Day of Delirium #93 - Rest of Day One on Kauai

Mom and I had no other plans once my sister and BIL left us so we decided to walk back to the area where we took the pictures in the cove and just relax for a bit. Well that bit turned in to a few hours and I have to say it was a great decision. We did consider the paid trolley trip but in the end never made it. Next time.

We just sat at a picnic table and watched the people enjoying the cove. The weather was perfection and it was good to stop for a little after all our running around for most of the trip.

I love how the roosters just roam around.

I decided to test my iPhone and it's GPS capabilities and was shocked when it placed the pin directly on the spot we were sitting. Scary and cool all at the same time.

Then we decided to shop and get some shaved ice back at the Kalapaki Beach Hut - as is apparently the thing to do when in Hawaii. It was delicious. Pineapple, Strawberry and Banana flavors. So yummy and refreshing.

Then we headed back to the boat to get ready for our Luau we were going to that night. We showered and relaxed with our great view and then headed to the buses for our ride to the plantation.

We signed up for the train ride around the plantation before dinner and it was stunning. Lots of green and lots of animals. We learned about where their Luau food comes from and again we got to use the information we learned earlier in our trip to understand their farming here on Kauai.

We had great seats on a raised level right near the live music and we had a fun table. There was tons of food and the best part, it was all marked as to gluten free, vegetarian or dairy free. The absolute best part!! They had gluten free banana cream pie - my ultimate favorite! YUMMY

We enjoyed the show very much. They had male and female hula dancers and lots of fire. Basically it was a show that told the history of the Polynesians coming to Hawaii. It was a dramatic take on it but the music and dancing were wonderful. I don't think I would do the Luau again but Mom and I agreed that we are glad we attended as it is a very Hawaiian thing to do.

This is a picture of our picture from the Luau. We had a great time and the food was wonderful. We felt like we really were in Hawaii and the music and dancing were truly wonderful.

Next up: Heaven on Earth - Day Two in Kauai

Day of Delirium #92 - Bucket List Complete - Kauai

Thursday May 19, 2011 = the day I completed my bucket list.

Mom and I met my sister and brother-in-law in Kauai for breakfast at the Kalapaki Beach Hut. My bucket list item was to visit every state with my family. By meeting my sister in Kauai and bringing along my dad's ashes, I accomplished my goal. It was actually a very overwhelming feeling knowing I was accomplishing really the only thing I have ever wanted to accomplish.

I could not have asked for a better place to complete my list either. Kauai is gorgeous! I would definitely go back there and spend a week just exploring the island. Anyway, back to the day...

Mom and I got up and got ready as per our usual 5:30am and had a gorgeous view from our room.

We headed to the pier and realized we had no idea how to get to the Kalapaki Beach Hut lol! I had read that you could walk there but once on the pier we had no idea which way to turn or really how far/close it was. We luckily found a very nice woman who told us we could take the free trolley to the mall and then walk across the road to the Beach Hut. Mall? Cross a road?

Turns out the Mall is a small 2 story strip mall with about 15 stores and the road is a two lane semi-busy road BUT with a huge pedestrian cross walk that every one stops for when you step out into it. So no worries (as the Hawaiians would say). Also turns out you can take a paid trolley tour of the island too that you pick up at the mall. We also found Blue Hawaiian Helicopters had an office in the mall. Mom and I were very tempted to sign up for a ride over Kauai but we didn't since we wanted to be sure to have time with my sister and BIL. Next time we definitely will do it :)

We arrived at the Beach Hut but my sister and BIL were not there yet. We sat down out front and listened to the roosters crow and run around the place.

It was a gorgeous sunny day and the view from where we sat was lovely. Finally, about 20 minutes later my sister and BIL showed up. Hugs all around and then we went to eat. We all were starving.

The Kalapaki Beach Hut offers Hawaiian meals (?) meaning I had eggs, bacon and white rice for breakfast (which is perfection for me and my food allergies - no bread but white rice - woo hoo). We ordered tons of food and my BIL headed upstairs to save a table for us. Once we headed up, I found out why people love coming to the Beach Hut. The view was stupendous. You overlook the cove and it was just gorgeous. Tons of people on the beach and in the water but they were just far enough away that it was quiet. And the food was really really good. I loved it. I HIGHLY recommend Kalapaki Beach Hut!
We just sat, ate, talked, looked at our pictures from the start of our trip and just hung out for about 2 hours.

