KAUAI

At the mouth of the river there’s a public park and launching site for kayaks, canoes, and small boats and that’s where all this is, including this garden that was just open in the park. Nice looking veg I would say.

April 6

Here at the house there’s the spacious screened lanai along the river where we mostly hang out. It’s glorious and ever since the remodel with the screens I have not come home with a single mosquito bite.

There’s also the back garden fitted out with several holes of a miniature golf lawn and wonderful landscaping.

That’s the gate where the front and back meet.

Outside the kitchen door others enjoy this garden but I tend to stick to the screened area because behind that greenery is a slow-running channel from the river, home to the local mosquito farm.

An orchid. Orchids grow freely outside in Hawaii, on trees, in the ground, along the side of the road, in pots, they just grow.

The water lily pot that you find for sale in many markets here. This is out in the back garden too and you might think uh-oh mosquitoes, but there are a dozen little fish living in the pot.

Camas took me for this walk on the Moalepe Trail and it was beautiful! I’m just the right amount of sore this morning.

The weather was perfect for this, not so hot or sunny which is good for me!

Hilahila in Hawaiian, it’s the one where the leaves curl up when you touch them, it’s shy. That’s the leaves for sure, they are the same as all the pictures, but I can’t find another picture where Hilahila has those yellow flowers. Maybe the flowers are coming from another plant?

A Marsh Pea I think.

We slowly and easily wound our way up up.

Here’s The Turn Around Tree where we turn around. We could have continued and eventually we’d run into another road but I’m glad we turned around right here, at the exact right moment.

I forgot a picture of us (forgetting…) so here’s a picture of Camas and Curt instead.

cc.

April 5

We’re off, first stop Spouting Horn, with a row of tchotchke shops, tons of Jungle Fowl, and this.

I wanted to stop off at Prince Kuhio Park. Prince Kuhio Day is at the end of March and here’s his memorial still covered in leis.

One of the parrots at the Grand Hyatt preening himself for his fans.

Beautiful hedges of Peace Lilies live outside in Hawaii where they can survive because it’s year-round hot and humid. Which says something about Hawaii, right.

Great timing for lunch at Brennecke’s – 15 minutes before they opened for a cooling beverage and then a window seat for lunch.

My new pixel 3xl took this picture on auto better than my new camera took it on auto, but the camera still does better for most situations.

Cup of Gold, a huge vine or pruned into a tree, it makes you look every time.

The Grand Hyatt in full bloom. Those hedged and cascading bougainvillea are completely awesome this visit.

We walked along the fantastic path that runs for seven to eight miles along the East Side coast. It’s called The Kauai Coastal path and also called Ke Ala Hele Makalae. The Hawaiian name means The Path That Goes By The Coast and we love it.

This is the Pineapple Dump.

There is an old structure here, the Pineapple Dump. I like to come here so I can say Pineapple Dump. That’s me with my hair sticking straight out.

The Pono Pineapple Company of Kapaa built that wooden ramp-like thing so that the detritus from the pineapple processing plant could be easily dumped into the ocean.

I copied this from the Kauai Surf Company:

“During Kauai’s agricultural heyday in the early to mid 1900s, a concrete pier was built by the Pono Pineapple Company of Kapaa to dump unusable portions of pineapples (crowns and skins) into the ocean. … Occasionally, unfavorable winds and currents pushed the floating debris back to Kapaa, creating a “terrible mess and foul stench” as it washed up on town beaches.”

April 4

From right outside the front door, “Anthurium, a genus of about 1000 species of flowering plants, the largest genus of the arum family, Araceae. General common names include anthurium, tailflower, flamingo flower, and laceleaf.”

Another challenge. Google thought it was milkweed but none of the other milkweed plants looked like this one.

So so many kinds of Hibiscus. This one is Hibiscus Enormicus because Sharon’s formidable hand could not reach across.

The Olympic Café.

April 3

Aloha KAUAI! The Splendid Red Jungle Fowl welcomes one and all to the Garden Isle.

This year Sharon and I decided on Flowers for our focus, and here’s the iconic Hawaiian lei flower, the Plumeria. It comes in many colors which I feel confident will be represented throughout the month.

The Spider Lily often used for hedges.

First day and we do our first day tradition of a Lydgate walk and lunch at the Olympic Café.

We have been amazed by all the people here this year so I grabbed a quick photo as a so far rare moment of a contemplative walk by the shore.

One of those weeds by the side of the road…gotta find its name…probably won’t find it though.

