May 26th was a day for me to relax, after several weeks of almost non-stop action. I cooked a tasty breakfast at The Villas at Poipu Kai, where I ate on the porch looking at the distant mountains:
Afterward I headed to the beaches and found some nice views.
Here’s the bodyboarding hotspot, just five minutes from where I was staying in Poipu Kai:
And I met these cute chicks on the beach.
You have no idea how hard it is to get such a good picture of chickens. At least they’re everywhere in Kauai so there are plenty of opportunities. A local told me that they are a special breed of chickens that is very rare so they’re somehow protected. And since there are no mongooses on Kauai (I think it was mongooses?), which were introduced on the other islands to combat snakes, the chickens pretty much have free reign. Wild.
This cool beach right across from Brennecke’s restaurant & bar has a sand bridge connecting the main island to a rocky/sandy outcropping. It’s pretty sheltered and great for snorkeling, if all the people with snorkels are any evidence (I was too lazy to get in the water).
Finally, here’s the Spouting Horn!
As the waves come in, they pressurize a cavity in the porous lava rock. All that pressure gets forced out this inlet, shooting a spray of water several meters in the air. Quite an interesting geological formation.
I’d say Poipu is the perfect destination for a beach vacation. There’s a lot to do in the area, great restaurants, and excellent weather. If you give it a try, or if you’ve already been there, let me know about your experience!
Next up: a huge waterfall in a remote location. Four miles of strenuous (and as I found out, potentially dangerous) hiking from the nearest road!
Posted 12 years, 2 months ago at 3:38 pm. Add a comment
I’ve stayed in some nice 4- and 5-star hotels and condos before. But nothing quite as meticulously clean and well-thought-out as The Villas at Poipu Kai.
When I arrived in the villa, light Hawaiian jazz was playing on the stereo.
The lights were on, turned down low, as if the villa apartment was setting the mood.
Orchid blossoms were strategically scattered around, calling my attention to amenities like the personalized guest information book, shampoo & soap setups in the bathrooms, and even a bottle of scented moisturizer next to the kitchen sink.
How could it get any better?
It depends what you’re into. The walk-in closet off the master bath would certainly have space for the bride’s wedding dress.
If you’ve moved past that stage and on to the next, the rock-formation-style pool and hot tub will be a favorite of the rugrats:
The floral style of the resort was visible at every turn in the Villas, and all throughout the Poipu Kai community of resorts. Right outside my door I found these:
I’ve never even seen this flower before:
This lovely couple made me realize: Poipu Kai is the perfect place to be in love!
This resort is not a place for adventure seekers who will be driving around the island for all-day, every-day activities, and just need a place to sleep. If you did that, you’d miss out on the amazing vibe of Poipu Kai!
The Villas is a place for: Families. Couples. Relaxation. Easy beach access. A beautiful day sunning by the pool. Barbecuing on the (big, stainless steel) grills by said pool. Drinking Happy Hour Mai Tais at Brennecke’s by the beach, just a five minute walk away. Taking a short ride down to Papalani’s for a delicious Kauaian gelato. Bodyboarding at the beach (or doing any number of other sports) with equipment from The Villas’ storerooms. Sleeping on a big, soft mattress, surrounded by all the pillows you could eat.
Do you get the idea? You’ll leave this place recharged, ready to face the world again. I certainly did, even after just two days. Imagine what a week at The Villas at Poipu Kai would do for you!
If you want to read more about the Poipu area, tune in tomorrow for views of the awesome beaches and the Spouting Horn. Yeah, you know you’re curious now – what the h#&$ is a spouting horn!?
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Disclaimer: this article is a promotion for The Villas at Poipu Kai. However, all my opinions of the Villas and the Poipu area are unbiased judgments based on my experience, which was truly fantabulastic (it was so good I had to invent a new word for it).
Posted 12 years, 2 months ago at 3:43 pm. 2 comments
Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” is not as old as the Grand Canyon. She may not have the same great tan color either, but at least Waimea hasn’t yet lost all her trees. This first view is from the Canyon Trail on May 25th:
Another angle from the Canyon Trail:
A nice “partly cloudy” shot from one of the roadside lookouts makes for interesting contrasts.
Kokee Park at the top of Waimea Canyon has some truly amazing vistas and great trails. Just beware, the signage along the trails isn’t the best, and in many spots I had trouble figuring out where the trail went. On dirt areas there were often no blazes, and in wooded areas there were frequently multiple paths that looked similar, again with no blazes marking the real trail.
In the evening I arrived at the Villas at Poipu Kai, where I stayed in a true luxury villa for 2 nights. After the “Evil Dead” vibe alone at Camp Sloggett, a little relaxation was certainly in order! Tomorrow: how to relax in Poipu.
Posted 12 years, 2 months ago at 3:27 pm. 4 comments
