All Good Things Must Come To An End

Following a delicious breakfast made by Uncle Danny of tarro and banana waffles with coconut syrup, fresh fruit, and coffee, we loaded up the rental car and headed south. This was the beginning of a long day of travel. The first leg of the trip was the hour long car ride beginning at 8:30 am to Lihue (prounounced Li-hooey) Airport where I had to say Aloha and good-bye to my wonderfully generous and gracious hosts, Dan and Susan. I simply don't have the words to express my thanks and gratitude enough... Mahalo & Nameste


After my arrival and check in at Lihue, I got to sit and wait for two hours until boarding my 30 minute flight to Honolulu where I got to sit and wait for another two hours... so far 4 hours spent sitting and waiting (are you keeping up with the math?) Fortunately I'm reading a good book so it didn't feel all that long.

At about 1:30 this afternoon (Hawaii time) I boarded the plane for the longest leg of my day... a 5 1/2 hour trip to PDX. Fortunately at check-in the ticketing agent asked if I was happy with my seat assignment, or if I'd like a different seat, and, since my original seat was in row 48 (as far back in the plane as a person can sit without being IN the toilet) I asked what she had available. She was able to re-assign me to row 14, just 4 rows back from first class. That was a nice treat since I really didn't want to spend an extra half hour just getting off the plane. The flight was relatively uneventful with only a little turbulence. I just closed my eyes and imagined driving through the potholed roads of Princeville and Hanalei. The in-flight movie was Bee Movie with Jerry Seinfeld... cute movie. Somewhere in mid-flight we lost 2 hours of time as we jumped ahead to Portland time.
As the plane landed right on time at PDX at 9:20 pm, the captain announced that it was 40 degrees and cloudy... Welcome to Portland! LuRae was waiting at the baggage claim area to give me a ride home (thanks, LuRae!), where I am now posting this final blog of my Hawaiian Adventure of 2008. Mahalo for joining me via this blog.
Aloha, and goodnight!
Gail

Last Day in Paradise

Upon seeing the gray cloudy sky during my morning coffee, I was sure we were in for a day like yesterday! However, to my delight, it was only partly rainy, and really
quite a pleasant day.


After my private yoga lesson with Susan, we drove into Hanalei and dropped Susan off for her yoga class. Dan and I were curious about the damage done yesterday by the heavy rains and high water, so we started out on the narrow winding road around Hanalei Bay. During our drive the rain started coming down in sheets, and since there was already quite a bit of mountainside mud on the road, we hastily turned back toward town, heeding the Kauai mantra, "Turn Around, Don't Drown!". We ended up down by the bay at the fishing pier that you might recognize from "South Pacific". Dan recently shared with me that our family is actually more French than Swedish. Considering his (and my) adoration for Kauai, I declared him French-Polynesian while out on the dock. He seemed to think that might have some truth to it.


After our visit to Hanalei Bay we drove around to take it some sights while Susan was still in yoga class. We stopped at a view point to see what impact yesterday's rains might have had on the Tarro fields. They looked wet... but that's the way they're supposed to look since they are really Tarro paddies.



While at the vista, we came across a gentleman weaving palm baskets, hats, and bags in his car. He was quite a character, and a good salesman, too. I bought the basket closest to the front of his car. :)



You might have asked the philosophical question, "why did the chicken cross the road?", and now I know the answer: "Because he lives on Kauai!". There are chickens and roosters all over the place here. Apparently during Hurricane Iniki in 1992 the chickens and roosters that belonged to the islanders were scattered all over the place. Now you can see them EVERYWHERE... including crossing the road!


After our adventures of the day we decided to get cleaned up and have cocktails at the Princeville Hotel... and quite a hotel it is! It sits overlooking Hanalei Bay, and has a magnificent westward view of Hanalei Bay, Bali Hi (the real Bali Hi), and the setting sun. Absolutely incredible!


We decided to have Foo-Foo drinks tonight. Mine was the pretty red and white one call a Lava Flow... Pina Colada mixed with blended strawberries... YUM!


Truly a perfect ending to a perfect vacation!
Thank you Dan and Susan!
with love & Aloha,
Gail

Turtles and Thunder and Lightning, Oh My!

We awoke this morning to an ominously dark sky, and as we enjoyed our coffee and breakfast on the lanai the thunder and lightning started. Shortly thereafter the downpours began! This was just the beginning of a day of a tropical rainstorms on the North Shore of Kauai.



Fortunately, Dan and Susan enjoy attending Lihue Lutheran Church on the south (sunnier) side of the island, so we were heading for sunnier climes.




Following church we went a little further south toward Poipu in search of Turtles! We found a perfect spot perched up on a rocky ledge overlooking a rough surf, and lots of happy turtles surfing their little hearts out. In the picture here you can spy a little brownish blob slightly submerged under water... that's a turtle. Turtle watching is fun.



Our afternoon plans were for Dan to watch the Super Bowl game while Susan and I did some shopping in Hanalei. However, due to the rain that never stopped all day, and flash flood warnings, the road to Hanalei was closed by the local police. The report for tomorrow is more of the same.




A report from one reporting station on the island recorded two separate times when there were more than 3 inches of rain in one hour today! That means there were OVER 6 inches of rain here today.... But it's still paradise!

NOTE: This entry to the blog had to be posted Monday morning instead of Sunday night, since the power went out (for the 2nd time yesterday) before I could finish.
News Flash.... Hanalei School is closed due to flooding.... we'll just see what else today brings!

