2014 Kauai

2014 Kauai

2014  Kauai -- trip # 12: Kauai Coast Resort; KBV; biking; Smith's garden; Allerton Garden; Na Aina Kai; Bali Hai

2014 Kauai---This was our 12th vacation to Kauai!  I know a lot of people don't like to keep going back to the same place, but I love it.  We've really gotten to feel comfortable here.  Too bad it's so far away!!!

Note about my cameras---my above ground photos are mostly taken with my Canon 60D;
my underwater photos are taken with an Olympus TG-830 (this year)

To check out our adventures, click on the daily links below: 

Jan. 18, 2014:

Day 2: Jan. 19---around the east side and on to Poipu

Jan. 20, 2014---East side, Lydgate snorkeling


Jan. 21, 2014--Tuesday: Anahola and Anini

Jan. 22- Wed--Big waves on the North Shore

Jan. 23-Thurs--south to Lawai and Saltpond:

Jan. 24, Friday-Smith's garden, Poipu--

Jan. 25-Sat.-move day, Moloaa beach-

Jan. 26, Sunday--Lydgate and Meet and Greet at Ka Eo Kai:

Day 10-Jan. 27: clouds, cold, garden--

Jan. 28--Hubby's big birthday!

Jan. 29--Another cloudy rainy day, so off to another garden:

Jan. 30-Poipu and Salt Pond--

Jan. 31---Finally!-snorkel Tunnels!

Feb. 1--move to Wyndham Bali Hai, hang around Hanalei--

 Feb. 2--Anahola snorkeling; Super Bowl; Kee sunset;

Feb. 3: Anini turtle convention; spectacular sunset

Feb. 4, 2014--hanging out on the east side until our flight: Day 18---

Another great vacation!  Hard to believe 18 days can go by so quickly!!!

FEb. 4, 2014---hanging out on the east side until our flight:  DAy 18-

 We went to The Beach Walk for breakfast again.  I had the cream cheese stuffed Hawaiian bread french toast.  It was very good!  
Then we walked along the beach at Lydgate park for a while.

 We like to look for whales by the lighthouse by the airport, so we hung out there for an hour or so.  Saw lots of spouting, but no breaching.

Feb. 3, 2014 : Anini turtle convention; spectacular sunset

When we got up this morning, I was a bit disappointed.  No more bright blue skies!  It was totally overcast, but I reminded myself I was still in Kauai so how bad could it be.  With that, we ate breakfast in the condo, then headed out for our last day on Kauai 2014.  The surf was still up on the north shore, so we decided to check out the reef protected Anini beach.  I was actually shocked at how still the water was.  It was lightly raining then, but I was getting one more snorkel in!  Ken elected to sit on the beach and chat with everyone around.  Instead of entering where I usually do, I walked in from the boat ramp.  Immediately I was met with a large school of yellow stripe goatfish.

Just after that I saw a turtle eating the short grass in the area.

 Feb. 2, 2014 --Anahola snorkeling; Super Bowl; Kee sunset;


It was another beautiful day here, even on the north side!  Not a drop of rain all day and lots of sunshine.

  Unfortunately, the surf is up on the north shore, so we headed to the NE beach, Anahola, to try snorkeling there again.  

Feb. 1, 2014 --move to Wyndham Bali Hai, hang around Hanalei--


Hard to believe 2 weeks is over!!!  Only 3 more nights.  These next 3 nights will be spent in Princeville at the Wyndham Bali Hai in a 3 bedroom presidential unit.  More VIP magic---half the points of the 2 bedroom lower with a free upgrade to the 3 bedroom presidential.  It looked like it might be a really nice day again.  The north shore was even below advisory levels again, but wave heights were suppose to be higher then yesterday.  Our plan was to check out of KBV, return an item to Walmart, then head up to Bali Hai and hope for an early VIP check in.  Then unload the car and head to Kee and/or Tunnels again.  I took a few pictures on our way north.  I love the views any direction we're going!   Even when there's a few droplets of rain on the windshield.

I know these orange flowering vines are harmful to the plants they overgrow, but they sure are pretty.

Jan. 31, 2014 ---Finally!-snorkel Tunnels!


I'd been checking the surf report daily with no luck for snorkeling the north shore.  But today it was below advisory and with a wave height of 2-5' and good visibility.  So I was anxious to head north.  I don't think Ken was as anxious, but he went.  After eating up the last of our eggs and bacon (move day again tomorrow), we got ready and headed out for the maybe hour ride to Tunnels.  Didn't get there until after 11.  I was surprised to see the sun was shining and the beach probably had more sand on it since the 50' surge then it had before.

