The World Unfolding

Kauai: The Hawaiian Island That Stays With You

The second you step off the plane in Kauai, you know you’re somewhere different.

The thick, salty air. The roosters crowing outside the airport. The impossibly green mountains.

No high-rises. No tourist-packed beaches. Just Hawaii the way it was meant to be.

I got Kauai the first time. I stayed in Poipu, Princeville, and Kapaa. I played golf at Wailua and Kukuiolono. I did the Lydgate Farms Chocolate Tour—twice.

Then I got married here.

If you’re coming to Kauai, this is how to do it right.

✈️ How to Get to Kauai & Save Money

Hawaii isn’t close to anything, but some flights make it easier than others.

🛫 Nonstop Flights to Lihue (LIH)

• California → LAX, SFO, SAN

• Arizona → PHX (American, Southwest, Hawaiian)

• Texas → DFW, HOU (seasonal)

• Ohio → No nonstops, best via DFW, PHX, or DEN

💰 How to Save on Flights

• Use Google Flights → Set price alerts for LIH.

• Book 2-5 months in advance → Last-minute flights to Kauai are brutal.

• Southwest Companion Pass → If you fly Southwest often, this gets you 2-for-1 tickets.

💡 Pro Tip: Avoid Honolulu (HNL) layovers. They add 2-3 hours. When you land in Kauai, sit on the left side of the plane for the best view.

🚗 First Stop: Costco & Target – Save $$$

Before heading to your hotel, stop at Costco and Target—both 5 minutes from the airport.

Eating out is expensive, so stocking up on snacks, fruit, and quick meals saves serious cash.

💡 Pro Tip: A rental car is a must. No Ubers, no real public transit. Turo is often cheaper than rental companies.

🏨 Where to Stay in Kauai

Where you stay shapes your trip.

🌴 Princeville (North Shore) – Lush, Rainier, Breathtaking

I stayed at Makai Club Resort—quiet, close to golf, surrounded by jungle.

🏡 Best for: Golfers, honeymooners, quiet retreats
❌ Skip if: You want guaranteed sun

☀️ Poipu (South Shore) – Sunniest, Best Beaches

I got married at Koloa Landing Resort—a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel. Huge pool, villa-style rooms, great location.

🏡 Best for: First-timers, families, resort lovers
❌ Skip if: You want a boutique hotel

Also worth considering: Grand Hyatt Kauai—oceanfront, high-end experience.

💡 Pro Tip: A kitchen saves you $200+ per trip.

🍽️ My Favorite Restaurants in Kauai

I’m a foodie, and Kauai delivers—if you know where to go.

🥩 Eating House 1849 (Poipu)

Hawaiian flavors with a modern twist from Roy Yamaguchi, one of Hawaii’s most famous chefs.

🍖 Leong’s Meat House (Kapaa)

For the best plate lunch and takeaway poke, this is the spot.

🥘 Leahi Health (Poipu & Kapaa)

Best health-conscious food—smoothies, bowls, fresh salads.

🍜 Hamura Saimin (Lihue)

A local institution. Saimin (Hawaiian-style ramen) done right.

🥑 Kilauea Market & Café (North Shore)

Great coffee, breakfast, and grab-and-go options.

💡 Pro Tip: Try the traditional Hawaiian breakfast with Portuguese sausage.

🚁 Helicopter Tours: One of the Coolest Things I’ve Ever Done

This was a top 3 travel experience of my life.

Seeing Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and Jurassic Park Falls from the air is unreal.

🔹 Best Tour: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
🔹 Budget Pick: Safari Helicopters

💡 Pro Tip: Morning flights = smoother air.

🌿 Other Experiences Worth Doing

🛶 Tubing through old sugar plantation canals → A fun, laid-back adventure.

🍫 Lydgate Farms Chocolate Tour → A must for chocolate lovers.

 Hiking the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail → Easy, scenic coastal hike in Poipu.

📚 Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain

A raw, unfiltered look at the restaurant world—equal parts entertaining, insightful, and chaotic. Bourdain’s writing is sharp, funny, and full of hard-earned wisdom.

Takeaway: The #1 thing home cooks are missing? Shallots. They add depth, balance, and restaurant-level flavor to almost any dish. Stock up.

📖 Get it on Amazon

Next Week: The Best Dark Roast Coffee in North America

I’ve tested 20+ different roasters across the U.S. and Canada, hunting for the best decaf dark roast for my French press.

📦 Where to order them.
💡 Where can you find the best value.

If you love travel that’s more than tourist traps, sign up here:
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See you next week,
Jeff