Kauai Properties Blog

Planning your Kauai wedding romance and beauty are key to any wedding, and Kauai is both romantic and beautiful — the perfect place for a Hawaiian Islands wedding setting, be it on a beach or at a church, chapel, tropical garden or private venue.  Kauai not only offers you the perfect spot for you’re to say your vows, it also makes for a perfect wedding location as everything you need for a wedding is on hand:

• Local Kauai wedding planners
• Local musicians and DJs
• Local photographers with an abundance of settings to choose from
• Vacation rentals to suit all budgets
• Vacation rentals capable of accommodating your entire guest list
• Vacation rentals with reception and catering facilities onsite
• Reception and catering options to suit your taste
• Fresh local flowers and florists
• Vacation rentals with special wedding packages
• Honeymoon options galore

Accommodate your wedding guests at a Kauai vacation rental property

With a variety of Kauai vacation rentals to choose from you will be sure to find a Kauai vacation spot to suit your guest list size. There are Kauai vacation rentals that can accommodate a large wedding party, with room for all the extended family to stay in the one vacation spot on the island. If you opt for more of a small and intimate affair, you will be sure to find the perfect Kauai vacation rental that will add to the splendor of your special day.

There are even accommodation rentals on Kauai that have special wedding packages to take care of everything for you, leaving you free to enjoy the beautiful vacation spot that is Kauai.  So whether you are paying for your guests’ Kauai rental properties or you are leaving it to your guests to find their own, there are plenty of vacation rental properties to choose from. Browse Kauai Vacation Rental properties.

The perfect Beach Wedding Location

Tying the knot on a beach is very popular, and Kauai offers some truly magical beach locations:

• Tunnels Beach with its crystal clear waters and white sands set against the majestic mountain backdrop.
• Shipwreaks Beach is perfect for couples looking for something a bit unique. This wild coastline is names after a wooden shipwreck that is now long gone.
• Secret Beach: Also known as Kauapea and offers one of the most pristine stretches of beach on Kauai.

Discover more beaches on the island.  Whatever beach you choose you’ll be sure to find the perfect Kauai rental property nearby.
Important Note: If you choose a beach wedding, there is a small fee for a Hawaii state beach permit. The cost of the permit depends on the size of your group. Get more information on Beach Permits for your Kauai Wedding.

Honeymoon on Kauai

The great thing about having your wedding on Kauai is that you are already at the perfect honeymoon destination.  Choose a romantic honeymoon suite from one of the many Kauai vacation rental properties on the island for your first night in married bliss.

And when you awaken the next morning  you will have a foray of exciting island activities to share as a brand new Mr. and Mrs. Explore the many miles of breathtaking scenery with hiking trails around the island, or there is a host of water activities for all skill levels, and horseback riding in Kauai is among the best ways to enjoy the Garden Island’s scenic trails along the coast.

Whatever you decide to do on your honeymoon, Kauai is truly a special place that will create fond memories to last a life time.

Other important links for having a wedding on Kauai:

• Hawaii marriage license information
• Hawaii civil union information

Aloha!

Are you searching for a place to spend your vacation in 2013? Consider Kauai — a breathtaking paradise. The island is not only one of the most scenic places on the planet, but it also offers the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities. These activities will also influence the ideal type and location of your Kauai vacation rentals. Here are some of the most popular activities for visitors to the island:

Canoeing
This is one of the most popular passtimes on the island. This activity is suitable for the adventurous as well as the not-so-adventurous. Those looking to enjoy a holiday full of canoeing should search for Kauai rentals along the Wailua River. You can choose to go canoeing on the rough waters or opt for a slow river cruise tour to see some of the most marvellous parts of Kauai.

Beaches
Kauai is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches. There are various scenic beaches to visit and many activities to take part in including swimming, snorkeling, surfing, sun bathing, and beach volleyball. Many tourists choose Kauai vacation rentals that are along the beaches to enjoy the warm sand and cool ocean waters every day while on vacation.

Luau
One of the best things about travelling on holiday to a new place is being able to explore a new culture. Kauai vacations give you the opportunity to explore the local culture through a Luau. This is a fun activity that includes dancing, music and dinner. It is a trademark of dining in Hawaii. You cannot claim to have enjoyed Hawaiian culture without experiencing a Luau!

Helicopter tours
Kauai is just as breathtaking from the air as it is from the ground. Helicopter tours of Kauai are not limited to viewing the island. You will also get to view the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and other neighboring islands. Ensure that you carry a camera to capture the breathtaking scenes you will encounter.

