Aloha to Kauai - Kilauea Lighthouse, Hanalei Valley, and the North Shore

 

For our final day in Kauai, we ventured to the North Shore and its historic icon, the Kilauea Lighthouse.

 

From Go Hawaii (at this link),

Perched at the northernmost tip of Kauai, the 52-foot Kilauea Lighthouse was built in 1913 as a beacon for traveling ships. Although its light was turned off in the 1970s and has been replaced by an automatic beacon, it still serves as one of the island's most frequented attractions.

This is also the location of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for seabirds. During December through May, you may even catch a glimpse of humpback whales. This scenic peninsula, 200-feet above sea level, is a must-see on your visit to the North Shore.

 

Traveling west, we pulled into the Hanalei Valley Lookout.  From Kauai-Hawaii (at this link),

Hanalei Valley Lookout offers one of the most famous views on Kauai. The valley is one mile wide and six miles long. Most of the taro grown in Hawaii is grown here. On the valley floor is a one-way truss bridge built in 1912. The bridge was damaged by a tsunami in 1957, and subsequently reinforced. Legend has it that the rainbow came to Hawaiian Islands from the bluffs just beyond the valley when a piece of brightly colored kapa cloth was thrown into a pool below Namolokama Falls, and its colors arched up in the mist.

 

We spotted this group of cows waiting to be photographed!

 

We noticed how the low lying roads can easily flood with the rains rolling off the Pacific.

 

We stopped by the Manini-holo Dry Cave.  From Hawaii Beautiful (at this link),

On Kauai you have the opportunity to visit both wet and dry caves. The dry cave, Manini-holo Dry, sits among a grotto of ferns just across from Haena Beach Park on Highway 56. This cave feels deep and dry here. The cave is about 300 yards deep. It was much larger but the tsunami of 1957 filled part of it with sand.

Legend has it that Manini-holo, the Menehune (little people) who where chief fishermen dug the cave in search of the supernatural beast, akua, who had been stealing their fish. In reality, the ocean used to be much higher than it is now and the caves were formed when the ocean waves beat against the lava and etched away the rock.

Driving back to Po'ipu, we detoured to the Wailua Falls.  From Kauai Hawaii (at this link),

These dramatic 80-foot waterfalls can be seen from Highway 583 or Maalo Road and were used in the opening of the television series Fantasy Island. The cliff over the pool once served as a diving platform for the ali`i.

We chose not to embrace the ali'i spirit.   How about you - would you jump over the falls to swim in the gorgeous pool of water?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 31, 10 pm in Hawaii.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

March Madness continues here at SOS Aloha! All commenters in March will be entered into a special drawing for prizes from RT in Chicago. 3 US, 3 Canadian, and 3 international readers will win a package with books and goodies. Comments can be made at:

- SOS Aloha, sosaloha.blogspot.com
- Aloha On My Mind, alohaonmymind.blogspot.com
- My guest posts at the Reading Reviewer (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) at marygramlich.blogspot.com

I'll post the winners of March Madness on Monday, April 2. 

Aloha to Kauai - Wailua River Valley

The Wailua River is sacred to Kauai.   We set out to discover the several heiau (temples) along the waterway. Behind the children is the Holoholokū Heiau, the Pōhaku Hoʻohānau (birthing stone), and Pōhaku Piko (umbilical stone), where women of high rank would give birth and bury the umbilical cords.

Up river (and upland), the Poliʻahu Heiau hosted luakini (human) sacrifices. It is kapu (forbidden) to enter the heiau without proper ceremony.

The Wailua Heritage Trail preserves the ancient culture - check out its website at this link. 

From Hawaii Web (at this link),

Wailua River is a long, slowly meandering river that starts at the Wai'ale'ale Crater and is fed by several tributaries on the way to the ocean. This is the only navigable river in all of Hawaii. Several forks in the river lead to waterfalls and can be easily explored by kayak. The most popular river trip is to the sacred Fern Grotto. Flat bottom cruise boats carry visitors 40 minutes up the river to this natural wonder. At the mouth of the river are several large stones with ancient petroglyphs carvings on them. Viewing of these stones is dependant on the amount of sand in the area. Heavy rains often wash away the sand and reveal the carvings. 

Heading back to the river's mouth, we stopped by the Hikinaakalā Heiau - House of the Rising Sun ...

... plus the Hauola Pu'uhonua - Place of Refuge.  Again, we respected the kapu and skirted around the stone perimeter. Have you visited any historical "places of worship" that have inspired you? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, March 31, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

We stopped by a kayak rental facility and found a furry friend!

  

March Madness continues here at SOS Aloha! All commenters in March will be entered into a special drawing for prizes from RT in Chicago. 3 US, 3 Canadian, and 3 international readers will win a package with books and goodies. Comments can be made at:

- SOS Aloha, sosaloha.blogspot.com
- Aloha On My Mind, alohaonmymind.blogspot.com
- My guest posts at the Reading Reviewer (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) at marygramlich.blogspot.com

I'll post the winners of March Madness on Monday, April 2.

Aloha to Kauai - Waimea Canyon and Barking Sands

Mark Twain dubbed it "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific".  It is 10 miles long and 3,500 feet deep.   It offers a rainbow of colors.  It is the Waimea Canyon.

Driving up the access road, we passed this red dirt waterfall.

