Alex & I usually try to connect through Denver (DEN) when flying from Boston to Kauai. This breaks up the journey as "evenly" as possible and tends to have good connection times. Los Angeles (LAX) is another good option and tends to be the airport with the most options for different airlines that fly through. San Francisco (SFO) is another airport option to connect through, however, with the climate and fog that San Francisco is known to experience, sometimes arrivals into that airport can be delayed, causing issues if you only have a short amount of time to catch your next flight. Hawaiian Airlines has a route from Boston directly into Honolulu, which would then only require a short 40-minute flight from Honolulu to Kauai. The flight from Boston to Honolulu isn’t for the faint of heart (11 hours straight rather than breaking it up somewhere on the West Coast) but Hawaiian Airlines tends to have competitive pricing for those who can brave it. Bottom line, if you're coming from an airport that requires a connection to Kauai, there are at least 3-4 airports to choose from for that connection depending on your airline preferences, cost preference or timing preference. Whichever connection location that you choose, we wouldn't advise selecting a routing with a connection time that's less than 1 hour long (personally, I always aim for somewhere between 1.5-3 hours). Pro Tip: Once you book your flights and are able to select your seats, choose a seat on the left side of the plane (when looking forward, at the pilot) on the flight that lands into Lihue for the best views of the coast line.
Kauai is a small island so taxis and Ubers aren't as available as they are in larger cities or other destinations. Once you have your flights booked, you can pre-book airport transfers (one-way or round-trip) in advance through this company: Speedi Shuttle: https://www.speedishuttle.com/ Options for their transfer service include: • A shared service (if there are only 1-2 people arriving at a certain time, this is the most affordable option) • A private service (if there are 4+ people arriving at a certain time, this could make the most sense) • A VIP, upgraded service (luxury vehicles, etc.) • Rates for 2 people with shared service start at around $60-$70 one-way or $120-$140 round-trip. (This pricing is inclusive of both travelers). • Rates for a private service start at around $185 one-way or $375 round-trip. (This pricing is inclusive for all passengers).
Depending on where you are on the island, the ocean in Kauai can be extremely rough, with a very strong current, and not all beaches are considered swimmable (which can be a big difference between Kauai and other Hawaiian Islands, if you've been) It is really important to stay super aware of where you are, if you choose to swim in the ocean in Kauai. Hanakapiai Beach (the beach at the end of the Kalalau trail in Napali Coast National Park) is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in Hawaii. You should never swim in that water, no matter how good it looks after completing the long hike. Poipu Beach is one of our favorite places to go swimming on the South Shore since it's walking distance from the Hyatt. The calmer waters down by the Sheraton Hotel are especially nice and it's a public beach so you can just bring a towel and settle in wherever you like. Hanalei Bay on the North Shore is also a great beach for swimming (and makes a great stop post-hike if you’re on that side of the island).
Most restaurants on the Grand Hyatt property book up well in advance. If planning to dine with a larger group (4+ people), we suggest making your reservation 3-4 weeks in advance to guarantee your preferred time slot. Must Try Local Foods: • Fresh fish: Grilled, Fried, taco-form or Poke bowls o Coconut shrimp at Brennecke's is Andrea's favorite! • Huli Huli chicken • Loco Moco o Alex loves the one from Kauai Poke Co. at Poipu Bay Golf Course! • Acai bowls • Macadamia nut iced lattes from Kind Koffee Co. at Warehouse 3540 • Shave ice • Fresh coconut water Other restaurants to try: • Brennecke's (Across the street from Poipu Beach) • Red Salt (Ko'a Kea Resort, near Poipu Beach) • La Spezia (Downtown Koloa) • Koloa Fish Market (for Poke Bowls)
Kauai is a very casual island, and you likely won't need anything upscale or fancy, even for our wedding! Dress code for our wedding will be semi-formal & tropical: we encourage bright, floral attire for women and men can wear suits or khaki pants and a button-down shirt. Please no shorts or open-toed shoes for men. Other items we suggest you don't leave home without: • Sunscreen (Make sure it's reef-safe to protect the wildlife. Sun Bum is a great option) • Bug repellant (Especially if you're planning to go hiking) • Light-weight rain jacket (If you're going hiking on the North side of the island, the mornings often start a bit drizzly and fade off to perfect, sunny days!) • Waterproof phone pouch (As noted above, the weather can be unpredictable with quick 5-10 min showers that pass over as quickly as they start. Having a rain-proof pouch for your phone, keys, wallet, etc. can keep your things safe while you wait it out.)