<p>In less than 2 weeks my dh and I are going to Hawaii for our 30th anniversary. We have been before and done some of the normal tourist things - Pearl Harbor, Napaali raft ride for example. Does anyone have any suggestions for activities not to be missed? I was thinking of the submarine ride in Waikiki and the Smith luau in Kauai.</p>
<p>Highway 560 to Na’pali Coast Beach for the best sunsets ever. Our last time there was complete with a double rainbow. Waimea Canyon is staggering–like the Grand Canyon with jungles and waterfalls. Other than that…MaiTais and chilling on the beach is plenty for me!</p>
<p>Kauai is my favorite island. Skip luaus and enjoy the beauty of its nature! Bring sturdy shoes and go hiking in Waimea Canyon State park - it is amazing:</p>
<p>[Waimea</a> Canyon State Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waimea_Canyon_State_Park]Waimea”>Waimea Canyon State Park - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[Hiking</a> Kauai - adventure trail guide](<a href=“11 Epic Hikes in Kauai to Experience the Beauty of the Region”>11 Epic Hikes in Kauai to Experience the Beauty of the Region)</p>
<p>Do not miss these spectacular gardens (a guide will take you on a 1.5 hr tour and tell you about the history of the gardens and the beautiful plants):</p>
<p>[Allerton</a> Garden - Kalaheo - Reviews of Allerton Garden - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60615-d131233-Reviews-Allerton_Garden-Kalaheo_Kauai_Hawaii.html]Allerton”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60615-d131233-Reviews-Allerton_Garden-Kalaheo_Kauai_Hawaii.html)</p>
<p>If you are staying near Poipu and are thinking about a place to have a nice dinner, this place offers great views (reservations are advised):</p>
<p>[Beach</a> House Restaurant, Poipu - Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60625-d447643-Reviews-Beach_House_Restaurant-Poipu_Kauai_Hawaii.html]Beach”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60625-d447643-Reviews-Beach_House_Restaurant-Poipu_Kauai_Hawaii.html)</p>
<p>Enjoy your trip!</p>
<p>We like Waimea Valley on Oahu:
[url=<a href=“http://www.waimeavalley.net/about.aspx]::WAIMEA”>http://www.waimeavalley.net/about.aspx]::WAIMEA</a> VALLEY::<a href=“Although%20it’s%20changed%20hands%20a%20couple%20of%20times–I%20think%20Audubon%20ran%20it%20the%20last%20time%20we%20were%20there.”>/url</a></p>
<p>If you decide to go on another Zodiac ride to Napali Coast, make sure your camera is waterproof. The ocean can be a little rough this time of the year. A few years ago a huge wave destroyed H’s camera! It is amazing how corrosive salt water is 
If you want a smoother ride, there are bigger boats sailing to Napali.</p>
<p>For a romantic dinner (no views, unfortunately) on Kauai, Roy’s in Poipu shopping village is unbeatable! Great food and amazing service, and not outrageously expensive if you don’t order too many drinks.</p>
<p>I was in Kauai recently and went on a great hike into Waimea Canyon. The other way to see the Napali coast other than the boat. It was definitely arduous though. Took us about five hours and there are places where you are pulling yourself up by a rope or scooting on your bottom but the end result is way worth it
You will find more than you want to know about either Kauai or Oahu on trip advisor.</p>
<p>For walking, but not for swimming, try “Secret Beach”
[Kauapea</a> (Secret beach) - Kauaiexplorer.com](<a href=“12 Best Beaches in Kauai for 2024 – Trips To Discover”>12 Best Beaches in Kauai for 2024 – Trips To Discover)</p>
<p>There is no reef to temper the waves, so it’s dangerous to swim most times of the year, but very undeveloped and beautiful. Cliffs, waterfalls, beautiful long beach and nice sand. The far end tends to be clothing optional, so be aware of that. Steep trail down to the beach.</p>
<p>It has been a few years, but some things we did on those islands:</p>
<ul>
<li>Snorkeled at Poipu. We also ate at a restaurant with a second story open air balcony right on the beach there at sunset, but I don’t recall the name of it.</li>
