Kauai, October 29 – November 5, 2010
Nate, Kate, 3 y.o. Juliet & I boarded our Alaska flight at noon on Friday. 2 & ½ hours later we hopped on the shuttle at huge LAX, to the American concourse, where we ran in to Mary, coming from Portland. Our 6-hour flight to Lihue, Kaua'i, was smooth. We chased the sunset for hours. I don't remember our flight to the Big Island in March 2008 being so long. It must be as fast to fly from Seattle to the Caribbean! Juliet didn't sleep at all, excitedly on her way to much talked of Hawai'i.
When we landed Friday night, I shuttled over to get the rental minivan. We got turned around on directions to nearby Garden Island Inn, but our round about route only added a few extra minutes. Kate put Juliet to bed while Mary, Nate & I went to near-by Duke's for tasty Poo Poos (appetizers) and pina coladas served IN pineapples, sitting on the veranda with a pleasant breeze and a band playing reggae.
Mary & I awoke early (3 hours behind Pacific time zone here, so 6 a.m. Hawai'i time is 9 a.m. PDT) & opened up a nearby Seattle Best Coffee, taking back drinks & pastries to the inn. We walked across the road to Kalapaki Beach, played in the surf, as the sun began to get higher in the sky. (So far, while the sun is strong, temperatures have been comfortable. There's a cooling breeze most everywhere.)
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/Kauai1stDay#
We checked out of Garden Island Inn (our frequent flyer award travel tickets didn't match up with the availability at the condo here, which resulted in the one-night stay near the airport) & decided on the Olympic Cafe in Kapa'a for lunch, as Mary's friend Matt says the fish tacos there are the best on the island. They were good. On our way back toward Po'ipu, we took a short side road to view 'Opaeka'a Falls & stopped at Costco to get supplies.
We arrived at the resort, Point-at-Po'ipu, about 2:30. The call ahead, requesting early check-in, didn't help much. We did get in to our condo about 3:30 p.m. And, we got the requested ocean view, although the vista is framed by parts of the big resort, on both sides.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/PointAtPoIpu#
Mary & I headed back to the airport to pick up Deanna, my niece. We had pizza for dinner & turned in fairly early, still adjusting to the time change.
Sunday morning we greeted the sunrise on the nearby bluff, with breakers crashing below us. 'Great colors.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KauaiSunrise1#
Mary, Deanna, Juliet & I went to nearby Po'ipu Beach to snorkel, dropping Nate & Kate at a sports bar to watch the Seahawks get trounced by the Raiders. Juliet is still leery of the snorkel that Great-grandma got her for her for her birthday. A friendly beach companion loaned us a small air mattress with a viewing window, so Juliet saw some fish. After a short snorkel, I followed Deanna further out, where she'd seen lots of fish. I got in to a shallow area with breakers & decided to turn back. 'Still not that fit, following rehab after my total left knee replacement in June. We have several other destinations in mind for snorkeling.
Sunday night, Halloween, we went to Jonathan & David's, where a small group of trick-or-treaters joined their 2 seven-year olds. Mary worked with Jonathan several years ago. Juliet was a cat, with the cutest little outfit Kate made for her. Juliet was ecstatic & managed to keep her balance, running pell mell down driveways, while we held our breath & exhorted her to slow down.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/PoIpuBeachHlwn#
Another spectacular sunrise Monday, enhanced by telephoto capability of my intelligent zoom Panasonic Lumix. Mary caught sight of one turtle in the surf. We walked around the lovely grounds of the Hyatt next door.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KauaiSunrise2#
Monday breakfast was at Joe's on the Green, at a nearby golf course. Mid-day, the gals did the nearby Koloa weekly farmers' market, while Nate went to a timeshare sales promo, to get his $100 golf voucher. Juliet & I napped. After some time at the pool here at the resort, we did some late afternoon snorkeling at the beach next to the Beach House. Nate barbequed chicken, that went well with a great fruit salad from purchases at the farmers' market.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KauaiBrkfstFruit#
Tuesday daybreak was another beauty. Between all of us, we have a few hundred sunrise pics by now.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KauaiSunrise3#
After breakfast of granola, fruit & yogurt, Kate & I dropped Nate at the golf course on our way to the airport to pick up Sammie, Kate's childhood friend, now living on Maui. She hopped an inter-island flight to spend the rest of the week with us. On return to the condo, we headed back to poolside. Then a several minute drive to the Beach House, where sat on their lawn to take in a spectacular sunset. Pizza again for dinner, here at the condo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KauaiCharacters#
Wednesday morning was somewhat overcast, so we didn't make our morning trek to the bluff to start the day. 'Just as well, because we wanted to get an early start to Waimea Canyon. Chances are better for views earlier in the day. While cloudy at the lookouts at the top of the canyon, we were able to catch glimpses down toward the Na Pali coast line & the beautiful, rugged valley arising precipitously from the Pacific.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/NaPaliOverlook#
We stopped at several viewpoints of Waimea Canyon as we descended, often compared to the Grand Canyon. Following the suggestion of my friend, Dave Wagner, we enjoyed lunch at Waimea Plantation Cottages.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/WaimeaCanyon#
We got back to the condo in time to return to return to the Beach House for more snorkeling. While we knew we didn't have much daylight left, we decided to find Kawailoa Bay, at the end of the dirt road east of the Hyatt, that Mary's friend Jonathan recommended. After traveling the progressively bumpy gravel road for about 3 miles, we met the guard assigned to close the gate at 6 pm & resigned ourselves to returning earlier another day to get to Kawailoa Bay.
