ISSUE 21: KAUAI TRAVEL GUIDE
Where to eat, beach, and sightsee on the Garden Isle. Plus, the supplements I packed.
What is UP!
We are back with yet another issue of OH, THAT'S GOOD.
Congrats to OTG reader Abbey who won the reader survey giveaway box. Abbey got a box of treats shipped to her including my favorites from Siete Foods, Coco Rolls, Midday Squares, CHOMPS, and more.
If you didn't have a chance to take the survey yet, I'd really appreciate you filling it out. Reading your feedback is so helpful to me in evolving this newsletter moving forward. Fill it out while you're in the bathroom, I don't care. Just do it!
If you’re new here. WELCOME!!! Don’t forget to subscribe so you get some funny wellness/food/trend/travel shit in your inbox every Wednesday. Add me to your contacts so I don’t go to SPAM.
And now, to the land where SPAM is a’plenty…
KAUAI TRAVEL RECS
Not to be that girl, but yeah, I just got back from Hawaii. Kaua’i, specifically.
I started filming a video of a character who is going to Hawaii to find herself, and then the second I got to Hawaii I was like nah I don't feel like ~creating content~ so this is all I have:
Consider it the prelude to all the photos I'm about to share from my trip.
My boyfriend was born and raised on Kauai, so we went there for two main reasons (1) visit some friends and (2) eat a lot of raw fish.
PACKING
I was feeling saucy so I took photos of a few different categories of things I packed with me, including supplements, plane snacks, and a new carry-on bag I am obsessed with (not to be dramatic). If you wanna get straight into the Kauai guide, SCROLL ON! If not, here are some supplements and snacks!
SUPPLEMENTS
I saw this recently and couldn't help but think: "me."
I feel like whenever influencers who use supplements post pics of their supplements it's just like oh I brought a stick of collagen and these packs of Cymbiotika that by the way, are three dollars a pop. I love Cymbiotika but I can't buy a trip's worth of pouched liquid vitamins and still hope to buy a house one day.
Here's what I brought on this trip (please keep in mind these are all based on my unique health needs but I know people are curious what other people take. Consider this...entertainment.)
Enzymedica Digest Gold digestive enzymes: for support breaking down food and if I eat something particularly ~rich~
Healthforce Superfoods Probiotics: I've tried a lot of probiotics over the years including Seed, Jarrow, specialized ones for histamine issues, Organic Olivia, and more. I like these a lot right now! I normally take one in the morning right before I eat breakfast. I can do more of a deep dive on supplements later, but probiotics are good for supporting your gut health (which is the center of your body's overall health!!) Also good for keeping the poops moving.
Pique BT Fountain Minerals: I think I've mentioned these before, but I really like them for electrolytes. They have a pretty balanced formula and also taste yummy. I've been trying to drink them right when I wake up. I brought them on the trip to have while flying, which is famously dehydrating, and also just have in case I need some good hydration after being in the sun.
IN THE MYSTERIOUS BAGGIES WE HAVE:
Thorne’s Zinc Picolinate 15mg: good for immune system while traveling—and skin.
LifeSeasons Breathe-X: I buy these little bottles of this guy every so often because I like that it has Vitamin C and quercetin which are good for immune system and also calm down my inflammation if I eat gluten or other stuff that makes me feel irritated physically. It's technically for seasonal allergies, but it's spring now so wanted to have on hang in case something was bloomin' that didn't agree with me.
Lemon Balm tincture --> except I actually brought Take the Edge Off by Apothékary which helps with anxiety (disclosure: this is a former client and I named the product (lol) but it genuinely helps especially with racing thoughts in the middle of the night!)
Vitamin C chewables by Pure Encapsulations mysteriously packed into a Zinc bottle because I can’t be bringing big containers with me everywhere!!
I also ended up bringing a Thorne brand B-complex #12 (unpictured) in case I wanted some extra stress support while traveling
PLANE SNACKS
Chomps bar for proteeeeeeeeeein
tangerine - had to bring from home or it would perish. Also, fruit?
Midday Squares - my fave for a little treat but honestly it’s just a like dessert protein bar.
Carrots and celery I had to cut up and bring or they would also perish in the refrigerator. Also…vegetables!
aforementioned Pique electrolytes
SHOUTOUT TO THIS BAG
I got the Calpak Luka Duffel for Christmas after receiving a tirade of Instagram ads about this supposedly viral bag. Let me tell you, folks, it's... incredible. I am normally a backpack girl because I like to ruin my posture and feel the weight of my ancestors upon my spine, but I thought hey, I'm gonna bring this as my personal item instead.