<li>Hiked up Diamond Head. Took about an hour, not too strenuous.</li>
<li>Visited the Bishop Museum on Oahu (we really like natural history museums – I still remember the feather capes as amazing)</li>
<li>Eat native Hawaiian food (including day old poi – and having done that earned us the respect of some locals we met later!). We found a local restaurant in Honolulu via a guidebook, the crowd was mostly native Hawaiians.</li>
<li>We backpacked the Napali coast, but that may not be what you have in mind :)</li>
<li>We took a windsurfing lesson on Kauai. I’d love to take a surfing lesson if I go back.</li>
</ul>
<p>Have a great time!</p>
<p>“- Snorkeled at Poipu. We also ate at a restaurant with a second story open air balcony right on the beach there at sunset, but I don’t recall the name of it.”</p>
<p>My guess, but was it Brenneckes? [Brennecke’s</a> Beach Broiler :: A must-see destination at Poipu Beach on Kauai](<a href=“http://www.Brenneckes.com%5DBrennecke’s”>http://www.Brenneckes.com)</p>
<p>^I can’t imagine a nicer day that snorkeling at Poipu and finishing with a nice dinner at Brenneckes. You can rent your equipment at the facilities there and the snorkeling is great for beginners!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go to Hawaii without bringing Andrew Doughty’s guidebooks. Great information and fun reading, not like the typical travel guide: [Amazon.com:</a> The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (9780981461014): Andrew Doughty: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0981461018/ref=pd_sim_b_2]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0981461018/ref=pd_sim_b_2)</p>
<p>Has anyone here hiked the Kalalau trail? H and I dream about doing it, but the logistics (getting a permit, bringing camping equipment, etc.) are just too much for us to handle.</p>
<p>For an easier hike (can be done in flipflops when it is not raining), Pihea Trail is hard to beat!</p>
<p>[Pihea</a> Trail - Hike, Kauai, Hawaii](<a href=“11 Epic Hikes in Kauai to Experience the Beauty of the Region”>11 Epic Hikes in Kauai to Experience the Beauty of the Region)</p>
<p>This beginning section of the Kalalau trail brings you to Hanakapi<code>ai beach (2 miles in) with the option to hike an additional 2 miles up Hanakapi</code>ai Valley to the falls. Remote and beautiful, this Na Pali hike is gorgeous but challenging. No water. Composting toilets. </p>
<p>We did the one above to the beach…it’s rough going but not an overnight, permit kind of trip.<br>
Also second Brennecke’s at Poipu. We had a great dinner there.</p>
<p>We hiked the Kalalau trail, all the way in to the Kalalau Beach (11 miles in). It is paradise… One of my best memories was a guy squeezing passion fruit from a tree alongside the trail into his water bottle to make his own juice. We also backpacked the north shore of the big island on the same trip. Of course, back then they didn’t charge extra to check a bag on the plane. We just put our backpacks in big duffle bags. And you could just check a backpacking stove and fuel bottles – now they are MUCH pickier about that even in checked luggage.</p>
<p>If I remember right, the Hanakapi`ai beach (2 miles in on the Kalalau Trail) is pretty, but clearly marked as not for swimming (rip tides). Just don’t hike in expecting to swim…</p>
<p>Yes, the restaurant was Brennecke’s. Order the fish :)</p>
<p>intparent, wow. I wish I had done the longer hike but…
Yes, you remember right. You cannot hike down and then swim…the current and rip tides at the beach are dangerous.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all the Kauai tips. We are staying in the Poipu area. How about Oahu? I will be on my own for a few days since part of the trip is a conference for DH.</p>
<p>^^TrixieAnn, go shopping! There are some really cool stores in Honolulu. That’s what we did on Oahu… Sigh… When you have a teen with you, that’s what you end up doing…</p>