surfing on the NE side of the island, before the cliffs, lots of little uncrowded beaches along there.

Mr. Ed wrote:Don't swim at the nude beach at the end of the hike.....serious currents in that cove will suck you out around the rock point and down the cliff face.

My wife and I got a hot tip about a good place to go swimming in Kauai sans clothing. We pulled off the highway and found we had it all to ourselves. Both stripped down and waded into the thundering surf (we're from Wyoming, and don't know any better). After getting thrashed around for several minutes, getting sand lodged in places that were never meant for sand, we struggled back out of the water glad to escape with our lives (if not our dignity). We looked, and felt, more like drowned rats than the couple in "From Here to Eternity."

Turned out we were at the wrong beach.

I saw Harrison Ford a the Air Service fuel pump a few years back... He was filling a nice red bi-plane.

Kauai's airspace can be a frick'n freak show. There are a lot of helicopters, ultra lights, students, rockets, Coast Guard SARs, fire dept. SARS etc on any given day! Port Allen is a really dangerous place because of the tourist trade!

After giving over 1400 tours around Kauai I can give you the advice that all my customers had, take a helicopter tour the first day you are there. It will not only be breathtaking, but it will show you what is available on the island. I can recommend Jack Harter Helicopters, Safari, and Air Kauai for quality tours.

You guys are awesome. Sorry it has taken so long to get back to thank every one. Your comments and suggestions were all great. My non little airplane friendly wife laughed hysterically at RanchPilots post. That was a great sign. We leave in a week and will be staying at the Waipouli Beach Resort in Kapaa. My wife did the majority planning of the trip. I am planning on doing some hiking with the girls while my wife will be with my 14 year old son who is in a walker and his hiking ability is greatly limited. We will be trading off activities, so my wife can get some hiking in also. We have the kauai guide book and have gone over that pretty thoroughly. But sometimes local, been there done that knowledge is an added bonus. We are looking for some good snorkling beaches with easy access, if any one has any suggestions that would be greatly appreicated. I'm pretty sure the nude beaches are out. I'm seriously thinking of coughing up the money for the helicopter tour (being able to retire is highly over rated, right ;-o we are making memories right!!) . Is one outfit any better than the other? Thanks again for all of the comments so far.

Thanks

Dave

BTW can you still buy a clock radio today?

The boat tours of the Na Pali coast with snorkeling at the end of the ride was impressive as can be. They chum when they drop anchor and the boat is surrounded with colorful fish. My wife and kids snorkeled while I took the scuba tour. I got my diving certification before the dive leader was born. Saw turtles and a couple of Moray eels on the dive run. The rest of my family didn't feel they were cheated at all just snorkeling. They had lots of fish and plenty of clear water to enjoy. The mountains shoot dramatically up from the water, so the view during lunch is sublime. On the way back to the harbor, spinner dolphins were playing in our bow wake and jumping all around the boat. We went out on a catamaran yacht and they move through rough water more smoothly than mono hulls. Highly recommended even if it was at sea level rather than a couple of thousand feet up.

Here's my 0.02 on Kauai.

Rent a Jeep. You are bound to go through a few cane fields to get to the pretty parts. Polihale State park is a amazing beach, but beware of the under tow. Makes a good day trip going all the way south and hitting Waimea Canyon on the way back.

Keoki's and Brennecke's are great places to eat in Poipu. The Grand Hyatt is worth walking around. Shipwreck Rock is a great place to jump into the ocean. It's too bad Kipu Falls is no longer open to the public.

Wailua Falls is a must see. If you feel like getting muddy, you can hike down to the bottom. The Sleeping Giant is a very pretty hike and well worth the time (a few hours).

Ke'e beach and hiking in a few miles on the Kalalau Trail is another wonderful day trip. The North side of the island is very tropical (wet) compared to the south side (the sunny side).

X10 on the helicopter tour. The grand views of the Na Pali Coast are worth every penny.

The Kapaa area is a nice place to stay, just be patient with the roosters all night and traffic anywhere you go.

