Aloha!  

Here are a few things to know about Kauai specifically, and to help you improve your blissful stay at Mele Kai:

1) The trip from the Lihue Airport to Mele Kai is about 30 minutes.  My suggestion is that you stop for provisions on the way to Mele Kai.   Here are a few choices:

Costco:  I know you didn't go on vacation to visit Costco, but this particular Costco will be one of the most pleasant Costco experiences you'll ever have.  It is never crowded there, and the mountain backdrop is a beautiful setting.  You can get bread, cheese, milk, wine, local produce and that bathing suit that you forgot to pack.  4300 Nuhou St, Lihue, HI 96766  Closes 8:30 PM

Safeway:  Just past the Costco.  In my opinion, the best of the Kauai supermarkets. It's right off the highway in Lihue, on the way to Mele Kai.  4454 Nuhou St Suite #301, Lihue, HI 96766  Open 24 hours/day!

Big Save Market: In Koloa town.  Like your local market at home.  5516 Koloa Rd, Koloa, HI 96756 Closes 11 PM

Farmers Markets: There is at least one market every day somewhere on island. Locally grown fruits, vegetables, baked goods and crafts. The closest is the Wednesday Kukui’ula market (3:30 – 5:30 PM) Kukui`ula 2827 Poipu Road just north of the roundabout.  Try one of the low acid pineapples if you can find them.  Expensive.  Worth it.  (The Saturday Hanalei market 9:30 a.m. to noon is very good for food and people watching.)

2) Remember if you are traveling from the Mainland, you will most probably wake up very early (Hawaiian time.)  Here is what is open early.

Kalaheo Café:  Great breakfast place.  2-2560 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo, HI 96741   Opens 7 AM

Java Kai: In Old Koloa town.  5356 Koloa Rd, Koloa, HI 96756  Opens 6 AM

Little Fish Coffee: 2294 Poipu Rd, Koloa, HI 96756 Opens 7 AM

Wake Up Cafe: WAY north in Hanalei.  Dive with pancakes, cinnamon rolls, Hawaiian breakfast.  If you haven't yet been to Hanalei, GO.  You are already awake!

You will go to Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, while you are in Kauai.  Why not drive there the first morning?  It is a bit of a hike to get there.

3) Bring flip flops.  Leave them by the door.  Locals call them “slippas”.  Hawaii has a "no shoes in the house" custom.  

4) Remember Hawaii is the 50th United State.  In Island speak, the continental U.S.  is the "Mainland”.   

5) Bug repellant: Unless you are particularly yummy to insects, you won't need repellent on the beaches.  You will however, need repellent when you travel into the mountain areas, and when you are away from the beaches at night.  Lemon scented soap can help too.

6) No rain, no rainbows:  It can rain every day on Kauai.  The “pineapple showers” will last 10-15 minutes.  Poipu is a non-rainy spot on the island.  Just remember the reason why Kauai is so stunningly beautiful is because of the amount of rainfall.

7) The Hanapepe Friday night art crawl.  All the galleries are open and the shops and food trucks are bustling.  5 – 8 PM. A trip into Talk Story “the western most bookstore in the USA” is IMPERATIVE: 3785 Hanapepe Rd, Hanapepe, HI 96716

8) Lydgate Farms Chocolate Tour and Tasting - Agri tourism AND chocolate?   It does not get better than this. Farm location 5730 Olohena Rd, Kapaʻa, HI 96746  (There is a tasting room in Kapa’a!  4-1379 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746) Call for reservations 808 821 1857

9) TIPS ON THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

10) PLEASE AVOID DRIVING TO HAENA STATE PARK WITHOUT AN ADVANCE RESERVATION AND PERMIT.

Vehicles without a reservation and permit will be kindly asked to turn around. Park entry is only for the day of the reservation. Please visit https://www.gohaena.com for more information, and note that there is no cellular reception at Haena State Park, so reservations must be made in advance.

11) Hawaii has banned certain sunscreens that harm the ocean. For info click here.