Guest Post - Jenn's tips for a fun trip to Kauai

[Editor's note: Jenn sends this email to guests of Poipu Sands 124 with her tips for a fun time on the island. I thought I'd share it with everyone]

Hey there! Costco and Wal-Mart both are great for souvenirs for the kiddos and anyone else you want to bring stuff back for. We tend to avoid places like the ABC store and also go get some really fun stuff at the "schlock sellers" at Spouting horn, which is where I have gotten cool kind of funky jewelry from year after year. I also love to shop at Old Koloa Town, which is right near the condo and there is a new shopping center also near the condo called Kukui'ula Village and they have some cool shops as well as a new food co-op. oh, there is also great cool artsy fartsy stuff in Hanalei up on the north shore.

SO, for Sunshine Markets, here is the link: http://www.kauai.gov/default.aspx?tabid=214 to the list of the official Sunshine Markets - which have to follow very specific protocol - all items sold must be local and from the earth - no packaged things, just food and flowers. They also are on a different day and time all over the island and you can't exchange money until the start time - there is usually a horn. Locals tend to get there early and start to bundle up their stuff, so just have an easy going attitude and get what you get. We have never had a problem getting what we want. We tend to strategize (shocking, I know) and hit a few in a week's trip. We also get really ripe stuff and some greener stuff that will sun ripen out on the lanai. There are also some other markets that aren't official sunshine markets, but are GREAT as well, they have the produce and flowers as well as some locally produced coffees, cheeses, baked good, granola, etc. Our favorite is on Saturdays from 10-1 at Kauai Community College, which is over by Costco - about 20 minutes from the condo. The best coffee you will ever drink is sold there - Moloa'a Bay Coffee...amazing...also, the best goat's milk cheeses you will ever have - Kunana Dairy. Incredible. Alan's website has some great links that could also help you find things that you want to do: http://www.poipusands124.com/KauaiLinks.htm.

You are not making it up about the beef from the Chevron station. It is in Princeville and it is the best beef! Locally raised beef from Princeville ranch, grass fed, organic. It's pricey, but worth it for a nice meal. Get some Kauai purple sweet potatoes and mash them with a touch of ginger and soy sauce and marinate the beef in soy sauce, citrus, ginger, garlic, onions...it's amazing. There are gas grills by the pool.

Booze: it depends on how much you are going to want to drink. A and I tend to get the giant $16 bottle of Malibu from Costco and what we don't drink we put away for the next trip, but we are able to do that and you may have to waste some. You can get it at Costco or any grocery store, so don't sweat it. We usually just get the Malibu since it is perfect for any tropical blended drink. We also use the "Aloha" canned "juice" for mixers - it's sugar water and is at all the grocery stores and walmart. We also use the Costco pineapple for blended drinks and the sunshine market ones for just eating. :)

Luaus: http://www.summitpacificinc.com/kauai-luau.html this is the link to the different options for luaus. I have been to three of them: Hyatt, Smith's and Luau Kalamaku. I have very strong opinions...so...here goes. Smith's: great show, but we didn't have dinner there, we just did the $15 show so I have no idea how the food is. The show was really great, very traditional and lots of dancing from all the different Polynesian cultures and what has inspired Hawaiian culture. I have heard the food is good and the grounds are beautiful, if a bit Disney-ish though. Lu'au Kalamaku - we went to this one on our trip in November and it is the one that I would go back to. The food was AMAZING and the drinks were strong and lots of options (Kona Longboard beer as well as Mai Tai, Bahamama Mama, Pina Colada, Blue Hawaiian, Beach Bums and more). The food was truly fantastic for that type of a venue, in terms of the number of people, etc. Also, if you book online there are often deals - we got a free 8x10 photo which was really cute, they also give every woman a fresh flower lei and every man a shell necklace. The prices on the link above are outdated, so be sure to go to the actual link for that luau. You can also wait and try to get a twofer deal, but that will entail sitting through a timeshare....we do it from time to time. The show at this luau is not the "traditional" luau show, it is far more theatrical, it is like watching a musical. I loved it, but if you are looking for traditional, you might be happier at Smith's. The Hyatt: don't go. Don't do it. It rained and we had to have it in their ballroom and it was A W F U L. The food wasn't even that great. It was appealing because of its proximity in that we can walk home, but it wasn't worth it by a mile. I have also heard good things about the Sheraton, which is on the beach and is a longer walk, but you could walk home whereas the other two I recommend you would have to drive. You have a lot of options and there are pros and cons to all, but no matter what, as long as you avoid the Hyatt, you will be fine. :) Watch the weather and decide on a couple of night options and then decide if you want. You can't go wrong with Smith's or the other in terms of weather, they are outdoors, but covered. You will drop over $200 for both of you, but it is fun.

Snorkeling: we don’t snorkel, but you can do it a lot of places - one being Poipu beach, which is an easy walk from the condo and you just throw on the fins and the mask and go. There is a rental place across the street from the beach. There is a section in the Ultimate Kauai book that covers this. The instructions are also great in terms of directing you where you are going since a lot of the beaches require some fancy footwork to get to. :) most of the really amazingly beautiful beaches are a teeny bit of a hike, but nothing anyone in ok shape can't handle.

There are a lot of boat rides that include snorkeling, those are fun and almost always a twofer with a 90 minute timeshare presentation. Go to the activities shack in Koloa Town and see if you want to fit the timeshare into your schedule. We ended up with a great 5 hour Na Pali coast boat ride for $45 for both of us after the twofer and the coupon. It's not always worth it, it depends on how much time you want to dedicate to being stuck in a timeshare presentation. Let me tell you how fun it is with Alan who also happens to read all the local news and knows all about all the timeshares and pending lawsuits and stuff like that...he also sets his cell phone alarm to go off at exactly 90 minutes and then is ready to go. It's rad. :)