kauai is such a special place for us –– we went for my 25th birthday and it was one of our first big trips together. we’d always wanted to go back, and with the new direct flights from oakland, we knew a hawaiian christmas would be perfect for oren’s first.

we rented a cozy little house that was walking distance to both the town [hanalei] and the beach. it came fully loaded with an outdoor shower, multiple cruiser bikes and all the beach gear a family could need. our days were long and mellow, we tried to make minimal plans and wanted to be flexible with a baby.

i was also able to reconnect with the family i used to babysit for in college, they’re all so grown up! it was so lovely to see everyone and madison gave us the best local recs [as they are now hawaiian locals!].

a few of my favorites:

hanalei bread co. | so cozy for coffee and breakfast, get there when they open !
dolphin fish market | we cooked dinner 6 out of 7 nights, and all of the fish was from here
tahiti nui | live music every night, delicious mai thais – we went more than once a day :)
wishing well | delicious smoothies and acai bowls
postcards | in an old house - delicious food and all around very cozy. reservation recommended.
baracuda | another great spot for dinner - highly recommended to get a reservation
PV eats | great specialized grocery store, and really fun for lunch or a glass of wine - epic views
kilauea fish market | a fun little area to wander. order lunch and explore the shops nearby while you wait
on & on | for some spa life on a rainy day
farmer’s market – saturday mornings @ 9 am | rain or shine! we went and it was pouring, but still so cozy
hannalei bay & tunnels | for beach days
hanakapiai falls hike | reservations only! we booked via the shuttle site which worked well for us . *note, this is not a baby friendly hike. we left oren with his grandparents and auntie - best babysitters ever! <3

p h o t o o v e r l o a d !