Healthy Hut produce

People always ask me where I go to eat and shop. So today I’d like to tell you about one of my favorite places, Kilauea, “the biggest little town on the North Shore.”

If you take the turn off by the Chevron Station heading for the Kilauea Lighthouse, you’ll see historic stone buildings on three corners of the main intersection at Keneke Street (okay, it’s just about the only intersection). That’s downtown Kilauea, and in the first building on the left, I love, love, love Oskar’s, a little clothing store I always hit for birthday gifts (their baby clothes are adorable) and it’s where I buy most of my own clothes, too.

A few doors down is Healthy Hut—I always pick up a bag of organic salad greens – sold in bulk for $12.99/lb, way cheaper than buying it pre-bagged at the grocery store.

The Ahi Wrap is Awesome!

If we’re picking up dinner, the Kilauea Fish Market behind Oskar’s has a delicious ahi fish wrap made with fresh ahi, brown rice, organic greens and sesame dressing, and my husband Zack always gets the Korean chicken plate.

If  we’re in the mood for pizza, we head across the street to Pau Hana Pizza (a.k.a. Kilauea Bakery). We usually order a chicken veggie pizza, pick up two lemon bars for dessert, and we’re good to go!

P.S. While I’m waiting for the pizza I dash in to see what’s new at Cake, a fabulous consignment shop above the Kong Lung Trading Company!

So… with all this being said, what do you do and get the most amazing dad in the world for the day meant for dads, Father’s Day??  Hmmmm.  I have searched on-line for ‘stuff’, nothing…. maybe a dinner gift-certificate, too picky…. day at the beach, week-end usual… I finally came across in my opinion the perfect thing, a photo collaboration book!  I know what you all are thinking, been there & done that.  Well, take a 2nd look at this ‘book’… I came across it on the apple site and am so happy I did.  The way it works is you use all of your pics to create a book that apple makes into a  hard-copy and mails it out in 3-4 days!  I have yet to get our copy in the mail, but expect it by Friday and am SO excited…

Oh… also, I decided to take my Dad to Postcards Cafe, a favorite restaurant in our family!

Any  man can be a father, but it takes someone very special to be a Dad….

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE!

The Lua’u shows are usually exciting and fast moving.  Although the Lu’aus on Oahu can make you feel like cattle being led to slaughter, Kauai’s Lu’aus are somewhat smaller and much more pleasant!

All in all, Kauai Lu’aus can be a real blast!  If your time on Kauai allows for one, it is highly recommended.  I have two personal favorites on Kauai, Kalamaku at Kilohana and the Smiths Tropical Paradise… My family and I (husband, me, visiting Grandpa, 3 year old and 1 year old) took a night to explore each and we ALL had a blast!  In our family it is pretty rare to find something to do that pleases everyone… I think we found it with these two Kauai Lu’aus! Check out our reviews here…

Lu’au Kalamaku at Kilohana is one of the largest Lu’aus in the state.  Their 20,000 square-foot pavilion can hold nearly 1,000 people.  You may not see it at maximum capacity, as some night are cruise ship-only performances.  Instead of waiting in line at the entrance, you’re encouraged to roam the manicured grounds, visit the vendor booths and grab a drink while the line diminishes.  They also offer wonderful horse/carriage rides for $8-$10 and a very highly recommended train ride for $20-28.  We just took our 3 year son on the train ride for his birthday and I was expecting something fun for him on his special day,  I was wrong, I think my husband & I had just as much or more fun!  You gotta check it out…

Seating is assigned and there is hardly a bad table in the house, with the inexplicable exception of one behind a column that we’re told is only used when they sell out.  The main dishes to the feast are fairly simple (which in my opinion is great, kid friendly!), desserts are abundant and amazing and the bar, very accomodating!  The show is very energetic. captivating and highly entertaining.  Instead of the traditional Polynesian revue, they offer a theatrical production of the Polynesian migration to Hawaii.  There is a plot to the show and each element is presented with quality sound, inventive lighting and a level of intensity that remains constant throughout the how.  My toddler REALLY liked the fire knife dance (I asked him what his favorite thing about the night was, this was his answer:).

Smith’s Tropical Paradise Lu’au is our other favorite.  The Lu’aus are Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.  The food is not the star in my opinion; it’s the marvelous setting.  Smith’s is surrounded by a huge garden area…. the site works so perfectly for the Lu’au.  After dinner, you move to a separate show area where a small pond separates the audience from the stage.  The show is the most dazzling on the island (if you are one of the fortunate ones, you may even get picked to get up and dance hula!).  While not authentic by any means, it’s well choreographed and is quite entertaining (kids love it!), complete with the erupting volcano.  Also one little note, if you are not into the Lu’au food, you can pay a smaller fee for just show tickets.

This wraps up our reviews and personal takes on the Kauai Lu’au scene!   Please  contact Jean & Abbott’s personal concierge at conceirge@jeanandabbott.com or 800-980-2559 to assist you with scheduling this must-do event while on Kauai.

