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The Where To, FAQ.

73K views 98 replies 61 participants last post by  form49b 
#1 ·
Aloha.

Let's hear it for your island.
The shops, the trails.
Share your experiences.
 
#27 ·
A couple of questions for the Kauai riders:

I'm coming out in two weeks with my family, staying at the Hyatt, and will probably just get one morning or afternoon to myself to rent a bike and go ride. I'll bring my shoes, pedals, and helmet. I've got to choose whether to do a road ride or a mountain biking ride. I am primarily a mountain biker, but I love to climb on a road bike so I'm also looking at climbing the road up to the top of the canyon (yeah, I'm the kind that loves punishment). I've read the reviews above on the main trails in Kauai, and I've looked at the two bike rental shops. Outfitters Kauai seems to make the most sense and they apparently rent Kona Dawgs, which looks like a heavy bike but a nice bike. The other shop in Kaapa'a doesn't state what type of mountain bikes they rent.

If I do a mountain bike ride, I'd like to be out there for about two hours and either riding great single track or challenging technical trails.

1. What is my best bet for a mountain bike ride?

2. Should I pick the road climb up the canyon instead?

3. Does the shop in Kaapa'a rent good bikes? Anyone know what they rent?

Any advice is appreciated. If any of you ever make it to Florida I'll be glad to personally show you around our 70+ miles of trails at Santos.
 
#28 ·
Gatorback said:
A couple of questions for the Kauai riders:
If I do a mountain bike ride, I'd like to be out there for about two hours and either riding great single track or challenging technical trails.
Great single track or challenging technical trails DO exist but are not going to be easy to find on your own. Buy John Alford's book. Mountain Biking the Hawaiian Islands.

1. What is my best bet for a mountain bike ride?
Rent from Outfitters or Kauai Cycle and ride the 'Contour' road to 'Polihale Ridge' road (then down Polihale Ridge). Not single track (it's a jeep road) but easy to find and worth the views (plus you'll get to climb a LOT to get back to the car). Avoid Saturday and Sunday as those are hunting days.

2. Should I pick the road climb up the canyon instead?
That would be a good choice if you like road biking. Locals ride up the 'Kekaha' side then down the 'Waimea' side. I'd guess 70 minutes up, 20 down, 20 back to the car. That's just a guess.

3. Does the shop in Kapa'a rent good bikes? Anyone know what they rent?
They got new Specialized something-or-others this year. Stumpys maybe? Drop them a note. I think their web site is in this thread. They'll have better trail info than Outfitters as they are a 'real' shop and their staff ride MTB.
 
#29 ·
MTBKauai said:
If I do a mountain bike ride, I'd like to be out there for about two hours and either riding great single track or challenging technical trails.
Great single track or challenging technical trails DO exist but are not going to be easy to find on your own. Buy John Alford's book. Mountain Biking the Hawaiian Islands.

1. What is my best bet for a mountain bike ride?
Rent from Outfitters or Kauai Cycle and ride the 'Contour' road to 'Polihale Ridge' road (then down Polihale Ridge). Not single track (it's a jeep road) but easy to find and worth the views (plus you'll get to climb a LOT to get back to the car). Avoid Saturday and Sunday as those are hunting days.

2. Should I pick the road climb up the canyon instead?
That would be a good choice if you like road biking. Locals ride up the 'Kekaha' side then down the 'Waimea' side. I'd guess 70 minutes up, 20 down, 20 back to the car. That's just a guess.

3. Does the shop in Kapa'a rent good bikes? Anyone know what they rent?
They got new Specialized something-or-others this year. Stumpys maybe? Drop them a note. I think their web site is in this thread. They'll have better trail info than Outfitters as they are a 'real' shop and their staff ride MTB.
Thanks for the info. I got out my trusty guide book and those rides are obviously easy to find. Riding down Polihale Ridge looks like it would give me some serious climbing on the way back.

I think I'll stop into the Kauai Cycle shop early during my trip to check out their bikes and see if I might be able to hook up with some locals for a spirited group ride.
 
