Life with Andrea

Hawaii 2011: Part 2

Now for the rest of the story.

We did get another day, the 4 of us. That day, we went to Waimea Canyon. Initially, we had hoped to hike there, but Cait was still favoring her ankle. This canyon is supposed to be gorgeous, look like the grand canyon just in Hawaii. Right. Desert in the Jungle? But, this side of the island is pretty dry, and it WAS sandy, and layered, and colored, and it was pretty spectacular. At the top of the mountain, it rains a lot – on the west side, it doesn’t.

From the very tip-top of Waimea Canyon Drive, you have a view of Kauai's western shore. Like in the fairy tales, the western shore. And, just like in the fairy tales, there is a valley which has not changed in 1000 years, it’s the home of the gods or Brigadoon or fairyland, and it’s green and fruit grows off the trees and you can live by picking it and just lounging around. It’s emerald green, and it is impossible to get there unless you can fly. We saw that canyon from the cliffs 3000 feet above, and its name is Hanakapi'ai. Cait says, I didn’t know you could be homesick for a place you’d never seen.

After that, though, we saw a fabulous double rainbow and had ice cream. And we went to Wailua Falls on the way home.

And the next day, Bob wasn’t feeling too well, so Elizabeth and I went for a hike to a waterfall, and by this time we’ve forgotton the names of all the waterfalls, but Kapahi Falls was really nice and had the special “shampoo ginger” that Sun gave us. . (Sun is one of the people who runs the farm where Cait works). It also had cool vines which made houses resembling geodesic domes. Kapahi5. And that afternoon, Bob STILL was feeling yuck, so Elizabeth and I went to the beach ourselves and just splashed around in the water. And for dinner, we went to Postcards restaurant, which was expensive but good, and Cait’s friend Jordan works there and he was our waiter! Fun.

And that, said John, is that. We came home the next day. Elizabeth is staying with Cait, ankles are getting better, girls are farming. When she was 4, Elizabeth always said she wanted to be a “farmer’s wife” and now she’s having her chance.

Well, we got to Hawaii. Bob and Andrea, on their separate planes, both arrived. We found our house, and the first night, that was about all. The second morning, I made Bob go with me to the beach. We could wade across the anahola “river”, and walk on the sandy beach. There are almost no shells, I don’t know why, but that has been true on most of these beaches. Anyway, it was early morning, some kids were here with their dad playing in the waves, and one or two surfers. And Andrea and Bob.

That night, Elizabeth arrived. So the next day, we joined Cait on the beach for beach and meditation. It was a “clothing optional” beach, and the class seems to be that way also. It’s been a long time since I was able to be clothing optional, but Cait is now. And we went to the lighthouse, where they have wonderful and tremendous birds. We saw nesting shearwaters, and red tailed tropicbirds, and frigatebirds, and some nene. The shearwater birds were so close we could have touched them. I think Elizabeth got pictures on her camera.

Wednesday, we went snorkeling. Getting equipment is no big deal. Parking at a beach is a very big deal. We almost gave up. But finally, we were able to find a place to park, and we went to Tunnels beach, which was GREAT. There were big angel fish, and these funny ones with a smile on their backs, and blue nosed fish, and Bob and Elizabeth saw whole schools of fish. Elizabeth even saw a sea turtle!

Wednesday evening was Cait’s graduation. 26 new massage students have their certificates from the school. Good for all of them, and good for Cait. We saw her graduate from something! For the first time ever. Pictures later, because I have them on my phone, but I don't have my phone connector cord with me now.

Thursday, we went to the “blue hole”. The blue hole is a place where 3 waterfalls come together. We didn’t actually get there, though. First off, the truck wouldn’t go over the access road, so we had to walk an additional 2 miles in (and out) on the access road – which was pretty nice, but tiring when you add it to the rest of the hiking. Then, we got to this dam/spillway on the river/creek, which was really cool. Until a family came up in their nifty 4wd car, and pulled out the snaks and lawn chairs. We decided to hike upstream.

Cait and Elizabeth had gone ahead, because we knew they were going to do more than we were anyway. And they did. They did some trail walking and some rokc hopping up the creek, until they came to a waterfall which Cait tried to climb. She slipped down it, and hurt her foot – and then still had to walk the 3 miles out. But, it was a lovely stream, and a nice walk for the uninjured, and an adventure in the mountains.

Friday, Cait had to work, so Bob and Elizabeth and Andrea went to the National Tropical Biological Gardens in Poipu. Bob and Elizabeth took a tour of the McBride garden, and Bob took a million pictures and was really impressed. Andrea stayed behind and watached the spouting horn, and worked on her crochet. Afterwards, Elizabeth and Bob joined her at the Spouting Horn - which you can see here.

Then we went to an old sugar plantation town, which is now a tourist town, big surprise, Koloa. And Elizabeth and Andrea ended up at Anahola beach before making dinner and falling into bed.

Kauai 2011.
This is partial - there will undoubtedly be more to say about this trip!

Well, we got to Hawaii. Bob and Andrea, on their separate planes, both arrived. We found our house, and the first night, that was about all. The second morning, I made Bob go with me to the beach. We could wade across the anahola “river”, and walk on the sandy beach. There are almost no shells, I don’t know why, but that has been true on most of these beaches. Anyway, it was early morning, some kids were here with their dad playing in the waves, and one or two surfers. And Andrea and Bob.

That night, Elizabeth arrived. So the next day, we joined Cait on the beach for beach and meditation. It was a “clothing optional” beach, and the class seems to be that way also. It’s been a long time since I was able to be clothing optional, but Cait is now. And we went to the lighthouse, where they have wonderful and tremendous birds. We saw nesting shearwaters, and red tailed tropicbirds, and frigatebirds, and some nene. The shearwater birds were so close we could have touched them. I think Elizabeth got pictures on her camera.

Wednesday, we went snorkeling. Getting equipment is no big deal. Parking at a beach is a very big deal. We almost gave up. But finally, we were able to find a place to park, and we went to Tunnels beach, which was GREAT. There were big angel fish, and these funny ones with a smile on their backs, and blue nosed fish, and Bob and Elizabeth saw whole schools of fish. Elizabeth even saw a sea turtle!

Wednesday evening was Cait’s graduation. 26 new massage students have their certificates from the school. Good for all of them, and good for Cait. We saw her graduate from something! For the first time ever.

Thursday, we went to the “blue hole”. The blue hole is a place where 3 waterfalls come together. We didn’t actually get there, though. First off, the truck wouldn’t go over the access road, so we had to walk an additional 2 miles in (and out) on the access road – which was pretty nice, but tiring when you add it to the rest of the hiking. Then, we got to this dam/spillway on the river/creek, which was really cool. Until a family came up in their nifty 4wd car, and pulled out the snaks and lawn chairs. We decided to hike upstream.

Cait and Elizabeth had gone ahead, because we knew they were going to do more than we were anyway. And they did. They did some trail walking and some rokc hopping up the creek, until they came to a waterfall which Cait tried to climb. She slipped down it, and hurt her foot – and then still had to walk the 3 miles out. But, it was a lovely stream, and a nice walk for the uninjured, and an adventure in the mountains.

Friday, Cait had to work, so Bob and Elizabeth and Andrea went to the National Tropical Biological Gardens in Poipu. Bob and Elizabeth took a tour of the McBride garden, and Bob took a million pictures and was really impressed. Andrea stayed behind and watched the spouting horn, and worked on her crochet. Then we went to Koloa, an old sugar plantation town, which is now a tourist town, big surprise. And Elizabeth and Andrea ended up at Anahola beach before making dinner and falling into bed.