Sunday - Home via 4 flights.

We had a 6 AM wake-up call, has a last cup of coffee with a few leftovers, checked-out early and off we went at 730 AM to pack the car, return the car, and take the two minute shuttle ride  to the small, pretty airport.  Security line was minimal, we had an easy security check and check-in for our flight and, finally, a real Starbucks wake-up.  We spent a relaxing 1/2 hour sipping coffee, listening to CARIBBEAN music (what's with that?) in the coffee shop, and then heading down the open air corridor to the door to our gate. It was freezing inside the closed waiting area with  air conditioning on high, so we enjoyed sitting on a bench in the tropical open air and admiring the flowers and a few birds who flew in.  Boarded our little plane on I Fly Go! airlines - really!! -  for a quick 1/2 hour flight to Honolulu.   In Honolulu there was no one to give us directions - we picked up our luggage and walked to the Hawaiian Airlines check-in (for Art and me) and after standing in line were told to go back outside to put our luggage through the agricultural inspection (which we should have known from previous flights here - but, come on, we got up at 6 AM and were not happy to be leaving anyway :))  After we checked in (including checking all of our luggage all the way through to Charlotte except for back-packs), we took the long walk with Gayle to Delta where, in short order, she checked her luggage through as well.  Then she walked with us to our gate until it was time for us to board...we said our good-byes. Felt strange to say - see you in Atlanta TOMORROW.  But, it was true...despite taking different paths home, we were regrouping in Atlanta, flying together to Charlotte, picking up Gayle's car and driving home together.  Convenient (thanks, Gayle) and nice to be together again.

It was a wonderful 2 weeks for us (one for Gayle) - probably the best trip to Hawaii, we've ever had and reaffirmed that we do love our youngest state and wish that it wasn't so far from home.  Until the next time, Aloha!  and Mahalo for following the notes on our 2010 trip to Paradise.

Saturday - last day in Paradise

Today was supposed to be another relaxing day by the beach.  But the weather gods are not listening very well. After breakfast we decided to drive to the little bakery in Lihue to find some Malasadas for Gayle to try (described with a picture in the North Shore, Oahu post).  When we got there - they had a few small, cold Malasadas with sugar on them...nothing like the hot from the fryer with filling of choice that we had on Oahu.  Sorry, Gayle.  She and Art managed to eat one anyway...I'm a purist and was holding out for the real thing (which we never found - my waistline said 'thank you'.

Then we drove to the Kauai Coffee Company to take their self guided tour.  None of us had seen coffee beans on the bushes before so it was a new adventure.  It turned out to be a lot of fun including tasting a variety of coffees (none of which met our 'Starbucks' bold taste but several of which were good).  A few minor purchases and we decided lunch was calling...after checking out a new place nearby, we headed back to our home away from home and decided to eat lunch at the beach bar.  By the time we'd finished, the weather was clearing and we were able to relax in the sun and even get in a last snorkel.  The fish were really abundant today and left a lasting impression of the South Shore of Kauai.

We returned to Pomadoro - the Italian restaurant we enjoyed at the beginning of the week.  The 2nd meal was almost as good as the first!  We said our good-byes to Gerry and met her husband the Chef and made our way back to Waiohai to finish packing, print boarding passes, clean out the refrigerator and, in general, prepare to go home. :(

Friday - R and R

So we got up this AM to enjoy a sunny day at the beach and found instead a cool and dreary cloudy day.  No complaints here - we're had amazing luck with the weather for two weeks, so a mild disappointment is easy to take.

We walked over to the shopping area across the road and found a wonderful gift shop called Sand People with some fun and beautiful things...we did some shopping (of course), walked around a bit and came back to our place.  A bit boring to report today - some laundry, lunch of leftovers, a glass of wine, and a bit of computer work for me.  Art and Gayle went to the hot tub and did some snorkeling (I was too cold natured to do that) and finally late in the afternoon the sun came out and we visited with a fun couple from Connecticut that we met a few days ago and exchanged addresses with today.

We had made reservations for an early dinner at Roy's when we were at the shopping center.  Just as it was time to shower and dress for dinner, a rather large group gathered at the end of the beach and we walked down to see the Monk Seal who had decided to beach himself there.  Beautiful.

We had a wonderful dinner - ate too much but enjoyed every bite - at least we walked to and from the restaurant so felt better about all that we had eaten.  Clear sky with lots of stars tonight in hopes of a clear, sunny day tomorrow.

Thursday - off to the North Shore

Cloudy, cool day with hope for snorkeling at Ke'e Beach at the end of the road to the north shore.  Good day to travel but not to beach it.  We drove through Kapa'a along the coast and past the mouth of the Wailea River (near where we stayed on our first visit to Kaua'i 20 years ago.  The hotel is under a different name and lots of road work along the way.  First stop was at the Kailuea Lighthouse - one of our favorite spots on the island.  We bought a new senior National Park pass since ours has seemed to disappear (a good investment) and the $10 fee covered the 3 of us.  We saw red footed Boobies, Laysan Albatross Red tailed and white tailed Tropicbirds, Frigates and the national bird of Hawaii the NeeNee.  The scenery is spectacular, lighthouse museum interesting and the sun came out for a bit enhancing the views  There were several Nee Nees both inside and outside of the fences. Albatrosses were both flying above and landing on a grassy field nearby.

