I am back from my nearly a month in Kauai; the northernmost main island of the Hawaiian chain. Most of our time was on the north shore in Princeville. Named Princeville in 1860 in honor of Hawaii’s Crown Prince Albert, this lovely area has been home to sugar plantations and a cattle ranch. Now it has the Westin luxury hotel, which is going through yet another renovation. The town is dotted with luxury resorts and golf courses.
Many locations offer sweeping views of Hanalei Bay; home to Puff the magic dragon. No, seriously, his broad back, long neck and, fortunately, closed mouth form the northern shore of Hanalei Bay. And you don’t have to be high to see him; any local can point him out.
Famous Hanalei Pier featured in many movies
If you’ve never been to Kauai you will see many sights that look familiar on arrival. That’s because this place has been in more movies than any other island in the world. It is the tropical fantasy most people imagine. In fact it was the depiction of Fantasy Island, the long-running TV show. The southern shore gets the most sun, while the north shore has the most rain, including cloud-wreathed Mt Waialeale often the wettest spot on earth. That insures lush tropical flowers of every description and waterfalls descending over 1,000 feet to unseen pools below.
The Na Pali coast; rugged, eternal
Our Princeville timeshare has a big fully-equipped kitchen and since we love to cook, that is where we dined almost exclusively. As 30-plus year veterans of Kauai we know all the places to go for the best wine values, food and entertainment. We used a poolside Weber grill to do our lamb chops that came from Costco. Yes there is a Costco on Kauai at Lihue near the airport. It’s where arrivals stop after they grab their luggage.
Food and Wine
Eating out is pricey at most local restaurants, serving times vary, masks are required and seating is limited. We only dined once at Brennecke’s Beach Broiler in Koloa, but it is one of our favorites. The Foodland stores offer good value, but you need to know what to shop for. Most things local are reasonable, but anything from the mainland is going to be 20-30% higher. The best fish prices are, wait for it, Costco. The Hanalei Dolphin fish market prices are $25 to $35 per pound, although the best quality is here.
This is what happens when the Japanese fishing trawlers prowl the seas. You’d be better off going on a charter and catching your own. If you do, Captain Don is the best charter on the island.
For food and wine we stock up mostly at Costco. The Acacia Pinot Noir we paired with our lamb chops came from there. Foodland we discovered is only based in Hawaii, but they also have very good discounted wines. You just need to know your wines to make the right choices.
- New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir-based Rose wines are very good values
- Best Old World wines go to the Princeville wine shop.
- The best assortment of wines go to The Wine Shop, Koloa
At Foodland we bought several Campuget Costières de Nimes Rose wines at 12 bills that tasted like over twenty. We also got over 30% off on JCB Napa Sparkling Rose in the black and gold bottle. Jean Claude Bossier (JCB) wine tasting shop in Napa features all manner of wine paraphernalia including a gold-plated Thompson sub-machine gun that holds a magnum of wine. No joke, I almost bought it, but the evil eye I got from my wife suggested, not.
What we are tasting: Acacia 2017 Pinot Noir, Carneros, 14.7% ABV, $12.99 at Costco
A pioneer in Carneros, Acacia debuted in 1979 and quickly distinguished itself as one of the first California wineries to offer vineyard-designate Pinot Noir. Today, Acacia remains focused on producing high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines with emphasis on showcasing terroir and crafting wines that pair beautifully with food.
- Winemakers: Matthew Glynn, Adolfo Alarcon, Reggie Hammond
- Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Unoaked Chardonnay, Red Blend, Rose
Acacia is now a member of Treasury Wine Estates an Australian mega-wine conglomerate. Penfolds and 19 Crimes are other members. Some wine lovers claim that once a conglomerate buys a winery the focus changes over time as business decisions overrule winemaking concerns. What do you think?
Typical north shore sunset – Aloha!
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