kauai for a day.. need recs on transportation, what to do?

Just wanted to see if I could get some rec%26#39;s for a one day trip to Kauai.. thinking of taking a flight over from honolulu, arriving @ 7:51 am and leaving @ 5:40 pm.. never been and thought it%26#39;d be nice to check it out for a day without staying over nite.

But, wondering about transportation and what one would do all day without a car? Have never been to Kauai, so I%26#39;m not sure where to start.. other than scouring the forums, which I%26#39;ve just started to do.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Mainly thinking of just checking out the beaches, having some lunch.. nothing too adventurous! I%26#39;m def. a beach person though, and have always heard that the beaches on the island are beautiful and non-commercialized.

Thanks in advance!

kauai for a day.. need recs on transportation, what to do?

Doesn%26#39;t sound like a good use of a vacation day/dollar to me.

Without a car to go anywhere you%26#39;d be stuck in the airport area or have to rely on the very iffy Kauai Bus. You won%26#39;t have time to go to any remote beaches or do anything very interesting (except perhaps a helicopter tour) without transportation. Even then you won%26#39;t have much time. No car, don%26#39;t bother IMO.

I%26#39;d say save the $100 on interisland airfare and go to the North Shore of Oahu. Beautiful non commercialized beaches up there too.

kauai for a day.. need recs on transportation, what to do?

You really need to have a car to see much here. You don%26#39;t say when you%26#39;re coming, but Po`ipu and Lawai beaches (south shore,) are maybe 20 minutes from the airport. North shore beaches are a bit farther, maybe 45 minutes to Anini. Very near the airport is Lydgate Park, which has protected swimming in ';pools'; surrounded by breakwaters. Weather, ocean conditions are generally better south shore in winter, north shore in summer.

Think seriously about doing a helicopter tour. Its the only way to see much of the island, as a good part of it is inaccessible.

We do have bus service, but it%26#39;s infrequent and not terribly convenient, especially for someone with time constraints like you would have.

You can take a helicopter tour right at the airport. Blue Hawaiian for example. You could also take a Robert%26#39;s Tour, but I would rent a car. The bus system is terrible on Kauai.

If you do rent a car, drive up to the North Shore for the day. You can stop at Anini Beach or drive further to Hanalei Bay. You could have lunch in Hanalei Town. On the way back check out the Lighthouse, a few falls and you could be back on the plane by 6. I just got interisland flights for $45 each way.

You know what.. the more I think of it, the more I agree.. and how I do love the North Shore.. those are my ideal, perfect beaches, esp Sunset!

It was a fleeting thought and not a good one.. thanks for confirming :D