Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. After all, island experiences during my first 42 years had been limited to a single vacation in French Polynesia. Any other islands I’d visited were within reach by row boat with fishing rod in hand.
Not to sound too goofy, but the extent of my Hawaii knowledge was based solely on the famous Five-0 — surfers and howleys and bikini-clad young ladies lined hip-to-hip on the sandy beaches.
For some reason, Dano never seems to hop over to Kauai for a quick 18 on Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s recently renovated Princeville Makai Course or even the more locals-friendly Puakea (not far from where Jurassic Park was filmed, I’ve been told) or the Wailua municipal track, where my buddies and I happily played behind a sixsome and never felt the need to give them a “gentle push” to speed things along. Talk about being on island time; if I asked to play in a sixsome in California or Nevada, they would confiscate my clubs.
Another thing the Five-0ers never seem to do is take time out for a Lomi Lomi massage, but I’m thinking they’d solve more cases if they did — or at least they wouldn’t get so uptight about the occasional criminal who gets away.
Because the one thing, above all, that I took away from my first — and certainly not my last — trip to the blessed island of Kauai was this: Every golfer needs to know Rachel and visit her frequently.
Rachel was my massage therapist at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort’s Anara Spa. Weeks later, long after I sadly say goodbye to Kauai, I can still feel her forearms gently — but not too gently — working the muscles in my back, neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Of course, she has a distinct advantage by working at the Anara Spa, one of the few spots I’ve visited with an inviting vibe for men who enjoy a bit of pampering from time to time. It’s easy to tell that Anara prides itself on being much more than a women’s spa with a few services for the guys — and from the steam room to the outdoor showers to the open-air treatment bungalows, it’s enough to turn any man (well almost any man — we still never got one of our Canadian golf-writing friends to take a turn on the table) into a spa aficionado.
But Rachel is just one of the reasons why I love the Grand Hyatt Kauai.
The rooms are simple and comfortable, but the bathrooms are spacious and well-planned with all the right amenities.
The water complex, with the crashing surf just beyond, is a multi-level maze of swimming and saltwater pools that extend the beach to your toetips pretty much no matter where you are.
And then there’s Poipu Bay Golf Course right next door, so close you can walk to the putting green if you’re not in the mood for a shuttle. Known for Phil Mickelson’s epic 59 (if you catch a windy day, as most are, you’ll wonder how he ever pulled off the feat), the back-nine views along the rugged coastline are unforgettable, even if your game is struggling.
But let’s face it, on an island like Kauai, there’s so much stuff to do, places to stay, courses to play that it’s nearly impossible to fit everything into a single trip (and that’s what they’re counting on).
For instance, the St. Regis Princeville, which is flat-out amazing after a major renovation, offers junior suites that come with personal butler service. And the Kauai Marriott Resort features the largest single-level pool in the state only steps away from Kalapaki Beach, where you can get in on some heavy duty volleyball action.
Plus there’s great food everywhere — at the resort properties, roadside eateries and in the small “urban” centers like Kapaa.
And pretty much every golf course is a can’t-miss in one way or another, some with unbelievable views, others with substantial challenges, like the famed Prince Course, which will re-open later this year after some much-needed fine tuning by Mr. Jones and company.
What’s more, if you love short holes, it would be easy to create your own Kauai “tour” of stunning 3-pars, from the jungle-surrounded No. 6 at Puakea to the signature No. 7 over scenic cliffs on the Makai. Then there’s the newly re-opened Jack Nicklaus Kiele Nine at Kauai Lagoons with its beautiful oceanside No. 5.
And that’s why there will always be plenty of reasons to return to Kauai and visit Rachel. As if she isn’t reason enough.
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