 

Jan. 30-Poipu and Salt Pond--


Today we woke up to another absolutely beautiful day!    It even warmed up nicely.  We tried to check the www.kauaiexplorer.com site for surf conditions, but it still wasn't updated by 11 am.  According to tv, it looked like tomorrow should be a good day to head north and actually get some snorkeling in---surge of only 3-4' (which for the north in a protected area like Tunnels, Kee, and Anini is often good).  Sat. we pack up and head to Princeville, so this might be our last day to head south.  So we did.  Probably spent 4 hours in the water between Poipu and Salt Pond.  Even the ride down to Poipu was beautiful!  Loved the clouds again today!

Jan. 29, 2014 --Another cloudy rainy day, so off to another garden:


Today we got up early to head over to the resort's owner coffee.  Heard, again, about the scheduled renovations for Kauai Beach Villas---for about the 12th year.  They are actually working on the outside of the oceanview units, but the insides are basically the same as it was when we bought in in 1996 (with the exception of pergo flooring put in the kitchens and bathrooms).  He said the carpeting and new kitchen/bathroom flooring has been purchased!  Then furniture is suppose to be replaced.  So next time we're here, maybe my pictures of KBV will look different!  I still love the location and layout of the condos, so I won't be too hysterical if nothing is done again.  Although if I have the oppurtunity to stay at Kauai Coast Resort again, I'll take it!

Anyway, I was sad to see that it was totally overcast this morning and raining off and on.  But rain on flowers always looks pretty, so I suggested we go to Na 'aina Kai sculpture garden today.  This is a very nice garden on Kauai that has a reciprocal program with our Missouri Botanical Gardens.  That is a fabulous garden in St. Louis, so I like to get a membership there and use it several times there and lots of other gardens.  This was actually our 3rd time to Na Aina Kai with the reciprocal membership.  They have several garden tours, but the free reciprocal one is the $35 1.5 hour guided walking tour.  Each time we've gone they've talked about different things and taken slightly different routes, so I still enjoy it.  It did rain a bit before we left the condo and again while we were waiting for the tour, but the sun did actually come out now and then.

Jan. 28, 2014 --Hubby's big birthday!


The old guy reached another landmark birthday today!  Now he's 62 and able to draw social security!  Yea!!!  I made him plan the day today.  Should make him do it more often.  It was another great day!  Even the weather was great again.  Nice to see lots of sun again.  It was quite windy---20-25mph out of the north with gusts of 40.    But it didn't stop us.
DH decided we should finally ride bikes on the East side bike/walk path.  We've talked about doing this for years.  We found a shop behind Ono Restuarant in Kapaa that rents them for $10 for 2 people for 1 hour or $15 for 2 hours.  My cruiser worked quite well.  I was surprised how well it did in the 25mph headwinds.  Ken had problems with his and ended up waiting by the pier 3 or 4 miles into the ride for me to get back from the end of the trail.  Here are a few pictures from the trail:

Jan. 27, 2014: clouds, cold, garden--


Woke up to more rain and clouds.  We piddled around the condo until about 11:30, then decided to head south in hopes of some sun and snorkeling.  Instead, we found more clouds and light drizzle.  But we still made a great day out of it.  First we stopped at The Stichery Store near Walmart.  For anyone interested in sewing, especially with Hawaiian prints, this is a great place to go.   We have lots of fabric stores in St. Louis, but none that carry Hawaiian prints!  They even encourage you to take pictures.

 So many choices!!!

  

Jan. 26, 2014 - Sunday--Lydgate and Meet and Greet at Ka Eo Kai:


We woke up today to total overcast and some sprinkles.  Dang!   So we debated on what to do.  First was breakfast in our condo.  Then we decided to go snorkel at Lydgate.  Figured it didn't matter if it was raining there.  On the way there, I saw a low rainbow practically hugging the ground.  I've never seen one that low.  This picture didn't catch it very well, but it sort of shows where it was.  I took this while we were moving so a tree got in the way!

By the time we got to Lydgate, there was quite a bit of blue skies peeking out.

Jan. 25-Sat.-move day, Moloaa beach-

Time to pack up and move to our  usual home on Kauai---Kauai Beach Villas.  So after packing up, I walked over to the Coconut Marketplace to see what changes have taken place there.  It looks like it would have been a great place to go for my rash guard and shorts!  Oh well!  It's a nice mall to have within walking distance.

