Haena Blog
When you are looking for a vacation rental, what things are most important to you? Is it a large television? Close proximity to hiking trails or the beach? Enough bedrooms to sleep 6-8 people? Internet access?
Well, for me it is all of those things. I want to truly relax in comfort when I rent a home, no matter where I am. And if you are the same way, then you will love Hale Luana, a vacation rental home in Haena.
Hale Luana is a large vacation rental that is comfortable and right on the beach. That’s right – the backyard is literally the sandy shore of the ocean. In the front yard, there is a large plot of beautiful green grass where your family or friends can play touch football or throw frisbees. And there is a large patio/deck/lanai furnished with chairs and a table, so you can lounge in the sun while enjoying the scene.
On the inside, this three bedroom – two bath house is fully equipped for your needs. First of all, the basics of the house are all there. Both bathrooms have showers, so you can vacation with just your family or invite a second family along and each use a separate bathroom. The rest of the house is fully furnished with comfortable beds, teak and bamboo furniture, and enough space for a large group to be comfortable. The kitchen is also well stocked with appliances and a marble countertop.
Additional amenities that you might enjoy are the high speed internet access, cable TV with DVD/VCR/CD player, gas grill, and outdoor shower to rinse off after a beach adventure. This beautiful and spacious home sleeps eight and would be ideal for a large family or group of friends. Plus, at only $4,500 a week for all of that, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal on the island.
If you are going to be visiting Haena State Park, then you’ll want to stay somewhere nearby, right? Well, if it helps, I know a great place: Haena Place.
Haena Place is located a short distance from the park and is a great home away from home for tourists and visitors alike. With two bedrooms and 1 ½ baths, this is an exemplary house for small families of four or less. It is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac and is only a short walk from many great beaches. Plus, unlike a hotel room, it’s fully furnished and has a good-sized kitchen full of equipment.
A few added amenities include cable television, a DVD player, a telephone, and a glorious deck that overlooks the lush tropical mountains. But mostly this house is amazing because of its location and price. So if you are planning on staying near the North Shore during your vacation, check out this property. I just know that your family will love it here.
Actually, it’s more of the beginning of the road. Anyway, if you are planning on visiting Kauai and you haven’t been to Haena State Park, I’m going to use this chance to recommend it. Where can you find Haena State Park? Well, simply go to the beginning!
Haena State Park is located on the north end of Kauai at the very beginning (or very end, depending on your point of view) of State Highway 560. This is a great area for snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, hiking, or checking out some awesome sea caves. Plus, with the mountains and lush greenery of the jungle behind you and the long beach and blue waves before you, you’ll feel like a happy castaway.
Tunnels Beach, which I’ve talked about before, is located in this area and is the perfect spot for snorkeling. With an extensive reef extending out through the water, Tunnels Beach is one of the best places to find sea turtles and several forms of tropical fish. Ke’e Beach is also in the area is a beautiful spot to stop and have a picnic, especially if you appreciate romantic settings.
And, if you’d like, you can take one of the many hiking trails up into the mountainous jungle, exploring the untamed side of Kauai. I am not the biggest fan of exercise, but I do love to explore a bit of our tropical island from time to time. You never know what you might see!
So, when you plan your trip to Kauai, visit Haena State Park and enjoy your day at the beach.
Recently I was asked for information on a vacation rental here on Kauai. A couple I know with three children wanted to come out, but they had specific tastes. Their exact words were “unique and modern,” and I had the perfect place in mind: Hale Oli.
After one look at this recently completed home, you’ll know why I chose it for them. The architecture is like nothing else you will find, and its uniqueness gives it strength. The inside has been newly furnished with the perfect blend of modern and old school furnishings. And the hot tub is a big draw for any crowd. But there is much more to this house than meets the eye. Here is why I chose it for this family.
Families with small children love having multiple things to do during the day. Children, I have noticed, run on two settings: lightspeed and sleeping. So I wanted something for them that had the uniqueness they were searching for and entertainment for the kids. This house had it all: a hot tub, cable television, DVD player (and VCR for old school parents), CD player, high speed internet access, and an easy 5 minute walk to the nearest beach. There was so much for this family to do, I was sure they would enjoy their vacation without worrying about anyone getting bored.
And for the parents, there had to be a little something special. Hale Oli is the perfect romantic getaway, even with kids. There are three lanais to choose from, so there is always a place of solitude, and the views from this house are some of the best on the island. The house is located in Haena, a gorgeous spot at the end of the road on the north side of the island. From the house, you can see Mount Makana and the rest of the majestic Haena mountains. Plus, there is an incredible ocean view from the east lanai. On the back lanai, the couple could take late night trips to the hot tub to watch the stars and dream about their lives together. It seemed absolutely perfect.
Of course, they aren’t the only family who needs a place to stay on Kauai. If this house sounds like something you would be interested in renting for a while, then make that call. I can think of no better place for relaxation, comfort, fun, enjoyment, romance, and uniqueness.
