ALEKONA KAUAI Blog

Kauai’s north shore with its quaint villages, winding roads over single-lane bridges and pristine beaches will transform you to a place and time of old Hawaii. In 2018, historic flooding on Kauai’s north shore severely damaged roadways and key infrastructure, leading to the closure of the highway west of Hanalei, access to Haena State Park and the Kalalau Trail. But, there’s exciting new- over a year later, the road to...

So you’ve decided to have a destination wedding or celebrate an anniversary or momentous birthday on Kauai. With stunning white sand beaches, magical sunsets and lush tropical foliage everywhere you look, Kauai’s natural beauty sets the backdrop for the dream event.  Fortunately, Kauai boasts a reputable list of island bakers who work with local farmers, incorporating seasonal island grown fresh fruits and locally-made ingredients into all of their creations. We’ve...

To attend a bon dance on Kauai is a magical and spiritual experience. A bon dance, which is celebrated during the obon season, is a Buddhist ceremony performed by the Japanese culture to honor the spirit of one’s ancestors. The tradition of obon began in Japan over 500 years ago. It is based on the story in Buddhist transcripts of a devout monk who happily danced with joy when releasing...

With shows like The Great Food Truck Race and Food Truck Face Off, Kauai has quickly caught on to the nationwide food truck trend. What makes Kauai’s food trucks stand out among the rest? The availability of farm grown produce and fresh caught fish from the ocean varieties incorporated into many food truck’s menus and prepared using a local twist may have something to do with it. We’ve rounded up...

Kaua‘i is not known for mega malls or upscale stores, however many treasures can be had shopping in Kauai’s quaint and charming towns. Sometimes strolling through the small shops and boutiques can be the best rejuvenation after hours spent in the sun. Kauai is also fully equipped to cover all your needs while on island, with large stores such as Walmart and Costco and a number of grocery stores.  From...

Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian Island chain, has long been called “The Garden Island.” 4,000 feet above sea level, away from the beaches and resort districts is Kokee State Park. Spread over 4,345 acres, there are 45 miles of hiking trails, camping and picnic areas, scenic lookouts, cabins for lodging, the Kokee Natural History Museum, and Kokee Lodge restaurant. The best way to experience and appreciate Kokee’s beauty is...

Perfect Kaua‘i days are made of surf, sand, and salty water in your hair. It only takes one visit to one of Poipu’s numerous beaches to turn your entire day around and rejuvenate your spirit. We’ve provided a list of all of Poipu’s beaches to help you decide which slice of paradise you plan to dip your toes in. Poipu Beach Park Poipu Beach Park is the one beach where...

  Much of the fun at Kauai’s beaches happens above water.  Surfing, swimming, boogie boarding and paddleboarding are some of our favorite ways to spend a perfect Kauai beach day.  But putting on a snorkel mask and fins on your feet will give you a perspective of Kauai that is completely different from the above view.  Underwater, Kauai’s coral reefs are teeming with sea life; colorful fish in a rainbow...

Kaua‘i’s volcanoes have long been dormant, but Mount Waialeale on Kaua‘i sees plenty of flowing each year that has nothing to do with lava. The name Waialeale, meaning “rippling water or overflowing” water in Hawaiian, is inherently accurate, with over 600 inches of rain per year and is known to be one of the wettest spots on earth. It also gets more than five times the amount of rainfall of...

Every savvy traveler knows that the best way to get an authentic experience in a destination is to go where the locals go and eat what the locals eat.  Staying in a vacation rental over a traditional hotel has made living like a local on Kauai even more accessible. Kauai residents love to eat.  Back in the plantation days, the Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Hawaiian workers would gather...