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

Woke up to another beautiful day!  Had the rest of our pancakes and some eggs for breakfast, then I took my dslr and 70-200, 2.8 zoom lens  down to the beach by Kauai Coast Resort.  I was ready for those whales!  Of course, they weren't ready for me.  So I took a walk down the beach.  There's a walkway all the way down to Wailua Bay---a very pretty walk.  Even found a few surprises along the way!
 First surprise was Kukui Heiau, a historic archeological site---wish I had my 18-200mm lens now!   

the paved walkway ended, but a dirt path continued.

At the end of that path was another surprise---another little man made swimming/wading area.  Wonder if there are any fish in there?

Looking towards the highway from the end of the trail.

Walking back to KCR.  A couple whales did decide to tease me and did breach a couple times, but not when I was camera ready.

By now it was after 11, so it was time to get our show on the road.  We had always stayed away from Anahola Beach Park because we read it was a locals' park.  But after hearing so much about it from other visitors, we decided to check  it out on a non-holiday weekday.  Today worked for that.

It certainly is another beautiful beach!  We chatted with the life guards a bit.  A friend of one of the lifeguards was there and he is also from St. Louis---lives about a block away from where Ken worked for the last 25 years that he worked (he retired in 2012).  It really is a small world!   We also chatted with a few of the locals and found everyone to be very friendly.

 I was excited to get to snorkel there; until we got to.  Snorkeling there wasn't very good, but we still managed to spend a couple hours there.
We did see a few Hawaiian state fishes--the Picasso triggerfish.

 and saw a small 4 spot Butterfly fish

 Even saw a small Blue Trevally and a Surge Wrasse.

 There were a few goat fish and a few wrasses.

 This was the big find.    I presume it is a type of Sea Cucumber---which, by the way, there were a ton of ordinary sea cucumbers here.  I've never seen one marked so pretty.

The water was so calm and the weather up north was so beautiful, that we decided to continue north and check out Tunnels and Kee.  We were just past Hanalei just after the farmers' market opened, so we had to stop.

 Even got a piece of Mango/Lilikoi pie from Right Slice---very yummy!  Would have gotten a piece of the lilikoi cheesecake, too, but the person in front of me bought the last piece.

I even bought a really cute dyed fabric pillow cover.  The young lady who made it also had really cute appliqued pillow covers.  Check her out here:  www.HawaiiAnaQuilt.com .

Unfortunately, the ocean was "closed" farther north.  There were a few people snorkeling in an area of Tunnels that didn't look too bad. 

  But we decided to head to Anini and obey the "closed" sign.  Hopefully we'll get to snorkel Tunnels later in the week or next week.  Tomorrow we may go back to look at the predicted 50' waves.

  Stopped to take a look at the taro fields from the viewpoint.  Not the best lighting,, but still pretty.

Then we were off to Anini.  We spent another 2 hours there.  It was exceptional!  Lots of schools of fish and a large variety.  Perhaps our best snorkeling trip there so far ever!
Threadfin and Milletseed Butterfly fish

 spotted box fish

 school of Convict Tangs

Iridescent Cardinal fish

christmas wrasse (lots of different kinds and quantities of wrasses all around Kauai.  They're one species of fish I see more of around Kauai then any of the other islands.)

 Ornate butterfly fish

White spotted toby

Turtle!

 Actually saw 2 Yellow Tangs here this time.  In years past, I could find 1 here and occasionally one somewhere else around Kauai.

 colorful white saddle goatfish.

young rockmover

Manybar goatfish  and part of a Blue goatfish

 Sea Hare---looked to be about fist sized.

 Eel

 school of Moorish Idols

Trumpet fish

 Flounder

another bunch of assorted fishies.

another eel (white mouthed moray)

Another eel about 2 ' away from the one above.(yellow margin moray?)

At about 6 we decided it was time to head out.  We drove over by the Lighthouse hoping to catch a pretty sunset.  By then it had pretty well clouded over to the west so there wasn't much of a sunset.  A couple whales teased me again.  Whenever I turned away, one would beach.  Finally gave up on them and took a picture of the warm colored skies over the lighthouse.

By the time we got back to the East side, it was after 7 and we were still in our wet swimsuits and rumpled hair.  So we stopped at Subway and picked up supper.  Then headed down to the heated pool and jacuzzi for another couple hours.  Great end to another great day!