Home • USA Aloha! • Hawaii • '19 Apr: Kauai

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	Some catch-up from the internet: Doug and Sandy McMaster put on slack key shows around the island and we enjoyed one of those shows in Hanalei. They are a couple of characters for sure. internet.
	Some of the places we've eaten: Brennecke's Beach Broiler, Gaylords, Duke's, Olympic Café, Mountain Bear Café, Keoki's Paradise, BarAcuda, JJ's Broiler, Bobby V's, Lava Lava Beach Club, Chicken in a Barrel, Koke'e Lodge Restaurant, Coconut's Fish Café, Kalypso, Street Burger, Wrangler's Steakhouse, Kountry Kitchen, Brick Oven Pizza, The Bistro... internet.
	...and not to forget Easter Sunday Brunch!
	Shopping! They've got The Coconut Marketplace near the house going pretty well these days. Tourism is very alive and well. internet.
	April 27 Busy day! First we went to the Farmers Market at the Community College where I stood in line, that's right, I stood in line, for thirty minutes to buy a loaf of bread. Chris and Dave then went to the Coconut Marketplace while Sharon and I did some prep for tonight's soirée.
	Kenny took us all out for a ride up the river, all except Sharon who needed to do some business and she sent us on our way.
	We went past the Fern Grotto into a super quiet and Gorgeous area that practically made me cry it was so gorgeous.
	I could have stayed and stayed every turn bringing new light and...
	...new views.
	Coming back to the house.
	Kathy's orchid garden in front of their house. She's got some rare and amazing flowers in the back but I need to try again for a picture because it was breezy and the pictures aren't sharp.
	We ate, drank, and were merry, and then This...
	...and more.
	I couldn't stop!
	Do you think I have more? Oh yes I do.
	From some other day, me and Sharon on the lanai.
	April 26 Sharon and I took an early morning walk out along the coast...
	...and back through the trees.
	April 25 A couple of days of now-and-then pictures. Sharon, Chris, and Dave at one of the Koke'e State Park lookouts into the Waimea Canyon.
	Another view in Waimea Canyon out to Kalalau Valley along the Na Pali coast.
	A waterfall in the Waimea Canyon, super-telephoto and clipped in the computer.
	Sharon and Chris strolling back from the pool to our lovely abode at the Waimea Plantation Cottages. Check out that banyan tree, and there are many more on the property.
	We like to go to the Kauai Coffee Plantation Tour. It's a walk-about and they want you to know things.
	A Bird of Paradise in decent condition. Yay.
	Wailua Falls.
	More night pictures because I'm obsessed. Coming out of the restaurant.
	omg, Stars.
	Wow, even the sword on the belt.
	A night view of our cottage.
	April 21 Lazy, slow, and behind. But having a wonderful time!
	April 20 Remember a couple of weeks ago when I was wandering around under the bridge and saw this potential sunflower forest with a few blooms and a ton of buds? Here we are now!
	Chris out on the river for an oh-so-pleasant kayak ride.
	As evening comes on.
	Just a few more pictures in the dark for now because it's so much FUN.
	I can't believe the detail in the sand.
	This scene was about a block away and all I could see was the bonfire. My phone could see much more!
	April 20 A few bits from the last several days including a drive out to Hanalei where we saw our first waterfall of this visit which is very unusual. Also, and maybe related, we still haven't been rained out of a single hour.
	Taro fields from the turnout.
	We went to Lu'au Kalamaku and enjoyed it entirely.
	There are several luaus on Kauai and we have been to a few this one being a return visit and our favorite.
	If you pay an extra twenty dollars you get a table in front of the circular stage and it's worth it.
	We had a tour at the Kauai Museum, always interesting although not always lively.
	Another night shot of the house...
	...and the river.
	Black-crowned Night Heron!
	April 17 Wow, a bunch of days since I've put in any pictures. Chris and Dave arrived yesterday and today we enjoyed the Poipu area including the Grand Hyatt.
	Chris and Dave, hanging at the Grand Hyatt.
	We ate at Keoki's and then went to the Farmers Market at Kukui'ula...wow, fabulous flowers.
	My phone has a Night feature...
	...and it's so very much fun...
	...it will take a picture in total darkness. Chris and Dave at the dock.
	April 14 We walked at Lydgate earlier than usual today and the trees were aglow with the morning sun.
	The egrets were as always in hot pursuit of the mowing machine and the tender grubs it turns up for their snacking delight.
	Later we packed up a picnic for a quick buzz out to Anini, my favorite beach.
