Christmas on Kauai?

[RookWDW]

We will be on Kauai at the Marriott Kauai Beach Club on Christmas morning. We might bring some really small gift, but our gift is really the trip to Hawaii and some spending cash that the kids can use how they wish. Kids will be 17 and 13. Any ideas on what to do on Christmas day in Kauai? Most excursions will not be running. I have not checked restaurants but I assume some will be open and some will be closed. I thought about a Luau and have seen a few different Luau's recommended on Kauai. This will be our first Christmas not being at home with extended family so I'm not sure how everyone is going to feel about it.

 

[flindberg]

Spend the day & BBQ at Hanalei Bay Park? Idk about your kids - mine would opt for a Hawaiian Beach over an extended family gathering - any day... Hope it turns out happy for all involved!

 

[Lv2Trvl]

Maybe brunch somewhere yummy then to the beach!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[slip]

I would do a beach/resort day for Christmas Day. You can check ahead and make a reservation for dining out Christmas Day if you want. It's probably not to early to check for that now.

We never stayed in Hawaii over Christmas until we moved here. When we lived in Waikiki there were plenty of choices for dining. I'm sure there will be some options on Kauai but it's also a nice memory to have a Christmas BBQ on Kauai.

For a Luau our favorite is Luau Kalamaku. Link below

Kauai Luau in Lihue | Luau Kalamaku

Simply the best Kauai Luau Experience! Enjoy a traditional feast followed by a stunning show depicting a traditional Hawaiian love story. Book Now!

www.luaukalamaku.com

But we also like Smiths.

Smith’s Kauai :: Garden Luau, Weddings, and Fern Grotto Tours

The Smith Family of Kauai's Wailua River Valley have been hosting visitors for over 50 years. Offering Fern Grotto tours, weddings, and a family style luau.

www.smithskauai.com

Aloha

 

[RookWDW]

I would do a beach/resort day for Christmas Day. You can check ahead and make a reservation for dining out Christmas Day if you want. It's probably not to early to check for that now.

We never stayed in Hawaii over Christmas until we moved here. When we lived in Waikiki there were plenty of choices for dining. I'm sure there will be some options on Kauai but it's also a nice memory to have a Christmas BBQ on Kauai.

For a Luau our favorite is Luau Kalamaku. Link below

Kauai Luau in Lihue | Luau Kalamaku

Simply the best Kauai Luau Experience! Enjoy a traditional feast followed by a stunning show depicting a traditional Hawaiian love story. Book Now!

www.luaukalamaku.com

But we also like Smiths.

Smith’s Kauai :: Garden Luau, Weddings, and Fern Grotto Tours

The Smith Family of Kauai's Wailua River Valley have been hosting visitors for over 50 years. Offering Fern Grotto tours, weddings, and a family style luau.

www.smithskauai.com

Aloha

Thanks. I was looking at Luau Kalamaku as well. I think we are going to do a Luau on Oahu at Aulani, so my thought was that Smith's would be more different (more authentic) vs the Aulani one. I was looking at other Luau's on Oahu as well, but we are only there 4 (maybe 5) nights so I was trying to reduce my time driving around the island.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Thanks. I was looking at Luau Kalamaku as well. I think we are going to do a Luau on Oahu at Aulani, so my thought was that Smith's would be more different (more authentic) vs the Aulani one. I was looking at other Luau's on Oahu as well, but we are only there 4 (maybe 5) nights so I was trying to reduce my time driving around the island.

We went to Smith’s in 2016, so things may have changed, but we enjoyed it very much. The music and dances were presented differently from the other luaus we’ve seen over multiple visits to Hawaii - even my dad was impressed, and he’s been to many more! The gardens themselves are beautiful. The food must have been fine because I can’t remember anything unusual about it!

 

[RookWDW]

Any opinions on the Napali boat tours out of Port Allen? My wife isn't real bad with sea sickness, but she read that it is very common for people to get sick on these as they go really fast over the waves on the way to and from Napali. My thought is one of the bigger 65 foot boats would be better. We also looked at a helicopter tour instead, but I'm unsure about those as too many review sites mention safety concerns. I'd rather be sick than crash.

 

[cowboy]

Captain Andy’s sunset cruise

 

[FunnyFarm]

I recommend Captain Andy too.
However, since this is Christmas, the weather/waves can mean that the boat won't go all the way around to Napali.
I have (during Thanksgiving) been once on a snorkel day trip and once on a sunset where the boat went south toward Poipu instead.
Might call ahead to check the boat itinerary.
Usually they say it's up to the last minute before they decide the route.

 

[geist1223]

We once had a Captain Andy Napali Cruise scheduled. Because of a change in Weather the Ship's Captain decided they could not go to the Napali Coast. The passengers were offered money back, reschedule to another day, or go on a different Cruise up past Lihue. We chose the last Option. Bad choice. Boring. So if this happens to you choose to get your money back.

 

[RookWDW]

I assume the bigger the boat the better for handling swells and chop?

 

[RookWDW]

We once had a Captain Andy Napali Cruise scheduled. Because of a change in Weather the Ship's Captain decided they could not go to the Napali Coast. The passengers were offered money back, reschedule to another day, or go on a different Cruise up past Lihue. We chose the last Option. Bad choice. Boring. So if this happens to you choose to get your money back.

Did they tell you once you got to the dock? Or did they call you before?

 

[ScoopKona]

1) How much do you enjoy the song, Mele Kalikimaka? Because you're going to hear Bing sing it. You're going to hear 300 local bands sing it. And you're going to hear Jimmy Buffett sing it. I hear it CONSTANTLY.

