Getting There: Budget Woes and a Decent Airport Burger
We took off for Kauai after work, flying out with Jen’s parents. A quick airport lunch at Stinger Rays—burgers for me and David—then off to Lihue.
First headache of the trip? Budget Rent-A-Car. Absolute nightmare. We signed up for Fast Break, but doing it the day of while in line was useless. The wait was ridiculous. Lesson learned: Never, ever rent a car from Budget in Lihue without Fast Break sorted ahead of time. We technically learned this the last time we were on Kauai, but being a different time of day and years later surely things had changed, right? Wrong.
February 7: Horses, Poke, and Lava Lava
The first morning, we got up early for a walk before breakfast—a solid burrito. Then, we were off to CJM Stables for a horse trail ride.
- Jen rode Lady Bird
- I had Big John
- David got Big Red
- Phyllis had Rover
The ride was scenic, with some cool wildlife sightings—Nene (Hawaiian geese), pigs, sheep, and even whales off in the distance. Not a bad way to start the trip.
Post-ride lunch was at Koloa Fish Market, where we went all in on Hawaiian flavors—laulau, pork combo, and some spicy ahi poke. Nap time followed.
By late afternoon, we hit the pool for a bit, cleaned up, and headed out. Wailua Falls was a quick but worthwhile stop before grabbing dinner at Lava Lava Beach Club. The swordfish special caught my eye—it wasn’t flaky like usual, more like a steak. Definitely a solid choice.
February 8: Trains, Pigs, and a Sunset Cruise
Another morning, another walk—Kauai’s just one of those places where you want to be up early. Afterward, we hit the Kauai Plantation Railway at Kilohana Plantation. The place has been around since 1935, and the 40-minute train ride was unexpectedly fun.
Highlights:
- Feeding wild pigs tortillas (because why not?)
- Giving hay cubes to horses and a donkey
- Wandering around the plantation while Jen (technically Phyllis) picked out a new dress
Lunch was at Gaylord’s, where I stuck with a burger and broccoli soup while Jen had the soup and a braised short rib dip. Pretty decent meal before heading south to Eleele for Captain Andy’s Star Dinner Cruise.
Captain Larry and the crew—Denver, Koa, Izzy, and Chef Pablo—were a chill bunch, and the cruise along the Nā Pali Coast was easily one of the best parts of the trip. The views were insane, and we even spotted whales a couple of times. Wrapped up the day back at the rental with a glass of wine and an early bedtime.
Final Thoughts
Kauai delivered. The horse ride, the food, the plantation train, and the Nā Pali cruise all made for a solid mix of adventure and relaxation. Would we rent from Budget again? Absolutely not, if it can be helped… which it probably can’t, not in a small place like Kauai. But would we go back to Kauai? In a heartbeat.
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