#34 ·
OT: non-bike love for our 50th state

Just returned from a 3-week visit. First time since our month-long Wai'anae adventure of '03. When we weren't on a beach or in the water, we were eating.

Maui finds:
- Road to Hana - the journey truly is the destination. Fruit stand at mile marker 2 had the best coconuts and apple bananas.
- Makawao Sushi & Deli - Great sushi. Great aloe juice, even at $5 a bottle.
- The Sack n Save in Wailuku - Who'd have known that a grocery store would have the best selection of poke? Couldn't get enough.
- Aqua Adventure (http://www.mauisnorkelsnuba.com/index.html) - Capt. Darryl and crew are first rate.
- Lahaina - If we had to relocate from PA, this is where we'd go.
- Gazebo Restaurant, Napili - great pancakes, great location. Not sure it's worth the 40-minute wait for a table, but you certainly won't leave hungry.
- Iao Valley - got a tip about an unmarked trail that started at the top of the cement stairs. Family was treated with a great 90-minute hike up through the forest that ended with 360-degree views of the valley. Spectacular, especially the passion fruit I was able to enjoy on the way up.

Oahu finds/rediscoveries:
- Ono on Kapahulu - best poke, bar none.
- Leonard's (also on Kapahulu) - in addition to my poke withdrawl, I'm currently suffering from a burning desire for hot malasadas. A mid-morning staple during our week in Waikiki. Also love those Pao Duce Pups.
- Rainbow Drive-In (again, on Kapahulu) - Good loco moco.
- Genki - the food is average, but the kids loved the conveyor belt concept.
- Paddle boarding - Rentals from Surf n Sea in Haleiwa kept us all busy, Currently looking for a source to purchase here on the (mainland) east coast.
- "Turtle Beach", on the North Shore. We're honu nuts, and we still can't figure out how we never found this place during our last trip. Also encountered my first octopus while deep-water snorkeling here.
- Jumping/diving of the rock in Waimea Bay - it never gets old, especially for my 11-year old. Turned a few local heads when I nailed the swan dive off the back (left) side.
- Shrimp Shack (Punaluu) - Nice find, especially as we hadn't packed a lunch for that day's travels. Medium spice is just right.
- The vistas along Kalanianale Highway, just north of Hanauma Bay - Stunningly gorgeous. Great photo ops of the sea crashing onto the smooth, layered landscape. Amazing.
- Road side coconuts - I love starting my day with some fresh coconut water and the subsequent jelly. Found a woman with a knack for picking the perfect one.
- Leonard Jrs., in the Old Navy parking lot in Waikele - just when I thought our move to the west side would preclude me from enjoying my custard-filled treats....too bad they had no lilikoi filling (flavor of the month).
- Kona Brewing Co. - enjoyed my fair share of Fire Rock. Used the caps to practice my Hawaiian.
- Roadside poke along Farrington Highway - great value for a great product. Shame I couldn't find the guy who used to sell tamales along that same stretch of road.

Thanks to all locals who made our return to Hawaii another trip for the ages.
And speaking of trips, what's with the poke? I'm certainly not complaining, but man does that stuff mess with my head. Every time I ate it (approx. 15 out of 21 days) I had the TRIPPIEST dreams. Really quite cool.

Mahalo, and aloha.
-C
 
#35 ·
Hi from the UK!
I'm on vacation in Oahu in a few weeks time, and was thinking it might be cheaper for me to buy a couple of budget bikes for the wife and I. Just a mountain bike for pleasure use.

Only thing is - where sells them? - all the shops I can find on the internet are specialist ones.
I only want to be paying around $100 per bike. We have shops in the UK that do this sort of item, where would I find it in the US? - Tried Home depot website - none listed.

Any ideas?

Regards.
 
#36 ·
nads1978 said:
Hi from the UK!
I'm on vacation in Oahu in a few weeks time, and was thinking it might be cheaper for me to buy a couple of budget bikes for the wife and I. Just a mountain bike for pleasure use.

Only thing is - where sells them? - all the shops I can find on the internet are specialist ones.
I only want to be paying around $100 per bike. We have shops in the UK that do this sort of item, where would I find it in the US? - Tried Home depot website - none listed.

