January 26, 2025 - Today we flew to Kauai (a 45 minute flight) and then checked into Kauai Beach Club. Janet and I headed straight to the pool/beach. For dinner we went to Lava Lava and had a nice beach view (even though it was raining) and then picked up groceries for the week.
we're ready for the beach
Kev joined us on the beach. (He watched the Commanders/Eagles game with his Teva propping up his phone)
I watched the surfer come in on a wave and then head to his car
lava cake at Lava Lava
January 27, 2025 - The weather later in the week looks iffy, so we need to get our fair weather activities done early in the week. We drove to Waimea Canyon in the morning to hike the Canyon Trail (at the Pu'u Hinahina lookout). It is a 3.6 mile round trip hike with 1000 feet of elevation. The trail winds along the canyon with great views and ends at the Waipo'o waterfall. The trail was rated as moderate, but seemed harder because it was so wet, muddy and slippery. All worth it though...the views down into the canyon were amazing!
Morning coffee (and diet coke) on the balcony
sunflowers on the way to Waimea Canyon
We stopped at a few lookouts (Waipo'o Falls) on our way to the Canyon Trail trailhead.
we made a few stops along the trail
Our first big views of the canyon
don't back up Kevin!
the next viewpoint
don't they look like cairns on the canyon rim?
We made it to Mini Falls. Hopefully we saved enough to get back.
It's a long way UP
The muddy hikers made it to the parking lot
muddy shoes and trekking poles all in a row
Next we drove to the Kalalau lookout
lunch at Kalalau lookout
After lunch we decided to hike the road (which is now closed) to the Pu'u o kilo lookout. We were told it was about a mile to get there. By the time we got there though the view was gone. We were in a cloud.
not much of a view, but if you look closely you can see a waterfall through the clouds
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a few lookouts we missed and the light in the afternoon was quite pretty.
January 28, 2025 - After breakfast, Janet and I signed up for a group hike. It was a 1.6 mile walk, through the hotel grounds and next to the airport to the Ninini Lighthouse. For lunch we drove to Poipu to try a Puka Dog and we ate with a view of the Poipu Beach. Next we checked out the Spouting Horn Blowhole, that Kev and I visited when we were here on our honeymoon 35 years ago. For dinner we had reservations with Capt Andy's sunset cruise along the Napali Coast. The 2 hour boat ride to the coast was a bit rough, but luckily the ride back (with the wind behind us) was much smoother.
The Ninini Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1932.
Views from the lighthouse looking back into the Nawiliwili Bay (where our hotel is)
we were there while a few planes landed at the Lihue airport.
The line at Puka Dog. On the right side of the pic you can see a woman is toasting a Puka (hole) in the center of the freshly made buns. This is done by skewering the dough onto a hot rod while baking. Then they add special sauces and tropical relish (I had the pineapple relish) before adding the hot dog in the hole in the bun.
It was yummy
There were a few turtles on the beach
spouting horn blowhole
Next was the sunset dinner cruise. We landed a great spot outside in the back of the boat, where we were able to watch Chef Jimmy do all the prep work for dinner.
a few shrimps
We made it to the Napali Coast (at this point the giant swells had made me feel pretty crappy and I had even taken 2 Dramamine before we left)
I was able to get a few pics, but only from my seat. I didn't want to risk getting up and feeling worse.
The evening light on the peaks was especially nice
Janet was happy to look out at the views, and Kevin was happy the crew hoisted the mainsail.
I was happy with the view from the back of the boat
dessert (I took mine to go, as well as the filet mignon and mashed potatoes)
By the time we got back to Port Allen, it was time for the sunset (and I was feeling A LOT better)
there goes the sun
beautiful sky
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