	Notice the three people in the foreground who are sifting through the sand...
	...for these precious little shells that make up the most expensive leis in the Islands and according to an article I just read, the only insurable shells in the world. These shells are found almost exclusively on Ni'ihau but are also here if you're willing to spend the time sifting through an entire beach.
	Check out that kite flier...
	...and here he is closer. We were entirely entertained for an hour watching him get that kite to take him wherever he wanted to go.
	OOPS. When he came in I looked at his board - no toe grips, no heel straps, nothing to keep him attached to that board. It was awesome.
	April 13 Welcome to Smith's Tropical Paradise, home of one thousand chickens...
	...and plenty of peacocks.
	Caesalpinia, also called Ohai ali'i, dwarf poinciana, pride of Barbados, and bird of paradise.
	Some palm reflections as we enter the bamboo forest.
	The Bombax, commonly known as the cotton tree.
	Every time we see The Dude we get excited. Oh look oh look, it's The Dude!
	April 11 Another hibiscus, this one colored for spring.
	Nice Bromeliad.
	We ate lunch in the fancy-pants Gaylord's at the Kilohana Plantation where they have a very light-hearted and entertaining short train ride. We went into the 'station' to buy tickets and came out into a pouring dumping out-of-nowhere rain. Then it stopped and our ride was lovely.
	We were sitting on the train and outside the window far away under some bushes was this scene of teenagers hanging out doing not much, like teenagers do.
	The Plantation has a pretty fabulous farm with so many kinds of fruits and vegetables mostly for the restaurant and for tourists. They have a tour that takes you part way on the train and then you do a several hours-long walk through all the plantings and sample whatever you want that is ripe.
	They have a stop where everyone throws tortillas at the pigs who are squealing like, well, pigs, and there are a few goats and a donkey who are also crazy for the tortillas. They can't use these pigs for the luau because they don't have FDA certification but they are sometimes used for private luaus, for staff parties, and family celebrations. There are so many adorable babies they couldn't possibly keep them all for pets.
	There are many lovely spots around the property.
	April 10 The Spirit House, occupied by a gecko these days.
	Last year there were a dozen ducks in the neighbors yard but this year I've seen only three. And a Splendid Red shepherd keeps them in line.
	Not My Picture, an aerial view of the historic Kilauea Lighthouse, home to a fine colony of albatross of which we saw only one, and there are usually nenes on the lawn, but not this time, however... internet.
	...the sea birds were in fine form.
	Hi guys...
	...lookin' good.
	Still looking...
	...for the name.
	April 9 One of the parking lots at Lydgate Park, the one with the heiau and...
	...the view of the bridge.
	One of the many children's sculptures mounted on the Kamalani Climbing Structure.
	April 8 The colors of Hawaii are not always in the flowers - colorful crotons abound.
	Lunch at the Lava Lava Beach Club. I like this place because you can sit out in the shady sand and listen to the sea.
	This is the heiau at the corner, Holoholoku Heiau, the sacred space and we don't go inside. The Birthing Stone is just out of view.
	The fabulous Japanese Cemetery up the hill from the heiau with stairs to lead you there. It's extremely old...
	...and then there are new markers too...
	...and extremely unexpected bits of memorabilia.
	April 7 We're at Duke's enjoying an early lunch so we got the best table and here's the view looking out onto the gorgeous Kalapaki Beach and the Kuki'i Point Lighthouse. The Marriott is behind us and has always seemed to me a most excellent hotel for families because of peaceful waters of Kalapaki where there's just enough small rolling water for stand-up paddlers and kids learning to ride a wave.
	I had heard about this trail walking distance from the house that will take you under the big traffic bridges that span the section where the river meets the sea. Imagine my excitement, a sunflower forest! There was a dense hedge of these and I don't know whether all those buds are flowers that are finished or flowers yet to come. I do hope to check it out in coming weeks.
	Right now there's only a very small section of the river open and it's possible to walk...
	...right through to the beach.
	There were families gathered in various spots and this is also where the canoe club stores their gear and kicks off their training sessions. It was interesting how they had covered the ground with thick tarps to both protect the roots of the trees and to help keep you from falling over them. That group with the colored umbrellas were having a pretty big family gathering...
	...and one of the cousins made this arrangement just because she wanted to and was happy to offer a photo. I don't know why the red came out so flat. These are some of the Heliconia that grow wild.
	A rope swing waiting for a kid.
	At the mouth of the river there's a public park and launching site for kayaks, canoes, and small boats and that's where all this is, including this garden that was just open in the park. Nice looking veg I would say.
