Kauai Vacation

We made up our minds some time ago that we'd spend our vacations in the islands - 7 million people pay big bucks to come to Hawaii, why should we spend big bucks to leave?

In mid-April we took a short week (five days) trip to Kauai and had a wonderful time......all the islands are different, very different typography, geology, people, scenery. And Kauai lived up to its nickname, the Garden Isle. We had delayed our trip from earlier in the month because of all the rain they had, but by the time we arrived all was well.



First big surprise was Waimea Canyon - the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. We have our Haleakala Crater, but this is a completely different animal. It is a deeply carved canyon through the lava slopes of Mount Waialeale - the wettest place on the planet. So all that rain and 6 million years have been enough to cut a spectacular canyon through the layers of lava.






Kauai, while nearly as large as Maui in size, is far less populated and developed. So, the canyon is surrounded by a very large state park that has wonderful accommodations and drives around the south rim of the canyon. Obviously, the water falls are spectacular, falling 400-800 feet like this one - Waipio Falls - 800 ft. tall.


Of course, I was delighted they had named a Tropical paradise after me. (Look closely, and it says Smith's TP)

We visited with my cousin Wil and his gracious fiancee, Jo. We stayed in their beautiful new home and almost learned how to get back by ourselves by the fifth day. Wil took us an a business trip he had to make to the North Side and we got to see all the beautiful bays and beaches along Kauai's Gold Coast around Princeville. It was truly spectacular.


Along the way we stopped at the Kilauea Lighthouse bird sanctuary and wee amazed at the number of birds there.

Maui's beautiful native birds, or what's left of the once large populations, are high on the slopes of Haleakala - driven there by the rapacious mongoose and marauding ferrel goats. This is the Nene, the state bird of Hawaii, that is on the endangered list. We were surprised that on Kauai they are plentiful and quite tame. On Maui we feel lucky to see one once per year.



We enjoyed the blustery winds at the lighthouse and were amazed at the beautiful flight of the petrals, boobys, shearwaters and other sea birds that nest there. Again, we have so few on Maui because of habitat loss, mongoose, ferral goats and cats.


Kauai's Hanalei Bay has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. With the Princeville Hotel in the far background, it provides everything a sun/water fan could want.







Kauai is teeming with wild chickens - we mean thousands - they are everywhere. They, along with a few peacocks like this one, were blown loose by hurricane Iniki in 1991 and now roam the island - dreadful, but dependable alarm clocks.



Check out that flower arrangement and chandelier at the fabulous Princeville Resort - Kauai has two quite lovely hotels that compare closely with our Grand Wailea and Four Season.

Caren loved the lamp, but I told her we didn't have room for it in our luggage.....besides, the Princeville management might not like the idea of losing one since its a matched dozen spread around the lobby.








Loved the "Old Faithful" of the Pacific blow hole at Poipu Beach.



And the beautiful Opaka'a falls right next to the road on the way to Wil and Jo's.

It was a relaxing trip and we enjoyed the new scenery of yet another one of our beautiful islands.