It was our last night in the town of Hanalei on the deep green north shore of Kauai, and my wife, Barbara, and I wanted to check out Tahiti Nui, a bar/restaurant that was featured in the movie The Descendants with George Clooney. We arrived around 6:15 and grabbed two seats at the bar. The stage was maybe five feet away, and right at 6:30 a fellow with a guitar and a woman in a blue and white Hawaiian-print dress began testing the sound system. He introduced himself as Randy, and his wife as Primrose. She did the hula to a couple Hawaiian standards as he sang and played guitar, and later ukelele.
Vintage photo of musicians performing at the legendary Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, Kauaʻi — a beloved local bar famously featured in the film The Descendants. This snapshot captures the timeless aloha spirit with traditional Hawaiian music and warm hospitality.
During the show, I could see Primrose in a back room teaching hula steps to a group of kids. A few minutes later, she brought nearly a dozen children on stage for a rendition of “Beautiful Kauai.” It’s a personal fave, and one my Hawaii-crazy parents always loved. Randy explained the song was written at the legendary Coco Palms Resort (since closed but potentially reopening in a few years) on the island’s south shore in the mid-1960s. That’s about the time our family first stayed at the Coco Palms, which is also where my wife and I stayed on the first night of our Hawaiian honeymoon in 1981.
When Randy launched into Israel (Izzy) Kamakawiwo’ole’s classic medley “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” I started getting a little teary. Our family has always loved the islands of Hawai’i and its music, and Izzy’s CD with “Rainbow/Wonderful World” was the last Christmas gift I gave to my mom before she died in 2003. We played “Wonderful World” at the funeral for Barb’s dad the next year, so the song strikes a chord for both of us. Randy quickly lifted our spirits with a rousing rendition of Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” which I sang along to with probably more gusto than I should have.
When we got up to leave at the end of the set, we thanked Randy and Primrose. She quickly came over and gave my wife a hug, then did the same to me.
People often ask me why I love Hawaii so much. That experience at the bar is one of the big reasons. I’ve been to wildly entertaining pubs in Ireland and Newfoundland. I’ve heard singers in Jamaica, Malaysia, Senegal and southern California. But the only time I’ve had a performer come up to me and give me a hug was in Hawaii.
It’s not just hugs that make me cherish this place and make me weep when it’s time to leave. There’s an undefinable spirit of aloha and love of family and friends that permeates the Hawaiian culture, where elders are revered and older family friends are lovingly referred to as Uncle or Auntie.
There are, of course, also wonderful beaches and lush, tropical scenery and tremendous resorts. Here are a few Kauai suggestions.
WHERE TO STAY
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Exterior
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is a luxury property with an emphasis on sustainability and a range of programming to help immerse guests in Hawaiian culture. If you’re looking for something considerably more modest, the tranquil, seaside Hanalei Colony Resort has nice, one-bedroom units with full kitchens about 15 minutes west of Hanalei town. On the other side of the island, Koloa Landing is a lovely Marriott Autograph Collection property in the Poipu area with a swimming pool that’s been voted best in the U.S.
WHERE TO EAT
1 Kitchen Hanalei Bay interior. Photo: @1hotel.hanaleibay
At 1 Kitchen, seasonal menus are crafted with ingredients sourced across the Hawaiian Islands—sustainable, flavorful, and inspired by the land. Photo: @1hotel.hanaleibay
Located at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, 1 Kitchen serves up fresh seafood and amazing, house-made pasta. Postcards Restaurant serves up fabulous lamb and swordfish, as well as a crispy leek salad with cold soba noodles, pecorino romano, asparagus, yuzu, truffle oil, and Japanese tosa-zu vinegar. It’s divine, and like nothing I’ve ever tried. Red Salt is a tremendous restaurant at the Koa Kea Resort on Poipu Beach.
WHAT TO DO
A breathtaking view of Waimea Canyon, where vibrant red cliffs, lush green valleys, and cascading waterfalls paint a dramatic landscape — nature’s masterpiece on the island of Kauai. 📸: @_man_ball_
A snorkel/sail tour to the base of the folded, craggy, deep green mountains of the NaPali Coast is a breathtaking trip. Don’t miss the easy drive to view Waimea Canyon, a series of deep, rugged valleys with brilliant red rock and deep green jungle growth. It’s sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
