’11 Apr: Kauai

More of the trail.

From the walking bridge over the koi pond.

Two of the Parrots of Grand Hyatt Poipu.

On the way back we saw a little sign and a little arrow so we turned to find the Koloa Cemetery decorating the graves with beautiful plantings…

…and full of fresh dedications.

April 26

Today’s outing – Limahuli Garden and Preserve, from their website: “Set in a narrow valley framed by soaring cliffs, Limahuli Garden and Preserve evokes the history of Kaua`i, and of the Hawaiian Islands.

“Born of volcanoes and isolated by thousands of miles of ocean from the rest of the world, those few species of plants, animals, and insects that arrived on these remote and barren shores had millions of years to evolve into unique forms found nowhere else on Earth.”

It was so excellent we can’t believe we’d never been here before although it is at the very end of the Hanalei road which is an hour from the house.

The booklet they pass out is great too as are the signs and the well organized presentations.

Very gorgeous and interesting as well.

The mountains surrounding the valley of the Garden and Preserve.

“The goal for Limahuli Garden and Preserve is the ecological and cultural restoration of Limahuli Valley, using the ahupua`a system of resource management as a template for this work.

“The result is that past and present converge in this lovely valley, where native plants as well as ancient and contemporary Hawaiian culture are being actively preserved, nurtured, and perpetuated.”

Grrr fuzzy flowers grrr.

A hala forest.

A view of the Visitor’s Center and the terraces and the sea beyond. The self-guided tour takes you up into these mountains a short way and it is wonderful.

April 27

Our walk today took us along the part of the coast lined with small hotels, not the big resorts but just the local hotels of Kapa’a.

There’s a public path with access to beaches where no one much swims because of the dangerous conditions.

But they loll quite happily!

Then in the afternoon we went to a hula show put on in the nearby shopping plaza by a local hula school.

We loved the show, downhome as it was.

They were selling leis as a fund raiser so I bought one…

sp.

…for the Spirit House who is delighted I’m sure.

April 28

Checking it out, just up the road, the Opaeka’a Falls on the Wailua river. You can search this site for Opaeka’a and see the falls from other years.

It’s particularly thin this year because, I suppose, it’s been so bright and clear since we arrived. We expect rain every day like usual and it just doesn’t happen – it’s been mostly bright blue skies and puffy white clouds for weeks.

Opposite Opaeka’a we find the big bend in the Wailua river. The house is downriver to the left and on the right you can follow the river to…

…here, the 80 foot Wailua Falls, featured in the opening scene of Fantasy Island. That’s not too tall by big-boy standards, but cool nonetheless.

April 29

Today’s journey took us out to Polihale State Park. I’ve been wanting to go there for forever. It is the most remote of the beaches you can get to in a car. Although I don’t know about a car. We saw more than one car turn back because of the enormous ruts and that was before it started raining.

Blue skies and puffy white clouds

Soo gorgeous including the storms in the distance and the glowing blues of sky and sea.

The drive takes you as close to the NaPali cliffs as you can be without expert hiking ability or sailing around on a boat.

Our trusty steed, a Honda 4×4, who rides us high and mighty across the hills and plains and…

…the sandy mud holes of Polihale.

I couldn’t get a shot of the really bad parts because we were a-slippin’ and a-sliddin’ across the road. Sharon brought all her skills as a Colorado ice driver to get us through like a pro.

On the way back we found a new beach. After all this time we are still finding new places to enjoy. This is called Salt Pond Park adjacent as it is to the salt ponds of yore.

We understand it’s a local family hang with a nice walled in pool for the keiki, not so much on the tourist trail. There is reliable afternoon wind so it’s popular with the guys who fly parachute like things and skim across the ocean on wake boards often finding themselves in the Air for a minute or two. It was fun to watch and wonder.

April 30

Dawn on the river. Really.

We like the Lydgate walks so well.

There are tall woodlands for shade; open sun by the lawns and sea, there are plenty of chickens, egrets, dudes, and other entertaining birds; a wide and well maintained path; and bathrooms!

Danger! There are so many hysterical Danger! signs along the beach and cliffs but this one is my favorite.

What it looks like outside the back door when visitors come calling in Hawaii.

Par-teee!

Kenny, Jessie, Koa, Camas, Kathy, Sharon.

April 31

Egrets! We did another two new things today. First we had lunch in the new Organic-Local-Gourmet restaurant at Gaylord’s and then we took the train ride around the property…

…the ‘stop’ being at the pig pen where the assembled tourists were provided with slices of bread to throw at the pigs thereby initiating a pig feeding frenzy.

Another view from the train.

We also did a drive-about on side roads and came upon a quite fantastic housing complex that included this place.

This gorgeous property wasn’t for sale but the land in front of it seemed to be. There were many places for sale so if you’re thinking about an island home this might be just the time for you.

Next morning, yikes, the river is up by a foot or two and the dock is sinking! Last night was the first big rain of our whole time here, and it’s time for me to say once again…

…Aloha Hale Ohana, Aloha Kauai, and a huge MAHALO to Sharon for giving me again the utterly marvelous gift of time here in the land of Aloha.