Ravena "Disco Dolly" F.'s Profile

Stepping into this space, you are immediately enveloped in swanky art deco 60's, meeting modern mood lighting and glowing fire motif.  The day is forgotten as your eyes sweep across the warm yellows and cool blacks.  You are here now.  Enjoy these moments.  

Have a seat at the bar if you're in time for happy hour.  (Which is a good thing to do: $5 passion fruit vodka drinks + $2.50 hamachi shooters, are a steal in this indulgent and sexy space.)

A solid 4 stars for happy hour, starters and sides.  Green tea donuts with raspberry side were an exquisite dessert.

A wild and blaring 5 stars if you opt for the restaurant's namesake items: the A5 Wagyu steaks.  Priced by the ounce, you'll pay a pretty penny (in 2009 $$, not 1960's bucks!), but within one bite, the slight moan of ecstasy that escapes your lips will make it all so very worth it.  After 2 shooters each, the sashimi & shrimp cocktail appetizers, we then shared 2 smallish steaks of filet mignon and New York steak variety (both of the A5 Wagyu beef imported from Japan).  I do not know what they do to make the beef so very flavorful and tender, and, and, so melty-in-your-mouth divine, but I do know that I'm in some trouble because I think I may crave this pricey fare in the future.

We had an honest and attentive server.  The ambiance is truly lovely.  (Although I question the wisdom have having such a dark bathroom area.  How am I supposed to check how my boobs compare against those pointy ones from the 60's?)

This place is real top drawer, I tell you.
(Yes, I know the origin of this last slang is pre-60's.  I'm like a sophisticated person from the 60's.  How's that?)

Dig the Hawaiian music piped in - (sometimes it's even live music)

Not a fan of the double check of your boarding pass & ID (one minute later by someone within view of the first person who checked).

Appreciate the exceedingly pleasant employees here (even the security staff).

Facilities/bathrooms could use some updates.

Bonus star for hanging photos of sexy *male* Hawaiian hula dancers!

Damn!  We wished we had tried this place on our first day in Kauai so that we could have avoided the glut of pricey (and bland) touristy places all over the Poipu area.  This is a great little window shop, located to the left of the Kukuiula grocery store.

You order at the window, get your take out (no real places to sit here), then go nosh, nosh, num, yum wherever you want to.  The fish tacos and perfectly cooked ono sandwich were our favorites here (terriyaki chicken elicited a weak "meh").

Finally!  Affordable and tasty food in the Poipu area.  Woot!

Moon over the water,
waves licking your toes
Warm arms of your lover around your shoulders,
as you inhale the sounds of crashing waves

Stepping out of the sand suctioning your feet downward,
you take a leap
SPLASH
Running and jumping about in the white surf,
in action you are rested.

Rejuvenation.

Brennecke Beach: for nighttime musings

(Avoid the crowds during the day - there's better body-boarding next door at Poipu if you don't mind swimming farther out.)

Located behind the one of the main strips in Koloa behind Koloa Rd, this is a decent (but small) shop selling quality outdoor gear.

We probably owe them the health of my husband's feet, as I managed to talk him into replacing his $10 ABC sandals for a great pair of Keen sandals purchased here.  This was 2 days before an epic, muddy and watery hike we took, which, had he not had the sturdy Keens, may have ended in tragedy given the slippery slopes (or at the very least, a serious mess of blisters).  I also got a small camelbak to add to our gear set, which came in handy on that sweaty, muddy and beautiful hike.

While items do not appear too overpriced here, it doesn't really look to be a store that has lots of sales, or reduced prices for any reason, probably because it doesn't have to.  It's one of the only stores on the whole island that specializes in sturdy outdoor gear - which is odd given the stellar hiking, kayaking, backpacking etc that Kauai has to offer.  In addition to Keen, I saw Mountain Hardware, Osprey & Patagonia represented here, among other good brands.  Overall a decent selection given the smallish store size.

