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