#HFS2018

I started this Blog when I first started working with the North Lake College Summer Hawaiian Field Studies course. I knew that in 2 weeks, I would learn so much and I needed a place to document it. I was right. I went back through my pictures when I got home and thought, "Did we stop here? I don't remember this!". So I went back to my Blog and was reminded of that moment. So many great moments, so many great stories...here is where I document them. Please read, enjoy, send me questions, comments, etc.

I will be streaming live using Periscope on my Twitter Page. Follow me @Laronna_D on Twitter and @ldoggett on Instagram
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#NLCHFS2018

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Day 15 - Allerton National Botanical Gardens, Spouting Horn (pt. 2),Random Stops, and Kilauea Lighthouse (pt. 2)

This morning did not go as smoothly as yesterday getting to my destination.  I followed Google, get to within 4 miles of my destination, and then ended up back on the main road to turn onto a road that did not exist.  I had to call the National Tropical Botanical Gardens...twice.  I finally got there.  Ended up going the same way I went the first time, but I missed a QUICK turn after a turn.  Ugh.  I got there 10 minutes late, they had already started, so a nice man drove me to meet them.  GPS....FAIL! But I finally met up with the group, it was a pretty garden.  I was expecting more flowers, but Allerton did not want color.  He wanted texture and to tell a story with landscaping, design, and statues. It was very pretty.  Really HOT!  Very little wind blew where we were.  


One of the pretty gardens.  Allerton liked to design "rooms" with plants, water features, and statues. 


Here is a beautiful part of the gardens.  This is the location of where Pirates of the Caribbean 4 was filmed.  Well, part of it.  Our guide said that Johnny Depp really took in the Kauai life and culture.  Our guide said that Penelope Cruz was flown in daily - come to find out, she was pregnant during the film. 


Jurassic Park Trees. It was here where they looked over the tree and saw some dinosaurs.  I'll have to go back and watch it to see exactly where that part was. I tried to hug this tree, but it was too big.  This is as close as I got. 


A view from the drive back. Beautiful!  I would not mind having this as my yard!


Since I did not get to see the Spouting Horn with the school group, I saw it after my tour.  It is just across the street. The wind was light today = waves were light = not much of a Spouting Horn.


On the other side of the Spouting Horn.


I decided to check out the town over by the Gardens and Spouting Horn.  I found this place to eat and there was some shopping too.  Nice area.  EXPENSIVE! This is in the ritzy part of Hawaii!  Lunch was not too bad.  The Cheeseburger (their special burger) was not too bad. 


I drove back to Kapa'a where my hotel is and kept going.  There is a scenic view that in the winter, you can see the whales.  One of these days, I will get to Hawaii in the winter to see the whales! No stranding network, but a number to NOAA to call if you see a whale in distress. 


I drove back down to the Kilauea Lighthouse.  It was closed, but that is ok.  I wanted to see the Red-footed Booby Rookery. The Ne Nes we all over.  They are such a cute bird.  They are the State Bird - descendant from the Canada Goose. 


I came back to rain and ate at the restaurant at the hotel - the Bull Shed.  It was ok.  I got some Potato Skins (more like wedges) and came back to my room to eat.  My stomach has had it fill of eating out.  I am ready to eat at home...something boring! 


It is hard to see, but this is the window in the restaurant. We were so close to the ocean.  It felt like we were almost in the ocean. The water would splash up on the windows every once in a while.  Yikes!  A stiff wind could be dangerous!

Back to the room to eat and pack.  It is bitter sweet.  I love this Island, but I am ready to go home. Maybe one day they will be one and the same!














Random thoughts about the Radio...

Maybe one of my favorite things were in Kauai is listening to the radio.  The music is fun - Hawaiian and Reggae music, but the most interesting thing is the local news.  They talk about the community a lot.

There was a dog at the pound that workers had worked with to make him adoptable.  He was finally adopted and got loose the day he went to his forever home.  The radio put out an announcement to the entire island to look for this dog.   I really hope that they found him!

I know when and were to register for school (if I were in grade school here).  There is a $25 registration fee to shoot off fireworks.  And you can only shoot them off on private property.

One DJ's daughter is the Miss (maybe Jr. Miss) Hawaii.  She talked about that for a while and she is in the most photogenic running, how to vote for her, etc.

Anyway, I enjoyed listening to the radio.  I don't normally get to do that here.