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We will be escaping to Hawaii the day after the wedding to spend a week relaxing and recuperating. When I posted about our trip last month you guys gave me some great suggestions. After your glowing reviews I picked up a copy of the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook from eBay. It is packed with tons of great information and suggestions! I already used it book a special adventure for Mr. PN (my wedding gift to him). Other than that, we haven’t had the time or energy to do anything other than reserve our hotel and Jeep. I’ve been reading the guidebook on the subway, but to be honest I’m pretty overwhelmed. There are so many options!! We aren’t planning to put together a specific itinerary but we do want to have a rough layout so that we get a chance to see all the best spots!
We will be spending Sunday through Friday in Kauai and then Friday afternoon and all day Saturday in Honolulu (we are taking the red eye back to NYC on Saturday night). So I’m asking for your help hive! Please share a couple of your favorite activities in Kauai or Honolulu. I would especially love to hear your favorite hike, luau and restaurant!
I live here in Hawaii so let me share my favorites as a “local.”
Kauai:
Queens Baths on the north side is beautiful and special.
The start of the Na Pali hike is crowded and could be muddy but it has stunning views.
Kayak the Waimea river.
Zipline.
Hanalei is the charmingest little town you will ever visit. Just soak it all up and rest.
Oahu:
You can either indulge as a tourist and spend all your time in Waikiki (nothing wrong with that) or venture out to the rest of the island.
In Waikiki: beach! surf lessons! Dukes!
Around the island: North Shore, shave ice in Haleiwa, snorkel Haunama Bay (if it’s open), hike Diamond Head, hike Manoa Falls.
Have fun!
I just returned from Honolulu, and what I really enjoyed seeing was Pearl Harbour, but you must get there early! 7:30am early!
I’ve done a lot of research on TripAdvisor prior to my trip, and for the luaus, most people go to the Polynesian Cultural Centre for the entire day and just stay for the luau. That’s what we did as well, and it was pretty good. However, you are on such limited time in Oahu, that I don’t think you’ll want to spend an entire day there… so perhaps Paradise Cove or Germaine’s Luau would be better for you. I’ve heard the food is better at Germaine’s, but the activities and views are much better at Paradise Cove, so it really depends what your priorities are.
I second the malasadas at Leonard’s!
I think you should definitely go snorkeling if you get a chance, but you can do that on either island 
I also enjoyed hiking to the top of Diamond Head. Bring lots of water!!!
We recently honeymooned on Kuaui. I would highly recommend the kayak river tour of the Waimea river and hike to the ’secret falls’. So beautiful. Get on the earliest tour you can to avoid the crowds. Our tour left at 7:30am and we were the first group to arrive at the falls- it’s really romantic!
Also check out Jo Jo’s shaved ice ( on the way to the north end ) it was amazing!
these are great sugguestions! we doing a similar trip for our honeymoon. what are some good place to eat? we love eating!!
Hanauma Bay for snorkeling!! ITs a public park but was probably the best time I have ever had. Also there are gardens on the oposite side of the island.. that we felt were worth the stroll.
Hike to the falls! Especially the one with the rope swing. Don’t know where you’re staying, but the views at the Sheraton in Poipu are awesome! If you don’t want to pay for the really expensive restaurant, they have a cheaper version too.
But to be honest, half the fun of our Hawaiian honeymoon was exploring. We gave these local kids a ride and they were absolutely hilarious and proved to be one of the highlights of our trip. Be open to where the roads take you!
I just returned from a honeymoon on Kauai, and have a couple of suggestions–DO NOT MISS: ziplining, Jojo’s shave ice, hiking at least the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail, eating at the Beach House, getting a plate lunch in Hanalei, Waimea Canyon. If you are not staying at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu, at least go there for dinner and a spa treatment. Their spa is out of this world, and the grounds are beautiful. Near there, eat at Plantation Gardens and try their cucumber mojitos.
On Oahu, if you eat sushi, you must go to Sushi Sasabune. It’s the best I have ever eaten.
You will have the best time in Kauai! You must must must see the Na Pali coast- google it, you will die! We did a boat cruise and a hike but the boat cruise was the best- you can get great pictures too. Other than that, I highly recommend the ziplining- so much fun.
I thought Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu was pretty. Shaved ice with ice cream and condensed milk from Matusomoto’s is the best. I don’t know if you like shrimp, but I liked Macky’s shrimp truck. I third malasadas from Leonards. Yeah… I like food… =)
If you want a BEAUTIFUL hike Kalalau Trail is amazing!! (Kauai) Its not the easiest thing ever, lots of elevation changes and it tends to be muddy, but O.M.G.!!!!! Its north of Hanalei which is such a great little old hawaii town that I very much recommend meandering through on your way to or from. More adventurous? Napali Explorers is a great boat ride/snorkel through and around the Napali Coast (http://www.napali-explorer.com/). (I very much recommend their smallest boat for best experience.) Ziplines are AMAZING!! http://www.adventureinhawaii.com/kauai_zipline.htm The princeville one was ok. The people great, the ziplines fun, but there was a lot of walking through farms to get from one to the next… kinda lost something. Theres lots more but those are my top picks. Message me if you want pictures or more info from my time there.