We reached 3400 feet elevation ....

... and rewarded with a breathtaking view!

Pu'u is hill.  Hinahina is the silversword - a rare plant that grows in high elevations.  Yet we did not spot any hinahina ... 

... just glorious landscape!  To learn more about the Waimea Canyon, check out its website at this link.

Climbing another 1748 feet, we reach Wai'ale'ale.  It captures the clouds rolling across the Pacific.

Wai'ale'ale gives us a glimpse of the Na Pali Coast.

 

Naturally the area is perfect for satellite tracking.

We drove from the summit to the beach at Barking Sands aka Pacific Missile Range Facility.  Given its remote location, Barking Sands offers seclusion.  


Do you have a special place where you can can retreat?   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.  


One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, March 31, 10 pm. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

A family enjoys Barking Sands

March Madness continues here at SOS Aloha! All commenters in March will be entered into a special drawing for prizes from RT in Chicago. 3 US, 3 Canadian, and 3 international readers will win a package with books and goodies. Comments can be made at:

- SOS Aloha, sosaloha.blogspot.com
- Aloha On My Mind, alohaonmymind.blogspot.com
- My guest posts at the Reading Reviewer (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) at marygramlich.blogspot.com

I'll post the winners of March Madness on Monday, April 2.

Breaking News - H50 and NCIS in my backyard!

Extra large pictures are in order for today's breaking news!   This morning my family volunteered with an Eagle Scout project in Kaneohe.  When we left this morning, the C17 was parked at an angle on the flightline near our house.   This afternoon, we came home to the casts of H50  and NCIS: LA!

The white car (in the first picture) broke down outside the gate, giving me cover to approach the filming area.  The military person on the right is Security Forces, looking away from me.   Notice the actor in the maroon shirt on the left ... it is Sam (LL Cool J)!   Just behind Security Forces is Kensi and Danno walking towards the aircraft's ramp.

Deeks is in the white shirt, catching up with Kensi!

They board the aircraft ...

... while I check out the technical crew. I live across the street to the left.

Exiting the aircraft is Callen, Sam, and Danno.

Notice the H50 Camero that often hosts the "carguments" between Danno and Steve.

Caught!  Security Forces ask me to relocate across the street!  


What an afternoon!   Have you met a celebrity or stumbled upon a film set?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to a all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 31.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 1.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii


No Steve (Alex) today ....

Aloha to Kauai - Prince Kuhio, Po'ipu, Hanapepe, and Waimea

Today is Prince Kuhio Day. Above is his memorial near his birthplace in Po'ipu, Kaua''i.

 

Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday. This gives me the excuse to post pictures of Kaua'i from last year's Spring Break. We stayed at the Outrigger Resorts in Po'ipu on the southern tip of the Garden Isle.

 

In the same park is a heiau.  My children noted the football shaped stone and called it the "Lombardi Trophy of the Pacific".

 

Po'ipu is also home to the Sprouting Horn Blow Hole. From gohawaii.com,

Ancient Hawaiians believed this coastline was once guarded by a giant moo (lizard) named Kaikapu. Everyone was afraid of the moo because it would eat anyone who tried to fish or swim in the area. One day, a young boy named Liko entered the ocean to outwit the lizard. Kaikapu attacked him, but Liko thrust a sharp stick into her mouth, swam under the lava shelf, and escaped through a small hole to the surface. The moo followed Liko and got stuck in the lava tube. To this day, you can hear the lizard’s roar and see her breath spraying from the blowhole.

 

Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands, hence its lava rocks have faded in color over time.

 

We drove along the southern coast route, past gorgeous landscape, to Hanapepe. Also from gohawaii.com,

Today, “Kauai’s biggest little town” hasn’t changed much over the last century at first look. Its historic buildings are so authentic that the town has become a location for films like “The Thornbirds,” “Flight of the Intruder,” and were even the model for the Disney film “Lilo and Stitch.” 

 

Hanapepe is also famous for its swing bridge ....

 

... which was rebuilt after Hurricane Iniki in 1992. 

 

Kauai's colors are so vivid!

 

Fort Elisabeth guards the mouth of the Waimea River. From Hawaiiweb.com,

This Russian fort was built by George Scheffer in 1816 with the assistance of the Kauai King Kaumuali'i. Officially Kauai had pledged allegiance to King Kamehameha, however, Kaumuali'i thought he could reclaim his kingdom with the help of Russia. When Russian heard of Scheffer's promises and plans, they sent a ship to bring him back home. He fled to O'ahu and finally to Brazil. Today the fort is merely remnants of the stone foundation. 

Three islands have towns called Waimea - the Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai.  Kauai's Waimea stands out as the landing point for Captain Cook, bringing the first European contact with the Hawaiian Islands.

Do you have any historical memorials or statues in your town? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, March 31, 10 pm. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

March Madness continues here at SOS Aloha! All commenters in March will be entered into a special drawing for prizes from RT in Chicago. 3 US, 3 Canadian, and 3 international readers will win a package with books and goodies. Comments can be made at:

- SOS Aloha, sosaloha.blogspot.com
- Aloha On My Mind, alohaonmymind.blogspot.com
- My guest posts at the Reading Reviewer (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) at marygramlich.blogspot.com

I'll post the winners of March Madness on Monday, April 2.

Coming tomorrow - the Waimea Canyon!