Kauai day 9

Today was our last full day on Kauai. Jim and Cheryl went surfing this morning, so Chris and I went running. Here we are at Shipwreck Beach.



We pretty much took the same path that Cheryl and I did yesterday, but instead of going through the Poipu resort on the way back, we took the Koloa Heritage Trail.



This way took us though the tide pools...



Where we saw a turtle...



We got a good view of Jim and Cheryl surfing...





Surfing and running are over... Cheryl got a little beat up on the rocks and Chris has a bit of a sunburn...



Time to checkout those caves...



And away we go...





We arrive at a big sinkhole...





To get in we have to crawl through the cave entrance:



But it opens up inside:



To the sinkhole:



There is another cave on the other side of the sinkhole (the one behind Chris) the opens out into the ocean. Ancient Hawaiians used to use this cave. They also filmed Pirates of the Caribbean here.



We have never been here before and it was very cool!
Our trip is almost over... ALOHA!

Kauai day 8

As I said yesterday, Cheryl and I found out that the Mahaulepu trail runs all the way from Poipu to Kawailoa Bay. So, of course we had to run the entire length... starting in Poipu. Here we are on the cliffs overlooking Poipu.



We ran along the cliffs...



...through stands of trees...



... down to the beach...



... through the Hyatt's golf course...



... and through an ancient hawaiian fishing village...



Then we discovered the Mahaulepu Caves. We decided to skip it and bring Jim and Chris back tomorrow.



On the way back to the room, we stopped for a rest at a Hawaiian Bus Stop.



After we get back to the room, the hunt for the perfect waves continue... We start at the beach on the way to Spouting Horn (next to the Beach House).



Then we hit:
Poipu
Kalapaki
Hanamaulu

And we finally end up at the beach across from the Coconut Plantation:





Not a surfing wave anywhere...
Today is not a complete bust, we head to Kilohana...



For RUM TASTING!!!



"Mom, stop taking pictures! It's embarrassing!"



The perfect MaiTai!



Then we hit the Hanapepe Art Night for dinner...



Jim stood in line for Kahlua Port Hot Dogs while Cheryl and I had Kahlua Pork Sliders...



YUM!!!
ALOHA!

Kauai day 7

So what do we do on day 7? Even before our shoes and socks have dried out from yesterday, we head out for another hike!



Actually, this is a surf check masquerading as a hike. Our destination... the cliffs east of Poipu. We learned later that this is part of the Mahaulepu trail the runs from Poipu to Kawailoa Bay (more on that tomorrow).



Chris made sure no to wear a hat... just in case it rains... :oD



Actually, there is no rain in the forecast today! It's a great day to be outside!



Who would have expected to find a pink wing-back chair?



It's a good enough reason for a photo-op as any!



Next up... Kayaking the Wailua River...



Do you think he did that on purpose?



We've been all up and down different branches of this river on separate trips, but we have never paddled it ALL in ONE day... until today, that is...

First stop the waterfall trail:







It's too deep to cross here, even with the rope... Time to turn back...



Next stop, the rope swing...



The rope is gone, but the kids still jumped from the cliff. The water was FREEZING!!!



Next stop.... The end of the river... No going any further...



We turn back around and pull in at the Fern Grotto... landing in knee deep mud.



It has sure changed a lot since we were here last... this is as close to the Fern Grotto as we can get.



When we got back to the marina, we were still early, so we took some of the little side tributaries. Here is one with a nice view of the Sleeping Giant.



Gondolier in training!



RAMMING SPEED, haha!



Hmmm... Is this a good idea?



Haha!... Maybe not!



This is kind of fun... I was waearing my Garmin, watch so was able to map our trail up the river. 7.4 MILES!



ALOHA!