Travel

Dining Outside the Home: Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai!  Twice the taste, second to none. Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant is a very popular place on Kauai. Perhaps that is why there are two convenient locations on the East Shore. On the main drag of Old Town Kapaa, Mariachi’s is at the center of activity. You can’t miss the brightly colored building. Grab a window seat for people-watching and open air. Pay no attention to the birds that flap their wings. They know how to behave. Before the tortilla chips and tomato salsa disappear, a sizzling platter of crazy fajitas arrives to take its place. No worries. There’s plenty of food to share at a table for two. Bienvenidos!

Visit the Land of Sacred Forests

“Head down the road from the Kadavul Temple, turn left seven tenths of a mile. You will see a gravel parking area where you can leave your car. Step through the gate into the Rudraksha Forest. You will enter a grove of sacred trees called Blue Marble by the Hawaiians. If you ever thought yourself to be a tree hugger, this is where you actually will be moved to do so.” The aged woman at the Kauai Hindu Monastery shared this story with us. “The Hindu faith is built on thousands of stories”, she said through a smile. “Shiva is the name for God,” she began. “In the beginning of time, Lord Shiva gave full control of all things on Earth to man. He then went into deep meditation. When Lord Shiva awoke, He saw what a mess man had made of everything. Big surprise,” she paused for effect before continuing. “Tear drops fell on the Earth. These tear drops were blue berries which took the form of seeds that later grew into the Rudraksha tree. When you hug the tree, the pain and discord you feel in your heart and mind will be released. Spiritual healing and good health will replace it.” Her face brightened with a ray of hope. “From that time forward, the seeds became known as The Tears of Shiva. The tree grows very fast and produces tiny blue-beaded fruit whose shells cover the ground before drying into Rudrakshas.” She took a deep breath, “A natural hole appears drilled through the seed. It’s as though nature intended man to thread it on a chain and wear it.” No other bead is considered to be as auspicious and powerful as a Rudraksha. It is a symbol of God’s compassion for all living things. 

Dining Outside the Home: Oasis on the Beach in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Oasis on the Beach in Kapaa, Kauai!  A restaurant with an ocean view may hold you spellbound and lure you back for a return visit. Oasis on the Beach is like that, especially when coupled with live entertainment. It wouldn’t be Hawaii without the jangly sounds of ukulele music, breathtaking sunsets, and food so fresh you expect to see it growing next door. With a master chef at the helm, expect creative dishes beyond imagination. This is Paradise. 

Dining Outside the Home: Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company in Kalaheo, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company in Kalaheo, Kauai!  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, according to the generous portions served up at the Kalaheo Café. Stick to the favorites: a Very Veggie Omelette with melted cheese or add some Portuguese sausage for the Kahili Breakfast. Choose between a side of rice or potatoes, your way. And don’t forget the buttered toast or incredibly delicious cornbread muffins. Top it off with flavored coffee to rev up your engine. Now you’re beginning to see what I mean. Dine inside or on the front porch with a view of the mountains. Take a deep breath and dig in. 

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai!  Fling open the doors for an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see. Look closely. You may see the water spouts of a humpback whale or two on the horizon. Feel the cool breezes as you bask in the glorious sunshine. Glance around the room. Pay attention to the hanging art inside, which captures a peaceful easy feeling. Now order a meal with a beverage to match. Sam’s Ocean View fits the bill for coastal-living. Today’s special: Seared Ahi Eggs Benedict with a hollandaise sauce; a perfect blend of rich, creamy butter and lemon citrus. Mahalo. 

Take a Walk on Hanalei Pier

The scenic view on the North Shore of Kauai is right out of a Hollywood movie. And that film is the 1957 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, “South Pacific”. The Hanalei Pier was originally built in 1892, when it was used to transport taro and rice to Honolulu. Made of wood at that time, it became too difficult to maintain the pier in a tropical climate. Thus, it was replaced with a concrete finger deck and a framed shed roof in the 1940s until Hurricane Iniki damaged the 340-foot pier beyond use in 1992. Today, the local history and its iconic charm continue to lure curiosity seekers as well as vacationers and beach lovers. Hanalei Bay is the largest on the island of Kauai with its 2-mile long crescent moon and white sandy beach. Known to natives as Black Pot Beach, it can be seen littered with avid fisherman, energetic surfers, carefree picnickers, and leisurely landlubbers. We mustn’t forget the romantic lovebirds who stroll to the end of the pier, gaze into each other’s eyes, share a wet kiss, and then snap a Selfie against the opulent aqua-blue waters. Hanalei Pier does Hollywood proud. 

Dining Outside the Home: Bubba Burgers in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Bubba Burgers in Kapaa, Kauai!  The sign at the cash register says, “We Cheat Tourists, Drunks, and Attorneys.” Now you know there’s a story to be told. But that’s not why hoards of people stop by this burger shack in Old Kapaa Town to sit on the front porch and gape at the flurry of activity with an unbelievable ocean view. The fresh-ground “grass fed” beef, from cattle ranches on Kauai, produces the best and juiciest, chin-wiping burgers around. Perhaps that is why they’re known as the Slopper or Double Slopper, on a menu that features everything from a Big Bubba to Chili Fries. Go crazy. Add a thick Chocolate Milkshake made with real cream. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you walk away hungry, it’s your own fault.