Kauai in the spring

[chrisgunguy]

The wife, kiddo and myself are headed there for spring break this year. I've sent an inquiry to the closest fishing guide for at least one offshore day. Anyone have other recommendations? We are looking into renting a jeep for the week.

[Shane]

We booked a private photo tour with these folks.

http://www.hawaiianphotos.net/Kauaitours.htm

Christian Kahahawai was our guide. Great guy. He's a professional photographer, so he was great help for my wife in using her DSLR. That freed me up to take pics, and it gave her someone to learn from other than me (me trying to teach her things doesn't always go well).

http://kahahawaiphotography.com/

The photo tour was great. Christian showed us tons of great places to take pics, and he also gave us all kinds of helpful info about the island. Places to eat, other sights to see, etc....














I booked a day to flyfish for bonefish with this guy (the only fly guide on the island).

http://www.flyfishkauai.com/home.html

We didn't catch any fish (all wade fishing), but it was very tough conditions. We had a high tide that was way higher than normal. That meant deeper than normal water on what is normally shallow flats. If you have your own gear, you can go DIY. Just go to Anini Beach and wade the flats. Don't go if it's cloudy (you can't see into the water). You want sunshine and low tides if possible. Shrimp imitations like Crazy Charlies and such on an 8wt rod.



We did a boat tour of the Na Pali Coast with these folks:

http://www.napalicatamaran.com/

Very cool. Stunningly beautiful. There are helicopter tours of that coastline as well. We'll do that next time we go (yeah, we're gonna go back).










A day spent in Waimea Canyon is time well spent. Go to the town of Waimea on the southwest part of the island, and then drive uphill through the canyon, into the mountains, and up to Kalalau Lookout. That part of the island looks like West Texas, then Palo Duro Canyon, then Colorado mountains, then Kauai at the lookout. Unfortunately, we didn't get to the lookout early enough in the day, and it was completely clouded over by the time we got there. Normally the views off the top of the mountain allow you to see across the Na Pali coastline's jagged peaks into the ocean below. All we got was fog. Get up there early and then take your time seeing the canyon and everything below later in the day. We stopped and took pics everywhere along the way going up, and that caused us to get to the lookout too late.
















The tour of the Allerton Gardens is pretty cool. It's on the south shore. It's a huge botanical garden. Very beautiful.










Places to eat:

DEFINITELY Uncle's Shave Ice. Uncle's is the best on the island. You think snow cones are good in Texas. They suck in Texas compared to Uncle's Shave Ice. Trust me. Ice cream on the bottom, then fruit, then shave ice. Do NOT say "shaved ice" in Hawaii. It's "shave ice" there. (I don't know why it's a big deal, but it is.)



Go to Poipu on the south shore and visit Puka Dog for lunch. It's a small hole in the wall hotdog shack. I hate hot dogs. I loved Puka Dogs. It's not far from there to Uncle's Shave Ice.

For a fancy dinner, go one evening to The Beach House. Call before a few weeks ahead of time and make reservations. Make sure you are there at sunset. Make your reservation for 30 minutes or an hour before sunset. The food is unbelievably good, and the view at sunset is equally incredible. I had wasabi crusted snapper. I can't begin to describe how good it was.

http://www.the-beach-house.com/weddings/ceremonies/kauai-aloha.html

Savage Shrimp is next door to Uncle's Shave Ice in Poipu (Kukui'ula Village shopping center area). Another little hole in the wall place, but VERY good food. Not terribly expensive.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt on the southeast shore. The restaurants there are super nice. The resort is beyond nice. There are several nice places to stay. The north shore area is greener. It rains there a lot. The south shore has more sun. It's easy to drive all over the island. You won't drive very fast, but it's easy driving.

Get this guide book for tons of information on everything on the whole island:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0983888760

The book has an app for your phone that goes with it. That can be helpful too.

[Shane]

Oh yeah....you gotta find a good luau.

[DaveS903]

Thanks for the story and for posting some awesome pics!

[Maui-diver]

You just saved me a bunch of money!! Feel like I was back in the islands again!! Great stories

[bustacap]

Thanks for the pics Shane! Awesome!

[clay4626]

man those are great pictures. Almost feels like you are there

[kenfa03]

Headed there for 10 days in Feb/March.

[chrisgunguy]

Awesome. Thank you. I may book fly fishing now!

[Kevin]

Hmmm... I just havent heard of many good fishing experiences out of Kauai. Just go assuming you wont catch fish and if you do, its a bonus. If you've never fly fished in the ocean in wind, I would also just assume you aren't going to catch a fish Im not being negative, but its just not a great fishing spot. Kona is about the only place I would recommend, and I caught a nice wahoo.

Besides that, Kauai is great. I went there on my Honeymoon about a year ago. If its raining on you, just drive to another part of the island! Shane hit the high points already. Its a laid back island, which I loved. Drive around, find some good grub, drink some beer and chill on the beach.

If you are into hiking, there is a great trail on the end of the road after Hanalei on the North Shore. The restaurant in St Regis was the best we went to on the entire Island and it was priced about the same as the rest of the good restaurants on the Island (which isnt really cheap.)

My favorite island is the Big Island and I've been to all but one. Kauai is my 2nd and you will have a great trip in paradise.

[Shane]

Yeah, I knew the bonefishing would be very hit and miss. Just not many flats there. It's mostly deep and ROUGH surf. Off shore would probably be kinda rough too, I'd imagine.

We tried a little surf fishing. This is about as far out as you can wade without getting knocked over.



There are rainbow trout there though! Also smallmouth and largemouth bass. The guide that I went with guides for trout and bass as well. Trout are in the Waimea Canyon area. They have a few private lakes that have peacock bass as well. There's another guy that has access to those and guides.

[hooligan]

Hmmm... I just havent heard of many good fishing experiences out of Kauai. Just go assuming you wont catch fish and if you do, its a bonus. If you've never fly fished in the ocean in wind, I would also just assume you aren't going to catch a fish Im not being negative, but its just not a great fishing spot. Kona is about the only place I would recommend, and I caught a nice wahoo.

There is great fishing to be had on all the island, Big Island is good for offshore stuff like big blues.

Kauai has some great near shore fishing though. If you want a great unique experience get a hold of these guys

http://www.kauaispearfishingguide.com

[chrisgunguy]

I'm excited.

[Jet Black]

I'm not near the photog you are Shane, but I got your back on the Kalalau lookout.

[Jet Black]

I'll post more when I get to a PC. Easily my most favorite place in the world I've been to. Dying to get back, trying to make it happen towards the end of this year.