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Aloha Kaua'i!
Part 3-Kaua'i Well, this was just one of those American Destinations that I really have a yearning to visit again. Welcome to "The Garden Island" and I can see why they call it that. Kaua'i is very lush with trees, bushes and flowers but also abundant, breathtaking water falls. We saw several, but this is probably one of the most stunning, and famous waterfalls: Wailua Falls. It is not far from the town we flew into: Lihue. It is one of the most accessible falls and you can drive right up to an observation point. The Falls became famous, beyond there own immediate splendor, when the were filmed and used in the opening credits for the TV show Fantasy Island. I am old enough to remember that show and yes at one point...it was a favorite show of mine. I took many pictures of this panoramic area, but an aerial view really captures the beauty here.
This is the only island that we had a rental car and I am so glad we did. There is so much to see in Kaua'i and driving ( as opposed to tours) was the best way to go, Kaua'i is less developed than some of the other islands, which can have both pros and cons. It still has a rural, island feel about it, but there are fewer roads to get where you need to go. Since there are fewer roads, it perhaps takes a little bit longer to get from place to place. Yet, bear in mind....chances are you are on vacation so just be chill. Shaka my Friend.
Being a lighthouse lover, we drove to a scenic point for a great view at Kilauea Lighthouse. It was built in 1913 and sits majestically atop a sheer cliff within the confines of Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Spectators of the view not only get to take in the lighthouse and the pounding surf, but also scores of a variety of sea birds that nest in the neighboring cliffs, The birds here include Laysan Albartross, Red Tailed Tropicbirds and Hawaiian Geese (Nene). We saw large numbers of the Tropicbirds and they have a quite long "streamer like" tail behind them which makes them easy to spot in flight.
While driving around Kauai, and even wandering the outdoor markets, it struck me is so odd that there were chickens, chickens everywhere. If you lived here, I would imagine they get kind of annoying, but as a tourist it was kind of unique and quaint. Even if you go in souvenir shops, there are chickens emblazoned on t-shirts, coffee mugs and hats. They have "embraced" their presence as kind of a cultural identity. At our hotel, I had an enlightening discussion with our Concierge and she explained a unique story about how the chickens went from domesticated to wild and are found just about everywhere on the island. Our Concierge at the Sheraton was a Native Hawaiian: Hokulani which means "Heavenly Star". She was a gracious and wonderful lady who we really enjoyed chatting with. Hokulani also provided an incredible wealth of information to help us plan our visit to the island. So....back to the chickens...
The chickens are not native to this area, but were brought to the island by various people as livestock. As recent as the early 1990s, the chickens were kept as livestock. Then in 1992 Hurricane Iniki hit the island. Hurricane Iniki was the most powerful hurricane to strike Hawaii in recorded history. There was 6 fatalities recorded and millions of dollars of property damage. This hurricane took place during the 1990-95 El Nino storm season. So many of the domesticated chicken's pens were destroyed and they escaped to fend for themselves and developed a feral existence. So began their lifestyle of populating the island as "wild and free". Yet, they almost seem tame when the come to beg for handouts from the tourists.
So our home base while visiting Kaua'i was in the town of Kapaa which is in the eastern shores of the island, north of the Lihue Airport. I didn't realize it at the time, but Kapaa is the largest town on the island. Yet, I guess "large" is all a matter of perspective. It felt just the right size to my husband and I and Kapaa happens to be just a tad bit larger than our home town in Wisconsin. It was a great place with a variety of shops and restaurants to choose from.
We stayed at a terrific hotel that I would definitely come back to (if and when we return) to Kauai' : Sheraton Kaua'i at Coconut Beach. It was a great location, terrific accommodations and every staff person we met went above and beyond to make sure our stay was a great one. We enjoyed being right on the beach and taking in the views. When we were there it happened to be quite windy so the surf was pretty wild and not conducive to swimming. However, the pools and hot tub were delightful! Even though we didn't plunge into the ocean for a swim, the several beach walks allowed us to explore the area. The rugged hills rising up from the ocean, the driftwood and shells and then of course the sound of the pounding surf all came together to create an ideal zen atmosphere. When I was walking back from photographing the area, I happen to see a monk seal sunning himself.
Apparently this is a favorite spot for the seals to come because a sign stated: "Do not approach seals." I was good and keep my distance, but got this shot with my trusty Zoom lens. He was very relaxed, but never fear...not dead...he waved his flipper several times. Just basking and enjoying the warmth of the sunshine.
We also attended a Luau at our hotel that was convenient: right on the property. They have a separate building, literally steps away from the main hotel, where they present a Luau several nights during the week. Going to a Luau in Hawaii is an essential part of experiencing the Islands and provides the opportunity to learn more about Hawaiian culture and cuisine.
We had a wonderful dinner with a great array of different foods. The dancers, music and fire jugglers were amazing! Hula is a dance that is not just dance, but is a method of storytelling. Hula has been called the "Heartbeat of the Hawaiian people." I was amazed at the talent of the dancers and the beauty of the dances they performed.
Before leaving Kaua'i, we went exploring the south shore to the Poipu area. Home to some of the most beautiful beaches; this region has been nicknamed "resort central." We drove by some beautiful condos and hotels and some very "high end" shopping areas. I didn't purchase much, but we had fun poking around in the shops and had the bonus of finding a really good Thai restaurant for lunch: The Bangkok Happy Bowl....delicious!.
Being coffee lovers, my husband and I visited the Kaua'i Coffee Plantation. It was easy to find: only a few minutes from Poipu off Highway 50. Not only did we get several free samples to pick our favorite, I also learned alot about coffee production and bean processing that I never knew. I was also impressed with the fact that Kaua'i produces more coffee then the Kona region (on the Big Island). Also, Hawaii is the only place in the United States that produces coffee. When we were there, the coffee plants were flowering; delicate white blossoms that later turn to the "cherries" that are roasted to coffee beans. It was really cool and generally you don't think of coffee beans as starting out as white flowers. So Cool.
While we were driving in the southern coastal region by Poipu, we went through several areas where the scenery was so incredible and the trees along the roadways formed "tunnel trees." This is probably most evident on the south shore on Rt. 520. Here's a photo that I found that documents this unique feature of the island. I didn't take this photo myself because I was busy driving. Nevertheless I did want to share this amazing feature of Kauai' . I also found out that the majority of trees that make up these tunnels are Eucalyptus trees.
So this is probably one of the longest blogs I have written in awhile (maybe since Glacier N.P.) It is pretty evident to me I have much to say about Kauai' and I didn't even get everything covered. Then there is also the glaring omission of the Napali Coast...we ran out of time to get there. So I guess that necessitates a return trip. Perhaps someday, but I do feel incredibly thankful that we did have the opportunity to go. Aloha for now....Kaua'i
