Planning to go to Kauai to celebrate my wife’s 60th, thinking I’d bring my folding bike to go exploring some, good idea or bad idea? Good hiking there? Planning to go in may.
I should also ask, is there a better choice island wise too. Is there public transportation on islands for things like hiking?
Planning to go to Kauai to celebrate my wife’s 60th, thinking I’d bring my folding bike to go exploring some, good idea or bad idea? Good hiking there? Planning to go in may.
I’ve been to Kauai three times - I’d definitely say the best of the Hawaiian Islands. Amazing scenery, and generally less crowded than the more touristy islands. I didn’t do any riding while there. The main problem is that there aren’t all that many roads to ride on, and it isn’t set up for being bike friendly. Maybe getting out real early in the morning could work, but I’d focus on running and/or swimming while there.
There are lots of great places to hike, and the Na’Pali Coast is amazing. There is a 22 mile round trip hike that is awesome (done it twice) - you generally need a permit to do the whole thing, though.
I have been there 20+ times as my wife’s family has a place there. Hiking is the best in the islands. Leave the bike at home. It’s not a bike friendly Island.
Best island for cycling is Maui.
Kauai is terrible for cycling. Don’t even consider cycling on the highway, especially on the North Shore. There’s plenty of amazing hiking to do, but not a ton of transportation options. You can get around hitchhiking but really you want to have a car. Turo is the way to go over renting one at the airport.
We have a timeshare on Kauai in Poipu. I largely agree with the other posters, cycling is not the best thing to do on this Island. I do see several people doing a very small out and back on Lawai Road around Poipu Road and back, but it wouldn’t be worth shipping a bike IMO (I run here). We spend most of our time hiking at the Canyon or North Shore and swimming at Salt Pond Beach.
Been a few years but I cycled there and riding Waimea Canyon was amazing. Roads are narrow, no shoulder but the drivers were respectful. This was pre Covid, don’t know what it’s like now.
Okay thanks for the key advice. I was going to bring my little folding bike just to get around, but it sounds like a lousy place for bike riding which is unfortunate. I’m guessing I can get out for runs at least? Sounds like hiking is the way to go. Looking forward to overseas travel, I’m kind of a provincial country mouse so this will be a neat experience
We go to Hawaii every January and alternate between Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island (the Big Island). For cycling, I’d choose the other two over Kauai any day because there’s usually a nice shoulder to ride on….Kauai does not have that. Running and hiking are both good on Kauai. We stay at the Grand Hyatt so my running experience is based on that area alone. I believe part of the Kauai Marathon course is in this area. Being from the east coast (of the US), I’m usually up and running by 4AM, in Kauai. This is a great time as you typically have the roads to yourself and can enjoy the moonlight
Swim & run, especially Princeville & Hanalei Bay. Jump from the pier. And 4x4 to see the sunset at Polihale. Unforgettable.
we are staying right near the airport at the south. When I look at google maps it seems like a typical suburban kind of crap road network down there, but that about all the little unnamed roads that branch off into the hinterlands, are those just messy jeep paths to nowhere?
Why did you reply to me?
We go to Hawaii every January and alternate between Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island (the Big Island). For cycling, I’d choose the other two over Kauai any day because there’s usually a nice shoulder to ride on….Kauai does not have that. Running and hiking are both good on Kauai. We stay at the Grand Hyatt so my running experience is based on that area alone. I believe part of the Kauai Marathon course is in this area. Being from the east coast (of the US), I’m usually up and running by 4AM, in Kauai. This is a great time as you typically have the roads to yourself and can enjoy the moonlight
Swimming’s also somewhat problematic in the Poipu area of Kauai sometimes, as I recall? (When I was there, there were regular high waves/winds with red flag alerts.)
I love Kauai’s beauty but I recall it being hard to recommend for SBR. (Maui I can heartily recommend!)
So I rented a crown vic, we will be puttering around hiking. Is this an OK choice? Seems like rental companies don’t want people driving around off road anyway. Will we be able to get to typical trailheads w/ that whale?
Why did you reply to me?
Heck if I know, poor computer literacy probably.
So I rented a crown vic, we will be puttering around hiking. Is this an OK choice? Seems like rental companies don’t want people driving around off road anyway. Will we be able to get to typical trailheads w/ that whale?
Yeah you should not have a problem getting to trailheads with that. Most of the parking lots, for popular trails, are paved. You’ll enjoy the hiking there. It’s really a beautiful island
Thanks for info. Looking forward to celebrating my wife’s 60th with this trip, she has always wanted it.
I got a travel mug for my 60th. But it was a fairly nice one.
Thanks for info. Looking forward to celebrating my wife’s 60th with this trip, she has always wanted it.
I got a travel mug for my 60th. But it was a fairly nice one.
Wow, good on ya for doing this for your wife’s 60th. I hope you both have a great time. For dinner, go to The Beach House. It’s a beautiful setting right on the ocean and I have never had a bad meal there.
All of them are roads. There are just a lot of small twists and turns and I see no joy in biking them even those others do.