Hiking
There are several trails all over the island that you can explore. Hiking will give you the opportunity to get in touch with nature. There are trails for the adventurous and trails for those who simply want to go sightseeing. This is a great way to tour and keep fit!

Golf
If you love playing golf, take the time to visit some of the golf courses in Kauai. The island is known to have some of the most scenic golf courses, such as the Paukea Golf Course. Players from all over the world are drawn to these courses throughout the year.

Whatever activities you choose, ensure that you choose the right Kauai vacation rentals. Begin your search now, or contact us if you have any questions.

Coming up this weekend is the 16th Annual Kaua`i Coconut Festival at the Kapa`a Beach Park.  This 2 day event is filled with food (made with coconuts of course) and other ono-licious offerings.  Located at the Kapa’a Beach Park on the ocean, this beautiful setting is perfect for this event.  Crafts, music and food!  Entry is FREE so be sure to stop in! 

First Saturday Kapa’a Town Walk is every first Saturday of the month.  Browse through the many boutiques, restaurants, art galleries in Kapa’a town. 

Happy Hula wahine

Next weekend (October 13th)  is the E`o Emmalani Festival held up at Koke`e State Park.  This commerative event is a reenactment of Queen Emma’s journey made in 1871  coming down into the meadows.  There will be hula, Hawaiian music, crafts and food.  Visit the Koke`e Museum while up in Koke`e or take a drive up to the Kalalau Valley Lookout.  This event is also FREE!  Queen Emma with her entourage rides down to the meadow on horseback at 12 noon.  Music and dancing all day beginning at 10am.Commerative T shirts will be sold.  For more information call Michelle Hookano at 808 335-9975.

Kauai – “the Island of Discovery” – happens to be the most ancient main island in Hawaii according to the geological timescale. Kauai, like all the other scenic Hawaiian main islands, is a treat for the eyes and other senses with its verdant greenery, vast chasms of the Waimea Canyon and the precipitous drop off the Napali Coastal range. Kauai has something for everybody from sun kissed golden beaches to surfing waters, snorkeling, history, art, culture, adventure and sightseeing.

Kauai Treats

First on your list should be Napali Coast – a gorgeous mountain range hugging the sea beaches. You can access its magnificence only through a helicopter tour or sea tour or by hiking.

Another must visit is the Waimea canyon towards the western corner of Kauai. It has earned the sobriquet ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’.

If you’re interested in visiting art galleries, taro farms and piers, you should hit Hanalei Town – a charming little coastal town overlooking the pretty Hanalei bay. It is the best place to capture the timeless beauty of sunsets in the sea and has some of the most fabulous beaches in Hawaii. It’s also the perfect place for shopaholics.

Another charming historic plantation town nestled in south Kauai is the old Koloa Town, famed for its arts, culture, dining and shopping destinations.

Your trip will not be complete if you miss out on Hanapepe Town – the art capital and the biggest little town of Kauai.

Kauai is dotted with thundering, cascading primeval waterfalls, but not all of them are accessible. Opaekaa Falls is an accessible major waterfall, which you can admire from the roadside.

To get an amazing view of the surrounding wildlife refuge and lush greenery, you must climb up to the viewpoint atop Kilauea Lighthouse, situated on the northernmost tip of Kauai.

Kauai’s exotic beauty and lush tropical rainforests have inspired countless Hollywood movie productions to shoot their blockbusters in this scenic place. The most notable film, which was shot in Nawiliwili Harbor and Napali Coast, was Jurassic Park: The Lost World.

Some other celebrated blockbusters shot nearby are Jurassic Park, George of the Jungle, Honeymoon in Vegas, King Kong and Six Days/Seven Nights. The best way to see or visit these film locations is to take a chartered movie tour through the scenic hotspots of Kauai.

Beach, Beaches, Beaches

Hawaii is known for its sun, sand and surf. The nearly circular shape of Kauai has made it possible for this island to be dotted with innumerable picture postcard beaches.

Some of the more popular and celebrated beaches are Polihale, Kekaha beach, Salt Pond, Prince Kuhio, Poipu beach park, shipwrecks, Maha’ulepu, Kalapaki, Lydgate, Wailua, Kealia, Kauapea, Anini, Hanalei Bay, Lumaha’I, Makua, Ke’e and, of course, Napali coast.