Opaeka’a, our neighborhood waterfall, not too full right now so it’s nice to see the layers.

April 30

We enjoyed a tasty and generous brunch with Camas and Curt before a last stop at some stores and then home to pack up for home-sweet-home, thanks to Sharon, and ALOHA to The Garden Isle!

April 29

“Namahana Farmers Market in Kilauea by Banana Joe’s. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Strictly local produce as well as a few food artisans.”

…and our goat farm! The place that used to do tours and let you snuggle the baby goats, but they don’t anymore which is too bad because those baby goats are so adorable.

This was a very nice one too…

This was our first time out to the North Shore since the first week because of the storms, and the road past Hanalei was still closed.

Check out those waterfalls.

A view in Hanalei town.

“Hanalei Farmers Market. Market hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon. Produce, food artisans, and handmade crafts.”

You can buy a bag of salad.

Also, MUD. It looks like grass but you have to be very careful, test every step, or you’ll be ankle deep in that fine red mud.

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April 27-28

On our first day back we did chores and lolled around the house until meeting Kenny-Kathy-Sharon-Bob for dinner at the newest hot spot around town.

On our second day back we returned to our usual swing of going out in the morning. As we approached the car all the neighbor’s ducks took a mad dash from hanging out in the driveway.

YAY, Puka Dog for Breakfast! We got there around 10:30 and there was no line yet, almost unimaginable but true so I quickly got myself a delicious. YUM!

Twenty minutes later all the picnic tables were full and there was a line.

Koloa Town has developed a food truck park.

A monument in honor of the nationalities who came to Hawaii to work in the sugar cane fields.

Back home a small family of chicks were pecking about.

April 22-25

We spent these nights at the Moana Surfrider and you can see the story by clicking here: Honolulu!

April 20

We were watching a cooking show on tv last night and we both simultaneously Had to have pancakes for breakfast so we came to Daddy O’s for one order of pancakes, one order of waffles, a side of bacon, and a side of fruit. It was so very satisfying.

At our stop for gas this truck rolled up with this dog riding happily in the back.

He was so happy and so friendly my arms and my face turned into the delicious smell of dog slobber, but it was fun to have that snuggle anyway.

Look! Blue SKY!!

Then I took Camas for an introduction to gyrotonic. There are actually two gyrotonic set-ups on the island of Kauai and here is one of them in this woman’s converted garage.

The next door neighbor feeding ducks in her yard which explains why they are all there. I’m not going to imagine what the lawn is like after a flock of ducks have settled in.

I guess early in the month we didn’t see any baby chicks because they weren’t born yet. There are certainly plenty of chicks in the pipeline now. We won’t be having a shortage of Splendid Red Jungle Fowl for next year.

April 19

There’s a fine park and golf course in Anahola with some crazy chicken action.

More of the park.

Then we drove into Hanapepe for lunch at the Japanese Grandma’s Café followed by a visit to…

…the Farmers Market. The “Hanapepe Sunshine Market, Hanapepe Park in Old Hanapepe Town, 3 to 4 p.m. Produce only.”

All the Markets have a start time and no one no one exchanges money for goods until the bell rings. Crowds gather, the bell rings, and then BAM the first flurry of goods fly off the tables.

What a guy. Those are leaves from a plant, I forget what plant. He says you boil water, put that whole thing in the water then take it right out then eat it.

That’s it. It’s good for your health.

April 18

We’re leaving a little early this morning because it’s not raining!

We hopped across the river (by driving around over the bridge) to stroll through the gardens at Smith’s…

…to admire the peacocks…

…and to then take the tour up to Fern Grotto. But it wasn’t to be. The boat broke down and by the time they had made alternate arrangements we didn’t want to go anymore. We had other places to go and other things to see!

But first a quick snap of the house…

…and of the bridge.

Here on the Smith’s property they’re doing some clean-up too. From what we could see that tractor was pretty much just pushing things around. Nothing got picked up. But what do we know, nothing.

We needed to be out to the “Kapaa Sunshine Market, New Town Ball Park Parking Lot by Bypass Road, 3 to 4 p.m. Produce only, including a large choice of organic produce.”

It’s really bigger than it looks with a ton of stalls…

…most of this design – selling what you’ve got from out of the back of the truck.

Some people had, for example, limes and lime leaves no doubt from some lime trees in the yard, and they were selling them out of the trunk of their car.