It fit TWO giant water bottles (both +1L), snacks, my laptop, big headphones, notebook, fanny pack, little things like hand cream, pens, gum, etc. and more. I didn't utilize the nice shoe sleeve, but it also has that. It's a bag that continues to shock and awe me with little its compartments.
Also, as a usual backpack martyr, I was inspired by the fact that I could just open the bag and easily see everything in it—instead of digging furiously into a backpack like a squirrel looking for last season's nuts.
I HIGHLY(!!!) recommend this bag! I literally kept saying "wow I love this bag" while we were traveling, which was probably really annoying for my boyfriend, but wow, I love this bag.
KAUAI RECS!!!!
FOOD
This was my second time to Kauai and Hawaii in general, and luckily, I was traveling with a local. My boyfriend knows all the good local spots, and I'm the person who's like "If I don't have a smoothie today my whole vibe will be off." So between the two of us, we hit a good mix of the classic spots and the ones that an influencer named Tiffany would post on Instagram with the caption "this iced matcha changed my lyyyfe."
So, without further ado, here are essentially all the places we ate or drank on Kauai, with fav places getting some extended shoutouts:
Meals + Coffee
Fish Express (Lihue)
This is the place I wanted right after we got off the plane. We had it like, the day after we got off the plane, but close enough. The move here is poke or MY favorite…the furikake ahi over greens. Life changing. I mean, look at it.
Japanese Grandma (Hanapepe)
From what I can tell this is like one of ~thee~ spots on the island now. Insanely amazing sushi and we also got the Chicken Karaage which was incredible. We went here twice for dinner. It’s all outside in a cute little patio vibe. From the menu, it looked like they also have pretty inventive cocktails. Definitely make a reservation—I think we went there on a Monday and people had reservations (which was a good move!)
Kauai Diner (Lihue)
When everything else is closed on Monday for breakfast- go here. Also, you can get a lot of different types of sausages here, if that’s what you WANT! (freak) (jk) (me)
HealthGo Market (Lihue)
This is a little market/grocery store situation, but they also have vegan and GF friendly grab and go food, or food you can order (like dietary friendly pizza)! They also have a smoothie/coffee bar. I have now been here several several times.
Fresh Bite (Hanalei)
If you give me high quality vegetables, protein, a gluten-free bread option, and french fries…you’re already in my top favorite restaurants. Fresh Bite is a little food truck in Hanalei, which is on the North Shore of Kauai. We stopped here for lunch before we went to the beach where Bethany Hamilton got bit by a shark. I got the veggie sandwich but added chicken, and asked for it on a gluten free bun. You also get a sauce choice, so I selected what my TGI Fridays inner child told me to: the honey mustard. My boyfriend Jerik got the grass-fed steak sandwich and the “fruit punch” drink which was coconut water and POG juice (passion orange guava). They topped it with a pineapple slice and flower, making it very “vacation vibes.” We split the purple sweet potato fries because we’re not clueless. They also had ice cream and some poi desserts there. We didn’t get any, but just letting you know.
Kalaheo Cafe (Kalaheo)
This is another top spot 4 sure. We went last time I visited, and it’s a popular local and tourist spot. This is a great brunch spot that leans more classic American breakfast rather than local Hawaiian fare, but they make a great omelette and also their cold brew hit the spot on multiple occasions. You can also get rice with your eggs which is something I love about Hawaii and also through this I better understand my boyfriend’s insatiable quest for rice at every meal. They also do dinner, and I’ve heard their carrot cake is insane—but don’t eat it if you are lactose intolerant. (Passing along from someone who got taken down by the dairy.)
Java Kai (Kilauea and Kapa'a)
We came here TWICE! The Kilauea location. Originally, we sought it out for coffee on the north shore, and then we were like woah, they have a really good food menu, so we came back later. They also have a lot of great smoothies! This is a good spot for breakfast or lunch. When we went for lunch, I got a matcha, smoothie, and egg salad. Which was a lot, but like, whatever. I could be tricked into a cult by the offer of a great smoothie. Jerik got a blended coffee drink which was basically like a Frappuccino.
Kauai Juice Co. (Koloa and Kapa'a)
The girlies would come here after yoga. I was amazed by all the bottled juices available here, but they actually have amazing little market items on their shelves too like nice nuts, baking mixes, chocolate, and cool supplements. You can order a variety of pre-made juice here, a smoothie bowl (which is pumped out of a soft serve machine), and also some food items (I tried the Thai lettuce cups and breakfast burrito.)
