Day 3

Day 3 was supposed to be the day to drive to Waimea Canyon and end up at Keoki%26#39;s. One thing I learned in Kauai is planning is a good thing, but it isn%26#39;t everything. Just give in to the island and go with it. The planning is good for information, then just do with it what you will and don%26#39;t get stressed over it. You really can%26#39;t get stressed in Kauai.

So, we were feeling lazy and didn%26#39;t feel like getting up and making the drive, and we had seen the canyon from above yesterday and decided that was the best view anyway -for lazy people. It was nice to just chill and be lazy, enjoy coffee, juice, and cereal on the balcony after yet another Kauai sunrise. Took time to read and lounge. Let hubby chill by the pool while I checked out the marketplace.

A word about Coconut Marketplace. I had read some rather disparaging remarks about it being dumpy and rundown, so I wasn%26#39;t expecting anything much. Well, I loved it! There were many very nice shops. It might not have been an upscale setting, but this is Kauai! It doesn%26#39;t have to be! Several of the shops were the very same shops in the shopping village at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. Different setting is all.

And I am not a shopper. But these shops had some awfully nice things. Definitely worth a check.

So we decided to check out ';sunny Poipu';. The idea was to swim and maybe snorkle at Lawai and watch the sunset from the Beach House, then go to Keoki%26#39;s to eat. Well, it seems we left the sun on the east coast that day. It was disapointingly cloudy, so we just drove around and saw the area. It felt a little chilly to get in and snorkle, so we just walked on the beach.

I was glad to see Poipu Beach after reading about it though. So we plopped down to sit for a while, didn%26#39;t even bring our beach bags out of the car, when we were just about to leave around 5:00 and out of nowhere the dark clouds magically disappeared and there was the sun shining down on us and beckoning us into the water. It was lovely to swim in the calm waters with the sun beating down on us.

By the time we made our way back to the car and our towels it was time to go find the Beach House to watch the sunset. On the way, we discovered a turnoff on the roadside where we pulled in and watched the great ball of fire disappear into the ocean. Nothing against the Beach House, but that kind of beauty doesn%26#39;t need a ';perfect setting'; to be thoroughly enjoyed.

So, by this time we were still too soggy to go into Keoki%26#39;s, so we decided to head back and shower and just go over to the Hukilau right next door. We got there about 8:30 and were seated right away. I know this place gets great reviews, but I was still surprised by how nice it was! We had top-notch food and top-notch service. No ocean or mountain view, but still a very lovely setting. I highly recommend the special chocolate dessert. Yum! Another great but unplanned ending to another great but unplanned Kauai day.

Wanted to walk over and check out Trees Lounge, but again, too pooped!

Day 3

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

The Coconut Marketplace is scheduled to start their big renovation this March - I%26#39;ve seen the master plan and it is gorgeous! Not too over-the-top, but just right for Kaua%26#39;i.

There will be stores open during the renovation, but once it is complete - it will be a truly lovely marketplace - not that the old one was not - just a little run-down -- our movie theatre there for instance has not had air conditioning since sometime in the middle of last summer -- try that on a hot day! We%26#39;re such movie nuts we%26#39;ve been going heat and all!

Malama Pono,

Janet

Day 3

my goodness, Janet, I didn%26#39;t even notice a movie theatre there! Where did I forget to look?

I belive the theatre is at the south east corner of the Coconut Marketplace, a shopping center I enjoyed when staying nearby at the Kauai Coast Resort.

Mahalo for your trip report, and the emphasis on not trying to stick to a pre-planned schedule but just going with the island flow. And I second the ';thumbs up'; on the Hukilau Lanai restaurants good food %26amp; service, And their delicious ';hot lava'; chocolate cake!