Kauai will forever hold a special place in my heart after this trip. It was a first for both Charlie and I, and we already can’t wait to go back. Princeville is packed with greenery, beautiful hikes and serene beaches. However, due to the winter weather and honeymoon state of mind, Charlie and I really stuck to a leisurely vacation. Charlie went surfing in the rain one afternoon and had a blast, but I had to sit it out due to a bug bite on my leg that took over my entire thigh. Tip- pack bug spray! After that, we loaded up on deet and organic sprays. I did the whole shabang.
We ate and drank everything, did yoga every morning and relaxed on the beach. Princeville is less touristy than the south and is home to some delicious food. Here are some of our top recommendations.
Hanalei Bread Company: Adorable breakfast and coffee shop. Everything here is amazing, they also have some gluten free options for their baked goodies. This place is a must.
Bar Acuda: Another dinner must. They’re known for tapas, bar + wine; all Southern European and Mediterranean inspired. It’s a casual, lively and welcoming atmosphere with indoor and patio seating.
The Dolphin Restaurant: A highly recommended fish house. We didn’t eat at the restaurant, but they have a poke house in the back where you can get fresh to-go items along with a wall of local sauces. If you know me, you know I love my sauces, so this hidden gem was a little piece of heaven. We picked out a couple rolls and a small poke bowl before heading to the beach.
Bar Taheiti Nui: This is a dive bar that won’t show the best ratings on yelp, but a great locals spot with some pretty good pizza.
Postcards Cafe: I’m pretty sure this used to be a home that was transformed into a boutique restaurant. Everything is super fresh and they only use local organic produce. You have to be a seafood lover for this one since they don’t use any meat, poultry, refined sugar, or foods with chemical additives. We got the seafood pasta and their homemake sake cocktails.
The St. Regis Resort – Even if you don’t stay here, definitely go for happy hour on their patio! The sunset view is hard to beat. We also walked over for breakfast one morning to check out their brunch, which looked awesome, but ended up just going to their coffee shop before heading to Poipu.
Waimea Falls: We stopped by these falls on the way down to Poipu. There was a local on the side of the road with fresh coconuts in the bed of his truck and a machete – seemed legit. The falls are breathtaking!
Bucket List for Next Time:
Queen’s Bath: The swell was reaching 20 foot waves while we were in town and were advised not to make the trek.
Jack Harter Helicopters: Our helicopter ride got cancelled due to weather.
