Bittersweet ending

So, chalk it up to an absent-minded stay in Kauai. Not only did I forget to grab my luggage from the airport shuttle after arriving here (which I retrieved the next day), I didn't realize that my departure was a day behind everyone else - this had to do with the red eye times and mistakenly thought Saturday was the departure, not the final destination.

Not to worry though, I found a cheap hotel, and survived an extra day in paradise.

I spent some of the day at the county fair for only $4, but it was very small. I am ready to say aloha and arrive home to Duke and my own bed.

At the fair, they had agriculture school contests. This is a huge jakfruit.

LEGO competition

bonzai tree competition

Not a bad setting for the fair

The Kulauea Lighthouse

Our second stop was to the Kilauea Lighthouse, which includes a National Wildlife Refuge and bird sanctuary. They provided binoculars for you to watch the red-footed boobies, if you're into that sort of thing.

Tons of boobies out here

Unfortunately, the lighthouse is under restoration, so it's closed off

A bird island behind the lighthouse

Queen's Bath

Before the everyone's flight departure, we decided to see two more places.

First, Queen's Bath, a small natural pool that requires a vigorous hike through woods, rocks, and more rock. It ended up being a good picture spot, as we also spotted about 4 or 5 sea turtles!

This is the actual 'bath' - all the other things lead up to this point

Sea turtle!

One of the elevated paths to take

Kayaking in Hanalei

Heading back to Hanalei Bay, we went with a kayaking group, up through one channel of the beach, across the rough waters to a small hideaway beach. Here, we snorkeled a bit and ate lunch.

The kayak ride back wasn't so bad as the current was going with us this time. Fun stuff - I seemed to handle the kayak well on my own, but we did witness a hoolie or two (turning your kayak upside down).

Heading down the river from the bay to see a view of what? Na Pali of course!

St. Regis resort - swanky

This little guy stood on the board from the bay all the way into the river!

Capt Andy's Zodiac tour

I've mentioned Na Pali probably each day, which can be seen almost anywhere on the island. Today, we took an exhilarating boat tour along the ocean side of the Na Pali coast. It involved a bumpy, fast and wet ride (holding on to a rope so you don't fall out), but along the way is the majestic mountainside - at some stops, the guide mentioned where movies had been shot.

At some point, we breaked for lunch, which was a premade hot meal of pulled pork and teriyaki chicken, then a small tour of an old village (I didn't bring my camera here).


Back on the boat, we ventured back and anchored for snorkeling. It was decent as I didn't see any huge fish or sea turtles or eels or squid, so I just waded and watched the tang do their thang (see what I did there?)

Overall, this trip was very exciting. I couldn't get pics of everything and even if I did, it's still not enough. The place is amazing.

This is actually a caldera that we could fit through, very cool (no opening but the one you see)

I believe the guide mentioned a scene from Acapulco Gold was filmed here - the arch is 95 feet tall, and the wall is higher than the Empire State Building. For the film, a helicopter flew through this.

This is the back side of the Kalalau Lookout you'll see from my Waimea Canyon post

We stopped on a small beach, where Polynesians settled. We saw a tree bearing noni fruit, and goats roamed the hills

lava rocks were placed in various places as structural elements

back on the road home, we spotted a rainbow into the ocean

McDonald's has their own Hawaiian flare

Haupia is essentially a coconut milk-based Hawaiian dessert

Mahalo nui loa!

Lu'au Kilohana

My first luau, and according to our resort guide and a local's opinion, we got the best. It takes place on a rice plantation, and it started with a train tour around the plantation. Afterwards, they provide us with a bountiful feast. The finale is the performance, which is song, dance, and fire. It was awesome.

They use some of the sugar to make rum.

Sugar cane

This is actually pineapple

Trying to display our bountiful feast

Luau pre-show

Luau story begins

I will try and get the video of the fire dancer from Jo and Barney - it's the highlight of the show

Hula girls, yesss - that's me giving the 'hang loose' sign
By the way, they only give flower leis to females, dudes get shell necklaces, so I'm wearing that

a closer look at Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay is the next town over from Princeville, which is where we're staying. It's a cool little town with shops and a very nice, small beach.

Tiki!

Anyone know where I can get some tins online? (ask me how)

stand-up paddleboarding is common out here

the bay looks inward to Na Pali

on the left, the Na Pali range is overcast and rainy, but as it works its way to the coast on the right, it's hot and sunny

Waimea Canyon

The drive from the north shore to the south shore takes about 45 minutes. Add another hour to drive back up through the middle of the island, along a deep canyon, the Waimea Canyon, and you've got scenic overlooks to what is called the Grand Canyon of Kauai. Take a look:

This is the "secret island", that's about all I know.

I've seen other pictures of this same location - and it was actually my desktop background before I got here. Fun to see I created my own. Also, an amazing view. Once again, this picture does not do justice.

Nene, state bird, some type of goose

I found a hammock all by itself behind our resort building!

Trying to figure a way to get the coconuts off this tree