Here’s a little slideshow of some of the things we love about Kaha Lani and its beachfront location on Kauai…

(If you want to watch the slideshow again or look more closely at a particular photo, DON’T click on the big arrow in the green box. Just click on the final “For another beautiful day in paradise!” caption, and you’ll be presented with smaller forward-and-back arrows that will allow you to move through the photos as you like.)

What you see right now are the “before” images.  Just move and hold your mouse over the photos to see the room-by-room “after” changes!

To the kitchen…

To the dining room…

To the living room…

To the master bedroom…

To the master bathroom…

To the second bathroom…

To the second bedroom…

To the entry lanai…

The outdoors didn’t change, though (thank goodness!)…

Click the link for a slideshow that shares photos of some of our favorite Kaha Lani outdoor spaces!

And, mahalo…

Many thanks to Steve Bojorquez of House-It Island Style Remodels for all his wonderful work on the renovations… and for taking some of the photos, too!

And to Castle Resorts and our Kaha Lani ohana for all their help, as well!

Also, BIG thanks to Jamie Friedman (our Kauai realtor), who provided the “before” photos and stuck with us while we searched for the Kaha Lani condo that would be perfect for us!

The Kauai Path is a scenic multi-use pathway that runs along the island’s East Side coast. The Hawaiian and official name of the path is Ke Ala Hele Makalae (“The Path that Goes by the Coast”), and it’s hoped to eventually traverse all the way from Ahukini Point (near the airport in Lihue) to Anahola Bay Beach Park (about halfway between Kapaa and Kilauea).

Currently the first two phases of the Kauai Path are complete – the initial 2.5-mile section that runs through Lydgate Park (and provides Kaha Lani Resort guests with easy access to that park’s many amenities) and the second 4.1-mile section which stretches from Kapaa to Ahihi Point.  As presently planned, the Kauai Path’s third phase development will add another 2.1 miles to the path and will connect the two completed portions

Pedestrians and bicyclists are welcome to use the Kauai Path to enjoy and savor breathtaking Pacific Ocean vistas.  Constructed of smooth cement, even wheelchairs can easily navigate it.  (While motorized vehicles are prohibited from the path, this is waived for handicapped persons utilizing a mobility unit.)

Island visitors staying in Koloa/Poipu (on the South Shore) or Princeville/Hanalei (on the North Shore) – each about 20 miles away from Kauai’s East Side – will often make the drive just to enjoy all the Kauai Path has to offer.

Families with small children should consider the Kauai Path a “must do” since it’s quite possibly the most beautiful place in the world to push a stroller.  Also, Lydgate Park’s two playgrounds and rock-enclosed swimming/snorkeling areas – one especially for children – are typically a hit with the whole family.

Kaha Lani Resort offers you great access to the Lydgate Park portion of the Kauai Path – it runs directly between the resort and Nukoli’i Beach Park (which is the beach just south of Lydgate Beach Park) – and the location of Kaha Lani #228 affords you good separation from the unit’s two ocean-view lanais and people using the path.

As you might imagine, once the second section of the Kauai Path was complete several bicycle rental companies began offering that service for the island’s visitors.  Listed below are the bicycle rental companies we know about, and you can give them a call or follow the links to their websites for more information:

Coconut Coasters (808.822.7368)

Hele on Kauai Rentals (808.822.4628)

Kauai Cycle (808.821.2115)

The dining room table expands from seating 4 to seating 8. Here is how it expands:

And here is how it goes back to the smaller size:

Unit 228 has a 47″ high-definition (HD) TV and a Blu-Ray DVD Player. This page gives instructions on their use. Note: the Blu-Ray player can play regular CDs, MP3 discs, regular DVDs and Blu-Ray DVDs.

TV Remote. The TV has a remote control and the Blu-Ray DVD Player has a different remote control. The easiest way to operate them is to start with the TV. Here are two SHORT videos which show you the remote control and show you how to change channels.

DVD Use – Remote. This video shows the controls on the DVD player and how it will automatically take over the TV when you turn it on.

This very short video shows how to turn OFF the DVD player and return to TV.

While “Royal Coconut Coast” references the fact that the ancient ali’i (royalty) of Kauai made their home along the Wailua River on the island’s east side, in recent times it was another King who bestowed reverence upon the area – Elvis Presley. Kauai was virtually unknown as a vacation destination until Presley starred in 1961’s Blue Hawaii, filming the movie’s famous wedding scene on the lagoon at the iconic Coco Palms Resort.

The Coco Palms property is, as you might guess, abundant with coconut palm trees – over 2000 of them — some of which were planted by the Kauaian royalty of old. Sadly, Coco Palms is not presently open, although the grounds can be toured as part of the Hawaii Movie Tour’s six-hour itinerary or in conjunction with a Blue Hawaii wedding or vow renewal ceremony on the lagoon Elvis made famous.

Today, island visitors arrive at the Lihue airport (LIH) or they may also arrive on cruise ships that dock at Lihue’s Nawiliwili Harbor. Many of those visitors will make the roughly 30-minute drive to Poipu on the south shore or head in the opposite direction and arrive an hour later in Princeville or Hanalei on the north shore. Visitors staying in Lihue, Wailua and Kapaa rentals on the east side, however, have about a 15-minute drive to their destination.

Some people – including this writer – consider Kauai’s Royal Coconut Coast to be one of the island’s best-kept secrets. Sunset magazine would seem to agree, noting in a recent “Top 7 Hawaii Vacation Deals – 2010” publication:

“The best beachfront values are on Kauai’s breezy east side.”

