resortquest kauai beach at makaiwa, moderate, (808) 822-3455, www.resortquesthawaii.com. this former independent underwent a major renovation not long ago, but luckily, everything that made it special, including the nightly luau (except for on mondays) with its exciting fire-knife dance, is still intact.

dining
bar acuda, inexpensive to moderate, (808) 826-7081, www.restaurantbaracuda.com. talented chef and owner jim moffat has teamed with area fishermen and growers to create a menu of fresh regional sensations like lobster-stuffed squid in a savory romesco sauce and smoked-trout salad with grapefruit, avocado, and horseradish. all dishes are served in tapa-size portions, ideal for sampling.
lihue barbecue inn, inexpensive, (808) 245-2921. locals have long frequented this friendly, family-owned spot, but not for barbecue, as the name might suggest. rather, they’re fans of its generous selection of american and pacific rim specialties that span everything from meatloaf to miso soup.

outdoors
kauai sea tours, (808) 826-7254, www.kauaiseatours.com. kauai sea tours has a special permit that allows it to explore parts of the na pali coast no one else can. its boat tours introduce passengers not only to secluded stretches of beach but also to area wildlife, including dolphins, sea turtles, and humpback whales.
wailua municipal golf course, (808) 241-6666, www.kauai.gov/golf. the great thing about golf in hawaii is that even the public courses are some of the prettiest you’ve ever seen. this par 72, with its multiple oceanfront holes, was voted one of the aloha state’s 15 best by golf digest.