Kauai, HI

lookout123 · 06-10-2008, 04:45 PM

After my little moan fest in the What's Irritating You Thread? last week I figured I should give an after action report.

To set the record straight: I am fully aware how lucky and blessed I am to have the ability to have visit Hawaii. I do not hate Hawaii, Hawaiins, or anything to do with the Islands. I was however disappointed in the experience.

The island was beautiful, lush, green, and surrounded by the beautiful blue pacific ocean. We did our share of sightseeing and there were several breathtaking views awaiting us. We played in the ocean daily. Lil Lookout and I kayaked and hiked through the rainforest to see some awesome waterfalls. The cruise up the Na poli coast was awesome.

I am glad I went but I will never go back. The water was nice, but I don't surf so it offered nothing over the waters in Mexico or the Caribbean. I wanted sunshine but it was gloomy, overcast, and rainy for at least half of the daylight hours. The food wasn't that great which was a surprise being surrounded by the sea where food comes from. Most of the locals were really friendly and I enjoyed chatting with the folks at Starbucks every morning and night, but the freaking hippy infestation on that island is out of control. I appreciate that Hawaiin life is very laid back, but seriously you can't count on anyone to actually do their job in anything approaching a timely manner. The crib delivery guy took two days and a lot of calls to get it there. The restaurant across from the hotel is lucky they have a nice view because they don't ever get the order right and it takes an hour to get a drink. That's just the way life is and I appreciate that they enjoy it that way. I don't.

Most annoying were the other tourists who were falling all over themselves to outdo eachother with their praise of the island. What we decided is that visiting Hawaii was a very important reminder of how much we really do like our day to day lives back home. That was the first time I've ever been ready for a vacation to end. I'm glad I went and I'm glad I'm back home.

That's my Hawaiin experience.

BigV · 06-10-2008, 05:38 PM

Hey, welcome back, l123.

I have to second the restaurant service experience. Our first night there, we wanted to eat out, not having had the chance to stock up the kitchen, too tired to cook, etc etc.

Food was ok at the hotel restaurant, but the service was reaaallly relaxed... we waited a L O N G time to get the bill, and to have it returned to us......

They certainly lost some business in the bar as a result. We spent time *waiting* to pay our dinner bill we would have preferred to have spent running up our bar tab. Oh well.

Likewise the awesome natural beauty, etc, etc.

We didn't see very many other tourists, to be honest. Or, the people we saw weren't obviously and annoyingly tourist.

I left the island wanting to stay longer. That's a good time to leave, wanting a little more. We'll definitely go back. I even think about what it would be like to live there.

06-10-2008, 04:45 PM	#1
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Kauai, HI After my little moan fest in the What's Irritating You Thread? last week I figured I should give an after action report. To set the record straight: I am fully aware how lucky and blessed I am to have the ability to have visit Hawaii. I do not hate Hawaii, Hawaiins, or anything to do with the Islands. I was however disappointed in the experience. The island was beautiful, lush, green, and surrounded by the beautiful blue pacific ocean. We did our share of sightseeing and there were several breathtaking views awaiting us. We played in the ocean daily. Lil Lookout and I kayaked and hiked through the rainforest to see some awesome waterfalls. The cruise up the Na poli coast was awesome. I am glad I went but I will never go back. The water was nice, but I don't surf so it offered nothing over the waters in Mexico or the Caribbean. I wanted sunshine but it was gloomy, overcast, and rainy for at least half of the daylight hours. The food wasn't that great which was a surprise being surrounded by the sea where food comes from. Most of the locals were really friendly and I enjoyed chatting with the folks at Starbucks every morning and night, but the freaking hippy infestation on that island is out of control. I appreciate that Hawaiin life is very laid back, but seriously you can't count on anyone to actually do their job in anything approaching a timely manner. The crib delivery guy took two days and a lot of calls to get it there. The restaurant across from the hotel is lucky they have a nice view because they don't ever get the order right and it takes an hour to get a drink. That's just the way life is and I appreciate that they enjoy it that way. I don't. Most annoying were the other tourists who were falling all over themselves to outdo eachother with their praise of the island. What we decided is that visiting Hawaii was a very important reminder of how much we really do like our day to day lives back home. That was the first time I've ever been ready for a vacation to end. I'm glad I went and I'm glad I'm back home. That's my Hawaiin experience. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin Last edited by lookout123; 06-10-2008 at 05:01 PM.

06-10-2008, 05:38 PM	#2
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Hey, welcome back, l123. I have to second the restaurant service experience. Our first night there, we wanted to eat out, not having had the chance to stock up the kitchen, too tired to cook, etc etc. Food was ok at the hotel restaurant, but the service was reaaallly relaxed... we waited a L O N G time to get the bill, and to have it returned to us...... They certainly lost some business in the bar as a result. We spent time waiting to pay our dinner bill we would have preferred to have spent running up our bar tab. Oh well. Likewise the awesome natural beauty, etc, etc. We didn't see very many other tourists, to be honest. Or, the people we saw weren't obviously and annoyingly tourist. I left the island wanting to stay longer. That's a good time to leave, wanting a little more. We'll definitely go back. I even think about what it would be like to live there. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

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