Getting ready to say goodbye to Kauai

January 29, 2016 - Plantation Hale - Kapa'a, Kauai

One more day then we fly back to the mainland.  Here are some last pics with impressions of Kauai.  I think my favorite activity has been watching for whales while we picnic on the various beaches around the island (sorry no whale pics!).

 But there are geckos (or skinks?).

And the Hawaiian Goose, Nene.

Red-crested cardinals (my personal favorite.)

The endangered Monk Seal, this one came up to bask on Donkey Beach beside us,  while we were spending the day bicycling on the Kauai Path.

One of our favorite big beaches turned out to be Hanalei Beach, 2+ miles of a wide sandy crescent:

Our closest swimming beach was Lydgate Beach Park where we could gaze up through the shoreline branches:

And Tunnels Beach was another favorite for big surf.

Lastly, I found time to golf at a great Municipal Course, Wailua Golf Club, here's a peek at the 17th hole.

Cruising the Napali Coast

January 21, 2016 - Kapa'a, Kauai, Hawaii

Last week when Ben was visiting, we took a day and cruised the rugged north coast of Kauai, the area known as Napali.  We were aboard a nice big catamaran with 40 of our closest friends:

We snorkeled on a nice reef just north of Salt Pond Beach (probably my favorite for swimming on the south coast.)

We saw whales (not too close).  And for the first time Spinner Dolphins, which played near the boat.

Then cruising the coast we were impressed with the rugged mountains, valleys, waterfalls, etc.  Really remote, no road access.  Some of the beaches only accessible by boat.

This coast is frequently used for filming.  Including King Kong.

And we continue to just smile every day, whether it is walking the beaches, visiting a lighthouse, enjoying the wildlife or wild flowers.

 

Fishing Kauai Style

Kapa'a, Kauai, Hawaii - January 12, 2016

So I decided to go fishing for a half day. Found Ohana (Family) Fishing Charters - out of Kapa'a and Lihue where we are staying.  6am to noon this morning, driving in the pitch dark to get to the Small Boat Harbor and meet up with "V" our captain and his crew Kalani, on the boat Ho'omaikai, a 30 ft (10ft beam) twin Volvo Penta Diesel boat.  I was fortunate to join a group out of Denver Colorado also enjoying the mild Kauai weather.  We were fortunate to have relatively small seas and light winds.

We saw humpback whales, trailing our boat, blowing, tailing, slapping their tails and wings, and even breaching!  A few birds, gorgeous coastline and fish of a lifetime!

Motoring out after catching our live bait.  (Opelu, kind of like a little mackeral.

DeeAnne with our first fish (Yellow Fin Tuna (Ahi))

Fish On

Gimme a Break, This is Hard

Got it to the boat, too heavy to lift (70 lbs)

Monique's fish brought to the boat.

Monique's fish aboard.

All of the day's Ahi!

Not bad scenery to boot!

Hiking or the Beach?

Kapa'a, HI - January 11, 2016

Usually the big decision is, will this be a hiking day, or a beach day.  So a hiking day will of course involve some planning to scope out the potential hike.  We haven't found a trail that isn't super muddy, and it is this intense red clay that will stain anything.  I guess mud is what is to be expected near the rainiest spot on earth (Mt. Wai'ale'ale in the center of the island is, purportedly, the rainiest location on the planet with 420+ inches of rain annually).  So a few days ago we did a 2-1/2 hour hike along a very steep ridge (knife edge at a couple of spots).

And you meet friends along the way.

And the road, just to get there will usually present some nice sights.

Or if it happens to be a Beach Day, you've got to do the same planning.  Here are shots from our day up at Tunnels Beach (just south of Haena Beach Park, far to the North on the Island).

Or you might pick Donkey Beach.

Or you might find a friend just walking to a nearby beach.

Choices, choices.

Waimea Canyon - The Grand Canyon of Hawaii

January 7, 2016 - Kapa'a, Hawaii

You know you're in Hawaii when:

Your firetrucks carry surfboards.

Took a very muddy hike off the Waimea Canyon Road in Kokee State Park the other day toward the top of Waipo'o Falls:

And were rewarded with some pretty nifty vistas of this amazing Waimea Canyon:

And yesterday we visited more Heaiu (sacred places) and were visited "up close and personal" by a huge Green Sea Turtle at Poipu Beach Park.

Another "typical" day in Kauai!