2003 - Kauai trip 2, Dad's first Kauai visit: Kalalau Trail; resort scuba dive; South Pacific Dinner Show; Waimea Canyon

In 2001 we took our 1st trip to Kauai and fell in love with the little island. Since we owned an every other year week in Pahio Kauai Beach Villas there, in 2002 we went to The Big Island. With 2 trips to Oahu, 1 to Kauai, and 1 to The Big Island since 1999, we were anxious to get back to Kauai in 2003. But this time we knew 1 week wasn't going to be long enough. So I rented another week in our resort complex and we went back for our 2nd Kauai vacation for 2 wonderful weeks. My Dad even joined us for one of those weeks.

 Our resort: Kauai Beach Villas---

3-5-2003  Opaeka Falls and Poliʻahu Heiau---

3-6-2003  Resort dive at Koloa Landings---

3-7-2003 Waimea Canyon---

3-8-2003 Lydgate snorkeling, Polihale, Salt Pond---

3-9-2003  A day on the South shore---

3-10-2003 north to Kilauea and beyond--- 

3-11-2003 more north shore--- 


3-12-2003 Kalalau hike and Kee snorkel---

3-13-2003 Tunnels---

3-14-2003  East side---

3-15-2003  Spouting Horn sunset goodbye---

Thus ended our 4th trip to Hawaii and our 2nd trip to Kauai. We're hooked!

 

 

3-15-2003  last day and one last sunset

Not sure what we did all day---pack?  Snorkel without a camera?  Rest?  But we did make it South for sunset.

 Ended up at Spouting horn

 I thought it was interesting how a rainbow appears in the spray this time of night!

 Couldn't see the sun go into the water from here, but it was still a pretty sunset.

 Lots of pink in the sky

 A great ending to a fantastic vacation.  Too bad it has to end!

 

3-14-2003 Hanging around the East side

 Time to spend a little time enjoying the East side.  Here there is the only navigable river in Hawaii! 

 Wailua River is fed by two waterfalls

  Wailua Falls is a 173 foot waterfall located near Lihue that feeds into the Wailua River. The waterfall is prominently featured on the opening credits of the television series Fantasy Island.

 This guy was set up near the Wailua Falls overlook.  I liked his style of art so much that Dad bought me one of his pictures.  I think it was $20. 

 Later we drove around Lihue---past Mennehune Fish Ponds.  It is a historic Hawaiian fishpond. It is the best example of an inland fishpond in the entire state.

 Then we went to Nawiliwili Harbor and checked out the cruise ship.  I would like to be on that cruise one day!

 Several lighthouse towers occupied the point until the U.S. Government erected the present day 86 foot, reinforced concrete lighthouse tower in 1932.

  Ninini Point, situated on the northern entrance to the bay, became a natural lighthouse site.

  Looking North from Ninini Point.  We like going here and watching for whales and dolphins.

 A different kind of Kauai landscape day, but still a great one!

3-13-2003 Tunnels

 Possibly my favorite place on Earth---Tunnels.  I love the views from the beach as well as in the water!

 lots of coral here.

 The trail getting to Tunnels

 the very small parking area for Tunnels

 a wild peacock wandering around Tunnels

 I can, and do, spend hours here!

 Getting ready to head in.  Too bad my battery in my underwater camera was dead.

On our way back to KBV, we stopped for a few more groceries.

We've been really fortunate with the weather this year.  This is the rainy season, but we've had great weather and even been able to snorkel on the North shore.

3-12-2003 Kalalau trail and kee beach:

 BAck to the North shore.  This time to do the Kalalau trail.  It is an 11 mile trail that leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach.

 The 11-mile trail is graded but almost never level as it crosses above towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys.

 The trail has been named one of the most beautiful, and dangerous, hikes in the world

 I would think this is impossible to do when it's wet!

 Looking back towards Kee Beach

 It there aren't rocks to climb over, there are roots!

 Our reward was an occassional flower

 The first 2 miles of the trail is moderately strenuous and doesn't require a camping permit. After that, a permit is required.

 We had planned to do the first 2 miles to Hanakapiai stream and beach, but Ken's knees weren't having it. 

 Definitely not a moderate hike if you have bad knees.

 We made it about a mile before turning around and going back to Kee.

 The narrow trail, three major stream crossings that can rapidly rise when raining, and falling rock have been cited as reasons for why the trail is one of the most dangerous in the world.

 More pretty wild flowers.

 and gorgeous vistas

 Would liked to have made it to the beach 2 miles in, but Ken was afraid his knees wouldn't get him back.

 another interesting plant along the way

Looking down on Kee

 After our hike, we were happy to jump in the water and snorkel a bit.

 Such a beautiful place to snorkel

 and much easier on the knees

 yours truly

 some residents of Kee

 Yellow fin surgeonfish

 one last picture of Kee

Another wonderful day! 

3-11-2003  more of the North Shore:

Another trip north.  This time we stopped at the wet cave---Waikanaloa Wet Cave.  It is one of two wet caves in the area. Located just off the highway, it is the most easily accessible. The three caves in this area were formed when sea levels were much higher and sand and surf carved them out.Both wet caves are fed from underground springs which dump into the ocean.

Maniniholo Dry Cave is located directly across the street from Haena Beach Park and goes back quite a distance.

 Hanalei Bay---it is the largest bay on the north shore. Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles of beach, surrounded by mountains.

 The town of Hanalei is at the midpoint of the bay. Here is the old Waioli Huuia Church, which was founded in 1834 and still hold services every Sunday.

Hawaii was planning to demolish this school to make way for a new school on its site; the building was saved by commercial developers and moved it about half a mile down the Kuhio Highway to its current location in Hanalei.

 One of the commercial businesses in the Old School.  What is a trip to Kauai without Bubba Burgers?!

 built in 1926. the Old Hanalei School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990

 After an interesting lunch at Bubba Burgers, we were off again.  This time we drove into the wetlands were the taro fields are.

 They certainly like growing here.

 Continuing to the East side---another church.  This charming little church is in the town of Kilauea and is made of lava rocks. It was built in 1935.

 When dinner time rolled around, we continued just past Lihue to Gaylords Plantation restaurant.

 Seating is around the manor’s original courtyard with views of Mt. Waialeale in the distance

 Not a cheap dinner, but very nice.  Steak for Dad

 and me! 

Don't remember what Ken got, but I don't remember him complaining, either.

So much to do and see around Kauai!  You don't even have to spend a lot of money to do and see it!