Kauai in March...few questions...Please help....

First, Sunday March 23d is Easter..so will everything be closed? Stores, shopping, activities?

Also, Polarized sunglasses...are they really better to have in Hawaii than normal sunglasses?

Next, we are staying in Poipu and have made reservation for 9am check-in at Princeville for zip-n-dip...How much time to drive on Thursday am is enough time? Is there RUSH hour in Kauai?

Lastly, I know March is considered ';winter';...and NORTH is rougher surf, etc. than SOUTH, but should we still try to get last minute boat trip departing from North..or just go ahead and book from company departing from SOUTH?

Thank you to all.....

Kauai in March...few questions...Please help....

I can answer the first half of your post - someone else will have to get the 2nd half.

Easter is like any other Sunday. Some of the smaller mom %26amp; pop restaurants will be closed - but then they always close on Sundays. Some of the larger restaurants may have special Easter brunches/dinners that will require reservations and probably cost more. Everything else will be business as usual. Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) IS a state holiday so expect to see more people moving around (county workers, students, etc) but that%26#39;s about it.

Polarized sunglasses reduce glare when you are on the water and increase the ';blue'; in the sky but don%26#39;t go and buy a new pair of sunglasses if you are happy with the ones you have now. If you have a digital SLR I would recommend that you get a polarizing lense - they really make your full-sun photos stand out (as opposed to the washed out look they can get with too much light).

Kauai in March...few questions...Please help....

';Next, we are staying in Poipu and have made reservation for 9am check-in at Princeville for zip-n-dip...How much time to drive on Thursday am is enough time? Is there RUSH hour in Kauai?';

I would suggest doing a search under ';traffic'; in the box above! Yes there is terrible traffic in the morning going through Kapa%26#39;a. You will be going against it, but you will experience a few jams along the way. With no traffic problems it would take you an hour and a half to get from Poipu to Princeville. Give yourself another 1/2 hour. If you don%26#39;t arrive until 9:15 the group hasn%26#39;t left. It takes about a half hour to check everyone in.

There are no boat companies going out of the north until May, I believe. The surf is too rough. Your only option is leaving from the south.

I do not wear polarized glasses but they are better for your eyes and glare. My son is a lifeguard and they make him wear them for the glare. If you haven%26#39;t bought glasses and are thinking about it then that would be a good thing.

Maybe Dave or pzp can let you know what is open or closed on Easter. That might be a good beach day or visit the canyon day.

Have fun.

You might want to think about keeping your visit as easy as possible, and last minute boat trips might not work out too well.

most of the north shore boats are not getting back into a sked to near may. Your choice, of course.

And you will not be going out of the south shore for napali trips....they depart out of Port Allen, or Kikiaola Small boat harbor on the west side.

( Near hanapepe, and Waimea ).

We use inexpensive polarized sunglasses that really enhance the beautiful scenery. Quite a difference, and also helpful out on the ocean. Not required however.

Staying in Poipu, and driving up to princeville to be there at 0900. Suggest that you get a guide book, and find the Puhi By-Pass and circumvent the Lihue, and Hanamaulu traffic whoas.

The puhi by-pass is about 6 miles from the tunnel of trees road off the main hwy. Near the Humane Society. Takes you around all the traffic slows and leads down to the harbor. Then up Rice to hwy 51, which goes in the direction of the airport. Stay on 51 and it intersects again with the main highway.

Once nearing Kapa%26#39;a, depending on the taffic, we also take the Kapa%26#39;a by-pass. Now, this is just our own choice, you can also just stay on the main highway on up to the north shore for your entire drive.

Give yourself a good hour and twenty minutes, plus. You might make it in less, but early is better than late and missing your zip and dip.

Be aware that sometimes, the main hwy from the tree tunnel to the puhi light and beyond can be a parking lot for all those miles. Sometimes not.

Denny

Thanks for the tips, everyone!

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Staying in Poipu, and driving up to princeville to be there at 0900. Suggest that you get a guide book, and find the Puhi By-Pass and circumvent the Lihue, and Hanamaulu traffic whoas.%26gt;%26gt;

Aloha from Michigan!

We use this road all the time. Just remember if you are going back that same way you have to make a left turn and that can be a challenge. I prefer the Puhi by pass just for the scenery and peacefulness.

4 more days and I WILL be on that road once again!

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

If you are driving on the Kipu or Puhi by-pass (same thing) - it is a good choice if you want to keep moving and not sit in traffic - while the road is a little windy and the speed is from 25 to 35mph - I%26#39;d recommend it also as a great choice for views that you won%26#39;t get on the main highway.

The only caution I%26#39;d give you about it is that the motor scooter place in Nawiliwili rents those little scooters that go about 15mph tops to the cruise ship folks - you can get behind a line of them when they are in port and you are stuck until it is safe to pass - which might be quite awhile -- just be aware of this and it is a wonderful option for slowed traffic on Kaumuali%26#39;i Highway.

Malama Pono,

Janet