"thsmlk  ypj cdru mivg"

Translation: "Thank you very much" (typed by my husband's toes)

After 17 years when last I was here, this is still one of the best beaches for the all-inclusive activities options:

- Excellent snorkeling (saw hundreds of varieties of fish, sea turtles, and two Hawaiian monk seals)

- Great boogie boarding, especially if you're a strong swimmer and don't mind going way out.  You can get a nice and loooong ride in.

- Decent for plain old swimming, but watch out for coral, rocks and such when the current is strong

- Clean bathrooms on site that don't get locked at night

- Picnic tables and barbecue areas

- Huge open grassy areas for football, soccer, frisbee, or hide the pickle (oh wait, that last one may have been one of the condo activities, heh!)

Basically, it's a giant aquatic amusement park, made better because it's all natural - and it's free!

Some might complain about the crowds, but it's not Waikiki crowded, not even close.  There's plenty of room for everyone, so come on out and play!

Lovely airy atmosphere, easy-going, unpretentious wait-staff.  Therein ends my list of reasons to come here.

My "seared" ahi was way over-cooked, effectively ruining the cut.  My husband's pork ribs were tough and chewy.  The side veggies were exactly the same for both dishes, and tasted like they had recently come out of a frozen food bag.  Disappointed, we didn't bother with dessert.

The bathroom smelled like a swimming pool.

In short, the Poipu Beach Broiler is like a politician: pretty facade, nice talk, but no substance.  My vote goes elsewhere next time.

Tired of Las Vegas cocktails (e.g. very little alcohol, overly sweet mixers) all over Poipu beach area, Brennecke's was a welcome find.  Yay!  Real alcohol in the drinks!  These were some nice Mai Tais and Pina Coladas here.  

We stopped in here several times for a cool drink on a warm afternoon (daily happy hour 3-5).  The clientele seems to be slightly less tourist dominant, with a few genuine regulars showing up.  The wait-staff are friendly, food is good (I especially like the fish).  But the ambiance is where it's at: breezy comfortable wooden rooms, with a ship-like quality.  Simply relaxing.

The 8-mile round-trip hike to the falls is still one of my all-time favorite hikes ever.  In the whole world.

If you are prepared, and relatively athletic, this is a moderate hike.

If you dare to come unprepared (flip-flops, not enough water etc), then this is triple black diamond insanely difficult hike.

It's basically an obstacle course, that includes LOTS of mud, forging of 5-6 rivers (up to crotch-high), rock-climbing and the pay-off swim at the falls at the blessed end.  The first 2 miles in is fairly sunny and open, rounding gorgeous cliffs that offer stunning views of the aquamarine sea.  You arrive at a beach (no swimming, per the ample signage warning against this, due to severe rip-tide action here), have snacks or water.  All very nice nice.  The next 2 miles are around a 1700 elevation gain through a dense tropical rain forest.  There are guava groves, tall bamboo growths, historic rock wall formations from old agriculture sites, and plenty of big leafy things all around.  The river forgings become something to look forward to as they cool you off at well-placed intervals.  At the end, you suddenly find yourself at the foot of a massive waterfall thundering down into a gorgeous pool.  Both times I've hiked this trail, I've done so in a bikini - good for river crossings and great for plunging immediately into this pool.

Tips:
Wear good shoes that you don't mind turning into swamp monster accessories.  I wear my Keen closed toe trail-walkers so I don't have to keep taking my shoes off at the rivers.

Bring lots of water.  For some reason, people always complain about not having enough water on this trail.  Use your hiking brain not your tourist brain.

Start early so you'll have time to stop and enjoy the scenery (and also score good parking - who wants to hike to the place to start your hike?  ;)

Enjoy!  This is truly a spectacular hike.

Kudos for selling organic and wheat-free products here, as well as Hawaiian fare.  Makes for a much more interesting shopping experience.  This variety is what they have over the other grocery stores in town.  Prices are higher than those other stores, but then, organic you know.  They also have pre-made breakfast/sandwich items which again, include Hawaiian style selections.  

The parking lot is full of worker-men's/women's trucks, which is typically a good sign of good food - nothin' like an organic produce eatin' cowboy/cowgirl, eh?  It's like a California girl's wet dream.  (Or am I the only one with a dirty jeans fetish?)