When I was done checking out the Coconut Marketplace, it was time to check out of Kauai Coast Resort.  Again I got our time at Kauai Beach Villas for half the Wyndham points and 5 of the days I got us a free upgrade to a 2 bedroom from a 1 bedroom.  The other 2 days I paid the half price for a 2 bedroom so we don't have to change rooms.  Unfortunately no oceanviews were available.  Kauai Coast Resort is more updated including a much better mattress, has central ac, the resort is more compact, pool is heated!, plus it's location has a slight edge over Kauai Beach Villas.  On the other hand, our unit at KBV is quite a bit larger, does have ac in the bedrooms, location is secluded which sometimes is preferred, and it's just so familiar to us now.  Both are on the East side.  We've stayed at KBV 12 times now, so I won't include too many pictures of it.  

Jan. 24, 2014- Friday-Smith's garden, Poipu--


Really on Hawaii time now.  Almost 9:30 before we got up today!  It was another gorgeous morning---blue skies, little wind, high of upper 70's predicted.  Still too rough on the north shore to go there to snorkel, so we planned to go to Poipu later in the afternoon.  But first, off to breakfast.  This time we decided to try the Beach Walk Restaurant (use to be Scotty's).  Love the ocean view there!  Here's the view from our table.

 and

  Even had entertainment along the bike path there.  Such as this skate boarding dog--almost as entertaining as the windows at the Olympic Café.  Breakfast and service was very good, too.

Since it was only about noon when we were done with breakfast, we decided to go to Smith's garden before heading south.  Another East side gem!  We've been to Smith's 6 or 7 times for the luau (we love it), and have wandered the grounds before dinner, but never really got to check out the whole garden (other than by trolley before the luau).  The grounds are beautiful and they only charge $6 per adult to enter the gardens during the day.  We spent about 1 1/2 hours wandering around the gardens.  Should have had bug repellant, though.  Even though we didn't see or feel the mosquitos at the time, we got pretty eaten up by them.
Our welcoming committee.

strolling around the gardens.

one of the many beautiful flowers

more of the pond

some of the flowers that grow on the trees are quite large.  Here's one that fell off a tree.

 looking towards the covered amphitheater where spectators watch the luau dances.

more of the grounds

 one of the many trees---this is a paper tree

 they have lots of fruit trees, too, like this breadfruit tree.

Don't know what kind of bush this is but it's flowers are pretty,too.

a covered pavilion.

another fruit tree--star fruit

another view of the pond

 another interesting colored rooster.

apple bananas--love those things.  Wish we could get them back home!

part of the Filipino village.

another pretty flower

Ken posing with his new buddy

 Ken named these the pink tail triggerfish flower.

one of the many birds on property --Hawaiian moorhen.

Sleeping Giant mountain in the backgrounds.  There are trails leading up this mountain.  We did that hike a few years ago.  Another fun thing to do on the East side.

they even have goats on the grounds.

 and they have a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree.

Here's the open air building where the luau buffet is served.

another of the many flowers.

Another pretty rooster

I never knew they had an orchid building.  But they do!

 Anthiriums

one of the many fountains around the garden.

show off!

another show off!

About 2pm we were on our way South, stopping at Costco to fill up the car for the first time.  This year gas prices are about $4.03 at Costco and about $4.39 + elsewhere.  It was much windier at Poipu, but still about 75 degrees.

 First we snorkeled the right side of the tombula, but weren't too impressed.  The waves were stirring up the sand pretty much.  Did see this coronet fish there.  Also saw a Snowflake Eel and assorted other fish.

 The left side, by the life guard station was a lot calmer, so we decided to check it out.

 It was quite good!  Saw LOTS of fish there and it was much clearer.  Here is one of the 4 spot butterflyfish that were there.

a pair of thread fin butterflyfish

I  kept my distance from this guy--a barracuda.(noticed him there when we went back another day.  Guess he's made his home here.)

a brown surgeonfish

 a large chub with spots on it.

 a school of orangebar surgeonfish

there were lots and lots of different kinds of wrasses here---this is a Christmas wrasse.

a bunch of different fish in the area by the life guard stand.

another female surge wrasse

 saddle wrasses attacking a spiny brittle star.

one of the many moorish idols

I believe this is a spotfin scorpionfish.  

 After a couple hours, the sun was beginning to get low, so we decided to get out and wait for sunset. 

Yes, another dud, but there was a little color in the clouds for a very short while.
  One last look.

Now it was time to find dinner.  We went over to Kukui'ula shopping center and wandered around it for awhile.  We just happened to be there about 7pm and got the added pleasure of hearing some of the talented Kauai musicians.  We didn't know it, but starting at 6:30 on Fridays, they have live music.  There were 4 separate areas with live entertainment and they were all very good.  Eventually we ended up at Bubba's for a Kauai Burger and fish and chips.  It was very good.
Can't believe we've been here for almost a week!!