Most of the beautiful beaches are to the north and west and they are Polihale, Napali, Ke’e, Makua, Kaupea and Hanalei bay. Maha’ulepu to the south east is also stunning. But, be aware, not all of these beaches have lifeguards and facilities.

Hawaii is always synonymous with relaxing on the beach, beautiful spas and beach shirts of every imaginable material and color. What most of us miss out is that Hawaii is volcanic, fertile, and immensely gifted in natural beauty.

And wherever nature has bestowed her goodness to the fullest, it has been a breeding ground for fresh creativity for the artistically gifted. To be sure, Kauai has had its fair share of inspiring works of art to become a very popular destination for art enthusiasts.

The Garden Island

Even a very suggestive nickname like ‘The Garden Island’ fails to properly put up the breathtaking beauty Kauai can put forth! No wonder that over the years the place has steadily produced a rich culture of arts and natural history.

From paintings, to art sculptures, to wood carvings, whatever your ‘inner art’ desires, chances are you will find it here! The landscape is a potent mixture of mountains and sea, and the foreplay of colors only add to the trance that enlightens all who seek artistic ‘Nirvana’.

Now for Some Geography

On the west side of Kauai there are the timeless galleries of Hanapepe Town. It is the undisputed art central of Kauai, with its well-stocked collections that come alive every Friday at Art night, Kauai style! It is a time when everyone celebrates art, and the doors are opened for everyone to drench in the magnificence.

Every Friday, Hanapepe is THE place to be! Well, partying is an integral part of Hawaii, and no matter the occasion, if Hawaii has happiness, it’s time to celebrate!

All over Kauai Island, there are numerous signs of the rich culture that flows through the veins of this island. Over to the north and North Shore roadsides, Hanalei Town specializes in handcrafted gift items and arts for sale.

To the east, we have Kapaa, another great place for those art escapades! What is unique about Kauai is the simple fact that although art shops and museums are somewhat localized, small art shacks are more common than houses where people actually live.

If you wish to study the art history of Kauai and adjacent Niihau, there are very few places better than Kauai Museum at Lihue. If you wish to get a memento for your unforgettable experience at Kauai, the museum has a very comprehensive gift shop that caters to all who walk through its doors. Of course, you can always pick up a rock from the mountains or something, but good luck giving those to the ones waiting back home.

The south shore is home to a bunch of other comprehensive galleries that showcase art and handicrafts and jewelry unique to Kauai only.

Kauai, Where Art is Religion

What is best about Kauai is the way it embraces everyone with an open arm, whoever you are, from wherever you are. If it is art that you love, Kauai will take you in her lap. Everyone is welcomed here, and it is a sumptuous buffet to suffice even the biggest cravings of art-fixations!

If you’re going to be vacationing in Maui in June, you should gets tickets to Recalling Hawaii. The multi-media chronicle awakens the past, the now and the future of Hawaii with oli, mele and hula.

The spectacle features a cast of more than 50 dancers, musicians and singers from Hawaii California and Europe — including our very own Sue Maruyama-Strickland. Sue was born and raised in Honolulu, and started dancing shortly after moving to Kauai in 1974.

The program, which was first presented by special  invitation in Heidelberg, Germany and Basel, Switzerland, and was performed to a sold-out Maui Community College Performing Arts Center last year, is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

Here are the details, so you can make your next Hawaii vacation extra special!

RECALLING HAWAII

June 2, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
MACC Castle Theatre

Advance tickets
$25 Adults  $15 keiki under 12

Day of show
$30 Adults   $20 keiki under 12

Tickets are all general admission and are available at MACC Box office 242-SHOW (7469) www.MauiArts.org.

Planning to embark on Lihue Airport soon? Lihue Airport is the primary airport on the beautiful Island of Kauai. It occupies 872 acres about 1.5 miles east of Lihue, on the southeast coast of the island of Kauai. The airport provides passenger and aircraft facilities for domestic overseas airlines, interisland airlines, commuter and air taxi, air cargo and general aviation activities.

So chances are you’ll pass through Lihue Airport if you want to enjoy Kauai’s lovely beaches, activities and culture!

Shopping and Eating
Several nice shopping and dining options are available at Lihue Airport. They are located in the Main Lobby area after passing through security, and the hours of operation are based on flight schedules.

Parking
Public parking is available, with entry off of Mokulele Loop. Automatic ticket dispensers issue parking tickets at the entrance to the parking area. You simply present the ticket to the cashier as you exit. To help things go smooth, have your ticket, cash or credit card ready. For parking assistance, you can call the AMPCO parking office at (808) 245-8716.