Surprised nobody's mentioned taking a drive to the south side and heading up Waimea Canyon, 'The Grand Canyon of the Pacific'..beautiful canyon with view stops along the road...at the end of that road is Kokee State Park that used to have cabins you could rent for cheap that have the lushest redwood trees you've ever seen...with chickens livin' in 'em! Also, if you want to go snorkeling, Poipu is a great area to do that...they sell 'fish' food to attract, well, fish, but we got a hot tip somewhere when we were there to go to a supermarket and get a package of frozen peas and wow! It was unbelievable, we had so many fish around us, they were following me around. Anyway, it's an awesome place but pretty limited when it comes to aviation, other than the previously mentioned helicopter tours. Have fun!

When I was there you couldn't rent a plane on Kauai. I did the flight "Wings over Kauai" in the 172 and it was good. If you rent a jeep there is a "power line road" that goes over the island but remember the jeep isn't supposed to leave the pavement. Great swimming and snorkeling at the end of the road on the North End but usually crowded. Lots of nice scenery though There is a nice beach in Kapaa that the locals go to but I don't know how to explain it. There is a path between two houses that goes down to it. Just ask around. Also, if it's raining, head to the other side and it's usually sunny. Have a great time!

Thank you. This is awesome info. I really appreciate it.

Dave

Well this is slightly aviation related. We've been in Kauai since Thursday. Did a few of the beaches up north. Spent some time at the light house close to Princeville. Did a farmers market in Hanalei on Saturday. Drove to Waimea canyon on Sunday. By far the coolest thing so far was the Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour this morning. We were concerned about the light drizzle over the airport when we took off at 8:00 am this morning. Well I can't think how the tour could have been any better. It was the highlightif our trip so far. I highly recommend the tour.

I am sitting in sand on the beach by the Kauai Marriott watching my daughter and her best friend from high school play in the water. My wife and son are at the pool at the condo at kapa'a. Michael doesn't enjoy the wind and sand because of some medical issues but he loves the pool.

Two more days until we need to back to reality. I'm hoping that reality includes some 180 time before I need to go back to work.

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. Best vacation so far. What a beautiful place

Thank you

Dave

We departed Kawaihae Harbor anchorage (Big Is). It was bowing 35 gusting to 40 kts! Glad to have set a Bruce Anchor and all chain rode! Down at Honokahau ( Kona ) wind was 5 kts.

My wife found a steel sailboat similar to ours at Honokohau ...http://groups.yahoo.com/group/origamiboats/photos/album/709270092/pic/list

The surf pro next to the Kauai Marriott said the surf was going to pick up the next few days

The South Shore is forcast to be 8-12' tomorrow! I surfed the last swell 2 weeks ago, solid 12 foot sets which closed out the Ala Wai Boat Harbor channel. The R2 bouy was completely covered on the big sets! Will be using my Mike Diffindorfer 9' 6"!

I am at Ala Wai Harbor tonight, the swell is building for sure...

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/SRF.php

SURF ZONE FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
400 PM HST MON JUN 3 2013

OAHU-
400 PM HST MON JUN 3 2013

HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR SOUTH FACING SHORES

Surf along south facing shores will be 2 to 4 feet, increasing to 5 to 8 late tonight, then rising to 8 to 12 feet Tuesday.

Surf along west facing shores will be 2 to 3 feet, increasing to heights of 4 to 6 feet late tonight, then rising to 7 to 9 feet Tuesday.

Surf along east facing shores will be 3 to 5 feet today, lowering to 2 to 4 feet Tuesday.

Surf along north facing shores will be 3 to 5 feet through Tuesday.

Outlook through Sunday June 9: the south swell will build tonight and peak well above advisory levels on Tuesday and Wednesday, then gradually diminish Thursday and Friday. A small northwest swell will arrive today and persist into Wednesday before diminishing. Moderate to rough surf will continue along east facing shores through the week.

Maybe we can watch some surfers the next few days. That sounds fun. Thanks for the report

Dave