Then it was time to go get some pictures on the beach. Mom had brought a small jar of my Dad's ashes and she wanted to release them on the beach. Let me add that my Dad has always hated the beach, I mean hated the beach! I told my BIL that he was in charge of pictures and he was ready to go. We got to the beach and Mom took the jar and without warning opened it and threw the ashes to the ocean waves... anyone want to guess what happened?

The wind picked up and blew him all back at my Mom, my sister and myself. This picture captures that exact moment:

and every time I look at it I get tears in my eyes (and not just remembering the ashes that were in them lol). My father had one last go at us. How dare Mom release him on the beach, into the ocean. So he got the wind to pick up and had him wrap himself around us instead. My BIL was devastated. He thought my Mom was going to do a speech and he would have time to set up pictures. What he didn't know at the time though was he captured that exact picture above and who could ask for more than that? Thank you John for capturing an amazing moment in our lives and for sharing in our day.

Then we set up to take some "formal" pictures and Dad had one good last laugh... he soaked our feet real good as the waves came crashing into the cove and right where we were standing. Lots and lots of laughter was released. I love my Dad.

Then it was time to say good bye to my sister and BIL. It was a wonderful morning and I wish we had had more time but I am forever grateful that they took time our of their vacation to spend a morning with us and allow me to complete my bucket list. I love you Susan and John and thank you.

Next: Rest of Day One on Kauai

Day of Delirium #91 - Kicking it in Kona

Wednesday took us to the other side of the Big Island to Kona. We had to dock out in the ocean and use tenders (in this case a set of lifeboats) to get back and forth between the boat and land. I had heard that this is not the easiest part of the trip in that you have to go to the one bar, get a numbered ticket and wait for your number to be called to then go down to the tenders. We got there a little later hoping most of the crowd would be gone. We were wrong. It was very crowded and 40 minutes later we were finally sitting on a tender and heading to Kona.

When we arrived I was confused. As I looked at the dock it was above my head...even when I stood up. We all wondered how in the world we were going to out of the boats and up on the dock. Well we quickly found out... thank goodness the attendants work out - they lifted each and every person off the boat and onto the dock. I was impressed to say the least. Thank goodness when we went back the tide was in and we went straight onto the tenders (phew).

As we walked down the dock, I knew I was already going to like Kona. I could see all the little shops and eateries and the road running right along the beach wall. There was not a bad view line from any of the places we went to. It was gorgeous.

 
I loved the shops and there was even the Farmer's Market (which I highly recommend) that is only on Wednesday's. Mom and I literally walked the whole "strip" and just shopped and looked around. There were lots of good picture taking stops including having the ship out in the port for some good pictures.

It was a cloudy day but we were grateful for it as there isn't much shade as you walk the road. My favorite part, besides going into not just one but TWO Crazy Shirt stores, was the church we stopped in at the end of the walk. It was beautiful and lucky for us, empty when we went in. It was quiet and cool and a lovely way to end our walk.

And stopping at the church led me to taking one of my favorite pictures on the trip.

Then it was time for our excursion. We chose a Glass Bottom Boat cruise and while it was very nice and a cool way to carrying on what we learned at the aquarium, I wish we had done the submarine version or something else (if anything else - I would have been happy to just hang out in Kona proper longer). The woman who narrated the cruise was so knowledgeable and she always had a story to share. She truly was amazing and the highlight of the excursion.

What I remember of glass bottom boats, though, is that the whole bottom is glass and you walk on beams across the bottom. On this boat, there were 6 openings that had a glass bottom and you sat on benches and placed your torso over the edge to look down. A few people got sea sick and a few even threw up once we were back on shore. Thank goodness not Mom or I but we both certainly felt odd both during and after the trip.

It was neat to see the fish from the aquarium in the natural habitat and to remember what they were when we saw them. The coral was very interesting but it was very hard to see it all. In fact if someone in one area saw something, the likelihood of anyone in another area seeing it was slim. So my recommendation is choose the submarine version, do something else or just make this a shopping day!

Then it was back to the ship for the night to learn how to make ribbon leis. I loved this class. Making the ribbon lei was so meditative and calming. I want to keep making them.

Next: Bucket List Complete - Kauai