Kauai - The Garden Island — Patti Part Two

Also the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the fourth largest! It is called the Garden Island because it is so green and lush. I hereby declare it to be the most beautiful place I have ever been! We had a wonderful time - a perfect mix of fun activity and relaxation at the beach and pool. The island is very diverse - 555 square miles of beach, rainforest, desert, mountains and plains. We got to see it all - because the first thing we all did was take a helicopter ride!! Definitely the best way to see the island as much of it can only be seen from the air.

We went with Jack Harter which has a great safety rating. Our pilot Harry has been flying for over 25 years and he gave us so much information and a fantastic tour of Kauai!

The west side is very sunny and gets just a small amount of rain. It is most known for the Waimea Canyon which is often called the little Grand Canyon. We got to see it from the air but didn't get back over there to do the hiking we planned. When I go back that will be first on my list - but it was the furthest part of the island from where we were staying and my family opted to relax the day we planned to go there. And since I am very flexible (at least I try!) I acquiesced.

Lots of great hiking trails in the Waimea Canyon.

The north shore is spectacularly beautiful! Takes the color GREEN to a new level - more shades then you have ever seen and water so blue it brings tears to your eyes. It rains a ton although the day we were there was perfect. The Na Pali Coast can be seen only from the air or on foot and we attempted both - more to come about the hike in a bit.

This was taken from the helicopter with an iPhone - gorgeous!!!

The south shore is loaded with sunny beaches and pretty hotels. If it's raining elsewhere on the island just head south and find the sun.

Look at the clear water!!! Fine sandy beach but no shells.

We stayed on the east side in Lihue and it was the connection between the south and the north so the weather was a mix. We had almost no rain but there where pretty clouds sometimes. It was a little quieter then the south side where many tourists stay, but really conveniently located to the airport and pretty close to get to some of the beautiful waterfalls and hikes. Bonus - we whale watched from our balcony a couple of nights around 5 PM. We could see the spouts from their blow holes, a tail every now and then and sometimes them jumping out of the water - amazing!!!

The view from our balcony - it never got old!!!

Next on the list of must- do things was to head north to Ke'e Beach and hike the Kalalau Trail - at least the first part of it. The whole trail is 11 miles one way and you need to plan to camp on the beach when you arrive AND have a special permit to camp. The trail is not for the novice so our plan was to arrive early and hike 2 miles to the beach and then 2 additional miles to the first waterfall.

The trail was HARD!!! I fancy myself to be in halfway decent shape and now I am doubting that!!! But it was worth it as it was beautiful - and I do feel that it was an accomplishment to do it - since lots of people turned around shortly after the start.

The beginning of the trail - the EASY part!!

We climbed up the trail and then down to the beach. It was wet and slippery and very rocky. Had to ford a stream or two to get there - but we made it!

The beach was gorgeous but definitely not for swimming. That would have been taking your life in your hands with a poor outcome. We decided not to hike the 2 miles to the waterfall. Rain was predicted and if that happened we wouldn't have been able to get out. It would be a shame to waste those comfy beds so we headed back to the car. The return was maybe even a little tougher but everyone said they were glad we did it.

Do you remember the song Puff the Magic Dragon? He frolics in a land called Hanalei!!! Well that was next on our list! It's actually a town on the north side of Kauai and has a bay called Hanalei Bay.

An old Hawaiian legend that the dragon surrounds the bay and from the air you can see why! The legend came first - then the song.

The town is really cute with quant shops and restaurants.

More hiking in Kauai on the east side - headed to Ho'opi'i Falls for a 2 mile round trip hike. Not hard at all but really pretty.

Keeley and Anna making me a little nervous getting too close to the falls!

Then just a short drive to see Opaeka'a Falls. You can't hike to it but it's pretty to see.

Kauai is loaded with beautiful beaches - and we spent a day on the south side at the Marriott Beach in Po'ipu.

Anna, Tom, Keeley and Matt in the ocean and a friendly sea lion on the beach sunning! He kept lifting his head and looking around and then back to sleep.

There are Farmer's Markets all over the island so we stopped by one after the beach. Lots of local produce available like pineapple, coconuts and macadamia nuts! Plus music and donuts!

Coconut milk for Anna, coconut donuts for Angela and Tom and a rooster t-shirt for me!

One of my favorite spots was Wailua Falls. No hiking just drive up and gawk. 173 feet high which is actually taller than Niagara Falls and beautiful. Long ago men would jump off the top to prove their bravery - often with fatal results. It was so pretty I went to see it twice!

Look closely at the bottom of the falls and see the rainbow!

I also went three times to Lydgate Beach Park on the east side - not far from our resort. It's known to be one of the safest beaches on the island - with a boulder-enclosed pond that allows water and fish in but keeps out the ocean's force. It even has a little children's pond and a very long beach to walk on.

Saw lots of people in the pond with snorkel gear. Tom and Anna came once too!

I read that Lydgate Beach was a perfect place to watch the sun rise so got up early one morning and headed there. I went myself as I couldn't get anyone to agree to go and I'm so glad I didn't miss it. It was cloudy and drizzling a little on the drive and I thought it was going to be a bust but I was in for a surprise. Here comes the sun!!!

It just popped up on the horizon and was in the sky in about a minute.

You might be thinking - what no food post??? We had lots of great food and I will be doing a separate post with those pics so check back soon!

I'm ready to go back!!!