Grand Hyatt
After a long day of sightseeing and hiking yesterday, we decided to take it easy today. We took our time getting ready, and then ventured down the street to check out the Grand Hyatt Kauai and have brunch at their buffet.
Indoor seating with a large open and outdoor patio area
Stairs leading down to the restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Kauai
We did not have reservations, but we managed to luck out! Our incredible view of the pond and beach at Ilima Terrace.
Not a bad seat in the house! Lots of options for sitting to admire the view or catch up on a good book.
Trail leading down to the swimming areas
Tidepools is an award-winning restaurant with romantic bungalows and koi ponds
Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is one that is easily accessible by car and has a nearby parking lot, no hiking necessary. It is located near Lihu'e off of Highway 56.
Opaeka'a Falls
Opaeka'a means "rolling shrimp." It is located on the eastern side of the island in Wailua. Opaeka'a Falls is easy to get to in terms of no hiking involved and there's a large parking lot with restrooms available.
Maunakapu and Wailua River
If you walk right across the street from Opaeka'a Falls, you'll stumble upon this fantastic view of the mountain ridges of Maunakapu and the Wailua River. If you arrive before dawn, you may come across a beautiful sunrise.
Kilauea Point Lighthouse
The Kilauea Lighthouse opened in 1913 and it is located in the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Make sure to check what day you visit since the Lighthouse is closed to visitors on Sundays and Mondays. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful sight to behold, even from afar.
Wailua Shave Ice
Hawaii is known for it's shave ice and this place does not disappoint. Wailua Shave Ice uses fresh fruit. So, you won't find the overly sweet syrups or artificial flavors here. This place was a bit out of our way, but we managed to visit a couple of times and tried several flavors.
Dragonfruit with pineapple topping
We also tried the Lava Flow and Kauai Orange Dream. I'd recommend all of them, you can't go wrong.
Puka Dog
If you're in the Poipu area, you should definitely check out Puka Dog for their Hawaiian-style hot dogs. They were named by the Travel Channel as one of the Top Ten Hot Dog Stands in America.
There are a lot of different options for relishes, but feel free to ask for a sample. The Lilikoi's Hawaiian Mustard is delicious and sold in local stores so you can take some back home with you.
What makes these hot dogs so unique is that the inside of the bun is hollowed-out and toasted. Therefore, you don't have the problem of everything falling out of the sides.
