To Kilauea Lighthouse

November 6, 2011

After snapping pictures around Hanalei Beach we decided to go for a drive. We crossed the one lane bridge just outside the south side of Hanalei town, then stopped at the lookout points for Hanalei Bay, and the Hanalei Valley where the taro plant farms are located. When we arrived at the gate to the lighthouse park, it was not quite time for it to open, so we had time for photo ops of interesting vegetation. The site is also a National Wildlife Refuge for some endangered bird species.

 

This is a one lane bridge that you have to cross to go south from Hanalei.

 

Crossing the bridge

Some interesting seeds that were at the first lookout point.

I learned they are called "Octopus".

Overlooking Hanalei Bay

 Hanalei Bay

This lookout gave us a view of Hanalei Valley

where taro plants are grown.

Another view of the taro fields.

Looks like it's been raining! :)

A young man with a fancy camera took our picture.

He was one of those friendly tourist wanna-be resident kind.

We wished him the best!

Blue skies!

 

These trees form canopies. We like to call them umbrella trees.

Outside the park entrance

Pandanus Tree

   A blossom in a Pandnus tree at the Kilauea Lighthouse.

 

Pandanus Tree Fruit

 

Kilauea Lighthouse from the entrance gate of the park.

The crashing waves in the cove create a spectacular contrast

of blue sea and white foam!

  

Cliffside view of Kilauea Point and Lighthouse

We walked around the Kilauea Lighthouse grounds

and enjoyed the beautiful views.

In a few weeks it will probably be a good location

 to get a glimpse of some whales.

Close-up of the jut-out from the lighthouse lookout point

Wildlife at the Lighthouse - NeNe Goose

Vine on a fence outside the gate.

Tiny white flower

My best guess is monkeypod tree.

View from the lighthouse grounds

The Chickens in the Park

Because I said so...

Something to crow about

It's party time!

This is how you find the best meal

I'm going this way!

Me too!

I'm on a mission!

more chickens:

http://joansjoys.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-monday-we-went-for-hike-on-kalahua.html

http://joansjoys.blogspot.com/2011/12/more-of-kauai.html

http://joansjoys.blogspot.com/2011/11/picnic-lunch-at-lydgate-beach-park.html

Snap Happy in Hananlei

November 6, 2011

While Tom went for a jog on the beach this morning I sauntered along the beach snapping pictures of things I thought were interesting such as these trimmed bushes.

Scultptured bushes

Some beached sailboats that were beckoning me

 to give them my attention.

This waterfall was also taken from my walk

 on the beach this morning.

I think it was more visible today because

 we had so much rain during the night.

  These little flowering bushes grow along

the edge of the beach.

  And here's Tom back from his jog.

And then there's a separate post of the chickens...
http://joansjoys.blogspot.com/2011/11/chickens-in-park.html

Before we went on our walk Tom had taken these objects of interest:

These are coconuts from a tree in the side yard.

  The coconut tree.

Bananas on the banana tree.

Berries on a tree next to the banana tree.

Goldl Dust Croton

Bougainvillea in the rain

Bougainvillea bush next door

Hammock

Porch Pattern

Welcome to Kauai!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

When I woke up yesterday morning at 5 a.m. it was hard to believe that our Hawaiian vacation was really here! Rachel had kissed us goodnight the night before, and Jill got up to take us to the airport. We were there by 6:30 and had time for a mocha latte for me and breakfast tacos at Ray Benson's kiosk. We had a connecting flight in Phoenix and Tom had the forethought to buy a bag of trail mix before we boarded our 7 hour flight for Li'hue, Hawaii. We thought we might be able to purchase a sandwich on the plane, but all that was offered was a bag of almonds or trail mix which we already had, so that's what we had for lunch! We drank lots of complimentary water.

As we were nearing our destination our pilot pointed out that you could see Pearl Harbor Bay from the left hand side of the plane, which is where we were. You could see the whole island of Oahu, so I was able to distinguish the bay. I was glad that I had checked out a map of the islands before our trip. I had been curious about the names of all the islands and where Honolulu was since I couldn't remember my 5th grade geography lessons. Kauai is the garden isle. It has a huge botanical garden that we hope to visit. It's also known for its grand canyon. We'll be staying on the north side for a few days and then drive down to the south side of the island for a few days.

