What to do in Lihue for a few hours?

My DH and son%26#39;s flight will arrive 4 hours after (if on time) I arrive with our 2 girls, I know I will go to Costco for an hour before I pick them up but what can we do right after to pass time? Should I go to the Marriott/ Kalapaki Bay and hang out and have the girls play on the beach? Is there a fee for parking? What else is near the airport that would be fun for us girls to do while we wait?? 1st Condo will be in Princeville so I don%26#39;t want to drive up there and back and forth... Thanks for any info!!

What to do in Lihue for a few hours?

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

There is no fee for parking and going to Kalapaki Beach - while there is ';paid'; parking in the Anchor Cove Shopping Mall closeby the beach - don%26#39;t park there!

Drive into the main Lihu%26#39;e Marriot entrance - go past the hotel entrance and take the first right that goes down to another parking lot down by the beach area.

This is where most locals park in order to access the beach - you can park there with no worries, there is a bathroom closeby and as long as you don%26#39;t use the lounge chairs or swimming pool for the hotel guests - you can enjoy the length of Kalapaki Beach!

Really isn%26#39;t much else by the airport to ';do'; - you

can browse the shops at Anchor Cove (there is a walking path that goes there from Kalapaki Beach) - but that won%26#39;t take you long - I%26#39;d opt for the beach! You can shower off and change there as well.

Malama Pono,

Janet

What to do in Lihue for a few hours?

Lydgate park is only about 3 miles north of the Airport. Plenty to do their and facilities are better than at Kalapaki IMO. No significant difference in drive time to the airport.

Depending on the ages and interests of your girls, you could go to the museum in Lihue (I think it%26#39;s just called the Kauai Museum). They have interesting displays of life on the sugar plantations and the missionaries, as well as some beautiful historic Hawaiian crafts/artifacts (Niihau shells, etc). It%26#39;s a good introduction to the history of the island and a great rainy day activity. I think they have free admission on the first Saturday of each month, but don%26#39;t hold me to that (we were there last in 06).

Oh, and Kukui Grove shopping center is right near Costco, so you can stock up on beach mats/gear/books at Kmart, Borders, Long%26#39;s etc.

Have fun!

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

The Kau%26#39;ai Museum is on Rice Street in downtown Lihu%26#39;e - it is a great place to enjoy learning about the beginnings of Kaua%26#39;i all the way up to the Sugar Plantation era.

It is open Monday - Friday 8am to 4pm - Saturday from 9am to 4pm. ';Ohana Day'; is the first Saturday of each month and has special events at the Museum along with free admission.

Be sure you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy both buildings - lots and lots to see! And a wonderful gift shop - some of the best Hawaiian made crafts on island! And a wonderful book selection!

Malama Pono,

Janet

Here%26#39;s what I would do. Shop and eat. Across the street from Costco is Macy%26#39;s and Kukui Shopping Center. There is a nice bakery where you could pick up local baked goods, cute stores to get the girls a new bathing suit or matching dresses, food shops and more. I bet they would like to pick out postcards for their friends back home. You are 10 minutes to the airport. Another tip. The Lihue airport has an area where you can park and wait for your DH and jr to call on your cell phone. No need to park for a fee. When they have their bags you can swing around and grab them. You will be 45 minutes away from Princeville. You could even grab DH a Starbucks for the road next to Macy%26#39;s. Save the museum for the entire family. Girls just want to shop!

I know what I would do is take a tour with Air Ventures Hawaii. My family did our tour right after we flew in from Oahu. They are located right there at the air port. We just got our rental car and drove (about 30 seconds) over to their terminal and checked in.

It’s an amazing way to see the island, by plane. Kids of any age will appreciate the tour, I have four and they all loved it! The flight is narrated, so by the time you get back from your one hour tour you will know the island like the back of your hand and be ready for the week a head of you!

If you are looking for free fun I would also give Lydgate Park a big thumbs up, what a wonderful family beach park. We spent two days there and my kids never wanted to leave, I think they are still dreaming of it a night, haha!

Enjoy Kauai it is amazing!!!

Wow, thank you for all the great ideas! I think we%26#39;ll save Lydgate and the Air adventures for the whole family to enjoy- that sounds really cool! I know we%26#39;ll go to Lydgate 2-3 times during our stay. Joan, you%26#39;re my kind of girl, so funny, yes, that%26#39;s what I%26#39;ll do shop!! for some beach stuff and souveniers but also go check out Kalapaki beach to say hey, we%26#39;re here in paradise, look at the palm trees and the ocean, then head for Costco. Great to know there%26#39;s an area where I can park and wait at Lihue, yippee! ;)