Rainy Day in Paradise

Another gray day in paradise. The view from the lanai this morning was not much different than the one
yesterday - cloudy and rainy... BUT that didn't deter us from having a great day!

In addition to our usual morning coffee on the lanai while looking out for whales, we had a special treat for breakfast. Yesterday Susan baked a Macadamia Nut pie! She made it very much like a pecan pie, but better! Yumm! What a way to start the day!

The adventures of the day began with a rainy and wet visit to the Hanalei Bay Farmer's Market. Despite the weather, the market was bustling with locals and visitors buying and selling fresh pineapple, papaya, avocados, flowers, goat cheese, bananas, coconuts, orchids, oranges, grapefruit, etc. I also found a few folks selling jewelery and bought myself some very cool pearl earrings!

We left the market and headed down the road to an annual craft fair held at the UCC Church of the Pacific. Susan found a handmade apron to give as a gift. I just thought it was cool to be at a UCC church in Hawaii.




The next stop was for a quick pizza and salad lunch on our way to the Kiluea Lighthouse. The view from the lighthouse was spectacular! The only thing more amazing than the view was the wind! The gusts up there had to be 45-50 mph! We weren't able to see any whales or dolphins from that vantage point, however, we did see some very cool birds, and a monk seal.

We did spend some time on a couple of different beaches today... but not much. Mostly we sat in our raincoats watching the surf. Susan practiced a little beach yoga, and even convinced me to do a yoga pose for a picture!

Dan told me that one of the beaches we stopped at today (I can't remember the name) was the filming location of the very first Gilligan's Island tv show pilot. Cool, huh?

On the way home from the day's adventures we stopped by a fish market to get some fixin's for dinner. Susan and I stepped into a boutique next to the market only to find that the owner of the shop was originally from Vancouver, WA, and was selling a lot of items made by Portland artists... small world.

After a long day of driving (riding) and sightseeing we returned to the condo for a delicious dinner of fish and chicken burritos, followed by a viewing of "South Pacific" which was filmed right here in Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i. But I'll let you in on a secret... the island /mountain that is Bali Hi in the movie doesn't really exist. It's magical!

Well, I'm beginning to droop here, so I'm off to bed in paradise.
Hope you are all warm and cozy (I heard about the snow... sorry).
Aloha!
Gail

Friday in Paradise

This morning we awoke to a dark and drizzly day... much like the Oregon Coast. But, like I say, a rainy day in Hawaii (or at the coast) is better than a day almost anywhere else... so we made the most of it.

Dan has been suffering with a cold for the past few days, and today was the worst of it. Susan and I were happy to lay low and hang out at the condo for most of the day while Dan rested.

I had my second yoga lesson today. We practiced Sun Salutation and some other poses that I can't remember the names of, and discovered that I have "wonky feet" as Susan called them. I'll have to work on that.

After Susan's yoga class at Hanalei Yoga we all went to the Hanalei Gourmet for lunch, then back to the condo to rest in preparation for the evening ahead... the Luau!!

In all of the years they've been coming to Hawaii, Dan and Susan had never attended a Luau, so they decided that this was the year to break with tradition and do something "touristy". Much to everyone's delight, it was well done and very entertaining! The event started with a tour of the grounds and gardens of Smith's Tropical Paradise (Smith is the name of an old Kauai family that started out with a tour boat business over 50 years ago). Following the removal of the pig from the Imu pit we had a delicious Hawaiian buffet (or "trough" as Dan calls it) with plenty of Mai Thai's and other beverages included.

Speaking of Mai Thai's, several of you told me to, "have a Mai Thai for me while you're there" ... well, tonight I had a few on your behalf.
Mahalo (thank you)!

After dinner we took a stroll over to the "lagoon, outdoor amphitheater" for the evening's entertainment... Hula and other dances from all the Polynesian Islands that contribute to the history of Hawaii. Very entertaining!

So ends another day in paradise.
Aloha!
Gail

First Full Day In Paradise

This is the vacation of relaxation.
After sleeping for a luxurious 9 hours last night(!), I awoke to an incredible ocean view, made coffee, then watched spouting and breaching whales from the lanai... perfect beginning of the day!


After breakfast we drove down to Anini Beach (where Sylvester Stallone used to own a house) and spent the rest of the morning basking in the sun, walking on the beach, and searching for shells. Later, we stopped at an incredible little burrito/souvenier/surf shop, ate lunch and headed to another beach (next to a house that Billie Jean King used to own... tennis court and all) that was beautiful but very windy. We tried to ignore the wind, but we eventually packed up our stuff and came back to the condo.

This afternoon I had my first private yoga lesson from Susan. She was very patient and helpful. On the plane trip over here last Saturday she busied herself and created an entire week's worth of yoga lessons for me.
First yoga lesson: Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

While Susan attended her yoga class in Haneli, Dan and I enjoyed early evening cocktails on the lanai, and watch more whales.

This evening we had a wonderful mixed grill dinner with Moon Fish, steak, and chicken with salad. Dan and Susan like to cook well.

We have a busy yet relaxing day planned for tomorrow, but I'm not sure of the details. What I know so far is that there will be macadamia nut pie, more yoga, and a luau... beyond that I'm not sure what we'll be up to (of course coffee and whale watching, too!)

For now I'm off to bed....
Aloha,
Gail

Introduction: Welcome to Paradise

I have escaped here to Kaua'i, Hawaii for one week in the middle of a cold an dreary Northwest winter, and I am grateful. I am here thanks to the generosity of my Uncle Dan, and his wife Susan who have a Time Share here and frequent the island at least a couple of times each year. This is my second trip to Kaua'i with them.