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Kauai

PeterDendrinos

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Trip to Kauai

I am planning a trip to Kauai in about 2 months with the family. For them it’s time to chill, for me it’s time to shoot.

Looking for advice on must sees, on the island. I will not be taking the LF gear. Only 35mm. (ease of transport you know)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Pete
 
Everything! North, south, east, southwest. It is a very small island. In 5 days you can see most. For two weeks you can see it all.

Here's some site to find cool places to stay away from hotels.

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/accom/kaucot.htm

This is where my wife and I stayed two years ago:

http://www.kauai-vacation-cottages.com/index.html

Aloha.




 
I own a condo in Kauai (northshore by Princeville). You have to see Na Pali coast, Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls and Hanalei Valley. This is the island and Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones was filmed on. Its all beautiful!!!!

Steve
 
PM me and I'll be glad to answer all your questions. I've been to Kauai a few times, it is only a 20 minute flight for me.
 
It's too bad you aren't taking the LF gear. I can show you many thousands of images of this island, all taken with a small camera. LF there really stands out.

You've gotten several good suggestions, all worthwhile, all very standard tourist spots. I have three beach spots I like to shoot when over there:
  • Ke'e Beach, which is located on the North Shore (near Hanalei). This beach is fairly small and can get really crowded at certain times of day. But, if you hike just a little way up the Na Pali trail, there is a great overlook. There is a Heaiu (Hawaiian place of worship next to the beach, but I'm not sure if it is accessible to the public anymore. If you are adventurous, you can hike the Na Pali Trail to a secluded beach (the name escapes me at the moment) about 1 1/2 miles away, there is also a water fall not far from this beach. BTW, when in Hanalei, the place to eat is "Bubbas" - great hamburgers (they have a store in Kapaa as well).
  • Poli Hali Beach, at the opposite end of the island, is a wide sandy beach, at the opposite end of the Na Pali coast. This beach has great views of the forbidden island of Niihau. You have to drive to the southern end of the road, and keep driving through some old sugar cane fields on a dirt road to get there, but it is well known.
  • Kapaa. There is a small outcrop of rock just a bit north of Kapaa town, which I have found is great for sunrise shots. Although, this is a bit of a drive if you are staying in Poipu. If you are in Poipu, you can try Brennecke Beach.
There are a lot of good places to eat on the island; the best in my opinion is Keoki's Paradise at the Poipu Shopping Center - you may need reservations, this place is popular. I mentioned Bubba's, they have two stores - good place for a quick lunch. Also try Duke's and Kilohana Plantation. One more hint, for breakfast, the local favorite is the Loco Moco - rice, hamburger patty, brown gravy and eggs.

BTW, there is usually an art show in Kapaa on the weekends. I know a couple of local photographers sell there, mostly digital/ink jet stuff, but it will give you some good ideas.

Feel free to ask me any specific questions you need.
 
I was just in Kauai a couple of weeks ago, though sadly for only 3 days of a weeklong trip to HI.

My only recommendations are:

-when going to Waimea canyon, go past the "Waimea Canyon Lookout" to mile 18. There is the Kalaulu (sp?) Lookout. Park there, then walk about 1.5 miles down the road marked "closed." It's worth it.

-check out the harbor and bay at Hanalei. If you can get there for a sunset, it's beautiful.

-drive all the way around past Princeville and Hanalei, too - there are a couple of cool beaches there, and the silhouettes against the sky can be amazing.

-Bring your polarizer and grad NDs if you can.

sigh. good times.
allan
 
kaiyen said:
-check out the harbor and bay at Hanalei. If you can get there for a sunset, it's beautiful.

allan
Click to expand...

.........I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair...........and send him on his way.......




Michael
 
Thank you all soooo much. This is great. I wish I could bring the lf gear but I think the hassles might outweigh the reward. Perhaps if I didn’t have the family with me. You see the choice is LF gear or wife in the car at the same time. I guess I could leave a kid behind. Oh and I’ll have my folks as well. Hopefully I can plant them on a beach and shoot all day long.

I can see myself getting in some trouble not hanging with the fam. But I am on a mission. Do you think they will be tolerant? I hope so. Perhaps if I feed them drinks with umbrellas all day!
 
blansky said:
.........I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair...........and send him on his way.......




Michael
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Sorry to be obscure. Hanalei Bay is where they shot part of the movie South Pacific.

In Kauai you can point your camera in any direction and get great pictures.


Michael
 
blansky said:
Sorry to be obscure. Hanalei Bay is where they shot part of the movie South Pacific.

In Kauai you can point your camera in any direction and get great pictures.


Michael
Click to expand...

I got your point. Hanalei is not far from Bali Hai another spot from the movie - BTW, there are no "B"s in the Hawaiian language.
 
PeterDendrinos said:
I can see myself getting in some trouble not hanging with the fam. But I am on a mission. Do you think they will be tolerant? I hope so. Perhaps if I feed them drinks with umbrellas all day!
Click to expand...

What part of the island are you staying? I could give you more ideas if I knew that. For example, traffic between Lihue and Kapaa is real murder during rush hour (it is only a two lane road); that makes a difference in where you might want to go.
 
My wife and I always kayak up the might Zambezzi to the Fern Grotto and the waterfall.

It may be called the Waimei river.

I've always said if you can't take cool pictures in Hawaii, you suck.

I'm sure you'll do great. It's paradise, on earth.



Michael
 
roteague said:
What part of the island are you staying? I could give you more ideas if I knew that. For example, traffic between Lihue and Kapaa is real murder during rush hour (it is only a two lane road); that makes a difference in where you might want to go.
Click to expand...
south side near or on poipu beach.
 
blansky said:
In Kauai you can point your camera in any direction and get great pictures.


Michael
Click to expand...
That’s the kind of location I need. Get up, stager around, shoot something, sit back down with another umbrella drink...repeat..

Pete
 
I stayed on Poipu beach, at the Kiahuna resort, which is a condo rental place. it's actually directly adjacent to the Marriot (in fact, I even picked up the wireless signal from the marriot). Poipu beach is very nice, and is a great middle ground between the two ends of the island. Very short trip to Waimea, for instance.

I got some good snorkeling in on Poipu beach, too.

allan
 
PeterDendrinos said:
south side near or on poipu beach.
Click to expand...

Good choice, that is where I like to stay. Poipu is on the dry side of the island. You will be minutes from Keoki's Paradise and Brennecke's Beach Broiler - Brennecke Beach is across the street - which is a good spot for drinks. The closest Starbuck's is at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center, about 40 minutes away (there are only two on the island).

Places to photograph in the area: Shipwreck Beach isn't far away, there is an old volcanic crater on the back road into Koloa town situated in what used to be a pineapple/coffee plantation (not sure what it is now). Just outside Koloa town, on the road in from Lihue, there is an old cemetery, dating back to the plantation days, which is quite interesting. There is the blowhole, also not far from Poipu. Over by Waimea town, there is the "Old Russian Fort" the remains of the Russians presence in Hawaii (probably about 30 minutes drive).

Kauai has always been my favorite island.
 
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