The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook

It happens every time. The day after we send the disks off to the printers for our brand new edition, somebody changes something that directly affects what we write in the book. Several times we've e-mailed these changes to the printers (it's our only chance to yell that classic publisher line, "Stop the presses!") but after the presses roll we're left shaking our heads, saying, "Yeah, we know that changed. We'll correct that in our next printing." The internet is the next best thing to yanking back all the books in print and scribbling in the changes that always occur.

The updates below are for the 6th edition of The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. There are no longer any updates to the 5th edition available on this site.

Did you know? At Wizard Publications we continually strive to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate information on the islands. We are the only publisher who updates our books every time we reprint them. So if you see the updates below already listed in the book you just bought, you may have a more recent printing.

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Aloha Airlines (metioned in the Basics chapter) is out of business and those holding tickets with them might be out of luck. Check their website for more information: www.alohaairlines.com.

The 'Opaeka'a Falls hike listed on page 192 has been closed.

Tropicars Classic Cars (page 22 & 25) is closed. On the subject of rental cars on page 22, Rent A Wreck is now called "U-Haul Truck & Car Rental" with the same contact information and cars. Two Wheels (page 25) in now in Kapa'a. Street Eagle (page 25) is now known as Kaua'i Harley-Davidson.

Kaua'i Bridal (page 26) is gone. Also on page 26, Coconut Coast Weddings new phone number is 808-822-2020.

Kmart (page 41) no longer has 1-hour photo service. Costco or Wal-Mart in Lihu'e do.

Akamai Computer (page 43) phone number is 808-823-0047.

Beach Books (page 43) is pau.

Limahuli Garden (page 53) raised their rates for tours to: self-guided $15 / guided $25.

Kahn Galleries (pages 56 & 81) are closed.

After we went to press, Life Treasures (page 71) moved from Kapa'a to Lihu'e next to Oki Diner on Rice Street. It is worth a stop if you are in the area.

Lisa's Lingerie (page 72) closed after we printed our book.

National Tropical Botanical Garden has raised the price of its Allerton Garden Tour (page 79) to $40.

Barking Sands Beach (page 116) access is no longer available to the general public.

Niumalu Beach Park (pages 110 & 123) is no longer available for camping. Day use only.

Robinson Family Adventures (page 119) is no longer doing any ATV tours.

JJ's Big Bass (page 125) is gone.

Paradise Outdoor Adventures (page 164) is closed.

Kayak Wailua's (page 165) phone number should be 808-822-3388.

Robinson Family Adventures Sugar Plantation Tour listed on page 165 is no longer giving tours of their factory.

Kaua'i Custom Charters (page 169) is closed.

On pages 175 & 179, Hanalei Water Sports is closed.

Ala Lani Spa & Tennis (page 182) courts are now available only through Kaua'i Lagoons at 808-241-6000.

Bali Hai (in Dining chapter) is closed for renovations.

Mark's Place (in Dining chapter) no longer serves dinner.

Ma's Restaurant (in Dining chapter) has closed. Ma (real name Akiyo Honjo) at 92 years old, finally decided to retire. This was a genuine old-style local-kine restaurant and it will be missed.

Hanalei Mixed Plate and Aloha Diner were the first restaurants to close before we could get our book on the bookshelves.

Taqueria Nortenos (in Dining chapter) closed after more than 20 years. Sorry to see them go. Adios amigos. Zelo's Beach House closed and reopened as another restaurant. Also closed are Aroma's, Ricardo's Mexican Grille & Pizza,Tokyo Lobby and Tropical Burgers & More. Bali Hai is closed as well. Shipwreck Subs & Ice Cream is no longer open to the public - they do catering only. La Playita Azul closed--we'll miss them. Beezer's Ice Cream closed, too.

Kalaheo Steak House has changed their phone number to 808-332-7217.

Coconut Marketplace Cinema (page 229) is closed.

Lu'au Kilohana (page 230 in Dining chapter) is no longer operating.

Grantham Resorts (page 232) changed their name to The Parrish Collection Kauai. They have a new Web site. The phone numbers remain the same.

Aloha Beach Resort Kaua'i changed its name to Aloha Beach Hotel Kaua'i. All contact information remains the same.

The Princeville Resort will close Sept. 19, 2008 for $40 million in renovations. The property will reopen in April 2009 as the St. Regis Resort, Princeville.

And another name change was Hotel Coral Reef to Coral Reef Resort with other changes written in our review on our Web page write-up on this property.

Kauai Sands Hotel was sold in December of 2006 to Consolidated Resorts, a timeshare management company. It is too soon to know what the plans are for this old time Kauai property. For now the contact and room information remains the same.

Sheraton Kauai Resort's "Resort fee" is now $17, and no longer includes breakfast for two.