Day Umi

On previous trips I've enhanced every picture that I've shared, but this time I wanted to share them all in their all-natural state.

So, for my last post I'll share some enhanced pics that I had fun with on www.iPiccy.com... What I like about these enhanced pics are how the colors are so vibrant. It allows the viewer to get a glimpse of how things looked to us if you were here.

Mahalo!

The Infamous JoJo's Shaved Ice

Water running off the cliffs at Secret Beach

Ha'ula Beach

Kilauea Lighthouse

Scenery at Kilauea Lighthouse

Scenery at Kilauea Lighthouse

Hawaiian Girl & Surfer Dude

Moloaa Beach

Beachhouse Restaurant

Secret Beach

Mr. Crab at Secret Beach

Sand Castle Time at Secret Beach

Mommy Daddy say Cheese at Secret Beach

Cat & Mouse Play at Secret Beach

Sisters - Secret Beach

Sisters II - Secret Beach

Polihale Beach

Polihale Beach

Sunset at Hanalei Bay - 1

Sunset at Hanalei Bay - 2

Etching this view in my mind...until next time...

ALOHA.

Day Eiwa

The Fern Grotto was our adventure of choice today! This was another place that we hadn't ventured to on previous trips. It wasn't a strenuous, highly active attraction, so that was nice.

We boarded our boat and headed down the Wailua River.

On the way down the river, the tour guide provided some historial information about the area. There were some kayakers and standup paddle boarders on the river as we cruised along..

 

 

As we came into port at the Grotto, we were greeted and led into the Grotto by the Smith Family.

The fren grotto is a beautiful spot. Its is a fern covered, lava rock grotto located on the Wailua River on the eastern side of Kauai. Years ago visitors used to be able to walk up under the grotto and it was actually a popular spot for weddings. But, over the years with multiple hurricanes, the area has been damaged and the State has closed down access to the walkway area.

Weddings are still held here, but they are held on the patio area where we were able to take pictures.

 

 

While we took in the Grotto, the Smith Family (they also put on the Smith Family Luau) serenaded us with the Hawaiian Wedding Song and some hula dancing.

 



 

 

Day Ewalu

 

On Wednesday we all ventured to a gem on the island that Leon and I hadn’t even ventured to on our two previous trips to the island. Polihale Island. It’s the furthest you can drive on the west side of the Island.  Out here its very dry and arid, as opposed to the north shore where its lush and very green.

 

 

One reason we hadn’t visited this place before was because we had read about the long, bumpy, pot-holed filled 4.8 mile road that you have to travel to get there and we weren’t sure how the rental car would hold up.

 



We survived the bumpy 20-25 min drive out there and took in this...

 

 

 

The Napali Coastline is the backdrop for this beach. Its a very long stretch of beach and the sand is hot like fire. We camped out for a bit and tried to soak the view in...

 

 

 

The kids literally soaked in Poliahe... all in their clothes! I didn't carry along their suits because I had read that the current here is pretty strong and I didn't think they'd be able to safely play in this water. To our surprise the tide was low in the spot we were in and it was calm enough for them to play.

 



 

 

 

 

The girls wanted to get in the pool yet again in the evening. They've been in the pool almost everyday on our trip... its the right depth (4'-5' deep) and just the right temp..not too cool, not too warm. They started out timid and now are literally jumping in off the side and Love has picked up some swimming moves to manuever around.

 

Love splashing in....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you see Lea.. 

Now you don't...

Day Ehiku

We did some sightseeing on Tuesday at the Kilauea Lighthouse. 

 

 

 

This area is a sanctuary for a host of Hawaiian birds. There are so many of this on this embankment that they look like white dots.  

 

 

 

Looking back towards the coast we could see the area of Princeville where we've been staying and Secret Beach.

 



 



I had to take a picture of this sign because its the office location for a t.v. show that we watch back home called, "Hawaii Life" that comes on HGTV. Its a show about families that want to re-locate to Hawaii and this real estate business will show them 3 different properties to tour and at the end of the show they purchase one of them. It was kinda neat to see the sign for it...

 



 



 

While the grans took in their first Luau, we grabbed dinner and then headed to the beach to cast off my message in the bottle from a ladies retreat from 2012.

 

 

The bottle had become a mantle piece in my home. I thought that it would be neat a year later to cast my message into the waters of Kauai =) So, I read the letter to Leon and the kids (it was a letter addressed to God regarding my hopes and dreams for our future) and then had Leon toss it into the ocean... I know,  I know... I'm a corny and sentimental kinda gal...

 

 

 

Leon said it would probably wash right back up to shore as we pulled away... lol.... It was a special moment =)