Directions
Heading back to the airport? Here are some quick, handy directions:

From Wailua
Take Kuhio Highway south. At junction with Kapule Highway, stay left on Kapule.  Turn left at Ahukini Road into the airport.

From Lihue
Take Ahukini Road into the airport.

From Poipu
Take Poipu Road north. Turn left on Koloa Road. Turn right on Kamualii Highway.  Turn right on Ahukini Road into the airport.

Here’s a map of Lihue Airport.

Finally, if you’d like to contact the folks at Lihue Airport or the Kauai Airport District:

Lihue Airport
3901 Mokulele Loop
Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 274-3800

airkauai@hawaii.gov

Of course, if you need help with Kauai vacation rentals, you can always contact us. Aloha!

Every year “snowbirds” come to visit Kaua`i and plan their stay during the “E Kanikapila Kakou” series of Hawaiian music concerts.  This is a 12 week program where you can learn a song with your guitar or ukulele and also learn a hula from a “kumu” or teacher of hula dancing.

This years performers include:  Brother Nolan, Kaukahi, Sister Robi, Troy Lazaro and friends and more.  The final performance is on March 7th featuring Nathan Aweau and Jeff Peterson.   The opening performance  is on January 29th featuring Dennis Kamakahi & Stephen Inglis.  Tickets for this performance only is $20 in advance, $30 at the door. All other performances are by donation only. 

For more information about this wonderful program visit

http://www.kauaifestivals.com/festivals/e_kanikapila_kakou_2012_legacy_of_hawaiian_music.html

Support Hawaiin music, culture and the hula!  Hope to see you there!

If you’re looking to add extra excitement to your next Kauai vacation, check out these fun experiences that await you at this fine Hawaiian island!

Kalo Festival — Dec. 9, 10, 11

The Kalo Festival is back to celebrate everything kalo! Saturday Ho`olaule`a will feature hands-on workshops, educational presentations, biggest kalo contest, a cooking compeition, lo`i tours, and a keiki kalo art contest. Entertainment will include live music and presentations throughout the day. Get more info about the Kalo Festival.

Kauai Christmas Hula Concert — Dec. 18

Kumu Hula Leilani Rivera Low and Halau Hula o Leilani invite everyone to celebrate the holidays Hawaiian style with lovely music, hula, Maori and Tahitian dances. Watch more than 75 keiki and adult dancers dressed in colorful costumes and lei dance to lively Hawaiian Christmas songs and vibrant Tahitian drums. Learn more about the Kauai Christmas Hula Concert.

Waimea Christmas Parade — Dec. 19

Waimea Town gets decked-out with festive cheer! Join the annual parade, which starts at 6:00 p.m. Come early to enjoy the refreshments and entertainment. After parade festivities include live, on-stage free music at Hofgaard Park, with free beverages, baked goods and tasty treats. Get more details about the Waimea Christmas Parade.

Fireworks at Poipu Beach — Dec. 31

Time to bring in the New Year! Enjoy an aerial fireworks display in the early evening at Poipu Beach Park. The event is free, and promises to be a fun Kauai night! For more information, visit the Poipu Beach website.

Of course, if you require Kauai vacation rentals, feel free to contact us!

Sue Maruyama-Strickland, far right, and her hula sisters.

Recalling Hawaii, presented in Germany and Switzerland in 2010 under the creative direction of Roselle Keliihonipua Bailey, is set to hit the stage on May 28 at KCC Performing Arts Center. It promises to be a magical night, and will feature our very own Sue Maruyama-Strickland.

The program is being presented by Ka `Imi Na`auao O Hawai`i Nei Institute, which was established in 1976 by Kumu Hula Roselle Keli`ihonipua Bailey of Maui, “to search for the truth of the Hawaiian culture; to restore the Hawaiian culture to its original dignity; to educate the populace for its understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of the medicine, art, language, crafts, philosophy and religion of the Hawaiian people…”

Born and raised in Honolulu, Sue started dancing shortly after moving to Kauai in 1974. While taking breaks to raise three children, she returned to her love of hula with her oldest daughter Kanani who started dancing at age 4 under the tutelage of Puamohala Kaholokula. Both Sue and Puamohala are former students of Roselle.

While Sue keeps busy helping people find the right Kauai vacation rentals, she always makes time for enlightening celebrations. She stated: “It’s a lot of fun learning and appreciating the Hawaiian culture!”

Join Sue, her family and others at Recalling Hawaii!