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Aloha from all of us at GVR!
Most visitors come to Kauai when the weather is at its worst everywhere else. The "peak season" generally runs mid-December through March or mid-April. Some lucky visitors and vacation home owners on Kauai escape their colder climates and migrate to Kauai for the first quarter of the New Year every year! They are the
"Snowbirds" and come to our tropical paradise to defrost after spending Christmas with their children and grandchildren on the mainland! Snowbirds are typically retirees from the U.S. Northeast, U.S. Midwest, Pacific Northwest or Canada, who wish to avoid the snow and cold temperatures of northern winter, but maintain ties with family and friends by staying there the rest of the year. Some are business owners who have a second home in a warmer location or whose business can be easily moved from place to place.
The last 2 weeks of December is the prime  time for family travel to Kauai. We recommend you make your reservations for 2015 as early as possible, count on holiday crowds, and expect to pay top dollar for accommodations, car rentals, and airfare. Hawaii Public School resumes on January 12th, 2015, and our keiki will be heading back to school with sun-bleached hair and winter tans after three weeks at the beach!
Wintertime on the south shore typically means smaller waves and calm glassy water at Poipu Beach Park and Waiohai that is ideal for snorkeling and stand up paddle boarding. Surfers head towards Hanalei in the winter to catch the winter swells that wrap around Kauai's north shore. View Our Best Vacation Deals below to find last minute specials on vacation accommodation. Reduced rates are available if your vacation dates are flexible and you can fill a reservation calendar gap. |
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More than 170 species of birds have been introduced to the Hawaiian Archipelago since the arrival of humans, and fifty-four of those have established wild populations today. Some species, such as the Japanese White-eye (pictured above), Northern Cardinal, Japanese Bush Warbler, Melodious Laughing Thrush, and White-rumped Shama, have managed to establish populations in the high-elevation forests where they compete with native birds for food and nesting.
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We are not referring to the number of turkeys in Chef's pantry for Christmas Dinner or the number of chicks sunbathing in bikinis on the beach over the holidays. This is the Audubon Christmas Bird Count - a unique event that occurs across the state of Hawaii annually between Dec 14th and Jan 5th. The Kauai count will be on Jan 3rd. Take advantage of this citizen science opportunity and participate in your local bird count! What a great way to spend your Christmas - having fun and volunteering for a good cause.
What kinds of birds can you expect to see when birdwatching on Kauai?
For forest birds, visit Koke`e State Park, where you can find `Elepaio, `Amakihi, `Anianiau, `Apapane, Kaua`i `Akepa and possible `I`iwi and Kaua`i Creeper. The nearby Alaka`i Swamp has many of the same birds, with many more `I`iwi, a better chance of seeing the Kaua`i Creeper, and the remote possibility of seeing the Puaiohi. Try the Pihea Trail.
On the way up to the park, Waimea Canyon features many White-tailed Tropicbirds, and watch for Pueo (owls) as well in the surrounding dryland areas.
Wailua River Valley is a beautiful place to look for Koloa, `Alae `Ula (Common Moorhen) and the Japanese Bush-warbler. The two Laughing Thrushes and the Western Meadowlark may also be found there
For seabirds, Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge is a must. Expect to see Tropicbirds, Frigatebirds, Boobies, Shearwaters and Albatross in season.
For more information visit the Hawaii Audubon Society
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Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
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All over the world, wild places have been altered causing dramatic declines in native plants and animals. The National Wildlife Refuge system was established in 1903 to start conserving and recovering habitats and their wildlife populations. Currently the NWRS is the largest acreage of public lands and waters set aside for fish, wildlife, and plants in the world - with more than 150 million acres and at least one refuge in every state.
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge's dramatic backdrop of steep cliffs plunging to the ocean is one of the best places on the main Hawaiian Islands to view wildlife, and is also home to some of the largest populations of nesting seabirds found in Hawai'i. Visitors also have a chance to view spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, native Hawaiian coastal plants and Hawai'i's state bird - the nēnē or endangered Hawaiian goose.
Each year, thousands of migratory seabirds come here for nesting, foraging, or resting. Laysan albatross, red-footed boobies, brown boobies, red-tailed and white-tailed tropicbirds, great frigatebirds, and wedge-tailed shearwaters all visit the refuge. In addition, migratory shorebirds, such as the kōlea can be seen August through May. A small population of endangered nēnē were reintroduced on the refuge in the 1990s and are continuing to do well.
 | | Albatross in Princeville, Kauai North Shore |
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Greenbelt stroll from Poipu Beach to Shipwrecks Beach
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Holiday Gift Ideas on Aloha Share
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Share the gift of Aloha this holiday season. Purchase local Kauai artwork, jewelry, accessories and more... Our Shop at Aloha Share donates 10% of all proceeds to benefit the Kauai Surfrider Foundation and Hawaii Wildlife Fund.
Local designer, Julie Lopez, creates
one-of-a-kind, hand cut and sewn Vintage Clutches on the North Shore of Kauai. Her LEIKO Vintage line captures the life essence of the 1960's era and Hawaiian Aloha. Leiko Vintage Clutches range from $90 to $160.
Rhonda Squyres incorporates her creative vision and the vibrant natural beauty of the island into her unique handcrafted jewelry designs. Find something rare and stunning in her "Monica'Vi Jewelry" collection. A gift from her collection is sure to delight!
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Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls... Make something Yummy!
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 It's the holiday season, here's a good idea to turn all those left over Dinner Rolls into a quick dessert. KING'S HAWAIIAN Dinner Rolls have a melt-in-your mouth texture - soft and fluffy with just the right touch of sweetness. Tear them up, pulse them in the food processor with some Graham Crackers to crumb. Pour melted butter over them in a pan, compact firmly and bake. Meanwhile stir together sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and egg.Remove hot crust from the oven. Sprinkle white chocolate over the top. Pour the lemon mixture evenly over the crust. Bake for an additional 23 minutes, until it just starts to brown around the edges and center is jiggly but bounces back when touched. Cool completely before cutting into bars. To see this recipe visit Chef Dorothy Kern |
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Dreaming of owning property on Kauai?
View our Real Estate Listings and Kauai MLS at www.kauailistings.com
We welcome you to call us with all your real estate needs and questions.
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OUR BEST VACATION DEALS
Click here to view our current vacation rental specials on our web-site
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developments, a residential area with homes and a large tennis facility (Poipu Kai Racquet Club) and community pools. Imagine you are taking a stroll from 
crossing Pee Rd, a sloping grassy plain between residential areas leads you to discover the beauty of Shipwreck's Beach. Continue on to climb the Mahaulepu Coastal Trail beginning just beyond the beach. This trail is a special part of the Kauai History Heritage site and the last stretch of accessible coastline on the South Shore that has not been developed. The trail leads to beautiful Mahaulepu Beach, a great place to spot whales in the winter or observe (from a 
distance) a monk seal napping on the beach. This lovely setting lets you easily explore the natural wonders of our Garden Isle of Kauai. On the opposite side of the Hyatt, only a ten-minute walk away, is the world famous Poipu Bay Golf Course situated on 210 oceanfront acres--challenging at all levels of play and yet fun for the novice as well. Poipu Bay hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994-2006.