As a child, I always loved caves. There was just something about them that drew me in, causing me to imagine my life underground or living in our historical past. Natural cave formations always fill me with wonder and make my imagination run wild. Perhaps that’s why I am always finding excuses to visit a cave or two.
So I figured if I liked exploring caves, some of my readers might like it too. Therefore, I’m going to briefly describe a few caves in the area that you can visit while you are staying on Kauai.
The first cave is the Maniniholo Dry Cave, and it is called that because you won’t have to get wet to see it. This fun natural cavern is only 300 yards deep and wanders back to a small exit hole on the side of the mountain. According to my grandparents, this cave used to be a lot bigger. However, back in 1957, a tsunami filled over half of it with sand, meaning that a large portion of the cave was lost. As a child, I used to pretend to be an archeologist, digging out the lost parts of the cave and discovering a whole new civilization living under the sand. Now, however, I just visit for the fun of it. If you want to see this cave, it is located near Haena Beach Park on Route 560. When you get to the park, look for the cave off to your left. You should be able to find it without a problem.
Of course, no cave exploration is complete without a little bit of water. Underwater caves are probably my favorite, since the sea depths have always been a mystery themselves. Somehow a dark underwater cave seems to scream hidden treasures, natural wonders, and an abundance of mystery.
There are two underwater caves within a couple hundred yards of each other, so I will direct you there. These caves are the Waikanaloa and Waikapalae Caves. They are both underground and have been explored over the years by scuba divers of all ages. These caves are close together and fun to explore, but they are a bit trickier to find. Located after Haena but before Kee Beach, you can simply drive north on the 560 through Hanalei about 9 miles from Princeville. You will see signs for one of the caves directly off the left side of the road. From there, you can also explore the second cave, since it is only accessible from the water.
If you want to go hiking in a real outdoor wonderful, then you should come to Kauai and experience one of our many beautiful hiking trails. We have great paths all over the island from the bike paths near Lihue to the Hanakapiai trails in Haena. But if you want something truly different, how about a swamp?
This might sound weird, but the Alakai Swamp Trail is a fun and free excursion for Kauai tourists. With a moderate difficulty level, this is definitely a hike that you shouldn’t try as a novice, but it’s easy enough for most trail hikers. Ranging for three and a half miles one-way, this trail will lead you across the swamp, giving you a first hand view of the wildlife and plant life of a swamp area. (Don’t worry; I’m not talking an up-close-and-personal encounter with rats here.)
The swamp is part of the Kauai rainforest, one of the most beautiful places on the planet. As such, there is a lot to see on this trek to Kilohana. The trail varies from a dirt path to planks through the bogs, so you’ll have to watch your step and stick to the trail markers. There is no sense getting lost or wet in this slippery and muddy place.
There are no restrooms in this wet wonderland, so you’ll have to hold it if you want to hike it. There are also no drinking fountains, so any water you want needs to be brought in bottles. Everything else you need to know is basic common sense.
So, if you are thinking that a swamp hike sounds like fun, you’re right. The word swamp often scares people away, but it is only here that you will experience some of the most amazing views and sights in Kauai. Just remember to bring appropriate footwear, sun block, water, and a first aid kit (just in case). You can also bring a few snacks, but don’t trash our trails. Keep it all in your backpack and save our rainforests.
So yesterday I did something that I haven’t done in a long time – I toured a garden. No, I don’t mean that I went to a friend’s house and looked at their flowers, though I do have some friends with great taste and green thumbs. Instead, I went to Limahuli Garden and took a self-guided tour.
Limahuli Garden is one of five National Tropical Botanical Gardens you can visit, and there are three of them on Kauai, which makes sense because of our wet and tropical climate. The other two locations are on Maui and in Florida. I chose Limahuli because it is located on the north shore near Haena Beach and is, therefore, the closest one to where I live.
Self-guided tours of the garden run about $15, which I was happy to pay. I knew that it was too late in the day for a guided tour anyway, and I’ve paid the $30 to listen to the tour guide before. While it was a great experience and I would do it again if I was bringing someone new to the gardens, I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a while, surrounded by something beautiful.
On the guided tour, stories and legends are told that bring the Valley and the natural beauty around you to life. Remembering those tales made walking through the garden myself a lot more fun, viewing the lava rock terraces and the Polynesian plants with new eyes. I had brought my story notebook along with me, so I was able to jot down story ideas as they came to me. (I always get ideas when I’m in an enchanting place.) And after a couple of hours, I felt at peace with the world and encouraged by the gracefully sculpted landscaping.
I also learned a few things about visiting one of the National Tropical Botanical Garden spots. First of all, you need good walking shoes. While I enjoyed my visit, I was wearing flip-flops the whole time and my feet hurt a bit by the end. It’s also a good idea to wear long pants to avoid the mosquitoes and a hat for the non-shady areas, though umbrellas are provided free-of-charge by the Visitors Center.
Haena is located near the road’s end and World Famous ‘Tunnels Beach’. It is a short 4 mile drive from Hanalei along a road that winds around the cliff sides high above the Pacific. Those who travel frequently say that this is the most beautiful place on Earth. View other Haena Vacation Rentals
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