Day 4 - Kauai - "This is gross!"

Tuesday morning, and it's not looking too pretty outside.  We had checked the weather report when we first arrived, and we knew that today was pretty much supposed to be the crappiest day weather-wise.  The South Shore is almost always sunny so we decide this would be a great day to head down there.

Once again, we jump in the rental car and head for Poipu.  And then we got lost.  Yeah, Kauai has like 4 main roads, but we managed to get lost?  Yep.  You got it.  After several wrong turns, we find ourselves back on the correct road.  Yes, it's the way Tim thought we were supposed to go to begin with.  Shut up.

We drive to the Hyatt beach so we can park for the Makehewi Cliff hike along Shipwreck Beach.  I wouldn't really call this a hike.  It's just about 2 miles one way, and it's pretty much flat.  You've got some beautiful ocean views & cliff views, and it borders a gorgeous golf course for part of it as well.  It's a really unique location. 

Loved the hike.  Did not love the fact that we didn't bring water.

Dehydration + Emily = Bitchiness

Pretty much everything during this hike pissed me off.  The sun.  The other hikers.  The sand.  My top.  The golfers.  Tim's choice of route.  Really, you wouldn't have liked me.

And when we were done, I was starving.

Dehyration + Emily + Starvation = Mega-Bitchiness

Tim (wisely) wanted to stop at a convenience store on our way back to Lihue to get me some water and chips to tide me over.  But no, I said.  I can make it.  Because I was at that point where I just wanted to be a bitch and be mad.  We had decided that after the hike we were going to go back to Lihue and check out a place called the Whalers Brew Pub that we found in the Lonely Planet.  So we pulled out the map, and we followed directions.  And it was no where to be found.  So we double-checked the map again.  And drove around and around and around.  And still, no Whalers Brew Pub.  Finally, we find the street where it's supposedly located.  No pub.  No brew.  No whales.  Utter disappointment.

At this point, bitchiness is in full effect and eating is essential.  We decide to hit a little burger shack near the Marriott called Kalapaki Beach Hut.  They did not have beer, but they did have an amazing opah sandwich that absolutely saved the day.  Their burgers and shakes were good too - and totally reasonably priced.  Bitchiness has subsided. 

Our afternoon plan was to hit the Lihue Farmers Market for some fresh produce, sample some delicious rum at the Koloa Rum Factory, and maybe do a little Costco-ing.  This plan basically turned into one damn thing after another.  The Farmers Market was in the Costco parking lot, so we stopped in there first.  We realized that they had some way better deals than other groceries.  When travelling to Hawaii, definitely make Costco your first stop.  You'll save a ton of money.  Tim and I, however, are not that bright.  We went to Costco, but did not buy anything because we figured we would find better deals elsewhere. 

We would be wrong.

We went to the Farmer's Market, and we had absolutely no idea what half of the produce actually was.  We left without buying anything.  We went back to Costco and bought everything we should have just purchased in the first place.  Then off to the Rum Factory.  Rum would make everything all better.  Right?  Right?!  Well, it would have if the rum was delicious.  But it was not.  The Koloa Rum Factory isn't actually where they make the rum.  It's just the place where they sell it.  You can get a sample or two while you're there.  The white rum is atrocious.  It tasted like rubbing alcohol.  The spiced rum is slightly better.  It tasted like rubbing alcohol mixed with some cinammon. 

Finally, after our day of missteps and mistakes, we headed home.  After stopping at Fish Express for some ahi poke and salmon lomilomi, we were back at the cottage.  We blissfully made a delicious dinner of grilled shrimp and corn and grilled peppers.  We drank wine and played cards.  We were ready for a new day.

P.S.  It actually did rain today.  For 15 minutes.  During one of our trips to Costco.  So at least we got the weather right.