Any reasons why Hawaii Island of U.S.A. turns up as No. 1 on the list of top destinations for honeymooners year after year. For one thing, once you get outside crowded, touristy Waikiki, it's absolutely beautiful. Serene.
                Now imagine a place dedicated to make your wedding day the incredible event you've always envisioned. Choose from ceremony and reception sites ranging from quiet beach fronts to lavish resort ballrooms. Leave the details to Hawaii's wedding planners who can help you choose everything from flowers to photographers.
                The air is filled with the fragrance of exotic tropical flowers, such as plumeria. Thick banyan trees gracefully drop their branches to the ground and grow upwards from there. The water is a pristine turquoise blue. The beaches are immaculate and less crowded.
                Four days on one island and three on another could be the perfect amount (if you can't stay a lifetime... which you will consider doing). Aloha Air offers a visitor 7-Day Island Pass of unlimited travel which you also may want to consider.
                Definitely plan to rent a car and go exploring. There aren't that many roads on the outer islands, so it's unlikely you'll get lost. But it is likely that you'll come upon scenes of exquisite beauty, where you'll feel compelled to pull over and simply marvel at how amazing nature can be when all her elements are in perfect balance.
                You'll have to sleep sometime. And there are many places to choose from, in all price ranges.
                If you want to be in the center of the action, at the mega-resort synonymous with Waikiki, there's no place that offers couples more to see and do than Hilton Hawaiian Village. Numerous places to eat, activities, a wide range of accommodation and a dedicated wedding chapel make this a very popular choice.
                The food is great, too. You can get just nearly anything you like, but prefer local delicacies come from the sea. Fresh mahi-mahi and opakapaka plucked from the Pacific Ocean and garnished with Hawaiian macadamia nuts are heavenly. Maui onions are sweet as can be and the island's kettle-cooked potato chips are so salty and crunchy they redefine the meaning of sinfully good.
My Honeymoon
Getting married was something I had looked forward to my entire life! As a bride, I wanted all the details to be perfect and seem effortless. As a person who loves to travel, I wanted an extravagant honeymoon too. Ahhh, the honeymoon! Thinking of destinations was as much fun as planning the wedding menu. Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and so many options. Yes, my mind was swirling with possibilities. Then, soon my husband snapped me back to reality. " We cannot afford to go to Italy, New Zealand or Africa, good try though."
                Being busy people, we had not been able to explore some of island beauties. So we decided to travel to Kauai in Hawai for our honeymoon, stopping off there for nine days, on our way back from our mainland wedding. For us, it was a compromise between the adventure my husband wanted and the romance I desired.
                We landed in Lihue, Kauai on October 2, 2008 and planned to stay until October 11, 2008. Our first week in Kauai, we stayed at the Kauai Marriot Resort and Beach Club. Since we were travelling on a budget, we utilized the use of our friend's status as sales manager of the Marriott on the Big Island. She got us a great rate and a great room. The hotel was spectacular. Located in Lahaina, which is considered the more industrial, busy side of Kauai; we were awed by the view of Kalapaki Beach and one of the state's largest resort swimming pools. The resort felt large and luxurious and nestled in a way, that you never even knew Lahaina was surrounding you. We felt like we never really needed to leave. We really didn't. Spending our mornings sightseeing or gallivanting on beaches, we would return to hours by the pool, enjoying the spacious room to watch some World Series or sitting on the huge lanais, sipping cocktails and playing chess. The Kauai Marriott was an absolutely wonderful resort and we highly recommended it for honeymoons or for any vacation.
                After staying at the Marriott for a week, we decided to move hotels and locations on the Island to Poipu. We stayed at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Poipu. The entrance to the resort was simple but nice, with lei greetings by the bellman. The lobby does not mirror the expansive resort, but checking in was pleasant. As we found our room, we could see the resort was right on the famous Poipu beach, known for it's white sand and crystal clear water. Our room was oceanfront and we were very happy with the view. The room had a beautiful bathroom, with a huge bathtub and shower. The beds were draped with soft, white canopies making the room romantic and almost nautical. Since the beach was so nice, we didn't mind the shabby upkeep of the small pool. Who needs to go swimming in chlorine when you got Poipu Beach?
                In Kauai, we certainly were able to do a lot. One of the best activities we did was zip lining. Backroads Kauai, the company we went with, does an amazing job. We rode a huge, old military vehicle through the mountains of Kauai. They drop you off with two guides and zip line experts and off you go, swooping through eight ravines and valleys. At the end, the company provides lunch and a dip in the babbling brook. Not only was the rush of adrenaline top notch, the views were spectacular and only there for the eyes of those who dare to go zipping.
                Another activity in Kauai that should not be missed is hiking. We did two major hikes. The first was along the Napali Coast. The four-mile round trip hike had so many breathtaking views, it was impossible to count them. It was slippery and steep, but so worth it when you end up at a secluded beach. The second hike was through Waimea Canyon. We took the high road and hiked along Hawaii's "grand canyon." Helicopters were level with us, as we viewed over, hearing goats call inside and watched waterfalls trickle down. Not recommended for those afraid of heights or red dirt.
                Lastly, dinner at Tidepools in the Hyatt at Poipu was very memorable. Dining as the sun goes down, ponds surrounded us and feeling like our table was floating on a lily pad. The service, food and ambience were impeccable. The dinner at Tidepools was a perfect ending to our affordable and magical honeymoon.
                I would most defiantly recommended Kauai to other honeymooners. All the islands are so diverse and offer so much. Being a resident of India, I was at first a little less thrilled to be traveling to Kauai for my honeymoon. However, Kauai was one of the best locations I had ever been to. The resorts were phenomenal, the amount of activities is endless and the sunsets and sands are so beautiful and romantic. Kauai in Hawaii Island is truly a lover's paradise and great compromise for both the husband and wife's needs when it comes to honeymooning.