Through with Kauai and on to the Big Island

We left Oahu on the 3rd of May and went to Kauai until the 7th of May. Today we headed to the Big Island. Each island has it's own flair and Kauai certainly lives up to the Garden Isle reputation. It was much more lush and much less crowded than Oahu. We found many banana trees, coconuts, taro, sugar cane, and papaya growing right along the road. We stopped and harvested one piece of sugar cane and made good use of my dive knife when peeling and cutting up the stalk.

The weather was a bit rougher, with a lot of clouds, winds, big surf, and rain. However, we found plenty of sunny spots to enjoy, especially along the Western side all the way out to the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands where we had a picnic lunch on the beach. We drove out to Waimea Canyon and went all the way to the top to Wai'ale'ale which is one of the wettest spots on earth and averages over 462 inches of rain a year. From there, the clouds roll over and down into the canyon and out the Na Pali coastline side where Jurassic Park was filmed.

We found some calmer spots for snorkeling and found multiple green sea turtles right along the edge of the rocks where we were snorkeling. They were not afraid of us at all and I even had to jump out of the way to avoid being bumped into by one as the surf pulled him back. There were plenty of colorful fish and a moray eel right there within yards of the beach for us to see. We drove all the way to the end of the road on the North shore past the famous Hanelei beach and hiked along the Na Pali coast until heavy rain convinced us to turn around. There were several spots along the north coast where we could see eight or more separate long waterfalls in one view, and we lost count of rainbows. We went to the Kauai Kookie factory and sampled just about every kind of cookie they had before loading up on macadamia nut shortbreads, taro crispy cookies, and chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies.  The local food was very good and the shave ice at Ono Ono was really a big hit. The single size was extra large and there was an option for a scoop of ice cream inside. I also tried the Halo Halo. I thought it was pretty good. The Taro ice cream was the best part to me. We also ate at a very local place, Ohana diner, with great Kalua pork.

Picnic lunch at Barking Sands on the Pacific Missile Range Facility base. (Joey)

You can see two islands in the background. One bigger one on the left (Niihau) and one small one (not sure which one) on the right. (Joey)

We couldn't hear the sands bark. (John)

There were random horses tied by the road every few hundred feet along this stretch of the road. (Michael)
Anybody have an idea why? (Shelli)

Waimea Canyon. (Joey)
This is a spot where we saw a lot of rainbows. (Shelli)

The view down from the top of Waimea Canyon looking towards the Na Pali coast. (Joey)

Some of the water falls on the right side. This is the area where they filmed Jurassic Park. (Joey)

Some artwork. (Michael)
Today's art homework is to draw a mustache on your brother's face. I just wanted a mustache. (John)

It was cold, windy, and rainy at the top. (Shelli)

The sign says this is one of the wettest places on earth. (Michael)

Now I look like Adolf Hitler after eating chocolate. (John)
Maybe they need more art practice? (Shelli)

I almost fell three times on the slippery wet mud, but I caught myself. (Michael)
It rained on us here and we were actually in the clouds as they passed over the top. (Joey)
I was concerned about the boys falling over the edge because it was VERY slippery. (Shelli)

We looked down the side and it was just a sudden drop-off. (John)
There were several rainbows that appeared here as the rain and clouds alternated with sunny patches. (Joey)

Dad and I chopped down some sugar cane right by the side of the road where it was growing wild. (John)

I got cherry and pineapple and it was very sour. (John)

Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie. (John)
Wanna keep your hand? (Joey)

Waialua Falls. If you stared at a stationary point near the falls for about 20 seconds and then looked at the walls to the side, there was an optical illusion that made it look like the walls were waving.  (Joey)

The road was covered by a tunnel of trees. (Joey)

The sugar cane was good. (Michael)

This is where we saw and swam right next to a sea turtle. (Michael)

One of the places where we could see big waterfalls in the distance through the rain and mist. (Joey)

The water in the cave had bacteria and was pretty much the same thing as poisoned. (Michael)

Waiting for the sun at the start of the hike along the Na Pali coast. (Joey)

The rocks were very slippery and I fell pretty hard here, so I stopped for a rest. (Shelli)

Trying to decide to go on the hike or not as the black clouds were everywhere. (Shelli)

The weather cleared so we decided to head back in along the trail. (Joey)

At the start of the hike. (Joey)

With the sun out, the background looked like a postcard. (Michael)

Deep in the jungle, swinging like Tarzan. (John)

"Oooohooowooohooowooohooowooo" (Michael)

An old taro farm. I think they planted it here on Poi-pus. (Joey)

I think these are the most populous group on the islands now. (Joey)

If you hold your hands out they will think you have a treat. (John)

Click here for a video Michael and John swimming by a sea turtle
The turtle was just right there by the shore so we got in the water with him. The visibility isn't great because it was right where the waves were stirring everything up.

We have video of the hike along the coast and of snorkeling with lots of colorful fish, but we don't have them edited and ready to upload yet. 

I liked Oahu more than Kauai because Oahu had more things to do. My favorite thing so far was eating shaved ice. (Michael)

I love Hawaii and I don't want our trip to end. My favorite thing so far was snorkeling. (John)

My favorite thing so far was the hike along the Na Pali coast. The most memorable part was when we were coming down the slippery trail along a cliff during a tropical storm with heavy rain and very heavy winds. (Shelli)