We thought the worst was over for North Shore Kauai before learning this.
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Home » Blog » Culture and Events » Road Opens But Problems and Delays Persist | North Shore Kauai
My wife and I owned a timeshare in Princeville from 1985 until 2003, enjoying a yearly trip, before the Recession decimated my business. We loved Kaua’i so much that we never traded our high-demand timeshare for anywhere else.
We quickly tired of Princeville itself, but loved everything North to the end of the road, each trip parking once at Ke’e Beach and hiking the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi’ai Valley and back. Although we went all over the island for other things, most days we spontaneously spent at Tunnels, snorkling, only once having trouble finding a good parking spot, so things must have changed considerably since our last visit in 2006.
We have been saving for years for a final visit, but are 76 and 67, living only on Social Security, so the outrageously high shuttle fee is a big problem. Also, we are both legally Disabled and unable to walk to and from Tunnels Beach from the Haena Beach parking lot (shuttle won’t even stop near Tunnels). Thus, thanks to the new, over-the-top “protections”, we won’t be able to easily visit our favorite places on Kaua’i. Having to make a reservation forces a schedule onto us, when my wife’s daily health is unpredictable.
We are definitely not the only senior citizens with this problem, but extreme restrictions like this are what turns people against environmentalism politically, which bothers us even more, since we are both longtime environmentalists, committed to the protection of our planet, and have always been careful to leave nothing but footsteps (usually also carrying out trash left by the inconsiderate few).
Kaua’i locals and, particularly, politicians need to stop and think about the broad repercussions of this extremism. The unintended consequences are not ALL predictable, but I expect ONE to be a noticeable drop in tourism to Kaua’i.
Due to these new restrictions, even WE are now considering only visiting the Big Island (our 2nd favorite island) and skipping Kaua’i for our final visit.
Mahalo
Hi Bruce.
Thanks for your many comments and for explaining your thinking and planning for your final visit.
Aloha.
Hi, how April flood is a responsibility of tourists at Haena or those who buy land there? You make no sense in this regard. Neither is sensible making it barely possible to deal with for visitors. Kauai cannot survive without them either you like it or not.
Sounds like government overreach to me. Not thrilled about it. Been part time around Kauai 16 years. I’ve always thought the north shore road was just fine in the big scheme of things. Nothing’s perfect and everywhere has it’s problems. All scenic places get crowded. Many times I’ve visited Haena, and it was surprisingly uncrowded. But, if you run with the sheep herd, it sucks, that’s the big problem.
You could always go early morning or for sunset, or gray days, or for full moons and stars, and crowds were light. But now we have to check in with ” the computer ” for that. Thumbs down!
Spontaneity, the moment, is ruined.
900 people a day sounds too light. Restricting our access. That’s a 1/3 of previous visitors.
The no parking signs are very ugly.
Many of us enjoyed it more, before they installed the life guard tower. That was public space. You could make the argument the life guard tower, and no parking signs, are bad for the environment – ha ha.
No overnight parking – sucks! Taking our freedoms.
There was a beautiful freedom there we’ve now lost. I thank the stars I enjoyed it before the computer bureaucracy arrived.
Notes: the world is full of tons of unspoiled nature. But you do need to hike a ways from the parking lots.
Climate change is a fear propaganda campaign.
Educate tourists on airplanes with infomercials about respecting and behaving when they visit. Big problem is the sheep are clueless, driving cars around.
More culture, less laws / rules.
Aloha
I love Kauai – it’s one of my favorite places on earth. That is why we planned a “family” senior trip (14 persons) to Ha’ena in July for one week. When I booked and paid over $25,00 for 2 houses there, the rental agency never mentioned the road problems. We here in Texas heard about the flooding last April, but the delays and road closures were not newsworthy outside Hawaii, I guess!
I want to see Kauai preserved, but I am concerned!! If we can’t get to the houses, will the rental agencies refund the payments?? Are there alternate plans for getting to Ha’ena if the bridges are closed for a full weekend?
Hi Betty.
There are no alternative plans for accessing Haena that we are aware of. Suggest you contact the rental agency.
Aloha.
$11.00 dollars a person is to much to pay for the shuttle.
This area is our favorite on earth, and of course we love to hang out there often when visiting Kauai. However we would love to see Kauai returned to its natural form as much as possible. Driving to Ke’e, and then parking there has always been a nightmare. I have a radical idea – Why not close down the road to all car traffic (with the exception of the ‘locals’), and have the shuttle as is being talked about, but also have a kiosk of bikes, and walking sticks for tourists to use from Hanalei all the way to Ke’e. I know that is a long bike ride/walk if they are planning to end up at Ke’e. There is no reason not to do this kind of thing if its planned out well. Think of how cool that would be to take cars and traffic mostly out of the equation in this beautiful of locations. Yes, there would be angry people, but the island of Kauai would better for it. Of course, if my suggestion were to be implemented, there would be need of a large parking lot area in Hanalei…that might be a negative…I dont know.
PS: My husband and I are in our upper 60’s and we would be more than willing to ride bikes from Hanalei to Ke’e.
My wife and I have had a timeshare at Hanalei Bay for nearly 30 years. We would be happy to take a shuttle to Tunnels or Kee. If a weekly pass rate could be enacted it would encourage shuttle use by us. I’m glad there will be restrictions on car numbers to preserve the environment. Mahalo.
Hi Richard.
Thank you.
Aloha.
I also forgot to add that I have no problem waiting for the road to be reopened when the time is right. We still enjoyed other beaches and had a great vacation last year and are looking forward to visiting again in August. We have a deep respect Hawaiians and their culture but I don’t understand closing off those beaches indefinitely to visitors. There are many hidden/private beaches that even us long time visitors don’t know about that only the locals do. I love visiting Kauai. It’s something I look forward to every year.
We will be visiting Kawaii at the end of September will the road be ok?