Helicopter Ride

Tuesday morning packed up to leave the Hanalei town on north shore of Kauai and go to Poipu Palms condos on the south side of the island, in Poipu. We took a walk on the Hanalei Beach and said goodbye to our introduction to life in Hawaii.

Then it was time to go on to the helicopter flight of a lifetime. One of the most exciting parts for me was to see the crescent shape of Hanalei Bay, and Hanalei Pier from the air. The numerous waterfalls in the canyon were incredible, but what would you expect from a place where rainfall averages 450 inches per year?

Through the front window

Grand Canyon of the Pacific 

Amazing technicolor by the Creator of the Universe

Pilot approaching Hanalei Bay

Crescent shaped beach

Farming in Hanalei Valley

Close up of fields

Hanalei Town by Hanalei Beach
and
Hanalei Pier on Hanalei Bay

Last photo op before we landed back at Li'hue Airport

Lovely trip but glad to be touching the ground again!

Mana Oka'aina Beach

We stopped to watch the surfers at Mana Oka'aina Beach on the way to Lihue for our helicopter ride. Also known as Keali Beach, it is north of Kapa'a along Highway 56, a 1/2-mile long beach known for its riptide. A very popular place for surfers and boogie boarders.

The Laua Table

a mai tai for starters

clockwise

green salad with papaya dressing

I also tried the Lava Guava dressing - it was good, too

cucumber salald

loi loi salmon salad (included chopped tomatoes)

taro bread

beef (in middle of plate)

pork

sweet and sour fish

sauted veggies

loi loi salmon was my favorite

some poi for my friend, Janea

 

 

rice pudding, coconut cake & pineapple

entertainment by the Smith family during dinner

Luau at Smith's Tropical Paradise

When we returned from the adventuresome Kalahua Trail hike Monday afternoon, we had a snack and got cleaned up for our Luau. The location for the Luau also included gardens that we toured with a short tram ride, then were able to walk around while we waited for the meal to begin. I decided to post mostly pictures of the flowers...

Grove of palm trees on the way to the luau

Entrance to "Paradise"

In the Smith Family Tradition



"Aloha", our new "Hello"!

My newly purchased sarong

Tom's Hawaiian shirt from home

Long-arm photography

Wandering peacock



Magenta Bougainvillea



Peachy Bougainvillea

Hibiscus twins!

Bird of Paradise

 

Queen'sCrown

African Tulip Tree

African Tulip blossom

 

Ixora

A type of wisteria?

More of blue blossoms

Tree full of blue blossoms

Speckled chicken in paradise

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



A young couple asked us to take their picture by the "Money Tree"
so they took ours also.



"Breadfruit" on Breadfruit Tree



Red Ginger

Native custom of digging up the baked pig for the luau meal

Luau:  http://joansjoys.blogspot.com/2011/11/laua-table.html

Tom insisted taking my picture with these guys, so I did!