	Last time I used yellow Plumeria and here's the pink. Still more to come!
	April 6 Here at the house there's the spacious screened lanai along the river where we mostly hang out. It's glorious and ever since the remodel with the screens I have not come home with a single mosquito bite.
	There's also the back garden fitted out with several holes of a miniature golf lawn and wonderful landscaping. That's the gate where the front and back meet.
	Outside the kitchen door others enjoy this garden but I tend to stick to the screened area because behind that greenery is a slow-running channel from the river, home to the local mosquito farm.
	The water lily pot that you find for sale in many markets here. This is out in the back garden too and you might think uh-oh mosquitoes, but there are a dozen little fish living in the pot.
	An orchid. Orchids grow freely outside in Hawaii, on trees, in the ground, along the side of the road, in pots, they just grow.
	Camas took me for this walk on the Moalepe Trail and it was beautiful! I'm just the right amount of sore this morning. The weather was perfect for this, not so hot or sunny which is good for me!
	We slowly and easily wound our way up up.
	Hilahila in Hawaiian, it's the one where the leaves curl up when you touch them, it's shy. That's the leaves for sure, they are the same as all the pictures, but I can't find another picture where Hilahila has those yellow flowers. Maybe the flowers are coming from another plant?
	A Marsh Pea I think.
	Here's The Turn Around Tree where we turn around. We could have continued and eventually we'd run into another road but I'm glad we turned around right here, at the exact right moment.
	I forgot a picture of us (forgetting...) so here's a picture of Camas and Curt instead. cc.
	April 5 We're off, first stop Spouting Horn, with a row of tchotchke shops, tons of Jungle Fowl, and this.
	I wanted to stop off at Prince Kuhio Park. Prince Kuhio Day is at the end of March and here's his memorial still covered in leis.
	One of the parrots at the Grand Hyatt preening himself for his fans.
	Beautiful hedges of Peace Lilies live outside in Hawaii where they can survive because it's year-round hot and humid. Which says something about Hawaii, right.
	Great timing for lunch at Brennecke's - 15 minutes before they opened for a cooling beverage and then a window seat for lunch. My new pixel 3xl took this picture on auto better than my new camera took it on auto, but the camera still does better for most situations.
	Cup of Gold, a huge vine or pruned into a tree, it makes you look every time.
	The Grand Hyatt in full bloom. Those hedged and cascading bougainvillea are completely awesome this visit.
	April 4 From right outside the front door, "Anthurium, a genus of about 1000 species of flowering plants, the largest genus of the arum family, Araceae. General common names include anthurium, tailflower, flamingo flower, and laceleaf."
	Another challenge. Google thought it was milkweed but none of the other milkweed plants looked like this one.
	We walked along the fantastic path that runs for seven to eight miles along the East Side coast. It's called The Kauai Coastal path and also called Ke Ala Hele Makalae. The Hawaiian name means The Path That Goes By The Coast and we love it. This is the Pineapple Dump.
	There is an old structure here, the Pineapple Dump. I like to come here so I can say Pineapple Dump. That's me with my hair sticking straight out. The Pono Pineapple Company of Kapaa built that wooden ramp-like thing so that the detritus from the pineapple processing plant could be easily dumped into the ocean. I copied this from the Kauai Surf Company: "During Kauai’s agricultural heyday in the early to mid 1900s, a concrete pier was built by the Pono Pineapple Company of Kapaa to dump unusable portions of pineapples (crowns and skins) into the ocean. ... Occasionally, unfavorable winds and currents pushed the floating debris back to Kapaa, creating a “terrible mess and foul stench” as it washed up on town beaches."
	So so many kinds of Hibiscus. This one is Hibiscus Enormicus because Sharon's formidable hand could not reach across.
	April 3 Aloha KAUAI! The Splendid Red Jungle Fowl welcomes one and all to the Garden Isle.
	This year Sharon and I decided on Flowers for our focus, and here's the iconic Hawaiian lei flower, the Plumeria. It comes in many colors which I feel confident will be represented throughout the month.
	First day and we do our first day tradition of a Lydgate walk and lunch at the Olympic Café. We have been amazed by all the people here this year so I grabbed a quick photo as a so far rare moment of a contemplative walk by the shore.
	The Spider Lily often used for hedges.
	One of those weeds by the side of the road...gotta find its name...probably won't find it though.
	The Olympic Café.
	Opaeka'a, our neighborhood waterfall, not too full right now so it's nice to see the layers.