Kauai – The Garden Island lives up to its name!

Ok… Yes I am an island behind since I am now sitting with a view of the ocean on the big island of Hawaii. But, I have been a bit busy driving all over this very large island and seeing amazing sights.

But, let’s not forget Kauai. This is a beautiful lush garden of an island where the majority of land mass is not accessible to man. I drove up the ridgeline of Waimea Canyon and was able to see both the canyon and some of the Na Pali coast but to do it justice, I decided to board a helicopter to get some amazing aerial shots. Needless to say, I didn’t do much shooting. The glare on the window negated good photography but, the plus side of that predicament is that I decided to sit back and enjoy the ride, taking in as many amazing vistas as possible (from the front seat!) It was a beautiful and amazing ride.

Of course when you are in Hawaii, you have to attend Luau’s. I went to my second Luau and it was amazing. Very well produced and not as touristy as the first. Great performers, musicians and the theatrical tech was wonderful.

I also decided to get up close and personal with the land and mounted my trusty steed for the day Hana, and rode through the Kauai fields and forests. After a short hike down a very steep hill, we came to a waterfalls. I was the only one brave enough to get in the water. It was cool and refreshing on that 80+º day. I sat under the waterfalls for awhile contemplating life and enjoying the solitude. After a steep climb up and nice ride back, my Princeville Ranch adventure was over.

After visiting the ranch, I decided to check out the Kilauea Lighthouse and bird sanctuary. This is the northernmost tip of Kauai and provides a nesting place for Red-footed Boobies, Albatross and a number of different species of birds.

Well, I did land and air. That left only sea. So, I boarded a Catamaran and took off for a dinner/sunset cruise along the Na Pali coast. Absolutely beautiful. The ride, though a bit wet at times was a lot of fun and provided a great way to see a coastline that is not accessible by car. The dinner was actually quite good and the crew great. It was a memorable way to end my stay in Kauai.

Next up, the big island. Stay Tuned!