Where to stay in Kauai?

We are island hopping but starting off in Kauai. I have no clue where to stay? We will be arriving end of Feb or beginning of March, we know it’s sunnier and warmer in the south but it’s super expensive for when we wanna go. Also, we don’t think we will be at resorts all day considering Kauai is more on the adventurous side. So far we want to do the helicopter and maybe Na Pali Riders, and saving one day to wake up early and drive up to north shore for the day. I keep going back between poipu and east of Kauai.

Suggestions for hotels/condos/airbnb

Trying to avoiding paying almost $500 a night unlessss there’s no other convenient options.