Kauai: kayak

Time only to post pics, but some narrative so you know what you are looking at:

Scrambled eggs, bagels, cereal, Kauai coffee, and pineapple for breakfast. Went by Grindz at the gas station (looks promising, but only breakfast, burgers & pizza), but ended up picking up turkey croissants and fresh juice at Foodlane on the way to Hanalei. Sandwiches and juice went into a soft cooler latched onto a triple kayak and we paddled up the Hanalei River under the one-lane bridge and through the valley nature or agricultural preserve. Had to get Wishing Well shave ice afterward and got some shirts, sunglasses and crystals in Hanalei. A gallery in Princeville had an aerial photograph of Hanalei Bay. Pooltime with the boys. A late restorative yoga class, then sushi and sake at Hanalei Dolphin.

Kauai: South Coast

A morning run while the boys ate cereal and pineapple, then a swim with the boys in the pool with one of their new friends. So a late start for the South Coast. On the way, we picked up some cinnamon raisin bagels, frozen fruit frosties, and white pineapple.

Po'ipu is the home of several resorts, notably the Grand Hyatt. (Donna and Randy married here, and Cyndi made sure to visit the place of their vows.) We had a nice lunch there on a terrace, and Cyndi found some sandals.

Po'ipu would be the place to go if there was too much rain or waves on the north coast. As it turns out, we have had very good weather on the north coast. Good trade winds are keeping the temperatures in the seventies and maybe a touch into the low 80s. Cool at night. We've been caught in two strong downpours but usually the intermittent rain falls in short sunshowers.

Po'ipu Beach is small, but nicely protected for keikis and easy snorkeling. The highlight of our visit was crossing to the little sand island and watching three giant sea turtles crawl out of the ocean.

I had to get another shave ice. On the way home, we also stopped at waterfall.

More pineapple today. We opened a bottle of wine for a change.

Kauai: staying home

The sun just sank.

We are eating hot dogs and caesar salad with last night's remaining opah. Maitais, of course, and another pineapple, of course. Hannah Montana is on. Ry wants to play outside.

Lots of pictures, and lots of stories. All in all, we just hung out in Hanalei.

After a run, Cyndi went to her "yoga retreat."
Here's some places around town and our PT Cruiser.

The boys and I went to our "second Hanalei Beach."

We found a dress for Cyndi, and came back for it at the end of the day. We checked out the kayak place and ate along the river at Hanalei Dolphin, a wonderful place before a tsuanami knocked a beer into Cyndi's phone. Great opah sandwiches and draft beer. The boys went into the freezer to view the catch of the day, and we visited the fish market, the best I've seen here.


We went by the farmer's market before heading towards Tunnels Beach.

We parked at Ha'ena Beach Park and walked down to Tunnels, a great spot for snorkeling and, beyond the reef, kite surfing. About a half-mile trek that way, but then you don't have to deal with the private road and no parking signs.

Kauai: Waimea Canyon & Koke'e

This will be by far our longest drive on the island: 71 miles one-way around the island to the south coast, then up the Waimea Canyon to the end of the road. In the canyon, we stopped at three overlooks. At the second, we bought fresh pineapple slices, roasted coconut, and dried mangoes from a little stand. At Koke'e we visited the museum and a great bookstore, where Jack and I bought a book on the geological history of Kauai. Then at the end of the road, we took the Pihea Trail from the trailhead. We went for a mile, until it got very muddy and slippery, just before the swamp. Along the trail, there were marvelous views of the Kalalau Valley down to the Na Pali Coast, over 4,000 feet below. The weather was spectacular and clear. The boys were tough. It was rated a moderate trail, with lots of hills. Ry and I talked about stuff and sang songs to get us back up the steep hills. Afterward we stopped at the Koke'e Lodge: Hawaiian ales, Portugese sausage and bean soup, sweet & moist cornbread, quiche, hot dog and grilled cheese. On the way home, we stopped to buy two more pineapples (we're going through a pineapple per day), some opah and ono. Tomorrow: yoga, some beach, the local market. Staying close to home. Time to cook some ono, cut some pineapple, and make another mai tai, before a night swim. We will all sleep well tonight.