Any ideas?

Regards.
Not sure how much "pleasure" you can derive from riding one, but try Kmart or Wal Mart for a 40lb+ pig. Just don't try to use it as a real mountain bike....
 
#38 ·
I will be going out to Oahu to visit my Bro-in-law in the beginning of April. Looked online to find rentals of bikes but only found The Bike Shop advertising their Specialized stuff for $85.00 per day. Anywhere else to rent? I will be all over, but I am staying in Hauula.

If I don't get a rental bike would it be worth the while to try that Mountain Biking package deal out at Kualoa Ranch? Around $100 or so for 6 hours, including lunch? $35 more gets a full suspension bike for use? Anyone know if there is a kamaaina rate if my bro-in-law gets the package for me?

I would love to bring my own bike, but the cost to bring it on the airline or to ship it is complete BS.
 
#39 ·
#41 ·
#42 ·
Hey Gmats, you up for a ride sometime out there? I just got into mountain biking again and use to do it allot as a kid. Got a starter bike and started riding some trails here on the big island. I live Kona side and do lots of local stuff. Mostly Makalawena and uphill from maks is a nice section about 4 miles all down hill that connects upper highway to lower highway.

Anyways I am always down for a ride as long as you don't laugh at my bike.


This is what we call lifties above maks. It does not look like a trail but it is. Its choke lose softball size rocks and lava. Not to hard but fun.

Maks here.


Oh and I don't mind helping clear trails ether... Kind of do stuff like that for work anyways.
 
#43 ·
Hi there I will be on vacation there from Jan 29 in honolulu and fly to Kauai on feb 1.

my friends don't bike so I prefer to join a tour...however the only tour I found was outfitters Kauai and it's not even a tour done on a MTb . It's for non experienced mtbers too, using comfort bikes! Are there any tours or guides for actual mtb trails ? Like 1 ft drops, switchbacks but also views of there beautiful waterfalls n surroundings?
 
#45 ·
Just rented bikes from Kauai Cycle in Kappa, based on recommendations on here. Gotta say I'm not real happy with the guy who told me there is NO singletrack on the island. Got much better info from the Wailua RIver Kayak guide than this guy.
I went to this shop to support local riders and was disappointed.
 
#46 ·
Bike shops can be unreliable here... I am blessed and lucky that all the shops here on the big island know about most of the trails cause they ride them all the time. I have not been impressed with some of the other shops I have been to on the other islands. There are good ones but bad ones too.
 
#47 ·
no singletrack?

That's surprising as that's a good crew in there. You're not by chance an a*hole are you?
I'm kidding... :p

Fortunately, all the info you really need about our trails is in this sticky... It's been wet so I hope the trails dry out enough for you to get some good riding in.
 
#48 ·
Aikislacker said:
Just rented bikes from Kauai Cycle in Kappa, based on recommendations on here. Gotta say I'm not real happy with the guy who told me there is NO singletrack on the island. Got much better info from the Wailua RIver Kayak guide than this guy.
I went to this shop to support local riders and was disappointed.
That's really surprising since their crew rides nearly all of the trails on Kauai. :confused:
 
#49 ·
Kauai singletrack

It is true that there aren't many singletrack trails on Kauai, legal ones anyway. Because it rains quite a bit here, you're liable to hurt yourself with all the roots, ruts, and rocks on the trails. Got some pretty brutal stuff. Best to hook up with someone who knows where to go.
 
#50 ·
akaw said:
It is true that there aren't many singletrack trails on Kauai, legal ones anyway. Because it rains quite a bit here, you're liable to hurt yourself with all the roots, ruts, and rocks on the trails. Got some pretty brutal stuff. Best to hook up with someone who knows where to go.
Not sure about the whole getting hurt on roots and rocks thing on the single track on Kauai.
But, I would say trying to find the fun trail on Kalepa is a pain without a guide. It's a real shame
the powers that be on Kauai haven't figured out that bike riding is a fun healthy sport that should
be encouraged instead of made illegal/inaccessible.
 
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