So i'm going to kauai and mauai on Saturday and was wondering if anyone had any tips/things to see/do?
http://www.wizardpub.com/ is a company that makes a good guidebook for each of the islands. Even if you don't buy the book, you can check out their webpage for the "stuff changed since we went to press" updates section.
In maui i want to go to haleakala at sunrise, is it true that its freezing and need a winter coat? How did you dress?
I haven't done Maui, but since it is a 10,000ft summit, it won't be warm. The other remark of it being in the 40's is probably on track...I was in a B&B on Kona last November at 2,000ft elevation and it was 60-62F at breakfast. Personally, I'd wear long sleeves, polartech and my Gor-Tex rain shell (windproof) and plan to keep moving (this combination is good enough for 40F when I'm hiking...and "survivable" at 32F). If you're going with a tour company, they might provide heavy jackets.
Any recommendations for restaurants? In maui we are staying at the grand wailea and in kauai the Marriott Resort & Beach Club
I'll amplify the Ruth Chris steakhouse comment: I generally describe this chain as "A good $25 steak for only $50". Expect a nice dinner to run $100/person. Personally, I've become more inclined over the years to risk trying a local "no name" place than frequenting yet another highly predicable US Chain, regardless of the price tier.
On Kauai,
I'd recommend that you try to get reservations at the Beach House Restaurant (5022 Lawai Rd, Koloa, HI (808) 742-1424) if they still have any availability. Its generally considered one of the very best on the island and I'd personally rank it substantially better than Ruth-Chris.
Down south (Poipu region) and on the north side of Poipu Road (nearly across the street from the Marriot), there's a shopping mall. One of the restaurants in here is Keoki's Paradise (in the same mall as Puka Dog, see below). They were pretty typical "Resort Destination Restaurant" fare; I'd go there again if I had to, but I'd not make it a point to go there (if you know what I mean). Pretty much 'ditto' for the Poipu Beach Broiler (south side of Poipu road, also very close to the Marriot). We also went all the way up to Kapaa for Scotty's Beachside BBQ, which was a nice change of 'red meat' after several days of good seafood.
FYI, I think we tried to eat in Koloa town at one point, but this area was constantly busy with lousy parking, so we ended up going elsewhere.
Down south (Poipu region) and in that aformentioned shopping mall, there's a small "hole in the wall" sized hot dog stand named "Puka Dog". Its a good quick lunch, although not much seating.
Another good local lunch opportunity is a "Shrimp Truck" that parks on Hooma Road (which goes out to the Beach House restaurant, above). As of last November (2007), it was parked right next to the bridge over Waikomo Stream,
but its hard to say exactly where it is now, because the area west of your hotel is under massive construction.
Kauai Construction - near Poipu: As of November 07, the North-South section of Poipu Road that's south of Koloa Town (usually identified on the maps as Rt 520) was open, down to where Poipu Road crossed the Waikomo Stream to swing east (towards the Marriot). At this point, Rt 520 was open to an ugly "3 way" intersection that connected it to Hooma Road to the west (which goes to the Beach House Restaurant and the blow hole) and Hoonani Road to the east (which connects up with Kapili Road, where it rejoins to Poipu Road.
BTW, when heading south and right after you get "out of" the worst of this construction and onto Hoonani Road is where you'll find Koala Landing, which is a combination { boat ramp / snorkeling / scuba shore diving } site. There's limited free parking here, but it is one of the better protected sites around for going snorkeling on the South side of Kauai. Its the gravel road that disappears downhill just before the stone wall starts as the road runs along the shoreline.
-hh
