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Thread: Kauai Info

  1. #1
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    Kauai Info

    Going in Early April . Family Trip so surf time will be limited Staying at a house at Tunnels
    .
    Good Places to surf? Good Food ? Place to rent a nice longboard ?

  2. #2
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    There was a good Kauai thread a year or two ago - I know the search function sucks but if you can find it there's lots of good advice in there.

  3. #3
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    My search turned up a 2006 thread about a guy going over to get married. No surf info. There was a link to an overdue trip report but the pic links are dead

    Thanks though

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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by TEXASS View Post
    Going in Early April . Family Trip so surf time will be limited Staying at a house at Tunnels
    .
    Good Places to surf? Good Food ? Place to rent a nice longboard ?
    Plenty of shops in Hanalei to rent a longboard. Beyond that, the Hanalei/Hanea has changed since last April's flooding. Check the road closure situation and understand that getting in or out of there may be very tough. Ke'e Beach or the trail may not be back yet either. I was there in June and it was local traffic only with a vehicle escort and resident permits from the west side of Hanalei onward. The scars on the sides of the mountains told the rest of the story.

    http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/...d-still-ahead/

    Hopefully the Dolphin is open again, and I loved the sushi burritos from Sushi Girl in Wainiha. The Dolphin was actively working to rebuild, but no idea what happened in Wainiha. Maybe she moved her shop
    I've concluded that DJSapp was never DJSapp, and Not DJSapp is also not DJSapp, so that means he's telling the truth now and he was lying before.

  6. #6
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    Given The Dolphin's location right along the river, I imagine that place got pretty trashed during the floods. But I agree - great spot.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by DJSapp View Post
    Plenty of shops in Hanalei to rent a longboard. Beyond that, the Hanalei/Hanea has changed since last April's flooding. Check the road closure situation and understand that getting in or out of there may be very tough. Ke'e Beach or the trail may not be back yet either. I was there in June and it was local traffic only with a vehicle escort and resident permits from the west side of Hanalei onward. The scars on the sides of the mountains told the rest of the story.

    http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/...d-still-ahead/

    Hopefully the Dolphin is open again, and I loved the sushi burritos from Sushi Girl in Wainiha. The Dolphin was actively working to rebuild, but no idea what happened in Wainiha. Maybe she moved her shop
    If he is staying in a house in front of Tunnels, he will have residence west of Hanalei.

    If there is late season NW, Tunnels is pretty epic, but not on a longboard. Pine Trees for smaller winter days. Beach break in the middle of the bay. Again, not much of a longboard wave. The cove west of the lighthouse can have a longboard wave wrapping into the cove. Anaxxxxxx is kind of a longboard wave. More on the NE side.

    If the Na Pali trail is open, that is am amazing hike. All the way out was one of my all time top five. Gorgeous out there.

  8. #8
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    I do ride a longboard , but not a typical longboarder I know I probably wont be able to find a 9 foot board that rides like what I have ( 9 foot Harbour Turbo banana } but I don't mind beachbreak up to a few feet overhead. I know its not Hawaii but Im very comfortable in Big Black's here in San Diego
    I only shy away if the paddleout becomes impossible .
    Im way past my prime but after 44 years in the water you know where I will be draw to

    Thanks for the info Keep it coming

  9. #9
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    Tunnels is a very hollow right hander. The right longboarder would be fine as it is an open ended wave. Fast and hollow. Even on a shortboard, not a wave I wanted to duck dive.

    Pine Trees is mellower than big Blacks. Zippy for sure when I was there.

    If there is swell, just hit the Bay. Straight out from the pier. Long right gander. Under 6’ it peels into very deep water. Bigger than 6’ the final section begins to close out, and you need to pull off before that or take the long paddle around the inside.

    Middle of the Bay is a left that is basically ledge and deep water. Quick and fat.

    Coco is the west side of the Bay. When winds are kona, it can be awesome. Shallow and sharp.

    Cannons is the left opposite Tunnels. Another great wave w the right winds.

    Majors on the west shore is another great spot but far from you.

    Worth driving up Waimea Canyon w the family as a day trip. About a 2.5 hour drive from you tho.

    South shore is nice but I much prefer the north.

    If there is an early season south, there are a bunch if breaks down there. I’ll ask my buddy for some recs.

  10. #10
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    Thanks Ott Solid Info

  11. #11
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    Could be interesting depending on what kind of early April they have. If combo swell, look east. Also, make sure to hit the fish market. The shave ice in Hanelei is good, and also, obviously, St Regis. Just look out for the red Mexican restaurant in Kealia?

  12. #12
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    ^^^^ isn’t the east shore typically onshore? And fairly stiff at that? I know there are breaks that are tucked and work, but from what I understand it takes a bit of local knowledge to ferry those out. My buddy used to live in Kaapa, and he surfed around there quite a bit instead of driving, but it always sounded like some weirdo wave at some weirdo spot tucked behind some weirdo reef or headland.

    And that is a pretty long drive from Tunnels for a surf. Unless you are needed a day to shop.

    Looks like I might be staying on the south shore last week in June. If the Mrs. gets her way.

