April 14, Kauai and home

 Friday, April 14

Last sunrise in Hawaii.  The birds  are already checking for handouts on the lanai.

We do the Grab 'n' Go breakfast and decide to check out now rather than having to come back later.  Squeezing everything into suitcases again and leaving a little room for possible souvenirs.

There is another lighthouse, further south, that we decide to check out.  NiNiNi Point Lighthouse.  Not high on the list for tourism, the GPS takes us to a parking area at a resort and we wind our way around it and onto a golf course.  Can SEE the lighthouse, but it isn't terribly close. 

 It looks like there are a few cars parked there,  so we go look for the right road.  It is pretty much a single lane - maybe 1 1/2 - and not paved.  Greg maneuvers around the potholes expertly, and we arrive at the small parking area where two other cars made it.  The point is surrounded by rocks and water, as you would expect.  The lighthouse is an unusual yellowish clay color.

Nice views.  The lighthouse was built in 1932.  The harbor of Nawiliwili is visible in the distance, complete with large cruise ship that we think our neighbor Sylvia is on. It was created for the sugar industry and is the main harbor on Kauai, small but deep.

From here we head to the Alekoko Fish Pond, also known as the Menehune Fishpond.  It has a 900' long wall built from lava rock, separating it from the Hule'ia river.  According to legend it was built in one night by the Menehune, passing rocks for 25 miles.

 The Menehune are a mythical (or not) race of dwarf people in Hawaiian tradition who lived here before the Polynesians arrived.  They supposedly were skilled craftsmen who built temples, canoes and fishponds. It seems that there were people living here before the Polynesians arrived, but whether they were 3 feet tall is questionable and legends about them vary from island to island.

This is the "Men at Work" sign we saw back at the airport.

Next we travel to the Kauai Museum in Lihu'e.  It is a collection of all things Hawaiian, from early feather-decorated royal outfits, to stories from when sugar cane was king, to WWII incarceration of Japanese-Americans, to Surfing  and many things in between.  Nice displays in a building that was originally a library.  The statues depict the last King, Kaumuali'i and his queen.

A lady at the museum mentions Red Hibiscus as a shop with things made in Hawaii, so we head there next.   Very sweet proprietor who does make some jewelry, but most things are the usual made in....... China, Japan, Ecuador, etc.  We buy a small carved turtle which was designed in Hawaii...close. Then we try another shop called Hilo Hatties which had more clothes.  Couldn't talk Greg into a Hawaiian shirt.

For a late/lunch early dinner we try Big Monster Sushi and Thai.  Excellent sushi and poke!  Monster Poke had salmon, ahi tuna, avocado, scallions, cucumber, masago, and a homemade spicy ponzu sauce.

I've been wanting to try Dole Whip - which is kind of like soft-serve ice cream.  We find a shop called Mangos  in Old Koloa Town, and discover that it comes in many flavors now.  We go with the server's suggestion of mango and pineapple.  Yum!

Our flight doesn't leave till 9:30, though we need to return the car and be there by 8:00.  We stop at Lydgate Park Beach which has tons of driftwood.  Some of it has been made into lean-to's, one of which was named "Robinson Caruso House".

 There is a small pond area which is touted as a snorkeling training pond.  We read, relax and people watch till it is time to change.  Carol, back at our hotel told us we could come back to change so we do that and sit for a while, enjoying another rainbow.

Returning the car is easy and we arrive at the airport in time to share a breakfast sandwich. The security people confiscate our telescoping walking stick.  The three airports before this had no problem with it being tied onto Greg's backpack,  but these folks called it a potential weapon!  I wish we had thought fast and had me limp through, using it - probably would have been no problem, then!

Our flight to Phoenix is full and we didn't get seats together, but at least Greg was in an emergency exit row, so had a little more room.  I sat with a pleasant young couple who were going home to Phoenix. 