It had a homey feel and a large selection of vegetables and a less large selection of fruit. We are thinking fruit is not fully in season yet.

April 17

On our way out today we passed by what we always refer to as ‘the slammer’. It’s the local jail and the inmates are often to be found out in the yard you see here entirely under water.

We went to have a look around the Marriott at Kalapaki beach, a great place for families because of all the amenities, a big pool, a long and beautiful esplanade, and a gorgeous quiet bay.

Here’s one of the many water features with feeding stations for birds and fish.

A giant mirror!

Waiting for our table at Dukes: “In his lifetime, Duke Kahanamoku traveled all over the world and introduced people to the Hawaiian lifestyle and the sport of surfing. Duke visited Kauai and enjoyed the beach and bay right out in front of what is now Duke’s Kauai. He was a friend and mentor to Kalapaki Beach’s own legendary Beach Boy, Percy Kinimaka. You are invited to enjoy this stunning beach setting with views out to the crystal blue waters of Nawiliwili Bay and the Hoary Head Mountains beyond.”

Ninini Point Lighthouse at the entrance to Nawiliwili Bay.

We decided on an afternoon walk at Lydgate and finally I could catch a picture of some chicken babies. It’s crazy how few chicks are around this year.

April 16

It’s raining here in the tunnel of trees as it continues to rain off and on around the whole island but the rescue teams are out in force as are all the relief services.

I think they are not going to try to fully assess the damage until it stops raining long enough for the flood waters to recede.

But rescues and relief services are not on our agenda. Oh No. We’re going to The Club at Kukuiula for a Spa Day.

Nice!

The hibiscus botanical garden that is the path to the tennis courts.

Remember those pictures from yesterday with the debris racing down the river and flowing under the bridge or getting stuck in a pile-up. Here’s where it all ends, at Wailua River Park and Lydgate Park.

The gardener here told us there is a group called The Friends of Lydgate who will probably do the cleanup themselves.

The ocean side of the Wailua River Bridge.

More.

We went up to look at the Opaekaa Falls, full and muddy as they were, and here’s the turn in the river, left is to the sea and right is to Fern Grotto.

Never once before have I seen this view without a dozen kayakers, another dozen paddle-boarders, water skiers, and a tour boat from Smith’s. But today, nothing. The water is not safe They say and much to my surprise it seems people are taking Them seriously.

The debris from upriver, including entire uprooted trees making their way…

The worst of the flooding and loss is in the north where all of the Hanalei valley was a lake, there’ve been a slew of road closings, mud slides, and homes lost.

Here we just watch that river.

From standing on the front lawn, most importantly the flow from the river, under the bridge, and into the sea has to stay open or the river backs up and then we’ve got trouble right here in River City.

Here’s a break from the river to have a look at the Spirit House.

April 14-15

From the room where I sleep you can see a little bit of the only bridge that crosses the Wailua River peeking through the palms.

The last two days have been all about rain and for us living on the river, about that bridge. Last night’s storm was something to remember with a few hours of constant blazing lightning, roaring thunder, and pounding record breaking rain.

Fortunately the dock is securely tied off to the lava block wall and it all held up nicely.

The bench is usually high and dry.

I’ve taken this whole set with my little underwater camera. I think I might be developing arthritis in my right thumb that has maybe been exacerbated by my 20 pound camera? I’m giving that hand a rest and let’s hope it gets better.

…to block the flow under the bridge. Kenny and Kathy came around for the view.

It got down to only two arches open and then the heavy equipment showed up to clear away the rubble. The photo is hard to enjoy since it’s gotten pretty dark and the little camera doesn’t have the reach of my 20 pounder but I hope you can get the idea.

As of the night of the 15th all was well here but other parts of the island are still digging out.

I’ll add a few pro-pictures tonight especially of the other areas.

April 13

We dodged the off-and-on rain today to make it all the way out to the Kilauea Lighthouse, the albatross breeding grounds, and all the other seabirds who frequent this special place across the bay from Hanalei.

Some soaring seabird sandwiches.

We had lunch at the nearby “Historic Kong Lung Market Center”…

…and then made it here: “Kealia Farm Market opened by showcasing farmers who grow on a 40-acre property known as Kealia Farm.

“Besides just harvested produce, this market offers fish caught off Kauai’s shores as well as taro products such as poi, cooked corns, pie and laulau. Since all of the farmers are from one farm, founder Adam Asquith is not calling it a farmers market, rather it’s a farm market.”

It was down home nice.