  13. #13
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    Re: Waimea Canyon - Try to do that the day you arrive or depart if your flight schedules allow. It will save you a lot of driving around the island, and rush hour through Kapaa is real. It's probably 4-5 hours in the car total from Hanea and back.
    I've concluded that DJSapp was never DJSapp, and Not DJSapp is also not DJSapp, so that means he's telling the truth now and he was lying before.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ottime View Post
    ^^^^ isn’t the east shore typically onshore? And fairly stiff at that...
    And that is a pretty long drive from Tunnels for a surf. Unless you are needed a day to shop...
    That may be very true. I realized after I wrote that I've never been there in April. Haven't seen so much wind there in the Winter, which is the only time I have visited. Can that be avoided with an early surf?

    For some reason, the driving there never bothered me. We drove all over the island every day, never sticking to one side. The only horrific experience I had was when an ex booked us into a B&B that showed the Jesus video(only VHS players in the rooms) and had Bible study at breakfast at 7am. Once they figured out we weren't married, it all went downhill...
    "Yo!! Brentley! Ya wanna get faded before work?"

  15. #15
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    Looks like I'll be on Kauai late June to early July, staying in Poipu. My buddy is in Haena, so we will get up there to visit. I know the north shore fairly well, but seeing what the collective can tell me about the south shore. We know of the obvious big attractions, but any advice on surf spots, food, hang outs, etc. Will be there with the family and friends with families. So kid friendly adventures are the goods.

  16. #16
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    Last trip in June 2018 we poked around oldtown Koloa. Cool spot, a couple art galleries with some local artists and crafts. Got a good pizza at Pizzetta while watching a surf comp. I have heard good things about the Friday night art walk in Hanapepe but I've always stayed on the North side of the island so I haven't made it down there. Waimea town has the origianl JoJo's shave ice shack and Ishihara Market. Ishihara's is a locally owned supermarket with some great fish. Our Nepali kayak tour stopped there on the drive back around the island for snacks and beer and the poke was money.

    If you drive out to Polihale and want to drive on the beach, bring 4wd and an extra 6 pack of beer. When you get stuck, just put the beer on your hood and the local boys will pull you out. If not they'll drive past you. Polihale may not be the best idea either since high school graduation happens in mid June and that's a bit more of a locals spot, and some of the grads may be up to some shenanigans.
    I've concluded that DJSapp was never DJSapp, and Not DJSapp is also not DJSapp, so that means he's telling the truth now and he was lying before.

  17. #17
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    Change of Rental Location . Turns out the one we had is still too damaged to stay in. Now we are going to be at Anini Beach North Shore. Don't know how much I will be traveling around the island but Anini sounds like it catches good surf on the outside reefs. And lots of tiger sharks.......but then again it is a small tropical island in the middle of the pacific so that's no shock

  18. #18
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    Boarding plane now. Will be based near Poipu.

    Any suggestions for food, family activities, hikes etc in the south shore?

    Staying at my friends, but his family has much of regular life and then need to go off island a bit. So lots of free time.

    Surf suggestions welcome as well, but I’m sure he will have all those.

  19. #19
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    Kauai Info

    This time of year, snorkeling and sunset at the end of the road to the north was pretty amazing. Really enjoyed the state park above Waimea canyon. We hit up the high country during a dry spell and during some local festivities. I only bodywhomped when there (of course), at the standard shorebreak beaches. For a while, the main reef break at poipu was firing with some great sessions being enjoyed by an elite few. My family enjoyed the plate lunch place next to the grocery store, the fruit from the farmers markets, and the saimen places. None of those eateries were fancy. We also ate a lot of island raise pork. There are some interesting prehistoric sites on the island. /jealous

  20. #20
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    Tons of waves all over poipu. Lots. Surfed the one in front of the Marriot I think the most because our Air bnb was across the street. 2 minute walk dawn patrol every day. Fun A frame up to head high and seemed to work even when swell was small.

    The best wave on the south shore is pakalas. Long left point. Park on side of highway. Walk through land for ten minutes and get to a perfect point. I cut my back bad on the reef there.

    A shitty wave we tried to surf was Davidson's I think its called in front of a little town before getting to Polihale state park. Empty reefy, beach break looking thing. No one out. Sweet let's surf that. Murky water. Spooky feeling. Find out later there has been a bunch of shark attacks at that break. Avoid that one.

    Polihale looks like on the right angle swell could be super fun beach break. Beauty spot to check out regardless.
    Enjoy!

  21. #21
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    Ha. Last time I was here 15 yrs ago in Nov/Dec Polihale was big, clean and deadly looking.

    Just landed. Stoked. 13 more days of island time.

    Road to Ke’e Beach just reopened as well.

    I think Tunnels beach is the go to snorkel spot in the North. Again, last time I was here, that reef had 6-10’+ wide open barrels. Should be pretty calm in June.

    Gonna check out those eats bodywhomper. We plan to eat in/ cook a lot, so mostly looking to hit up roadside food stands as opposed to proper restaurants.

  22. #22
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    Wife just corrected me. It was over 20 years ago when I was last here.

    Swell forecast looks solid starting Saturday.

  23. #23
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    There’s a good plate lunch place south of the airport in an industrial park that I think is called Mark’s Place or something. Went about seven years ago on a rec from a friend and it was legit. Good, fast, cheap.

  24. #24
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    Hamura Saimin in Lihue is a hallowed old school saimin place. Feels like walking into a time warp. As old school Hawaiian as it gets.

  25. #25
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    ^^that’s the place. When I went there it was like 95* outside and WAY hotter inside. It was awesome!

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