The unit was fabulous. Its location facing NE was key for getting the near-constant afternoon breeze to keep the entire condo cool. Pali Ke Kua's Hideaways beach is our favorite beach; you walk down the cliff path and then traverse coral to get to one of the hot-spots of snorkeling on the island! Queen's Bath is also located in the same complex. Both locations are ideal for those who want a little more than driving up to a flat beach, but less than hiking miles!
In terms of eating, Pali Ke Kua is only a couple miles from Hanelai Bay, which has a plethora of excellent eateries. It's hard to pick a favorite. One thing you want to do is pick up a pineapple from one or the grocery stores and chop it up yourself -- they are so incredibly fresh and juicy!
We found one radio stations (99.9 FM) that played good music (70's 80's 90's hits), but otherwise tough to get good driving/listening music. The only thing that I can think of to bring next year is some mix CD's for the car/house.
We got snorkel gear for the week, which I highly recommend. If you are going to hit the above beaches, I advise either getting water socks or having sandals that can get in the water -- makes climbing the cliffs and traversing the coral MUCH easier!
We are already planning to come back next year and do more hiking exploration. The condo has a copy of an excellent Kauai guide (http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0971727910/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1) that we found to be spot-on on everything, so don't invest in one before coming!