Kauai is probably one of the best honemoon destinations that you could ever choose! We too had our honeymoon there :). If you haven’t booked a place to stay yet, make sure you stay on the northern part of the island… Hanalei or Princeville. There are lots of one lane bridges on the island, but… trust me… you won’t mind the wait :). We took an early morning cruise along the Na Pali coast that went on till 2 in the afternoon. In all my years in Hawaii, that is the best thing I have ever done! This is something I recommend to all my friends and everyone who’s been on the cruise have only good words to say about it. We booked Holo Holo Charters’ tour, but they say Capt.Andy’s is good as well. Also, don’t miss out the Waimea canyon. There are WONDERFUL hikes there too. The Na Pali hike is very strenuous and extremely dirty … the first one mile or so. But the views are awesome!
If you’re in the Poipu area at all, I’d recommend the restaurant Casa di Amici (http://www.casadiamici.com/). It was probably my favorite restaurant on Kauai, though a bit hard to find as it’s in the middle of a neighborhood and seems to be a house transformed into a restaurant.
We had our DW and HM on Oahu and it was the best decision we ever made! I second (and third) what previous Bees posted, plus a few others:
-Leonard’s malasadas are a must!!! The haupia (coconut) filled one is my fave
-Pearl Harbor is a must if you have time
-Polynesian Cultural Center’s luau is my favorite one because the show after the dinner is so good, but you only have a short amount of time so Germaines would be a good second choice in my opinion
-Pali Lookout, Temple Valley and Kailua beach (on the east side of the island) are good spots. If you end up on that side, Lanikai Juice is a yummy local spot. Think Jamba Juice but with more healthy options and kicked up 10 notches!
-Nobu’s in Waikiki has awesome sushi as well
-Orchids restaurant (located at the Halekulani hotel in Waikiki) is where we had our wedding dinner and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in my life. They have live music nightly (House without a Key) which is lovely as you sip on a Lava Flow. They also have the best coconut cake I’ve EVER had! And I’ve had a lot of cake in my life!
We honeymooned in Kauai - we really enjoyed the Smith Family Luau. Also a cruise on the Na Pali coast is a must, and Waimaea Canyon (though check the weather - it was cloudy BOTH times we attempted the drive up there - ask the locals for the best days/times of day to go).
It’s a wonderfully beautiful and relaxing island for a honeymoon - we LOVED it!
You guys made a great choice, Kauai is definitely the most beautiful of the islands! (Being from there, I’m a little bit partial!) Try to do a Na Pali Coast cruise, it’s so beautiful, it will overwhelm you. Kayaking the Waimea River is really fun too! Hanalei is a charming hippie-esque town and if you keep driving up the north coast past it, Tunnels and Ke’e are both amazing beaches and you will probably see some sea turtles. Favorite restaurants: Duke’s in Lihue, Scotty’s in Kapa’a, Pizzetta in Kapaa and Kihei and Koloa, and Coco’s is a great little organic vegetarian and fish place for dinner. Have fun!!
Hiking diamond head, waimea state park has a waterfall and they do little diving shows and swim underneath the waterfall which is really fun, and waimea beach park where you can jump off a really huge rock into the ocean. North Shore beaches and shaved ice, get malasadas for sure or cocoa cream puffs at liliha bakery, all the taxi drivers know where to get this stuff. Kauai there is ziplining or innertube underwater cave excursions which I don’t know what it would be officially called, sorry, but fsil did this on her honeymoon and it looked really cool. Also they loved eating at Dukes, eat lots of hula pie and drink lots of chi chi’s!
I lived in Honolulu for many years…good eats are Keo’s Thai (three or four different locations around the island), Compadres (Mexican), and happy hour anywhere on Waikiki beach is fun.
If you have the time, you must go see the North Shore! Hiking Diamond head is a little workout but the reward is amazing views at the top! Have a great time!
I lived in Honolulu for many years…good eats are Keo’s Thai (three or four different locations around the island), Compadres (Mexican), and happy hour anywhere on Waikiki beach is fun.
If you have the time, you must go see the North Shore! Hiking Diamond head is a little workout but the reward is amazing views at the top! Have a great time!
Kauai is the most beautiful place that I have ever seen. DO hike the Kalalua trail. DO hit the rope swing at Kipu Falls. DO drive to the West side for a sunset. DO take a helicopter tour. I HIGHLY recommend Inter-Island Helicopter Tours, great people and the small choppers give you amazing views with huge windows all around you. (www.interislandhelicopters.com)
DON’T forget your camera and lots of memory/film. DON’T forget to pack some good skeeter spray.
DO have the time of your life!
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Mrs. Pinot Noir, New York/Napa Valley Age and Occupation: 24, Health Educator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Market Researcher Engagement Date: November 10, 2007 Wedding Date: October, 2008 Blogging Since: June 25, 2008 Venue: Auberge du Soleil About Me: I am a Minnesota raised, NYC transplant planning a destination wedding in Napa. I'm balancing my love for the environment and my hubby-to-be's love for tradition to create our "green wedding in disguise." Our wedding will include local food and wine, antique touches and lots of love and laughter. When wedding planning isn't taking up my free time (and money) I love to read, cook, workout, watch baseball and travel! Follow along in my adventure as I attempt to plan an eco-friendly and socially responsible wedding (with eco-oblivious Mr. Pinot Noir).
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