Kaua'i Dreamin'

 

 

There are many magical things on Kaua'i. Many, many. I'm dreaming more and more of our late October rendezvous.

 

Spending so much with my arborist brother lately, talking and walking trees... Made me begin to reminisce about these Rainbow Eucalyptus we spotted during our last visit. Spectacular. Breath-taking. 8 or 9 trips to Kaua'i before ever noticing one. And,they were quite near (on foot) our Marriott Kalapaki Bay Resort base camp.

 

LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD: smart stuff to remember for next trip to Kaua'i

Things we did right and things we want to remember for the next visit to Kaua'i:

>Soft-sided collapsible cooler
>Freezable ice pack
>The Ultimate Kaua’i Guidebook
>Keen’s for hiking the trails and into the beaches and falls
>Extra beach or fitness shoes for after hike
>Guys: more fun t-shirts, fewer golf shirts
>Girls: pack lighter—one short skirt, 3 shorts or capris, t-shirts
>Aveeno sunscreen, 30 and above
>Hats
>Ziplock bags
>Washer/dryer sheets from WalMart (Purex Laundry Sheets)
>Daypack for hikes
>Water bottle ring on a ribbon (DIY project)
>Hand sanitizer
>Butt wipes
>Neoporin To Go! spray
>Paper plates and napkins

FUN THINGS IN KAUA'I

>How to predict sundown (fingers on the horizon)
>How to measure altitude temperature changes (4 degrees per 1,000 feet)
>Kukui nuts and their uses
>Longans and more Longans
>Fruit water in the Marriott upper lobby at Kalapaki Beach
>Tip Top Café in Lihue
>Same owners for Ono Family Restaurant in Kapa’a
>Oxtail soup
>Coconut shrimp at Duke’s
>Bobble Head Beach
>Bread and Deli
>Bubba’s
>Monster Tacos
>Lappert’s
>Brick Oven Pizza
>Duke’s… Duke’s… Duke’s
>ABC Store for t-shirts and souvenirs
>Sunshine and Farmer’s Markets
>Waimea Canyon – the views, photo ops, and the hikes
>Waimea Canyon Koke’e Museum
>Kintara for sushi (a local recommended, haven’t tried it yet)
>Merrimen’s for steak (a local recommended it, haven’t tried it yet)
>Puka Dogs at the Po’ipu Marketplace – YUM!
>Flowers
>Chickens
>Judith Jackson Spa citress shampoo
>Hikes : Hideaways Beach, Queen’s Bath, Shipwreck Beach, Kipu Falls, The Canyon Trail, Kalalau Trail, and Secret Beach
>The terrace at the St. Regis Princeville Hotel

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 8

Dusk and the sad goodbye - Marriott Kalapaki Beach, Kaua'i

Queen's Bath - Princeville, Kaua'i

Hideways Beach - Princeville, Kaua'i

View from St. Regis Princeville Hotel

Tip Top Cafe - Lihue, Kaua'i

I’m very, very tired this a.m., too. No more up at 5:00am on Chicago time! We have been so physically active most days and then I stay up too late blogging…

I talk to GiGi a bit, and then JE. But, it is time to do the final packing as we check out by 10:00am and then we are going for our third trip (PM’s second) to Tip Top Café.

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 7

This is funny on so many levels, including the big-mouthed, attention seeking NeNe from The Real Housewives of Atlanta...

Our second to last day in Kaua’i. I sleep in and for a time wonder if I will be able to move from this bed without first an I.V. of coffee. DM calls with a request and as CA talks with him I chime in and ease into my day.

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 6

Big plans for today—a return trip to Polihale Beach and then a big hike in Waimea Canyon. We start the day with breakfast again at Tip Top Café. PM stays behind as she is still a bit rocky and needs rest more than food.

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 5

Our first time to eat in the villa—we make a fruit salad with PM+MM’s fruit basket leftovers and our pickings from the Hanalei Farmer’s Market. We have apple bananas, star fruit, papaya, mango, a red apple, a kiwi, and pineapple. A beautiful fruit salad and a fun breakfast.

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 4

My dream cottage in Wai'mea

Today is MK’s 31st birthday, and we talk to her. DM, MK, and the little girls flew to Houston today to visit friends. DM had arranged for flowers and a birthday cake to greet MK on arrival at their friends’ house. Sweet. We are missing them and JE’s family, but everyone is doing well and God is good and gracious to our family.

Today was to be a quieter day.

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 3

WAILUA FALLS

KILAUEA LIGHTHOUSE ON THE EASTERN SHORE

SECRET BEACH

HANALEI TUESDAY FARMER'S MARKET

HIKING SHOES, or why we all need to spend $$$ and buy Keens like PM's

NIRVANA FOR DINNER

CA and I are up early again this morning and I get some brilliant sunrise photos.

KAUA'I FLOWERS

EXPERIENCING KAUA'I: part 2

Rainbow Eucalyptus trees near Kaua'i Lagoons

KIPU FALLS

Humbling photo, but it shows how close I came!

(obviously my butt double did not come to Kaua'i with us)

Aloha! 5:00am (10:00am Chicago time) and I’m wide awake. CA is not too happy with me, but other than stuffing the pillow with his head he maintains his normal good nature (or the appearance of!) and tolerates my slamming and banging.