South Kauai

The morning starts off with a shopping trip to the farmer's market at Kaua'i Community College. We arrive about 15 minutes before the opening and are surprised to learn that no buyers are allowed into shop until the official start time.  However, the time waiting is well spent as we meet some of the regulars who fill us in on their favorite vendors and produce available.

Kaua'i Community College Farmer's Market

The selection of flowers is amazing

Later we split up so Peter and Jamie can take off for a Zip Line adventure:
 While Suzy and I go shopping at a crafts fair. We enjoy a wonderful lunch at Brennecke's Beach Broiler across the street from Poipu Beach Park. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night both Suzy and I get sick to our stomachs and spend part of the night not having fun. Since the guys weren't with us, the Mango Daiquiris at Brennecke's become the main suspect.  At least the bug passed through us quickly. Looks like we won't be going back to that place again.

Tented Crafts Faire

Suzy slips a Mango Daiquiri

The ambiance at Brennecke's is great

Joining back up with the guys, we explore more of what south Kauai has to offer.  The first stop is at a tourist staple - Spouting Horn blowhole. The area is now fenced off, but many years ago when we first saw it, you could walk right up to it.  It's likely some visitors didn't use much common sense and got too close - like peering right over the blowhole wondering when it would go off next.

On our first visit in the mid 1980's, we walked up closer and found a nice place to sit and just watch.  Suddenly a large bus full of Japanese tourists stopped and disgorged about 35 people, mostly men. For awhile all we could hear was the clicking of cameras. Then as if on queue, they all scrambled back on the bus and were gone in a flash, all without saying a single word to each other. We just looked at each and wondered what just happened.

The official chicken greeter

Sprouting Horn blows off

Cock fight!

One of the fanciest (read most expensive) places to stay in Kauai is the Grand Hyatt. Even though it's much more than any of us can afford, we waltz through their lavishly landscaped gardens and into the main entrance like we own the place and know where we are going.  Nobody even questions us. We settle down to listen to George Kahumoku Jr who's playing in an open air bar. We are thrilled to be able to listen to one of Hawaii's premiere musicians free of charge in such a beautiful setting. We loudly applaud his performance between songs. The Grand Hyatt paying guests barely even raise their hears to acknowledge George's presence. Having gobs of money must dull appreciation to some of life's better experiences.

Australian Black Swans

Open air bar

Jamie points out a nice beach at the resort

Friends of friends have told us about a wonderful hidden beach not far from the Grand Hyatt, so we take off driving through a maze of bumpy sugar cane roads to find it - hey, it's a rental (another reason never to ever buy former rental cars).  Just as the sun is starting to set, we come to a dead end at some ocean cliffs. There we can see the fabled beach. At least now we have a better idea how to find it.

There's the beach across the cove

The next morning we plan our day while watching for whales and enjoying papayas and Hawaiian coffee on the lanai. We are looking forward to exploring Waimea Canyon, known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." While Hawaiians like to compare it to Arizona's Grand Canyon, Waimea is only a mini version. Still - it is well worth seeing.

There's a paddle boarder

Ahh - breakfast

Waimea River helped carve out the Canyon

Jamie and Peter are dwarfed by Waimea Canyon

We stop at the large parking lot at Cliff Trail Lookout where there's a good view of Waipoo Falls with a constant flow of helicopters buzzing about like mechanical mosquitoes. In the parking lot, I meet one of the tour guides and talk her into letting me take a photo of her interesting face. She was sweet to accommodate me.

Then we drive on to Kalalau Lookout at the end of the road.

Waipoo Falls

Hawaiian guide

Kalalau Lookout

Kalalau Valley

The day is so spectacular, it's hard not to keep snapping photos.  When we were here before, this lookout was almost completely socked in with mist laden clouds. We take off hiking on an old trail that the ancient Hawaiians used to get between the south and north parts of the island.  Today the trail is dry and we wonder how much harder it would be under the more usual muddy conditions.

Na Pali Coast State Park

Well trod trail

Suzy and Jamie stop for a phto op

Sign pointing to 2nd most wettest spot on earth

Mount Waialeale

Descending back down the canyon toward the west

Not long afterwards we find ourselves again bumping along the cane roads in search of Gillin's Beach. This time we reach our destination and are richly rewarded with a true treasure. It's named after a long time supervisor of the Grove Farm sugar company. His former house is at the west end of the beach. In fact, it's now available as a vacation rental.

Now that's a beach!

Jamie finds an inscribed rock

Sea Cucumbers in the tide pools

Lava surrounded tide pools

Ahh - this is what paradise is supposed to be

Peter rests after snorkeling

Beer commercial shot

Playing with fish-eye lens

Since our time on the south shore is getting short, we decide to stop at the Hawaiian Trading Post in Lawai. Suzy is interested in the Ni'ihau shell leis that are available here. While she checks out the merchandise, I snap goofy photos of the guys playing with the photo props outside.

Peter uses classical form on a cement wave We make it back to the condo in time for sunset.

With a little practice you guys could work local luaus

Jamie getting ready for Mav's

Suzy models her new Ni'ihau shell lei for the cameras

It is beautiful

while the crowds gather for the sunset show

Last sunset on Kauai's south shore