Surf's Up Dude...

Today B&M got some surfing lessons (I was the official photog...my time will come Tuesday...I am going for standup paddling lessons in Hanapepe). There is a great spot right on our beach where all the local schools give lessons, so we just signed up at the beach hut and off they went. The class was ~2.5 hours, with 30 min. of ground instruction, 1.5 hours of surfing with the instructors help, and 30 min. of play time. I think they had a blast ad they did really well. Both of the made it all the way to shore many times over the course of the class (with style)! It was fun watching them too. I figured with Brian's snowboarding and Maddie's balance beam work, neither would have problems...and they didn't.

Here's Maddie! Her biggest problem was getting the board off the beach and back in the water. Beginner boards are big and bulky, but she muscled through it. You go girl!

Here's Brian. Both had a few good crashes too, of course! A bit more practice (10 years or so) and they will be ready for the Banzai Pipeline!

We just hung around the rest of the day (they were whooped after surfing), had dinner at Puka Dogs, went for a nice evening walk along the beach, resupplied foodstuffs (and ice cream!) at the Koloa Big Save, and then settled in for the night. It was a good day (and I am afraid they are running out...ohhhhhhh noooooooooo). Aloha for today!

Waterfalls

Saturday was a recovery day from the North Shore blitz. Slept until our bodies said "Get up!", then Maddie made banana pancakes for breakfast. Maddie wanted to visit the pool, and Brian wanted the beach, so they decided beach in the a.m. and pool in the p.m. I had a bit of laundry to do, so I threw that in and met them at the beach. I had enouh sun from Friday...so I was hiding in the shade all day today. Met some more nice people today (some dudes playing bocce ball...I may join them in a friendly tournament). Brian met 2 young ladies (HS juniors) from San Francisco while folicking in the surf and has spent (and planning to spend) some time with them this week (they leave the same day as us). So the beach was a good call for the morning activities. We went back and chilled out for lunch and then B & M went to the pool while I had a power nap and did stuff around the condo. I met them over there just when they were ready to leave the pool, so we came back and played frisbee on the lushious lawns. Then I made them get in the car (nooooooo!) to drive to a couple of waterfalls I read about, Wailua & 'Opaeka'a. Both were "drive up and gawk", so we didn't have to work for these (except getting the kidsin the car!) Wailua was huge...173 feet tall (taller than Niagara?) and in an absolutely wonderful setting. You can hike to the bottom of this one (down a steep, slippery path) and play in the pool and spray from the falls. I didn't get any takers on this one, so we may have to come back when everyone is feeling more energetic. Met a very nice woman (Irene) and her Hawaiian boyfriend/SO, and had a very nice chat with them about the islands and lots of other stuff. She was quite a chatterbox and the kids were growing tired of us gabbing (like Dad...c'mon), so we jumped back in the car and over to the next falls...'Opaeka'a.

We couldn't get as close to this one, but the bonus was that the Wailua River Valley lookout was right across the street, which was equally amazing! This is the river I would like to rent kayaks and meander up...it is a true jungle atmosphere...green and lush beyond description. We'll see if we have enough time! Aloha for today...another day awaits!

Headin' North

We forced ourselves into the car Friday to circumnavigate the island to the east and north as far as we could go (dead ends at the start of the Na Pali Coast). Packed up drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear and hit the road. I had an idea of quite a few beaches I wanted to hit, and figured if we liked what we were doing we would just stay or go as the spirit moved us. There is soooo much to see, and in a one day trip you just can't cover it all (not even in a month!) My plan to drive to the end of the road, and then work our way back and hang out where it felt good was changed as we approached a spot Maddie had picked from the guidebook...Queens Bath. It was near Princeville and was a beautiful little hike down a root-filled, dirt path through the jungle. If it was wet, it would have been treacherous (slippery roots), but as it was, the roots acted as stairsteps. Once we reached the ocean where a clear stream ran into it, we turned west (ask Maddie about the deposit she made) and made our way to this! Queen's Bath is a lava pool that fills as the tide comes in. Some people we ran into said it wasn't as full as they have seen it but it was still pretty cool!

The water in the ocean was crystal clear and we could see these huge turtles swimming off the edge of the lava flow. Too bad it was too rough to snorkel out there. Also, the views up and down the coast were phenomenal. On the way out we took advantage of fresh water stream to wash and shower the salt water off. Nice.........