We arrived in Lihue around 2:15 p.m. which is 7:15 p.m. Austin time. It took a while to get our rental car cuz lots of other people were doing the same thing, but already I could see the the scenery was beautiful and very different from central Texas. There were looming clouds in almost every direction with the sun peeking through now and then. Palm trees, blooming bushes that must be bougainvillea, lots of hibiscus in orange, red, yellow and magenta, and green, green grass everywhere. Our car is a white Nissan Versa with a hatch back. It's just the perfect size for us!

Since we missed lunch, we were hungry and stopped in a little town, Kapa'a. Tom had a turkey club sandwich with cole slaw and I had a Kalua Pig sandwich with fresh papaya. It was good and hit the spot. While we were parked, we decided to poke around in a few of the shops. We didn't stay long as we were ready to arrive at our abode for the next few days in Hanalei!

Our house is pink stucco! It's divided in three suites, but ours is great because we're on the 2nd floor and the porch faces the ocean. We have a great view of the little bay here, plus, we just walk across the street and across the grassy park to the beach. This porch has a hammock and patio table with 6 chairs so it's pretty big. After we checked out the place and unloaded our luggage, we went for a quick walk at the beach before it got dark. Dark came earlier than I expected, around 6:30. After that we went to the Big Save grocery store. I just love those mom & pop style grocery stores that have everything you need in a very small space, plus friendly local people smiling while they check you out. Reminds me of my growing up days.

I found Tom in the hammock this morning at around 5:30. He was listening to the waves crashing on the beach. The temp was amazingly comfortable. We had the windows open all night. We could hear the roosters crowing trying to wake up everyone. I was told there were lots of chickens, but I haven't read the history yet on how they got here. After eating our cereal we went for a long walk on the beach. We saw surfers, and some fishermen on the dock. The jutting mountain on the other side of the bay looked magnificent with the thin low hanging clouds in front of them, and the ominous larger clouds in the background. Tom and I tested the waters with our feet and decided it was cool, but would be comfortable if it were hot and sunny. We had just decided to turn back when it started to lightly rain. The sand along the beach is very soft, so we found our way to the street and walked back that way. We were pretty wet when we got back. Soon it was raining on and off consistently. I laid in the hammock and finished reading the book I started on the plane.

After a while we were having a major thunderstorm with lightning and loud clapping thunder. I've been wishing I could send this rain home to drought stricken Texas! The sound of rain is music to my ears. It's very relaxing, now that the thunder has gone. It's also giving me time to write this blog. I probably wouldn't sit down long enough to do it if it weren't raining. Sometimes blessings come in disguise. Now that it's not storming, I can go back out to the hammock and start another book or knit or sleep... Tom is trying to read his book, but keeps falling asleep. Of course, he's watching football on tv. It is Saturday. And it's raining. :) And I just heard another clap of thunder.

A Hawaiian welcome!

Here we are in Lihue, Hawaii.

The Pink House on Weke Road in Hanalei, Hawaii, on the island of Kauai

The Gardenia Suite

The yard and our entrance to the Gardenia Suite down below.

View of beach from the porch

To the beach

Hen and chicks in the park

more chickens:  http://joansjoys.blogspot.com/2011/11/chickens-in-park.html


Hanalei Pier built in 1898, shown in the 1957 movie, "South Pacific"

Watching the waves roll in

Self portrait

Palm trees

Logging off 'til the next exciting thing happens!

Kauai

Did you know that if you google Kauai, Hawaii, they don't know what you're talking about??? You have to look up Hanalei, Hawaii! I was just trying to find out where Tom and I are going in a few days. I'm new at this island thing. It's way out there in the Pacific with a few other islands, that all have names, but if you want to find them fast you have to know the name of the town.

So we're getting ready for some fun in the sun, sand and sea. Rachel's being a real sweetheart and loaning us her special cameras. Out in the backyard today, I was practicing my photography skills on the wildflowers. They popped out with blossoms after our 2 inch rain a few weekends ago. It's amazing what a little of God's fertilizer will do!

Checking out the topography of Kauai

Looking volcanic