Canyon Day

The morning began with this crazy rooster right outside our window. They are everywhere! 

Today was Waimea Canyon day. The Canyon is on the opposite side of the island from us, about a 2 hour drive with low speed limits and traffic. We decided to spend the whole day on the southern side, to explore Poi'pu while we were over there. 

The Canyon is very impressive, about 10 miles wide and up to 3000 feet deep. That side of the island is also very different than ours - much drier and not as green.

Here are some photos from the Lookout:

People attach inscribed key locks to the fence at the Lookout.

We hiked the Canyon Trail, which was a great mix of rugged terrain and beautiful woods. Here are some photos:

We've been experimenting a lot this trip with our camera. 

I love what Lance did with Waipoo Falls. Note the difference between photo 1 and photo 2:

Photo 1

Photo 2

We were dusty and dirty after our hike so we decided to drive over to Poi'pu Beach, which was rather crowded but offers some pretty good snorkeling. 

Then we went to dinner at Keoki's Paradise, which I highly recommend. We love the Monchong, which is a delicious Hawaiin fish.

An hour and half drive back to the hotel - another amazing day!

Tomorrow, last day in Kaua'i - flying to Maui on Tues. I told Lancd that I know I'll like Maui, but I don't think I'll love it the way I do this Island. There's just something so special about it. 

Beautiful, Beautiful Beaches

Today, we went out in search of several spots we've wanted to see and photograph. 

I really wanted to swim in Queen's Bath when we first got here, but we were strongly encouraged to drop that idea by several hotel staff. I convinced Lance that at least we could go see it...the hike down was, again, far more daunting than we anticipated...here's a waterfall we spotted on the way:

When we finally got down to the lava rock near the water, the concerns everyone has voiced (including our surfer dude captain from the Na Pali cruise yesterday), all made sense. One rogue wave would pull you out to sea and pommel you on the lava rock.

So, I begrudgingly turned around. I wasn't super happy about it, but in the end, Lance was right about this one. 

On we went to our next destination, Secret Beach. This beach used to really be a secret, and was actually a nudist favorite. However, it's not so secret anymore, but it's another beautiful place to visit. The hike was about 10 minutes  down, and it was a moving experience on its own, just like everything here:

Then you come out of the woods and see this: 

It's not a swimming beach...the waters are much too rough. But, it certainly is a beauty...and we had it almost to ourselves.

We decided to check out Anini Beach next. It seems to be more of a local beach, kind of a part of a neighborhood, and was very swimmable. Everything is  postcard worthy here:

Lance snorkeled for awhile, and I saw more chickens:

Tonight we went to a luau in Lihue at the 

Kilohana sugar plantation, the first sugar plantation in Kaua'i. It was an interesting experience, complete with Hawaiian food, fire eating and dancing. 

And, yes, this is Tevan's dress. She wore it on her honeymoon, and I wanted to be sure and wear it on our 10 year trip. 

The luau cast, comprised of Kaua'i locals. They do this show weekly for fun and additional income - the island has the highest cost of living in the US combined with the second lowest income. It's so admirable how actively  they've studied their history and culture - many of these girls have been studying hula since they were small. 

Another amazing day! Tomorrow, Waimea Canyon. I can hardly wait to see what else is out there to see!

What a Day!

Lance says that today was one of the most memorable of his life. It really was that amazing.

It was another bleary-eyed, early morning...trekking to Hanalei to board a catamaran to sail the Na Pali Coast. 

I can't possibly describe the magnitude of this experience. I just don't have the words, other than to say 2 things. One, I now dream of showing our kids this amazing place on Earth. And two, anyone who doubts the existence of God needs to sail the Na Pali Coast. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and there's just something about it that just feels Divine and Sacred.

Here's our little boat:

Here are a few pictures of the coast. Nothing can do it justice, but here they are anyway:

And no boat trip would be complete without snorkeling. Visibility wasn't the best after the recent hurricanes here, and I have to admit the coral in the Carribean is pretty awesome by comparison, but popping up out of the ocean to see this is pretty unbeatable:

So after flying over Na Pali and then boating it, we decided to hike it. There's actually an 11 mile trail through it, the Kalalau Trail, and it's dubbed one of the most difficult and dangerous trails in the US. It requires a permit from the Hawaiin government and means camping for one night after the 5th mile. We saw several hikers from the air, along with one of the most dangerous parts of it called, "Crawlers Ledge".  

So, we decided to do the first 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Beach, which seemed like a pretty easy thing to do...4 miles round trip. But, as we started the trail, which is full of steep drop offs to the cliffs below, it began to rain. And rain and rain. This created a very muddy situation, and these paths became so slick. We both fell at least once, and getting to the beach began to feel harder and harder. The views were unbelievable, though, making the every step totally worth it!

Here are some photos:

When we arrived at Hanakapi'ai Beach, we had to cross a stream to get to the Beach. It was such a relief to make it!

Here's the Beach:

We made it back! Really, the most amazing day!