Duke's (Lihue)
Duke’s is just one of those classic spots you can’t miss, named after Olympic swimmer and renowned surfer Duke Kahanamoku. This is like going to a big daddy steakhouse but with a Hawaiian tilt. You can get a lot the local favorite dishes here, but it’s definitely more of a special occasion restaurant. I got the huli huli chicken and rib plate with mac salad, and I also opted for their iconic salad bar because who am I to turn down a salad bar? Also, my boyfriend looks like Duke, so legally, we had to come.
Wailua Drive-In (Lihue)
This is a great spot for the local dishes, like a loco moco which I got here! If you’re not familiar, a loco moco is a hamburger patty topped with egg and doused in gravy—all served over rice. You can also get butter garlic shrimp, lau lau, chicken katsu, lomi salmon, chicken long rice, and more here. Again, the local fare, ok??? And also randomly fried Brussels sprouts, which I got because I’m a Millennial. Jerik knows one of the co-owners who also owns Wailua Shave Ice (we’ll GET to that.) This used to be a ramen/saimin spot called Saimin Dojo, and Guy Fieri visited it on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Did someone say Flavortown???
Kilauea Fish Market (Kilauea)
Low key counter for poke or fish burritos!
Paco's Tacos (Poipu, multiple locations)
If you’re looking for Mexican food in Kauai, Paco’s Tacos is fab. It’s a classic Mexican spot (we went to the location situated on a golf course in Poipu), and everything was super fresh, yummy, and I didn’t feel like a tired slug after I ate there. Also the tortilla chips have some heft. And if there’s one thing I like in my chips, it’s heft. Super good. Go!
Monico's (Lihue)
Another Mexican spot, if you don’t want to go to Paco’s. Like, why don’t you trust me?
Kimchi #9
My boyfriend loves this place for the meat jun (which is a Korean dish of thinly sliced beef dipped in egg batter and fried). We went for dinner. They have hella meats!! I got the bi bim bap.
Wrangler's (Waimea)
A classic steakhouse vibe with a cowboy tilt. Lots of local meat options and big entrees! The ambience was giving yee-haw. renaissance part ii. Cows.
Sueoka Market (Koloa)
This is a market with a little snack shop attached to the side! The snack shop has very tasty little burgers. They include a secret ingredient which we learned about this trip. I can’t tell you what it is. You have to go!
Big Save (everywhere)
This is straight up a grocery store. But you can find some of the best poke in the prepared food section/fish counter at Big Save. Don’t sleep on it!!!
Treats
Wailua Shave Ice
My bf knows the owner, and his bestie Micah (hi Micah!!!) used to be the manager, and… no bias but it's gotta be the best shave ice spot. Forget syrups, everything here is made in-house and from actual ingredients like fresh fruit. My favorites are the Strawberry Coconut and Da Ube One. I like these ones because they use coconut milk so the shave ice gets super creamy and is just delicious. We went three times during this trip.
Holey Grail Donuts
Holey Grail serves up made-to-order doughnuts crafted out of taro root from the Hanalei Valley. They get fried to a perfect golden brown crisp in coconut oil just minutes before you eat them. Awkward, but we first found Holey Grail at an event in LA even though they originated in Kauai. We went to one of the Kauai locations, but they have storefronts now in Santa Monica and Larchmont if you’re in LA. I hiiiighly recommend. Heavenly.
Orly Patisserie (Lihue)
We stopped here on the last day to get treats for a friend, and shit. I wish I knew about it sooner. This place has some incredible baked goods including every pastry and cake you can think of, plus banana bread, pandesal, and the cookies below that have changed me forever. I also got a coffee here (which used beans from Kauai Roastery) and it was one of the best I had the whole trip! Do not miss. Btw, multiple people thought the cookie was a “geode” when I posted it on Instagram. It’s not a rock, but it does rock. Also, there was a couple doing a wedding cake tasting outside when we got here, so if you’re eloping on Kauai, at least get your cake here since your mother can’t see you wed. You monster.
Kauai Sweet Potato Cookies from Orly Patisserie
Kauai Bakery (Lihue)
A shoutout because my boyfriend’s best friend’s family used to own this spot. You can get various malasadas and some cinnamon buns here. Plus cake. Idk, it’s a bakery. Use your imagination.
Beaches
Ah yes, the beaches!!! Beaches. Bee-chéz.
Shipwreck’s
Stunning water. Features a gorgeous big rock that local teens jump off of. Don’t do that. It’s nice for swimming. Pretty sunset. Really nice sand…I really liked the sand. Lots of public parking nearby, but it can get kind of crowded because it’s right by a resort. We went during “get the kids ready for dinner” time, aka the time I assume parents are getting their sunburnt children ready for dinner at the resort, leaving the beaches emptier and quieter. This is between 4-6pm.
