Day 15 - Wailua Falls, some random stops, and home!

My final day.  I decided to head down to Wailua Falls.  It is a beautiful waterfall. 

Lunch down in Nawiliwili at the Beach Hut. The burgers were pretty good! The view was not too bad either. 

Back to the airport and heading home....

Day 14 - Tubing and Queensbath

Thanks to the viral video of people tubing down a ditch, I had a fun experience.  It was quite fun tubing and seeing a part of Kauai that you would not normally get to see. 

After we got done, we had some lunch.  Here was a totally cill kitty hanging out at the picnic area.  He was super sweet and let you pet him all over!

Back to the Kilauea Lighthouse to meet up with Kate so that I could follow her to the house that they were staying in.  We headed down to Queensbath.  What a walk...little scary but it was nice to go down there. 

We had dinner at the Tiki Man and listened to a local group sing.  

Day 13 - Surfing and Poipu

Surfing...well, it did not work out well today. I did not get up and surf today.  It was Ok. I had a shorter board and a much smaller area to surf in that Waikiki.  When I was done, I actually just sat on the beach and read my book.  It was nice.  The weather was great.  Not too hot today.  I'm not good at just sitting, but I did it pretty well. The view was fantastic!

My surf instructor told me to go check out the Orchid Garden.  I did.  It was quite beautiful!

The Puka Dog was recommended.  It was pretty good.  I'm not much of a hot dog person, but it came highly recommended. 

Finally, I found a Lappert's!  It was so yummy!

I went back to the Spouting Horn.  I just love watching the blowhole. It was really blowing today!  I have never seen it quite this active today!  There was even a little rainbow today!

Day 12 - To the airport with the students...my vacation begins!!

Aloha students and Aloha a few days vacation! Kate and I hang out a bit while we are waiting for out rooms to be ready.  This is NOT my hotel.  It was just so pretty!

Lunch at Duke's and a fruity cocktail! 

This is my hotel...not quite as spectacular, but it works!

Dinner from Mermaids Cafe.  Yummy!

Day 11 - Waimea Canyon, Kokee Museum, Kalalau Lookout, Spouting Horn, National Botanical Gardens...and some other stops

Last day with the students.  We started with the Waimea Canyon overlook (well, random stop). 

Iliau Loop to see the final Silversword. 

Waimea Canyon photo shot.  Check out our matching shirts!

Some geology...something about rain and the canyon forming. 

Dempsey sports his skirt...4 years strong! Want to know the story...just ask!

Kalalau Lookout...so beautiful!

Some Biology about the swamp....stress, adaptations, etc.

The Salt Ponds to check out some more Geology...something about sandy limestone.  Gosh, I really need to pay more attention to Geology!

The Blowhole.  It was not popping much today, but always fun to watch!  There were some Green Sea turtles out there and a Hawaiian Monk Seal!

Rainbow Eucalyptus at the National Botanical Gardens. 

Garbage Conglomerate.

Day 10 - Limahuli Gardens

Each year that we go to the Limahuli Gardens, we do a service project.  This year is no different.  We were first welcomed by a Oli (Hawaiian Chant to ask permission to come onto the land). 

We then went around and said our names. 

Dr. Winters welcomes us and talks about the Canoe Plants that were brought to Hawaii by the Polynesians. 

We did a riparian (river and area) restoration effort today.  We cleared out truckloads of invasive species growing in this area.  I wish I had taken a before picture. 

Here is an after shot.  This was full of invasive species. 

A little muddier, but we had a great day weeding. After our picture, we planted a few native plants in the upper area. 

Here is my little plant. 

A dip in the Limahuli river.  It is so nice and refreshing down here.  The water is so clear and cool. LOVE it!