Very near Queen's Bath was another beach that supposedly had good snorkeling and was pretty well hidden, hence the name Hideaways Beach. It turned out it was hiding...because I took the wrong path and we ended up on a beach (after a long, long walk) that wasn't so great as a beach or for snorkeling...but the views were great (below pics)! We didn't realize we were on the wrong beach until we got back to the car, and by then we were hungry and a bit whooped, so we opted not to try to find Hideaways Beach this go around.

We then drove to Hanalei in search of food. I found where I am staying next time I come to Hawaii...Hanalei is a great little town with a wonderful feel about it. I asked a local at Java Kai where the best place to stay would be, and she recommended the local YMCA for $15 a night with all the necessities...sold! Next time, I am there!! That way I can afford a hundred days instead of only 10! The kids got lunch at the Village Snack & Bakery..Brian got Mahi with brown rice and macaroni salad, which he woofed down with recklss abandon...and Maddie got "the best cheeseburger I ever had...you guys don't even know how good this is!" I went across the street to an organic market and got roasted potatoes & brown rice smothered in vegetarian chili (with a hude, crispy Fuji apple on the side). Needless to say, lunch was a hit (or we were just really hungry!) Now I just needed a tree to take a nap under...zzzzz. But no...there was more exploring to do...down the road with us! Next stop, Tunnels Beach for snorkeling. The roads on the North Shore are really congested with one lane bridges (part of the charm) so with lots of cars and people, parking can be problematic at times. Such was the case with Tunnels...although our hike to the beach turned out to be shorter than expected, and the snorkeling there was First Class...it supplanted Shark's Cove on Oahu as my first place snorkeling spot so far! We chatted it up with some nice people there and they pointed us to the area where they thought the snorkeling was best...and they didn't steer us wrong. Schools of fish in the hundreds, big, small, colorful, deep, shallow, warm, cool, turtles, eels, pipefish...wow...it was indescribable! We snorkeled until we were out of gas. Fantastic... After catching our breath and warming on the beach we reluctantly packed up our stuff because we knew there was one more destination on the list and right down the road...the end of the road at Ke'e Beach and the start of the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast. A few more one lane bridges and we were there and lucked into a parking spot (we noticed a fresh stream with a pool on the way for rinsing off after Ke'e). Well, Ke'e was alright, but the beach was small and crowded, and the snorkeling wasn't very good...maybe the charm is that it is the last stop on the road. Brian and I found the real gem as we snorkeled (Maddie opted out and stayed ont the beach to take pictures) west around a rocky point and found a secluded section of beach with towering cliffs as a backdrop. We got out and walked around the area (only 4 other people there) admiring the majesty of it all. One of the people was an Aussie dude that asked Brian if he saw any "totles"...Brian didn't clue into the accent for a bit until he realized the guy was asked for turtles...which we had seen, and susbsequently led him and his girlfriend to, for which they were very grateful.

So by now we were all pretty spent and ready to do the about-face back home. But before the drive back we wanted to rnse the salt off so we drove back to the stream/pool, and I told Brian later that our timing was impecable, for as we got out of the car, three girls in thong/skimpy bikinis had the same idea as us. Maddie didn't snorkel, so she watched glaringly from above like a Mother Hen as Brian and I enjoyed all aspects of the scenery around us. I had to pinch myself and make sure I wasn't dreaming...LOL!! Maddie was not pleased with the girls or our male oggling (the girls certainly didn't mind us being there)...she doesn't quite realize that's life and the male/female dynamic...we were just enjoying the moment and appreciating the way the Universe provides! Needless to say we didn't get any pics of that episode since Maddie was the official photographer!

So after rinsing we started back and stopped again in Hanalei for shaved ice at Paradise Shave Ice, coffee (to get me home awake) at Java Kai, and burgers (Brian) and fries (me & Maddie) at Bubbas Burgers. I gotta go back there (Hanalei)!! We arrived home safely ~8pm so it ended up being an 11 hour treat for all of us. It was showers, an Avatar episode on the web (Maddie & Brian, since we missed the airing at 630), then B.E.D. AAAAA - Aloha After Another Awesome Adventure!