Here are some great Kauai websites worth surfing too:

Official Kauai County Website

Official Kauai Country Tourism Site

Wikipedia entry on Kauai

Schmap Kauai Guide

Please always feel free to call or email us with any questions you may have on our beautiful island. We are always available to assist:)

Aloha!  I wanted to take a moment to write about one of my favorite restaurants on the island…

After enjoying some fun in the sun on the north shore, be sure to take your crew to check out one of the bests in my opinion, Postcards Cafe.

Set in a charming plantation cottage in Hanalei, Postcards Cafe is noted for its gourmet seafood & natural cuisine with the emphasis on fresh, mostly organic ingredients and a deliciously creative menu. The restaurant has been praised in Travel & Leisure, In Style Magazine, and Brides Magazine, as well as in travel sections of the country’s top newspapers.

The lanai has lovely mountain views, and the vintage dining room features white washed-walls, beamed ceilings, and framed articles depicting by-gone days on Kauai’s magical north shore.

First taste: ‘Pupus’ (aka: appetizers), featuring:  taro fritters with pineapple chutney; seafood rockets (a melange of fish, shrimp and coconut in a crispy shell); porcini-crusted scallops; seared Cajun-crusted ahi with chipotle chile sauce; crab quesadillas, vegan Thai summer rolls and many more creative and tasty starters.

Entrees include grilled or blackened fresh fish; the Sombrero, achile/com/black bean/tomato treat; the  Shanghai, with sauteed tofu, crisp vegetables and roasted cashews in tamari sauce; the Seafood Sorrento, a divine seafood pasta with fish and shrimp, Kalamata olives, mushrooms, onions and capers in a garlic white wine sauce; The Francesca, a puttanesca pasta with a sherry marinara; and wasabi-crusted ahi with a mirin shoyu ginger sauce. There are outsanding specials every evening, luscious desserts, and organic coffee , teas and juices. Open nightly from six o’clock.  Reservations highly recommended!

My family and I visit Postcards frequently, the staff is always so warm and helpful, the food always fresh and tasty and the ambiance very cozy and comforting.  I rate the overall experience – A+!

The Lighthouse Bistro is one of Kauai’s well known restaurants located on the north shore of Kauai in the heart of Kilauea. Lighthouse Bistro features a unique menu with incredibly innovative dinner specialties and fresh local produce.  Enjoy Pacific Cuisine with European Fusion in a open air plantation atmosphere. They have live music 4 nights a week with local entertainers which is always a blast… call ahead to make sure you go visit on one of these nights.

Even if you’re not on your way to the legendary Kilauea Lighthouse, this bistro is so good it’s worth a special trip. The charming green-and-white wooden building has open sides, old-fashioned plantation architecture, open-air seating, trellises, and high ceilings.  The ambiance is wonderful, with a retro feeling. The food is excellent, an eclectic selection that highlights local ingredients in everything from fresh fish tacos and fresh fish burgers to macadamia nut crusted ahi and four preparations of fresh catch. The mango-cherry chicken in light lilikoi sauce is a tropical delight. The ahi quesadilla comes beautifully presented with rice, black beans, and spicy condiments on a plate painted with purple cabbage shavings and herbs — much more elegant than the usual lunchtime fare.

This Restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, both are divine.  The area around Light House Bistro is also very fun to explore; stylish boutique stores,  a unique island soap and candle shop, a delectable bakery and coffee shop… an area worth a few hours of your vacation time!

The awesome presence of the ocean is a constant at this lovely restaurant which features a multi-level dining room with doors thrown open to the vista and the breezes. The menu boasts a contemporary island flair, thanks to a focus on local seafood and an Asian culinary sensibility.  Kiawe-grilled entrees include fire-roasted ahi, lamb marinated in mintand coriander, and Cajun-spiced ono. Crab-stuffed pork medallions are succulent, as are Chinese-style roasted duck and delicate sea scallops.  Local Boy Paella, tinged with saffron and savory Chinese sausage, is a perennial favorite, and Molten Chocolate Desire is a foray into gooey decadence that can’t be side-stepped!

While dining, right around dusk, if you look around suddenly the dining room  will look almost empty… Everyone goes out looking at the sunset and having their pictures taken by the waiters!  Directly in front of the restaurant the sun sets and this is priceless.  The waiters usually come over to the tables and offer their assistance with taking photos, in my opinion above the call of duty and another reason the restaurant stands out!  There is also normally a professional photographer too that will take your picture at sunset for a fee.   The sunset/ocean views from this restaurant and great food truly make it a special evening surely that will have you returning year after year (if not nigth after night on your current vacation!).

Happy Feasting!!

This restaurant is a local favorite and ALWAYS busy… reservations are a must.  One little tip, they don’t take reservations for under 5 people, so bring the family and friends!  This is one of the few places my two year old will tolerate and actually ‘sit through’ dinner.  What makes it ‘special’ for him is the inside fish tank with a few ‘Nemos’ swimming around and also the mini pond with waterfall feature that holds his attention quite nicely:)  When we make reservations at this place I always request a table near the fish tank, it makes for a very nice evening for my husband and I.

Have fun and don’t miss this place… one of my very favorites!

Restaurant Kintaro:
4-370 Kuhio Hwy
Kapaa, HI 96746
(808) 822-3341