Pali Ke Kua Resort, Luxury Oceanfront Condo Rental Top Floor 2 bedroom - 2 bath,  Pali Ke Kua, Princeville, Kauai Kauai Vacation Rental Accommodation by Owner, Pali Ke Kua Best Rate

TOP TEN ACTIVITY LIST

This list compiles the best activities for someone planning a seven day trip to the North Shore of Kauai.  These are our personal recommendations based on what we enjoy doing.  We will continue to update our list as more become available. 

Hard Work Often Pays Off After Time, But Kauai Vacations Always Pay Off Now

1.	Visit the Na Pali Coast "Jewel of the Island":

The Most Exciting and Eco-Friendly Tours:
Click To Enlarge	Kayaking the Na Pali Coast:  This is a memorable trip to sea caves, to watch bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, exotic fishes, and seabirds. The 12 hour trip starts at Hanalei and ends at Barking Sand beach on the South Shore. It is not physically too challenging since you are kayaking with the wind and a van will pick you up on the return at Barking Sands. A must see! Once experienced - Never forgotten. Reserve in advance with Kayak Kauai (800) 437-3507. Must be 14 years or older.
Click To Enlarge	Powered Hang Glider:  Experience of a lifetime and much better than a helicopter ride!  The glider is colorful, quiet and can go down much closer to the coastline and cliff than a helicopter can.  Contact Bird in Paradise (808) 822-5309.  The glider is piloted by Gerry Charlebois an internationally known professional hang glider.
The Most Exciting, Fun but Not So Eco-Friendly Tours:
Click to Enlarge	By Boat:  Because of the past abuse, only a handful of companies are now allowed to operate the trip to the Na Pali coast from Hanalei Bay.  Contact Na Pali Catamaran (808) 826-6853 or Na Pali Eco-Adventure (808) 826-6804.
	By Helicopter:  Best ride is with Inter-Island (808) 335-5009.  The most unique helicopter trip without doors with landing at an otherwise inaccessible waterfall.

2.	Hiking the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach:

The ultimate 4 mile hike in all Hawaii with spectacular razor sharp cliffs and coastline.  The Kalalau trail was carved out by ancient Hawaiians and was used for trading in the winter when high surf prevents the use of canoes.  Drive to Ke'e Beach and park your car.  The trail head is left of the beach.  At the beginning of the trail, there is a little hut with visitor information and a map of the trail.  Just above the beach is the Allerton House where the television mini series "The Thornbirds" was filmed.

3.	Kayak The Wailua River:

Explore the tropical forest to the "unknown Waterfall" and have the best massage under the pounding water of the waterfall.

4.	Best Beach for Snorkeling on the North Shore:

Click to Enlarge	Makua "Tunnels" Beach:   Easy access with dramatic underwater topography, great variety of tropical fishes, lots of turtles, lava tubes, caves, and nice underwater reef.
Click to Enlarge	Kee' Beach:  The only beach on the North Shore that you can snorkel closely to the turtles due to shallow water space between massive coral reef and the surface (2 feet).  It is hard to swim beyond the reef to follow the turtles feeding route but you will be greatly rewarded when encountering a school of giant turtles.  Please do not walk or stand on the reef to avoid coral damage.
Click to Enlarge	Secluded HideAways Beach:   Access to the beach is available only for guests of Pali Ke Kua using private resort concrete path.  The beach offers excellent summer snorkeling with marvelous coarse sand, diverse colorful tropical fishes, and turtles. Large Kaman trees offers plenty shade for reading or meditation.

5.	Visit the spectacular Kilauea Falls:

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Kilauea Waterfall: The movie Six Days and Seven Nights starring Harrison Ford was filmed at this stunning waterfall.

6.	Best Beach for Walking - Secret Beach:

Miles of stunningly beautiful beach accessible via a 15 minute hike only.  Best view of Kilauea coastline and lighthouse.  A place to forget all your worries!

7.	Best Sunset:

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How to watch the sunset:  Catch the magical moment of the Green Flash, feel renovated or totally fall in love: Have a couple of Mai Tais with you and avoid looking directly at the sun as it begins to sink into the water.  The sun will be dripping into the ocean like a large drop of bright yellow egg yoke; when the yoke is about to sink below the horizon, a vivid flash of green is often seen like an electric spark on a clear day with little or no clouds on the horizon. It is not some giant flash that would catch your eye even if you were not looking but a green flash within split seconds.  If you aren't successful in seeing the real Green Flash, try the Mai Tai approach. You will certainly be bam, bam, happy, happy, happy. For a scientific explanation of this phenomena please visit: http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF. Tunnels Beach - A serene setting with the Bali Hai mountain as backdrop.  The best place to watch for the immortal Kauai sunset.   Kee' Beach - Spectacular sunset with view of Na Pali Coast. Deck of Pali Ke Kua Resort - Half way down the concrete path to HideAways Beach the concrete deck is a great place to watch the sunset. Princeville Hotel Deck offers a romantic setting if you prefer being served great drinks and appetizers while enjoying the sunset. Dolphin Watch and Sunset Sail (2 hours):  Blue Water Sailing (808) 822-0525.

8.	Local Trip to Farmer's Market:

If you a looking for fresh organic fruits and vegetables, there are two Farmer's Markets on the North Shore:  a) Kilauea: Thursday 4 PM and Saturday 8 AM at Keneke Rd.  b) Outskirts of Hanalei: Tuesday and Saturday 2 PM.  Recommended local tropical fruits to try: Hybrid white pineapple named "sugarloaf" or "Sugar Baby" (very low in acid and very sweet, a must), Jack fruit (delicious and tasty when eat ripe and cold but the smell of fully ripe fruit may be unpleasant to some), mangosteen (heavenly sweet), sapodilla (sweetest of the sweet fruit, eat ripe or drink as energy booster smoothie), sugar apple (or sweetsop, uncommonly sweet and very tasty when eat ripe), guanabana (sweet and sour taste, great as revitalizing smoothie with a little bit of condensed milk added).

9.	Art Night in Hanapepe on the West Side:

Live Hula show, Hawaiian music and artist on hand.

10.	Seafood All You Can Eat Buffet at the Princeville Hotel:

Great food (barbecue, sushi, etc.) and great desserts.  Reservations required and only on Friday nights.

11.	The Ultimate Robert Trent Jones Jr. Kauai Golf Challenge:

Play the best 3 golf courses in Hawaii.  The Prince, Rated Number 1 in the State of Hawaii; Poipu Bay Resort, home of the Grand Slam; and the famous Kauai Lagoons Mokihana course.

12.	Become a Certified PADI Scuba Diver in 3-4 Days:

Ocean Quest, run by a local couple Nemo and Jeanette, great folks (808) 822-3589.

 

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