We’ve been here a few times and I’m looking forward to going back again. The first time it was raining and we were seated in the main room. A husband was singing and playing songs on the guitar while his wife was dancing the hula. It sounds odd but it was very sweet and the pouring rain added to the ambience. The second time we came on a busy night and were hoping for the same sort of time but instead sat on the back porch. Bugs and the lack of ambience conspired to make it not as great a time. Lesson: hold out for the main room.

Kauai has gone to great lengths to protect their island after that storm a few years back.

Great kayak and paddle tours.

Great hike, you'll probably want to take the shuttle to this location early in the day. We did the 2-mile hike to Secret beach, hung out and ate a packed lunch, hiked back for a total of 4 steep but gorgeous miles and celebrated with a swim at Ke'e Beach at the end of the trail.

We didn't make it to this one this year but we hope to go back to Waimea Canyon on our next trip. People call it the Grand Canyon of Hawaii.

Even if you don't stay here, go have dinner or a drink at the bar around sunset for one of the best views on the island.