2) I highly recommend making Christmas Day a beach day and a barbecue at the resort day. Why? Because it's Christmas. I'm sure you can find places that are doing business as usual. But I don't like making people work on Christmas. (And neither my wife nor I are Christians. People should have the day off. It's our de facto winter holiday -- and only hospitals, fire departments, police departments and similar should be staffed).

Enjoy the water in the morning/early afternoon, and then grill together after. You could have pork chops soaking in Lum's Char Siu sauce* for two full days (depending when you arrive), and pineapple, mac salad, poke and things to nibble on to go with it. Betcha a dollar that if you do this, you will talk about that Christmas meal for years to come.


* Lum's REALLY needs to put me on the payroll. Or they need to just drop a case off at the farm. But I'll stick with my recommendation. If I was making Christmas dinner on vacation in Kauai, that's what I'd make. Foolproof and delicious. You can knock the entire holiday feast out (except the pork) in advance. You can even just buy the poke and mac salad at a market. It will be delicious. And just enjoy the day. The chops will be done in 10 minutes flat.

 

[geist1223]

It was just before Boarding.

 

[klpca]

Any opinions on the Napali boat tours out of Port Allen? My wife isn't real bad with sea sickness, but she read that it is very common for people to get sick on these as they go really fast over the waves on the way to and from Napali. My thought is one of the bigger 65 foot boats would be better. We also looked at a helicopter tour instead, but I'm unsure about those as too many review sites mention safety concerns. I'd rather be sick than crash.

I also give Captain Andy's two thumbs up.

We don't get seasick but on every trip we see a lot of people feeling sick so if you are prone to seasickness, I would pass on the Napali sail. It is as bad as they say it is.

We have also done the sunset cruise which we found a little boring because it is a short out and back. But it would definitely be easier on a seasick person than the Napali sail.

 

[RookWDW]

I also give Captain Andy's two thumbs up.

We don't get seasick but on every trip we see a lot of people feeling sick so if you are prone to seasickness, I would pass on the Napali sail. It is as bad as they say it is.

We have also done the sunset cruise which we found a little boring because it is a short out and back. But it would definitely be easier on a seasick person than the Napali sail.

Thanks. My wife is on the fence about it. Good chance she would be okay. It's the stopping and sitting in rolling waves that gets her, not the bouncing across waves while moving. At least on the couple of fishing charters we went on that was the case.

Are the helicopter tours safe? I know they are expensive and I read that many people hate hearing them fly around. I'm a bit chicken about it, not flying or the heights, but the possibility of crashing.

 

[m61376]

Good info. on the boats- I was thinking about a HoloHolo sunset cruise, same time of year. Generally ok on boats but have gotten seasick on rough waters. But really hoping to see the Napali Coast. That said, would people rec. the 65' cat or the 50 or55' cat/sailboat? They say they're equally stable but I'm thinking the bigger one might be preferable.

Also- is it worth driving to Ke'e Beach that time of year? We'll be at Waiohai on Poipu Beach area. I'm assuming the beach will be too rough for swimming what about views? And will Hanalei Bay be a good place to watch the surfers, or will the waves be limited?

Was only to Kauai one day on a cruise stop 18 years ago, so trying to plan a week where we see the highlights. We'll be two couples, no kids, and active but nothing too strenuous. Would appreciate any recs. of favorite things to do, see, restaurants, etc.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[geist1223]

We have snorkeled at Ke'e in the Winter. But remember you have to make an online reservation.

Kauai: Remember there is only 1 two lane Hwy from north to south. Down south you have Waimea Canyon. To do this properly is about a day. Take a picnic lunch. Drive to the top. Resist the turn outs. Drive as far as you can and then hike past the top parking a bit. There are several View Points up there. Have your picnic lunch in the Park at the top. Then stop at all or most of the View Points on your way down. There is the Kauai Coffee Planation. There is zip lining in Koloa. There is an inner tube float down the old sugar cane canals in Lihue. There is Poipu Beach. There is the Alakai Swamp Trail. There are Cruises out of Hanapepe Bay to the Napali Cliffs and snorkeling. There is the Spouting Horn. There is the Mala'ulepu Trail that starts on the top of the Cliffs just north of Shipwreck's Beach. There is the Makauwahi Cave. Almost forgot about the light house - a National Park. Also a bird nesting area. Luau: some of the large Hotels have Luau. The two I would recommend are Kilohana just outside of Lihue or Smith Family by Kapa'a. Kilohana has the more traditional entertainment telling the Polynesian story through song and dance. Smith Family has greater diversity to honor the many people that have emigrated to the Islands. Remember Poi is not a dish by itself but to dip your Pork. There is Anini Beach. The town of Hanalei. The beach at Hanalei. To go to Ke'e Beach you need to go online and make a Reservation - either AM or PM. Kayaking up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto and Secret Falls. It is about a mile hike to the falls. Sometimes the trail is very muddy. In Lihue there is a Costco. Cheapest gas on the Island by a lot. Great Fish Tacos at the Food Truck by Hanalei Pier. Some of the best Chili Pepper Chicken is at the Chevron Station in Priceville. Best Loco Moco is at the Food Shack on the side of the Sueoka's Market in Koloa. Jump off the Cliff just north of Shipwreck Beach and swim to Shipwreck Beach.

The Pines Trail. The hike from the parking lot at the Pu'u O Kila Lookout to the Pihea Lookout is a moderate to strenuous hike at best, depending on weather. Steep downhill trail of rutted red dirt. Hiking shoes and trekking poles highly recommended! The views down over the Napali cliffs is amazing.

Wai Koa Loop Trail. Sleeping Giant Trail.