My fiance and I are getting married in March and am going to Kauai and Maui for our honeymoon. I've never been to Hawaii, or anywhere really tropical for that matter (does San Diego and Florida count?), so I would like any suggestions on where to wine and dine (and perhaps BYOB). Also, if anyone has gone fishing on the two islands, I'd appreciate recommendations - it's one of those activities I'd be interested in doing. Thanks in advance!

Maui: This is your honeymoon. If it is Not too late, call & make reservations @ the Hyatt Regency. This Hotel is very unique & romantic. It has no roof. The inside of the Hotel is a garden with birds/parrots flying in all the time. There is a Zoo-like atmosphere with all kinds of animals walking around. The Restaurants are Great. The pool is very nice. Swan Court (1 of the Restaurants) is located near the H2O. If you ask to be seated by H2O, there is a good chance a swan will swim right by you guys. People from other Hotels actually take a tour to this Hotel.

As far as Restaurants, it was 3+ years ago, cannot remember. But, I believe Wine Spectator did a special coverage on Hawaii & Hawaii-dining.

If you scuba-dive, Maui is great & a must. Have to licensed, though…

1 more suggestion. Take 1 day, rent a car & take a drive around Maui. I forgot what they call that drive but it takes all day (bring a LOT to Drink, a LOT & some snacks). But, the scenery & experience is Awesome. A Must. You have to do it, if you are there. People even buy T-Shirts that say, “…I survived the Drive…”. I recommended this to a few people over the years, & they all loved it.

jaimetown:

i searched in vain over at WS for my post relating to hawaii. we just got back from maui in september for our honeymoon. lcc has good recommendations. of course we're partial to the marriott and wailea. we got a cabana, awesome. anyway, lcc is speaking of the road to hana, that stretch of drive along the eastern side that is rainy all the time, and has 40 some one lane bridges to go over. it took forever with no traffic in september, you're there during high time. it will take awhile. right out of the airport is a costco, stop in and grab some vino for the room.

the western side of the isle leads you up and to kapalua. there is a village called lahaina, very nice. we found a restaurant on the main street (there's plenty) that just opened, didn't have a liquor license, so we went to the wine shop there, and picked up a bottle. not the drug stores on this street, it's on the main east/west drag from the main island route to the ocean. you'll know it, it's the only one, and he has a temp controlled wine room. we picked up a 93 vino nobile from avignonesi, very nice, and an 86 meyney, and some others. good selection surprisingly.

other good eats, include a restaurant named after the state fish, so long i think they just call it by the first letter. it's at the hotel just down the street from the marriott wailea. sorry this is so vague, dame frankie did most of the planning, she has all the notes, i'll go back tonite, see what i can scrounge up, and add some colour to this post.

i'll be anxious for your report on kauai. i have a time share there and haven't been there yet. let me know.

Jamietown,

The long restaurant name would be humuhumunukunukuapua'a. Also on Maui is Roy's in Kahana, Sam Choys, David Pauls, Sansei Sushi and Jacques Bistro.

The road to Hana is very beautiful and very long!!! Also try a bike ride down Haleakala. They drive you to the top and you cruise 25 miles down. Very beautiful and very fun. Also check out the Seven Sacred Pools. If you are going to scuba dive, make sure you go on a boat dive
to Molikini Crater or even the backside of Lanai.i

Sorry not too many reccommendations for restaurants in Kauai, usually only go there to hike and enjoy all nature has to offer. One place I do know of is Donanto's, and of course Dukes. Make sure you do a little hiking on the Na Pali coast, and do a catamaran or helicopter ride there as well. The coastline is stunningly beautiful. Good time for whale watching in both locations. Also be sure to check the Longs Drugs on Kauai for wine. You would be surprised at what you can find at them...even Opus 1.

Have fun and have a great honeymoon.

Aloha

I bumped VinoMe's extensive Kauai post in the WS dining &cooking forum, definitely worth a look

lcc - we are staying at the Hyatt Regency in both Maui and Kauai - I'll definitely have to check out the restaurant by the water. Thanks!

PE - I did see VM's post on the WS boards. I copied it and will take it with me to Kauai. Thanks for the bump!

Frankie and aloha - thanks for the recommendations!

Here's thelink that PE was referencing...

I would recommend Roy's in Kahana I believe. He actually has two restaurants there -- right next to each other.I think. One is just Roy's, the other is I think Roy's Kahana Grill. There is some overlap in the menus and both are good, but I prefer "Roy's".

I also like Longhi's in Lahaina.

Another thing you should do while in Maui, go to the Old Lahaina Luau. You will need to make reservations (NOW) and it will be worth it, trust me.

The Road to Hana is fun, but try not to do it on a weekend day. Also, do not come back the same way, keep going all the way around the island and you will see volcanic cattle country. There is even a funky General Store (I forgot the name) about a third of the way back going this way beyond Hana. They paved this road in 95 or 96, so it is not as much fun as it used to be, but I think the rental car companies lobbied for it.

But I actually prefer driving around the NW corner of the island as it is less travelled and just as crazy and twisty turny as the road to Hana. Plus, you will see some of the most amazing surf there, especially at this time of year. Bring wine, picnic basket and you will have a great time.

jaimetown: Great. It is a very unique hotel. Nice pool also. But, make sure that is the 1. They may have 2 (Hyatt & Grand Hyatt). Ask if it is the 1 with the Garden & animals.

And, keep an eye out for the penguins. Yes, penguins. Within that Hotel, there are a few Restaraunts. Forgot the name, but the Restaraunt on the bottom floor, has the BEST desserts. So, 1 night after Dinner go there for Dessert.

T.J. is correct, do the entire thing. We actually grabbed some H2O @ that Store. It is the ONLY Store in the entire path.

I forgot to say, we stayed at the Westin Maui and it was very nice. We went to the Hyatt one night and partook in a class about astronomy and got to see the heavans with a nice telescope.

O yes, the STARS down there, amazing. We even got to see a lunar eclipse on the early morning drive up Haleakala to see the sun rise (did not bike ride down, instead hiked down inside the crater -- better IMO)...