Midway between the Poipu rentals (on the south shore where condos are plentiful but walk-able beaches are somewhat limited) and Princeville/Hanalei (on the island’s lush-but-damp north shore), the centrally located Coconut Coast provides a convenient “home base” location from which to explore the rest of the island. It’s certainly convenient to the airport in Lihue (although not so close that you’ll be bothered by noise)…

Google map showing route from Lihue airport to Kaha Lani condo

…from which helicopter tours depart – which, if your budget allows, is a great way to see the entire island, even those parts which are inaccessible by car. Another favorite way to enjoy Kauai’s majestic beauty is on a Na Pali sightseeing excursion, and the Port Allen small boat harbor is on the island’s west side, a straight shot from the Royal Coconut Coast about 25 miles away…

Google map showing route from Kaha Lani condo to Port Allen

Kauai’s east side has abundant restaurants, shopping, activities and attractions, and you can follow the links in the right-hand sidebar to learn more about them.

One of the best things about staying in a condo rather than a hotel is not having to go to a restaurant for each and every meal. It’s fun to try products that you don’t typically see at mainland markets, and the grocery store can also be a great place to pick up souvenirs or gifts for friends and family back home.

In case you arrive late, the condo is stocked with what you’ll need to make coffee on your first morning. General household items like paper products and dishwasher soap are also provided.

To pick up food and drink items, there are three main East Side markets to choose from, and they are listed below in the order you’ll pass them when traveling north on Kuhio Highway from Kaha Lani.

The first shopping center you’ll pass – Coconut Marketplace – is located on the makai (“toward the ocean”) side of the highway. While there’s a Whaler’s General Store there that carries some grocery items, it’s not a stock-the-frig sort of place. The three markets below are best for that, and they’re all located on the mauka (“toward the mountains”) side of Kuhio Highway.

Foodland
808.822.7271
4-771 Kuhio Hwy.

Foodland is located in the Waipouli Town Center, where you’ll also find a Blockbuster Video, a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shop, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and a couple of other restaurants. It’s easy to apply for Foodland’s Maika’i discount card (just ask for one as you check out) which will afford you instant savings on featured products.

Safeway
808.822.2464
4-831 Kuhio Hwy.

Safeway is located in the Kauai Village Shopping Center, where you’ll also find a variety of shops and restaurants. If you shop at Safeway on the mainland, you can use your Safeway Club discount card for instant savings on featured products. The Safeway and Foodland shopping centers are separated by a small canal, and there’s a pedestrian bridge you can use to walk between the two.

Big Save
808.822.4971
4-1105 Kuhio Hwy.

Big Save is located in the Kapaa Shopping Center, along with a Shell gas station and Burger King. If you’re a shave ice fan, check out Hawaiian Blizzard near Big Save (follow the link there for the days/hours of operation). If it’s a slow day, you might even be treated to a little magic show!

In addition to the three food markets, you may want to also shop at Kauai’s farmer’s markets (see discussion below) and the following “specialty” markets:

Sweet Marie’s Gluten-Free Bakery
808.823.0227
4-788 Kuhio Hwy.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Marie Cassel moved to Kauai in 1992.  In 1993, she joined Chef Jean-Marie Josselin as Pastry Chef at A Pacific Café in Kapaa, where she created unique desserts for that now-closed restaurant.  After years of research and the recipe development/testing necessary to serve a wheat/gluten-allergic clientele, Cassel opened Hawaii’s first gluten-free bakery where she uses rice-based flour to make a delightful assortment of goodies like Chocolate Coconut Macaroons, Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies and Sour Cream Coffee Cake.  Sweet Marie’s Hawaii Bakery is located in the historical (1895) Awapuhi Building, directly across the highway from Foodland.

Pono Market
808.822.4581
4-1300 Kuhio Hwy.

This no-frills shop is a great place to pick up some to-go “island favorites” – various kinds of poke, lomi lomi salmon, kalua pork and cabbage, chicken lau lau, spam musubi, macaroni salad, etc. – for a plate lunch or a picnic at the beach. The menu changes daily, and you should try to get there before the main lunch crowd arrives as they typically sell out of some items. Pono Market opens at 6:00 a.m. (the bento boxes available then often sell out by 8:00 a.m.), and they begin serving plate lunches at 10:00 a.m. You’ll also find manju (a Japanese confection) and coffee drinks, plus reasonable prices and super friendly folks to help you at. (You can also get a marriage license here. Seriously!) Pono Market is closed on Sunday.

Kojima Store
808.822.5221
1543 Kuhio Hwy.

An independent local grocer for more than 50 years, Kojima Store is known for their prepared and ready-to-cook local favorites, including a variety of locally produced fresh meats and their popular Korean-style short ribs. There’s nothing fancy about it, but you can find lots of good, local groceries and probably lots of things you’ve never seen before in a mainland market. Next door, the Windward Market Deli carries “to go” items plus fish, meat and poultry. Like Pono Market, you’ll want to get there early for the best plate lunch selection.

Kauai Farmer’s Markets

We urge you to visit the island’s farmer’s markets and supplement your grocery shopping with the freshest fruits and vegetables Kauai has to offer.  It’s easy to remember the three farmer’s markets most convenient to Kaha Lani because they all take place at 3:00pm, and the days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Here are the locations:

Monday at 3:00pm – Kukui Grove Shopping Center
Wednesday at 3:00pm – Kapaa New Town Park (Kahau Street)
Friday at 3:00pm – Vidinha Stadium in Lihue (Hoolako Road)

Those are Kauai’s East Side farmer’s markets.  If you’re going to be out and about exploring the island, you may also want to check out this complete Kauai Farmer’s Markets schedule and work in a stop at another locale.

Be advised: Kauai farmer’s markets are quite popular, and patrons often begin lining up for them a half hour before they open. “The early bird gets the worm” definitely holds true for shopping at farmer’s markets on The Garden Island!