This video includes everything but the actual wedding. That will be in a separate post.
We arrived on Thursday and spent the day lounging at our hotel in Lihue, we stayed at the Marriott Suites, which is only a mile or so from the airport. While the rooms were small (though we are sure they have larger because it is a vacation club) the swimming pool was huge and very well done. The entire resort was massive, beautiful and very well done.
Kaua’i Marriott Resort
Kalapaki Beach, 3610 Rice Street · Lihue – Kauai, Hawaii 96766 USA
We found a great deal on a rental car on Priceline.com for about $150 for the entire week (an SUV). We used it to tour the island.
On Friday we met the rest of the wedding party near Poipu beach and followed them up to Wailua river to take a river cruise to the beautiful fern grotto. After which we went to the best luau we have been to. The setting was at a large botanical garden where you are first taken on a tour of the gardens, then dropped off at a huge pavilion where you eat. The food was great as was the entertainment. The actual Luau happened after the feast at a large stage area set over a lake. The singing, dancing and special effects were very well done.
http://adventureinhawaii.com/kauai_luaus.htm?gclid=COGaxO7lpLICFWXhQgodfHEAVQ
On Saturday we hopped in the car and took a trip up to the north side of the island. There is one major road that runs around most of the island, but it does not go across the northwest side due to large cliffs and canyons. Heading to the north we highly recommend stopping at the bird sanctuary ($5 a person), while the birds are beautiful, the scenery and the lighthouse stole the show. There are many beautiful beaches along the way, some are a little bit of a hike and some are right off the road. At the end of the road is the most famous of all the Kauai beaches, Ke’e beach (parking can be scarce at times). This is also the trailhead for one of the most beautiful hikes in the US, but it is almost 11 miles long and it is not recommended to try to do the entire trail in a day.
Sunday was the wedding at Shipwreck beach – See other post with the video.
On Monday we went around the south of the island and up through the center. Rd # 550 and 552 will take you up through the center of the island to Waimea Canyon (Hawaii’s grand canyon) which is well worth the visit. From there you can continue on to the end of the road which is on the top of the mountains on the north side, another view that is well worth the visit. Also worth seeing on the south side of the island is the Spouting Horn, Kauai coffee plantation and if you have kids visit Hanapepe the home of Lilo and Stitch. Of course there are many beautiful beaches on the south side of the island as well, but most of them are on the SouthEast Side. If you drive past Hyatt resort and past the horse riding stables there is a dirt road (with lots of large pot holes) if you continue down this road you will come to a couple of very nice beaches and this is typically where you can also find windsurfers.
The rest of the time we did what most people come to Hawaii to do, relax on a beach.