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!