On New Year's Eve we drove from Princeville, on the north side of the island, to Lawai which is on the south side. Our second week timeshare was located at Lawai Beach. We made stops on our way south to visit a few sites along the way.
Lydgate Beach Park has two bolder enclosed ponds, so it is protected from the high surf and is usually safe to swim and snorkel.
Akuhini Recreational Pier State Park is a decommissioned pier, now used for fishing and crab netting.
The third NWR on Kauai is Hule'ia National Wildlife Refuge which protects the Menehune Fishpond, one of the oldest structures on the island. Estimated at up to 1,000 years old.
Spouting Horn, located on the south side, was only one mile from our time-share.
Lawai Beach Resort
We checked into Lawai Beach Resort, which would be home base for our second week in Kauai.
Lawai Beach is directly across the road (speed limit 15mph) from the resort.
We had a second-floor full kitchen with lanai overlooking the pool and ocean.
Our one-bedroom unit did not require air conditioning, since the cool sea breeze blew through 24 hours a day. No sleeping in however, the roosters crow at all hours of the day and night outside our windows.
Once again, we were blessed with convenient Weber grills.
The view from the southside of the island beats the northside at sunset. Evening view from our lanai.
New Year's Day - Waimea Canyon Drive
On New Year's Day, the morning mountain weather was clear, and we thought it would be a great day to drive to the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific".
We took route 550 north from the town of Waimea.
From one of the overlooks, we had a clear view of the private island of Ni'hau.
Much of Waimea Canyon is within the boundaries of two state parks.
Waipo'o Falls
Kalalau Valley is the largest valley on Na Pali. It's beach is only reachable by an eleven-mile hike or by boat. The last time we were here, this view was obscured by intermittent clouds, which is often the case.
This sign points to Wai'ale'ale Peak, elevation 5,148 feet, one of the wettest spots on earth.
JoJo's Shaved Ice
After leaving Waimea Canyon Drive, we stopped in the town of Waimea for a shaved ice treat.
We had the South Island local favorite, shaved ice flavored with coconut and pineapple over Macadamia Nut ice cream topped with a special cream.
We each got the small size. Tastes good and "good" for you.
Kauai Coffee Company
Kauai Coffee began in the early 1800's as McBryde Sugar Company, one of the first sugar farmers in Hawaii. The company transformed into a coffee producer in 1987. While visiting the plantation, we had the opportunity to taste six different varieties of their coffee.
The warm Pacific sun, rich volcanic earth and abundant mountain rain creates ideal conditions for growing coffee.
With over 4 million coffee trees grown on 3,100 acres Kauai Coffee Company is Hawaii's largest coffee grower and thus the largest coffee grower in the United States.
Glass Beach
Pulverized bits of glass, rounded by the ocean, color the sand of Glass Beach.
Bits of coral and glass varies with tides and surf.
Captain Andy's Sunset Cruise of the Na Pali Coast
We booked a sunset dinner catamaran cruise from Port Allen to the Na Pali Coast, a distance of about forty miles each way.
Southern Star and Northern Star 65-foot luxury catamarans
After our safety briefing, we left dock around 3:30 for the Na Pali Coast.
Passing Polihale Beach
Humpback Whales and Spinner Dolphins were observed along the way.
Approaching the Na Pali Coast with the typical afternoon clouds.
Sea Caves
View of Kalalau Valley from the sea.
The captain hoisted the sail for the return trip as we splashed and bounced through the waves.
We paused for the sunset at 6:07.
Safely back in Port Allen.
We enjoyed our breakfast each morning on the lanai.
Kekaha Beach Park
Kekaha is one of the least appreciated and least used beaches on the island.
Inspecting the milkweed for monarch butterfly caterpillars.
We found several!
Statue of the King of Kauai and Niihau located near Cook's Landing Site and the Russian Fort.
Hanapepe Swinging Bridge
The Swinging Bridge, built in the early 1900's spans the Hanapepe River.
Lawai Beach Sunset
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Just east of the Spouting Horn is the entrance to the National Tropical Botanical Garden. This beautiful garden consists of the 252-acre McBryde Garden and the 80-acre Allerton Garden. We took a guided bus and walking tour into the gardens.
Visitor Center
Gold Dust Day Gecko
Overlook of the plush gardens.
The frogs we saw in this garden reservoir have no way out but continue to live happily on their lily pads.
Orchid
Monkey Pod Trees
Angel's Trumpet
Apple Bananas
Cocoa Pods
Remnants from Jurassic Park Filming
Shipwreck Beach
This is a great place to sit to watch fool hardy young people test their courage by jumping off Makawehi Point.
"Diving Board" at the top of Makawehi Point.
Red Crested Cardinal were not as common as the chickens.
Wailua Falls
The falls are 173-foot drop which put them higher than Niagra Falls, but with less water.
We stopped at this self-serve fruit stand for apple bananas and a star fruit.
The star fruit has the texture of a grape and has a slight citrus taste.
Ninini Point Lighthouse
The Nawiliwili Lighthouse, aka Ninini Point Lighthouse was built in 1897.
Planes were flying over making their final approach into the Lihu'e Airport.
Norwegian Cruise Line, Pride of America, was in the Nawiliwili Harbor near the Marriott complex.
The Plantation House by Gaylords
We found a wonderful place for lunch at the old Kilohana Sugar Plantation, built in 1935 by sugar baron Gaylord Wilcox. The 16,000 square foot estate sits in the center of 26,000 acres of sugar cane.
We tried the house spiced rum, one of the specialties, distilled in nearby Koloa. After lunch we took a self-guided tour of the plantation.
Heritage Trail
Our last full day in Kauai, we hiked the Heritage Trail from Shipwreck beach to the Poipu Bay Golf Course.
The cliffs along the shoreline are made up of lithified sand dunes from the last ice age.
The tide pool along the rocks contained many sea cucumbers and fish.
The rooster and hen with her chicks have come to wish us safe travels and hurry back to Kauai.
One last stunning sunset picture at Lawai.
We returned to Houston International Airport early morning on January 8th.
