Condo (Castle Makahuena At Poipu) – I loved the location of the condo.  The condo was a nice place for a mid-range condo.  I’m sure there are much nicer places to stay, but this condo was nice and comfortable.  The condo isn’t right on a beach, but instead has a rocky shoreline (which I actually found more interesting).  There’s a couple nice swimming beaches very close to the condo.  Don’t ever send someone to this condo who has issues with stairs!  There were stairs everywhere.  Stairs to get to every condo, and each condo had 3 stories.  When we checked in the owners of the condo, apparently just out of kindness, gave us an ocean-view room.  It turned out our room, which was on the farthest east side of the complex was the best because a constant ocean breeze kept the room cool.  My parents room tended to be much warmer because they had a room with most windows facing west and didn’t get the ocean breezes. 

 

Book – an invaluable book to have is The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook by Andrew Doughty & Harriett Friedman.  I don’t think it’s suggestions ever steered us wrong. 

 

Waimea canyon was well worth the drive.  We followed the suggestions in the guidebook and they seemed to be right on.  The end-of-the road overlook was a 2-mile walk (the end of the road was closed) but the view was worth every step!

 

Fern Grotto wasn’t worth the trip.  My parents saw it 40 years ago, before hurricane Iniki, and they were quite disappointed.  I thought it was pretty but not spectacular.  The entertainment on the boat to the grotto was rather cheesy too.  

 

Smith’s luau (run by the same family as the grotto trip) was very nice.  The guidebook says it’s the best luau on the island, and I believe it.  I think this luau was nicer than the one we went to on Maui. 

 

Outfitters Kauai – the kipu ranch tour was one of the best things we did all week.  The day started by kayaking down the Huleia river, then a wagon ride through beautiful ranch land (where some of Jurassic Park was filmed), followed by a zip line across a valley and then a short hike to a classic Hawaiian waterfall complete with a 20’ rope swing into the pool below the falls.  It was an all-day excursion and tons of fun!

 

Guided boat ride and snorkeling on the napali coast.  Incredible scenery and snorkeling, but BEWARE!  By the end of the boat ride several people were feeling sick, and they said it wasn’t even a particularly rough day at sea.  Melissa was overdosed on Bonine and still spent nearly all 3 hours sick as a dog.  My sister got sick on the ride back home, and I’ve never known her to be overly sensitive to motion sickness.  (Melissa on the other hand gets sick WATCHING a boat rock.)  We saw many dolphins and a couple sea turtles.   My sister and niece even saw a small shark.  Very wavy snorkeling.  The guides in the boat were ok but not fabulous.  The napali coast scenery was spectacular!

 

Kilauea Lighthouse & bird sanctuary.  If you like bird watching don’t miss this spot.        

 

Arboritum -  I can't remember the exact name of it, but the one we went to had a riding/walking tour of the "Allerton" garden.  My parents went and I think enjoyed it.  The Allerton garden is actually an acerage Robert (?) Allerton owned in the 1940s and 1950s.  It is set on an idealic little valley on the ocean where he created beautiful outdoor "rooms", fruit orchards and water ways.  My dad can't walk very far at a time, but he did ok on the tour.  

 

Condo Evaluation:

Size of room – especially nice for families sharing a space because each bedroom is on a different level and somewhat removed from the others.

Room amenities – average for condo, maids changed sheets and replaced towels regularly during week. 

Condo amenities – small but nice pool.  Nice tennis courts.

Overall satisfaction with Condo – 4  (some in our group wished for air conditioning.)