Arrived in Phoenix around 6:30AM Saturday, their time, and had a 2 hour layover.  Then sat on the plane for an extra hour as they had to replace a part in the intercom system and, as the pilot explained, fill out a bunch of paper work.  

Danny and Donna were there to pick us up in Houston.  Sure is nice to have such fine neighbors!    We arrived home around 3:00 and managed to make it till about 7:00 before we crashed. 

 And we both slept almost 12 hours!!  Good to be home!  

ALOHA!

April 13, Thursday on Kauai

 Thursday, April 13

Another sunrise, nothing spectacular but nice to see the sun!  Today we plan to travel north and along the northern coast.  We have reservations to visit a lighthouse and wildlife refuge at noon.

Instead of the Grab 'n' Go, we decide to try some Hawaiian donuts this morning at a place called Island Craves.  The mango-filled ones are excellent and Beth enjoys the chocolate macadamia nut ones.  Maple bacon is ok too.  

First stop is nearby Kealia Beach, which is a beautiful place to walk.  Quite a surf here and apparently always windy, judging by the trees.

We continue north to Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.  (Yes, that's Hanalei from Puff the Magic Dragon. and I can totally see him frolicking in the mist.)   The only thing we see frolicking here, though, are lots of nene - the Hawaiian goose, which is the official state bird.  They are protected and are making a great comeback from near extinction.  Lots of road signs near places they frequent.

They are attempting to encourage wetland habitat here, as well as growing taro.  Taro root used to be a staple for the Hawaiian people (pounded into poi), but has declined in popularity.  As less is grown, the wetlands it requires have diminished as well, diminishing bird habitat.

Goose-stepping?

We attempt the Okolehao Trail, but find it too muddy.

Next stop is the small town of Hanalei, where there are quite a few shops and rentals for kayaks, etc.  Beth checks out the local fish market which has some good looking filets, along with various versions of poke. If it was closer to lunchtime.... 

This church built in  1834, with the name Wai' Hui'ia ou i, is very pretty.  In traveling we have seen churches of all denominations.  

Including this one we saw earlier and thought Brett might find interesting!

It is raining a little now and then as we head through Princeville.  Some big money homes here and a magnificent golf course.  Home to Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Crichton, Natalie Merchant, Bette Midler - nope, we didn't see any of them.   This "tiny" Neptune fountain too.

Kilauea Point Lighthouse is our next destination and we are happy to have reservations, as we see people being turned away!  Not a lot of parking space. This is the northernmost point of Kauai.  Opened in 1913, its official name is the Daniel K Inouye Point Lighthouse. It was automated in the 1970's. 

 It is set amidst the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for seabirds, and there are MANY.  It is fun to watch them soaring on the ocean breezes.  Signage let us identify some, like these red tailed  tropicbirds, 

and this  huge Great Frigatebird.  

There are also albatrosses, petrels, boobys and more. This one was gathering nesting material...

Many are nesting on the hillsides, and some even make burrows.  The government has built a fence inland a bit to keep predators from reaching the birds.  If you look closely at the pictures below you will see some white dots, which are nesting birds.

We can see the rain coming, and the wind picks up too, stirring the surf and blowing us toward the small visitor's center/gift shop.  We just make it before the skies open!   Fortunately, it only lasts 10-15 minutes, and then we head back to the parking area.

 Driving back towards the hotel, we stop again at Island Craves as Greg is craving a vanilla milkshake, and we share a burger.

We decide to head back down to Po'ipu Beach, and today we find a parking place.  The place is super busy though and we see no signs of the monk seals and turtles which are said to frequent this area.  There are some people body surfing or using boogie boards, and even a few fisherman.

Back at the hotel we catch up on email, pictures, postcards, etc.  Greg goes for a swim and then feeds the birds that visit our lanai. This is a red crested cardinal! The body is blue so it is quite colorful!

For dinner we head to Tiki Tacos, which was recommended, and try their fish tacos - good, and one called surf 'n' turf which is beef and shrimp - also very good. 

Our last night in Hawaii.  Tomorrow we head home.