Hawaii Accommodations

Day 1 and 2 in Kauai
We stayed in a Bed and Breakfast in Kauai. Its called Mohala Ke Ola (Waterfall B&B). Breakfast comes with a generous serving of delicious fruits including pineapple and rambuttans (better version of lychees) and a lesson of how to eat it :)

This is the MOST MAGICAL PLACE ever. The property is next to the mountains and on Wailua state park. You can hear the waterfall but it is hard to see it due to the dense trees. The backyard as a lighted swimming pool. Next to it a lava wall. If you go behind the lava wall, you come a deck at the lower level with the lava wall behind you. Now, you are into a all new world where there are no men or man made things - hmm, expect for the hot tub. You get into the hot tub. With jetted water at 104 degrees massaging you, you can just let go. All you see now if the mountains in the distance. A valley and a waterfall in front of it. Beautiful foliage. And right next to you is a coconut tree and palm tree with perfect lighting. Just when you are thinking, this cannot get any better, you look up and you see all the stars you want to see in the sky. Kauai is not very developed - hence, there is not much light pollution. The coconut tree towering over and the starts above it and the sound of water fall with the warm water massaging you, its a treat for all your senses. This is a place to die for. I hope I store the place and the feeling in my mind and heart for years to come. And I wish I can go back.

I got a great bargain - $135 room for just $85 (as I said, you need to talk in Hawaii). Unfortunately, small bed and breakfasts in Kauai is getting a huge hit by the economy and the big chain resorts. The guy who owns this place said he is planning to sell it as he connot afford it anymore. If you are in Kauai, this is the place to be (if its still open). Resorts come with its own pleasures but the personal experience of a B&B is unbeatable.

Day 3 in Kauai
Unlike Maui, Kauai has some cheap places to stay. We found a place called Kauai Sands to stay for a night before we head out. So paid $50 for a hotel room to spend literally 7 hours. It was decent and clean. So cannot complain.

Day 1 and 2 in Maui
We stayed in a hostel called Peace of Maui. I highly recommend this hostel. It was very clean. It is in a beautiful setting near the Haleakala crater. You can see the mountain in the morning. You can actually see the starts in the sky. There are a lot of fruit trees in the hostel from which you can have a good breakfast. Maui is an expensive place and the cheapest hotel starts around $100. Also, most of these hotel are ocean front and are in a resort-y setting. While being on a beach has its own perks, being in a quite setting among trees and to walk in the gardens with the star lit sky above you is also good. The hostel is also very affordable starting at $75 a night. You will get to talk to other travelers and get feedback about the activities. If you are lucky, you will also get free park tickets etc from them.

Day 3 and 4 in Maui
We stayed in a ocean front resort - as cliched as it gets in the Island. It was good to hear the ocean when you go to sleep and when you wake up. We were really tired by the time we got back and hence didn't really enjoy the ocean front too much.