With her blond beach waves pulled back into a ponytail and a look of sheer determination on her face, our granddaughter Nolah carefully mimicked the motions of her surfing instructor during her first ever surf lesson.
The fact she and her friends were not yet in the water made no difference and they carefully practised getting up and balancing on their boards, which were laid across the lawn of the Sheraton Kauai Resort, located in Poipu on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai. Surf lessons were just part of the birthday celebrations we enjoyed with our granddaughter, who turned six during a recent family vacation to Kauai.
The night before we’d attended a luau at the Sheraton, where she and her mom took to the stage to dance the always-popular hukilau — anyone who’s ever attended a luau will know what I’m talking about. Tip: The moms who organized the surf lessons said the Sheraton offered one of the best deals on the beach.
For years my partner and I have travelled as a couple, but with our grandkids getting to an age when they’re old enough to enjoy — and remember — what’s going on, we jumped at the chance to join them on Kauai. Also in tow was our granddaughter Hazel, who was five months old at the time, and the girls’ mom and dad. Along for the trip were their friends and their two sons, bringing us to a grand total of 10 when enjoying group activities, including an afternoon piled into a cabana at the Sheraton.
My partner and I also ate at RumFire at Poipu Beach, located within the Sheraton, which offers 180-degree views of the ocean and a Hawaiian-inspired menu featuring fresh seafood and local ingredients enhanced by a touch of global influence.
Poipu is situated on Kauai’s south shore, where after a damp first day we enjoyed bright blue skies with fluffy white clouds for the duration of our stay, which was a blessing since the kids spent so much time on the beach and in the ocean swimming and boogie boarding. A one-mile stretch of white sandy coastline means there is no end of beaches to choose from, including Poipu Beach Park, considered one of the safest in Hawaii, with a lifeguard on duty seven days a week. Keep in mind Kauai is also famous for its riptides and from the moment visitors land on the island, they’re warned, “When in doubt, stay out.”
My partner and I had scored a great deal from WestJet ($450 each all in), which made Kauai a great choice for a holiday. The fact the rest of the gang stayed in a condo at the Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kauai, adjacent to the Sheraton, allowed them the cook their own meals and do laundry, which helped keep their costs down, too. We also moved to a condo after a few days of enjoying room service at the Sheraton, but in Princeville on the North Shore, a place we had never visited before.
As it turns out, the weather on the North Shore is much wetter than in Poipu and we probably saw some rain every day of our April stay, but the timing was pretty much perfect with clouds and showers contained mostly to early morning and after sundown. Princeville is an upscale, resort community made up of hotels, golf courses and plenty of condos and vacation rentals. It’s also home to so many tropical birds in the surrounding rain forests, it’s become something of a birders paradise.
The North Shore of Kauai is so beautiful and lush, there were times I literally stopped what I was doing and turned 360-degrees to better take it all in. The fact I took dozens of videos and hundreds of photos will attest to my obsession over the Kauai landscape — they don’t call it the Garden Island for nothing.
But we were still on vacation, so in the evenings we dined at Nanea restaurant and bar at the Westin, which specializes in fresh ingredients purchased from local farms, dairies and fishermen — all listed on the menu by name. (I highly recommend the spiced short rib bao.)
We also made our way into the Princeville tiny town centre, where we drank free-poured cocktails and shared travels stories with strangers at Tiki Iniki, owned and operated by Michele and Todd Rundgren. Unfortunately Rundgren was on tour on the mainland at the time of our visit, so no autographs were acquired. The couple has amassed a great collection of vintage and modern-day tiki, which I loved checking out.
And since this part of our vacation was sans children, we also spent time at the “quiet” pool at the Westin where there wasn’t a single “Marco” or “Polo” to be heard. For those travelling with kids, there’s a great pool with a small waterslide and turtle water features they’d love.
Speaking of kids, our granddaughter cried when it was time to leave Kauai and I don’t blame her. It’s an island so beautiful, you truly have to see it to believe it, no matter which coast you prefer. My advice is to do both.
@sthomas10
Sandra Thomas was a guest of Starwood Resorts.