Poli Hale
Poli’s is what people would call “at the end of the road.” The main route around Kauai is a backwards C, and this is essentially at the bottom tip of the backwards C. You need a good, stable car that will not get bottomed out if you want to go to Poli Hale because the final 35 minutes or so of the drive is a chaotic dirt road with a ton of potholes and rocks. If you get car sick, be prepared. It is an adventure. However the beach is gorgeous and hot. Like me. The waves were pretty crazy while we were there, but our friend who lives on Kauai said it’s as still as a lake in the summertime.
Marine Camp
Marine Camp has a mini Poli Hale road situation, but it only takes like 2 minutes to get to the beach. We only came here right before sunset, but it was very pretty and chill. I feel like I’m using “pretty” and “chill” a lot in this post, but alas, Kauai is “pretty” and “chill.” I’d like to come back here to swim more next time. It seems pretty chill. Also the water was chill. But we were here in March. Pretty.
Tunnels / Haena
Situated on the North Shore past Hanalei, Tunnels Beach can’t be missed. Full disclosure, this is where Bethany Hamilton got her arm bit off by a shark. But like, don’t go that far out there. It’s a good place for a casual dip and some snorkeling. There’s also a lovely mountain view that kind of looks like St. Kitts (I’ve never been but you know, I’ve seen photos.) It’s hard to find parking along the little cut-throughs off the main road (we got lucky), however from what I read a lot of people just park at Haena and then walk down the beach. It’s kinda basically almost all the same beach, depending on where you sit.
Anini
The old story goes that this beach used to be called Wanini, and one day the W was missing off the sign so people just started calling it Anini. There are other theories too. Whatever the correct name, this is a very very very chill beach that a lot of people come to for snorkeling! It also has very coarse, rocky, coral-y sand so prepare accordingly with water shoes. We found our own little pocket of the beach off the main road. It was too cold and windy for me that day to go in all the way in the water, but I did find a lot of cool shells!!!
Salt Pond
We only came here to watch the sunset, but this is also supposed to be another good snorkel spot. And it’s pretty! And as we’ve learned above: chill.
Lastly, [a beach I cannot name bc it is a local secret, but I just wanted to let you know I know a secret!!!!!!!]
ADDITIONAL SITES TO SEE
The Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge
This sits on the North Shore of Kauai, and it is home to many local species of birds—and if you are paying attention: a lighthouse. Come here to take in the flora, fauna, and some pretty awe-inspiring views. Apparently you need to reserve a spot to get in, but we didn’t and still got in. We also came on a weekday, so if you’re going in the weekend, I would check about reservations ahead of time. The hottest club on Kauai is the Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge! Randomly we learned that Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor donated a lot of money to the wildlife refuge. I think they got married on Kauai and if I can assume anything…must love the local birds.
The cave randomly across from Haena Beach parking
I mean, what is this cave? Why is it here? It’s kind scary? But also interesting. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go inside of it, but then I caved.
Waimea Canyon
Just look at it!!!! Lots of hikes, scenic overlooks, and drives around this fella. The Grand Canyon of Kauai.
Hanalei Valley
A truly stunning wildlife refuge and land where taro is grown. You will drive by this if you’re driving to the North Shore. It’s just beautiful. Look out for the nene goose!!!
Hanalei Valley
The Tree Tunnel
If you’re driving from Lihue to Koloa and onward to Poipu, you will likely go through the Tree Tunnel. It’s exactly what it sounds like. I kept wishing a mythical creature would appear and offer me magical fruits, but it didn’t happen.
OTHER RANDOM THINGS TO NOTE
I found these venison meat sticks from Maui Nui Venison at a grocery store, and they are so good. They don’t leave any type of slimey fatty taste on your tongue like some meat sticks do, and come to find out…they are made from an invasive deer species found on Maui?? Here’s for sustainable food products that are also good for you!! I need to have some shipped to me immediately.
The only department store on the island, Macy’s, was going out of business while we were there and having a full liquidation sale. I got like 3 bathing suits, a pair of pants, and a top all for $45. It’s sad, but girls, we know how expensive bathing suits are. RIP Kauai Macy’s </3.
We got to hang out with these cute weenies while we were there!
Literally smallest lizard I’ve ever seen in my life crashed our dinner.
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW!
I will update this if I ever go back. Let me know if you pay a visit to Kauai. It’s truly gorgeous. My advice if you go is to relax, clean up after yourself to keep it gorgeous, and eat everything. And if you go to Poli Hale, at least rent a Jeep.
If you’re new here…don’t forget to subscribe! <3
Thanks for reading,
LJ