Kipu Falls

Yesterday (Thursday...amazing when I remember what day it is!) unfolded much like the day before...beach, body surfing, boogie boarding, reading, etc. right at Kiahuna...then lunch and chill out at the condo (Maddie crashed)...then afternnon adventure - this time to Kipu Falls. The falls was only about 6 miles away and really easy to access. It is pretty smal (by Hawaii standards) but it has a GREAT swimming hole and many places to jump in from the edge, which we took full advantage of! I couldn't get a good shot of the falls from below (since I was in the water) so I got this one off the web, o give you the idea. The best part was a rope swing on which you could play George of the Jungle and swing off the cliff, out over the water and plop right it. You have to let go at the right time, or belly/back flops result...and we saw a few...ouch! Here are a few more pics from the web that show the rope.

We all took a bunch of tries off the rope and the rocks...it was a BLAST! At one point, one of the locals climbs the tree where the rope is tied, and walks out on this limb balance beam style, probably 40 feet above the water and 20 feet out on the limb, and launches from there! Incredible! Huevos grande! Brian and I got a bit braver and swung WAY out from up higher on the rocks (but nothing like the locals)...the ride was awesome and the landing so sweet! You can't get this stuff at Disneyworld! We shared a great afternoon together..high fives and gratitude were flowing forth! Some of my pics are below. Enjoy and Aloha!

Staying South

A slow start to our Kauai stay...but slow can be good. Spent the morning in our grassy/beach area at Kiahuna, soaking up rays, reading, body surfing, snorkeling. All great stuff. The winds and surf have really been up both on Oahu and here...so the waves have been pretty wild! After a light lunch, I wanted to explore a bit, so we headed down the road to Spouting Horn, a blow hole through some lava rock. It was fun to watch...much like a geyser. We hung out here awhile while a huge shower moved through.
Vendors had trinkets for sale, so we browsed through that on the way back to the car...Maddie came away with something. Next we drove to Poipu Beach Park (which is just adjacent to Kiahuna, but a hike over some sharp lava on the beach side) just to check it out...looked like good snorkeling there as well (once the waves calm down). Next, I wanted to head to a string of 3 beaches that are off the beaten path a bit (neither of the kids likes when I do this...they weren't born with my adventurous spirit) called the Mahaulepu Beaches. Finding them, I got a bit...lost is not the word...diverted is better...which lead us to the Old Koloa Sugar Mill (see...the Universe provides!). Maddie was freakn' because I drove past some "No Trespassing" signs...most of which seem to be bunk on the islands (it turns out we were trespassing! Ooops) I managed to get some great shots of the old sugar mill...what a great place for a 'real' photographer to play!
Eventually we ran into Security, a nice Grandpa-aged local gent, who after I did some explaining, told me how to find the beaches I was looking for...no harm done. Maddie said, as expected..."I told you so!" SO we drove to where Grandpa described (through some different "No Trespassing" signs ;-) and found the beaches I was looking for!



We ended the day with a delcious (expensive!) dinner at Keoki's Paradise. We were all famished, and the atmosphere was lush...so it was voted best dining experience of the trip so far. Not only that...they served each dinner with an edible flower (orchid) of which only yours truly partook! It was pretty non-descript tasting (I've eaten way worse!) , but beautiful! My tummy must have loved this unique treat! Aloha for now!

Kickin' Back on Kauai

This morning I was greeted by a soft rain shower & a rainbow...not a bad way to start the day. Yesterday was a travel day and just flew by. We were all exhausted by 8pm. We landed ~1130 and meandered over to the south shore to the Kiahuna Plantation where we will stay the next 9 days (pic outside our condo below). I thought it was green on Oahu..this island is amazing...and we are on te 'dry' side! Our unit wasn't ready when we arrived so we explored the surroundings...where the pool & tennis courts were, the shopping across the street, the beaches, the huge expanses of green soft grass. This area is definitely more 'touristy' than where we stayed on Oahu's North Shore (and I don't know if I like the 'feel' as much...kids don't seem to mind it). After we checked in, we unloaded all of our crap, then the kids hit the pool while I hit the supermarket (doesn't seem fair, does it?) By the time we reconnected, it was 7 o'clock!! I whipped up a quick dinner of salad and rice and cheese tortillas (notice, no carne ;-), we all rotated through the showers, checked e-mails, and crashed! This is a one bedroom place with a kingsize bed, so wee tried fitting all of us in that last night rather than mess with the pull-out. I think we are going to banish Maddie...even the king wasn't big enough with the way she squirms in her sleep!

Back and front of the condo.

Maddie welcomes you to the pool area!

Ok...Maddie just woke up so I better get things rockin'. We are going to explore the south areas of the island today, and probably just enjoy the beach/grassy areas right here when we are done. Aloha for now! Peace.