Day 15 - SUP and Anini Beach

My first time doing Stand up Paddle boarding. I spent a lot of time on my knees paddling, but I also stood up and paddled. I guess I was griping the board really hard because my feet kept cramping.  The good news is that I got good at getting on my knees and then standing up. Proof that I got up...

 

We went along the Hanalei River to the nature preserve. The way out was really windy and took a lot of effort.  The way back was really nice.  We may have laid down on the way back.

 

Locals kept saying to go eat at the gas station in Princeville. It is the 76 gas station in front of the shopping center. All of the food that we got there was really good.

 

After lunch, we went to Anini Beach. Tried to snorkel a bit, but the current was really strong. Saw a few humuhumunukunukuapua'a and a really big trumpet fish. And chickens...always chickens in Kauai!

 

 

Day 14 - Girls Trip...Tubing!

We went tubing down a irrigation canal that runs through an old sugarcane plantation.  The plantation was shut down a wile back, so now...tubing!  The water is "refreshing" = cold! But fun.

 

We stopped at Wailua Falls, but I did not get out.  There was no parking, so I dropped the girls off and circled. Beautiful falls.  Horrible parking!

Down to Poipu to see the Spouting Horn and the entrance of the National Botanical Gardens. Pretty flowers! Megan found a tiki mask for her son...great imitation!

 

 

Another stop at Lapperts!



To Lava Lava's for dinner.  The food was OK, but the view was great.  Reservations apparently are needed to get a table on the beach.  We were not too far from the beach.

  

Day 13 - Girls Trip!

Part of the group went Zip lining.  Not me. I hung out with Lori in the morning.  We went to some shops and found some Lapperts :-)  In the afternoon, we did some exploring. A couple of overlooks and then to Lydgate Park where we looked at the Wailuanuiahō'ano at the Wailua River State Park at the mouth of the Wailua River. This is sacred grounds. I've been to Lydgate Park a few times and did not know what it was there.  Opaekaa Falls and then dinner at Sleeping Giant Cafe.

 

  

Wailuanuiahō'ano

Up to Opaekaa Falls. 

  

Talked them into going to Sleeping Giant Cafe for dinner.  So yummy!

 

Day 12 - Students go home and the Girl's Trip begins!

We really had a bunch of sweet students this year, so I was sad to see them leave.  BUT...my childhood friends were meeting me in Kauai to celebrate our 40th B-day! So goodbye students :-)

My friends had already arrived and got settled, so I was the last one there.  We stayed in a beautiful condo in Princeville at Nihiliani.

   

We headed out for a short adventure. We stopped at the Taro overlook, the Kilauea Lighthouse Overlook, and Hanalei to look around/shop/eat. 

Taro Field

 

Kilauea Lighthouse

 

Hanalei - I got some purple sweet potato fries. They were pretty good!

 

Back to the condo for dinner!

Day 11 - Around Kauai

The last day in Kauai is busy.  We first head up to Waimea Canon to talk about some geology. We keep going up the road to see the Kalalau Vally.  This is my favorite view in Hawaii. Absolutely beautiful!

 

Kalalau Vally
 

While eating lunch at the Kalalau Overlook, we got to see a gaggle of Nene!  I just love these birds.  They are stilly and interesting.

 

And some pretty flowers too...

 

We stopped at the Iliau Nature Loop to see the last of the Silversword Alliance.

 

Back down the mountain to the Spouting Horn, the entrance of the National Botanical Gardens, and the Trash Conglomerate.

 

Back to the Condo to pack...and Fish Taco #2 from the Sleeping Giant Cafe. So good!!!