Laysan Albatross

Nee Nee

Left the Lighthouse and made a brief stop to see the new St. Regis Hotel...which was the Sheraton Princeville.  Saw very little differences and were unimpressed.  Despite the cloudy weather, we drove to Hanelei (didn't see Puff the Magic Dragon) and walked out on the pier.  Unfortunately there had been some heavy run off from a rain several days before and the water was still a bit brown and uninviting...but it is a lovely bay.  We drove through the town along a narrow road with many one care bridges (signs suggested that local custom allowed 5-7 cars to pass in one direction then alternated same in the other).  We took a lot of pictures and continued to the Dry and Wet caves (stopped to eat our picnic lunch at Tunnels beach).  Then on to Ke'e beach where it was cloudy and cool...so we again took some good pictures and decided to make our way back to Waiohai with a stop at the only Starbucks store to get today's free coffee promotion.

We got back in time for an hour in the sun and another lovely sunset, a light supper and another day closer to leaving this beautiful island.




The drive home was sunny and bright...a nice change for the day.

Wednesday - Art's Birthday - Waterfalls, Shopping, KiloHana Plantation

Today was Art's day - we started out with breakfast  at the Beach Hut, a funky self serve placewhere we've had breakfast before - French toast for us and an omelet for Gayle.  Art was proudly wearing his new tee shirt which seemed perfect for this special birthday!  After breakfast we headed towards the North Shore with a first stop at Wailea Falls. then we continued on to 'Opeaka'a Falls  After taking lots of pictures, we decided to take a shopping break followed by a stop at the KiaHuna Plantation where we enjoyed a Rum Tasting (choice of 2 - white, gold, or dark - mixed with their own Mai Tai mix...very good.  We all enjoyed the dark best and were a bit sorry that we couldn't take some home.  After wandering through some jewelry stores and an art gallery, we decided to head back to Waiohai (our home away from home).  Art had a much deserved nap;  Gayle and I spent some time at the beach - she snorkeled, I read and relaxed.  Then it was showers and dress-up for our birthday boy's dinner at the Beach House - our favorite restaurant on the South Shore.  

We took pictures near our pool and then went to dinner at the best sunset watching spot on the island.  By making an early reservation (which I did before we left NC), we were guaranteed a beachside table from which we could watch the sunset, take pictures and walk out onto the grassy area between the restaurant and the water to take more pictures..


Art and I by the pool


Gayle near our patio

Art's Birthday cake was delicious :)












The perfect end to a lovely day

Tuesday - Waimea Canyon

One of the girls who sets up timeshare appointments chatted with us on the beach yesterday and suggested that we go to the canyon early in the day when the visibility was best.  So...good learners that we are, we headed out early with walking shoes on, cold water, cameras and sunscreen in hand.  We did forget our sweaters - and were so sorry when we got to the windy higher elevations.  We were well on our way by 7:45 AM - our GPS had a problem locating the road to the canyon but our guide book and Gayle got us on the right road in a few minutes.  Gayle has now taken over as official navigator.

We stopped at every lookout - some hazy, some clear and all amazing views.

We stopped at the little Museum and learned a bit about the native birds and trees, enjoyed the ubiquitous chickens that run free all over the island,  had a cup of coffee and headed to the uppermost lookout only to find that the clouds got there ahead of us.  Thanks to our friend on the beach yesterday who said to be patient  - we waited and were rewarded by the clouds lifting or moving several times and allowing us a view of Polihale beach and the Na Poli coast.

We drove down from the canyon on a different road with views of Ni Hau (the island owned by the Robinson family which is inhabited by 200 Hawaiians).  This island can't be visited without special permission.

We had lunch at the Shrimp Station - very good coconut shrimp for me and garlic sweet chili shrimp for Art and Gayle.  Dessert was an introduction to Shave Ice for Gayle.  A stop to find Art the tee shirt he had been craving - a Red Dirt shirt that says Old as Dirt!! and home to relax on the beach, wait for the sunset and find a place for dinner.

Monday - a day at the beach with snorkeling

Up early and after breakfast we took a walk along the beach to the Sheraton hotel.  Along the way we walked through a condo property to the Koloa Heritage Trail - a beautiful garden next to the Plantation Garden Restaurant (where we plan to eat dinner later this week).  The garden was full of lovely Orchids and other tropical flowers.  A few of them are pictured below.  We explored the Sheraton, took some pictures on the lava rocks and then walked over to the lovely shopping center across the road.  Drooled over Tahitian pearls and other jewels, found some great tee shirts, walked through an art gallery and decided to have lunch in the villa and head to the beach.


Great beach day with wonderful snorkeling right off of the beach.  About the best assortment of tropical fish we had ever seen so close to the beach - butterfly fish 
 unicorn fish   
parrot fish  and lots of zebra fish and other varieties.  What fun to see them with so little effort - will plan to try taking pictures next time since these were found on the Web.


We met a very nice couple from Conn. and a man from England who suggested restaurants that they had enjoyed - since they all recommended Pomodoro's for Italian food and my favorite guide book gave them an ONO meaning very good, that was our choice for tonight.  


On the way to dinner, we stopped at the Spouting Horn to see the natural ocean geysers 

It was great fun - we took tons of pictures and also saw some green turtles in the water (in the distance.


Pomodoro's was a wonderful decision for dinner - we all loved our food, the bread, the wine choice, the hostess, Gerry - the wife of the chef (a former nurse from NY ) and our waiter, Tim.  It was a stellar evening!  Drove the dark and winding tunnel road back 'home'.  A thoroughly enjoyable day!

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