Aloha HAWAII Mahalo!

Sleep tight, sweet dreams.

…and parrots in the lobby.

There are sections to the gardens – the ginger section, the Philipino Village, bamboo – and since most of the plants are marked it is great fun. ‘OH, so That’s what that is!’

March 28

It’s just after sunrise now and clearly visible from the front lawn is Mt Wai’ale’ale, the wettest place on earth.

I never did see it last March and this is the first time this year. A few hours later clouds had begun to gather and that was it, no more Mt Wai’ale’ale for now.

We did our walk today across the river at Smith’s Tropical Paradise. They do a lot of tours, kayaking, big full-service luaus with entertainment and the works, weddings, anything you want really.

You can stroll through the large landscaped grounds and it’s good. You can also buy some bird food when you go in creating a Pied Piper effect for your entire walk. That was fun too.

I know, cheaters never prosper.

One of the sights…

What’s that? we asked each other. Awww, cutie little duck butts.

For example, this is the Koa tree. This is the tree from which was built a floor for which I have lust in my heart.

Our favorite splendid Red Jungle Fowl and cock-of-the-walk patrolling the exit.

Then we had another yummy lunch, this time at Olympic Cafe in the still little town of Kapa’a after which Betty and I got haircuts at Supercuts.

Then we needed to rest.

A crowd gathered towards evening as seems to so often happen here on the Wailua River, at Our-House.

You can pick out Sharon and Betty, then Kenny and Kathy from down the street, then Bob and Sharon who operate a ranch-resort in Idaho but always spend March in Kauai, and Nigel and Jackie.

It’s a moderately long story. Nigel and Jackie are staying in Kenny and Kathy’s guest house. Nigel is a Scotsman, Jackie is an American, they’ve been living in New Zealand and are looking to relocate to Kauai. So we talked about New Zealand much to my benefit.

Tomorrow is Mahalo. I can hardly imagine not being here!

And then we went to a place called The Russian Fort, built in 1816 and occupied through 1864.

It is rather a pile of lava rocks. Here’s a guidebook quotation. ‘Still, it’s fun to stretch your imagination and try to picture the fort completed and in use, perhaps with the Russian representative, the colorful and deluded Georg Scheffer bustling around giving orders.’

Then we went to Historic Hanapepe, a one street town with a few art shops, a restaurant where we had a tasty lunch, and this swinging bridge for walking across.

March 27

First thing this morning we went for a nice walk at Kukuiolono Park. It was beautiful and very different. The inset shows the 9″ long needles on the tress that were carpeting the forest floor and pathway.

Also there was a little Japanese garden made mostly of lava rocks in a dozen formations with bonsai plants making up the garden’s story. There were flowers too, and some tropical plantings.

And Betty!

Here’s their dog, the boat-ridin’ chicken-chasin’ dog Coco(mo).

Late in the day Kenny and Kathy from down the street took us on a boat to Fern Grotto. The Grotto has been an important tourist attraction, achievable by boat only, for years but the big storm last March destroyed it almost completely.

It is a state park and the government is refurbishing it to be much safer, include crowd control, improved facilities for handicap access, and new toilets. It’ll be fine, but not like The Old Days, ask anyone.

The Fern Grotto.

At one point it was supposed to be open this January but here it is the end of March and it doesn’t look near done. It seems they’re working on government time…

Then we rode under the highway bridge about 1/2 mile down river from Our-House…

…and up to the entrance to the sea. Kenny said if the tides are right he can power his small boats through this channel and up into the waves. Now that would have been an adventure!

And on the way back here we have Our-House, glowing in the setting sun. It is indeed just as magnificent as it looks.

When we got to the end, to Kee Beach in Haena, not only was it raining but also there was no place to park this being a local holiday, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole day, (you can look him up as Prince Kuhio-it’s an interesting story) and all the local families were out enjoying the sites.

We too visited the sites on the drive back. We pulled into the Wet and Dry Caves for a photo-op and these cutie-pie cheer-leader tourist girls were just the ticket.

March 26

Our outing today took us to the far north end of the island, as far as you can drive up to the north-west end of the Na Pali Coast.

You must cross many one-lane bridges on the way and from every single one in both directions you’ll see wonderful views.

This is your basic view of Hanalei Bay in the rain from the front seat of a truck that’s parked on the sand. We did wait a while but the rain didn’t stop.

This is also the area where they filmed South Pacific and where she washed that man right out of her hair.

Attention! Attention! The essential crossword puzzle bird, the Hawaiian Nene. Hi kids.

This is the setting for the Kilauea Lighthouse in Kilauea, also known as Kilauea Point. It’s a bird sanctuary and on the grassy space in the upper middle is an albatross nesting ground.

Sharon and Betty had a great albatross viewing experience a few weeks earlier but today we didn’t see any. They also had a cavorting momma whale and her calf. And today, nada. So much of sightseeing is luck I’d say!

But we did get to see a lot of soaring sea birds. This is a Red-footed Booby (‘a in Hawaiian).

They pick up the drafts from the cliffs and just hang there for your viewing pleasure. This is the Great Frigatebird (‘iwa in Hawaiian).

Then we did a new walk, so new the path isn’t finished yet but the plan is to pave an off-street route for bicycles to travel back and forth from the residential areas up north to their work in the south. Great idea!

Birds birds birds. Can’t resist ’em.

Next along this road we stopped off to admire Hanalei Valley and the Lookout. Look out!

This reminded me of a pattern for a line of Calvin Klein linen.

March 25

It’s a good morning and we’re off to drive on the road that takes us to the Jurassic Park sites. We don’t want to take the new truck off 4-wheeling and it’s rather steep and far to walk…

…so we find the perfect trail right near by. It’s called the Kuilau Ridge Trail and we looved it.

On a clear day you can easily see the top of Mt Wai’ale’ale, the World’s Wettest Spot. But it’s not the World’s Wettest Spot for nothing, and it is very rarely a clear day.

Cool sights from the walk.

Also the birds were gathered for choir practice I think. The songs were so profuse and diverse and so lovely it made me want to buy a birdsong cd for my car!

This evening we had a little neighborhood pupu soiree and a grand time was had by all. Kenny even said he’d take us up to Fern Grotto tomorrow and the next day we’ll visit the neat-o park out where Bob and Sharon are staying.

Kenny and Cathy here.

Another dinner guest. Geckos are a great source of entertainment around here. He’s a pretty big one hanging upside down on the patio ceiling. Mostly they are green because they are hanging around on green things. I think they can change color mighty darn fast.

March 24

We decide to enjoy the Marriott today in the little port town of Nawiliwili. Here’s the welcoming lighthouse – not the more famous Kilauea Lighthouse but a landmark nonetheless.