Thursday was our North Shore day. We had some rain at daybreak here on relatively dry South Shore. Weather got progressively wetter at we drove up the East Coast. When we arrived at the end of the road, Ke'e Beach, we were greeted by a steady downpour. Waves were high & it was obvious that the north shore beaches sometimes good for snorkeling, weren't safe. Despite the rainy, cloudy conditions, we had some views of the rugged mountains shooting up from the North Shore, with white threads of waterfalls. Retracing our path along the North Shore, by the time we got to Kilauea Lighthouse the rain had subsided.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KauaiNShore#
Just north of Lihue, we took a 4 mile side trip to see Wailua Falls.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/WailuaFalls#
We didn't get out of the clouds until the last couple of miles approaching the South Shore, about 4 pm—enough time to explore Kawailoa Bay, east of the Hyatt, at the end of the gravel road. It was worth it—a lovely stretch of sand and rocky shoreline, with overhanging trees. And, we had the added blessing of a rainbow.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KawailoaBay#
Exiting ahead of gate closure, we had just enough time to drive to a vantage point east of Po'ipu Beach to watch the sunset. At dusk, we visited small Moir Gardens, within Kiahuna Plantation Resort.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/Sunset2MoirGarden#
Friday, last day for most of us (Mary & Deanna will be staying until Sunday), we took in our final South Shore sunrise. After breakfast, we headed to the pool for a last sunning. Juliet played with her 3-year old friend, Lander, one more time. Then it was 11 a.m. check out time & off to Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company for lunch. Nate & I were dropped off at nearby Kukuiolono Golf Course, famous for $9 green fees! A sugar magnate donated the course to the municipality, with the stipulation green fees must remain $9 for the 9-hole course. Club rental also $9. Cart rental? You guessed it—$9! The green fees are actually $9 per day, no charge for additional rounds after the first 9. But, cart rental is $9 for each 9. A hilltop course with some great views, the course has lots of character. I started well but wasted a few shots on holes 3 & 4. Nate finished strong, with a birdie and several pars on closing holes, playing with cheap rental clubs. We didn't have time to make more use of the bargain rates, as we needed to get Mary & Deanna to their new condo & get ourselves to the airport.
http://picasaweb.google.com/wrinkles45/KukuiolonoGolf#
After leaving Nate & me at the golf course, Kate, Juliet & Sammie dropped Mary & Deanna at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens & went to Hanapepe, where, mid-span on the swaying footbridge over the river, as Kate was getting anxious, Juliet didn't reassure Mom, with her rendition of “London Bridges Falling Down”.
Mary & Deanna raved about the gardens, promise to share scads of pictures. As we picked them up exiting the gardens, we were again blessed with a rainbow. We've seen many the last few days, as intermittent rain has come and gone.
It turned to steady rain as we drove up to Kapa'a Shores, East Shore, where we left Mary & Deanna, at a condo Mary rented from her World-Mark friend. They will fly home on Sunday.
We didn't have much time to spare for Sammie to catch her inter-island flight and we checked in behind most of the full flight of passengers for our 9:20 pm red eye to Los Angeles. Juliet fought sleep for a while, but eventually got some decent rest. We had a couple of hours layover before catching our last flight up the coast to Seattle. Juliet slept the whole flight.
Summing up: a good time had by all, including 3 y.o. Juliet. She was exceptionally adaptable. We managed to fit in late naps for her most days. Her favorites: Halloween & making friends at the pool. While others were impressed with the array of fish, my snorkeling forays this trip were less rewarding. Before next trip, maybe I'll get that other knee replaced. Mary is a regular on my international & offshore trips. I'm glad to help her escape Oregon, where her job--keeping developmentally challenged out of institutions--challenges her. Niece Deanna is happy to join us when possible. Kate's been on a couple of trips before. Aside from family States-side reunions, this is Nate's first. The morning we departed, he got news he passed his last test, making him a licensed landscape architect—great timing to celebrate, with a first-ever visit to Hawaii!
