USVI-On-Line

Kauai trip report 5/15 to 5/24/08

5-15-08

We left from Chicago at 10:30 am with a straight flight to Honolulu. Then on to Kauai and we finally arrived at about 7:45 pm Kauai time (12:45 pm our time). No problems on any of the flights and we were so happy to arrive. This beautiful bouquet was in our room to greet us.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2529035833/" title="Kauai 002 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/252 ... 6b1aab.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Kauai 002"></a>

5-16-08
We were up very early and went down to Tunnels Beach, which was walking distance from where we were staying.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521761151/" title="Kauai 005 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/252 ... 742139.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 005"></a>

There was vog (volcano ash) from the big island, which made it a little hazy, but it was still very beautiful! We walked down to Ke'e beach and snorkeled there a little. It was a little rough, but we saw a lot of fish (very different fish than in the Caribbean). We walked the beach some. Walking these beaches is very different that nth Caribbean. The sand sinks in and is a rougher texture.

We went to Hanalei later for happy hour and I had my first Mai Tai, delicious!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521761843/" title="Kauai 028 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/252 ... 5f55c3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 028"></a>

We ate there at Kalypso and it was pretty good. I had Mahi fish tacos, yum!
We shopped in Hanalei some, but didn't buy.

We stopped for some pictures on the way home.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522586402/" title="Kauai 035 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2138/252 ... 9a3433.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 035"></a>

We ended up at Tunnels for sunset and it wasn't that great due to the vog, but it was still beautiful!


5-17-08

Up early and walked down to Tunnels. We snorkeled and saw a lot of fish. It was a little rough in the water.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521764609/" title="Kauai 064 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/252 ... fa519f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 064"></a>

We walked down the beach for awhile.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521844863/" title="Kauai 083 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/252 ... a96286.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 083"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521845631/" title="Kauai 086 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/252 ... a3c3eb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 086"></a>

After lunch we went to Haena State Park and walked the Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast to Hanakapai beach. It was only 2 miles, but a lot of it looked like this.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522670164/" title="Kauai 098 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/252 ... 360672.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 098"></a>
It was a 4 mile hike and we could handle it, but we didn't bring enough water! There are gorgeous views on this hike. It was still a little hazy out.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521849635/" title="Kauai 115 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/252 ... f87dd1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 115"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521847501/" title="Kauai 105 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2233/252 ... 6208ed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 105"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521851053/" title="Kauai 124 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/252 ... ea37d8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Kauai 124"></a>
We cooked out steaks at "home" this night.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522674698/" title="Kauai 133 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/252 ... d20e23.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 133"></a>

Went to Tunnels for sunset again. Again, not a great sunset because it was too hazy. (but you know me, I can never miss a sunset!) LOL

We saw this sign onthe beach and were a little worried about snorkeling tomorrow!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522674910/" title="Kauai 136 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/252 ... a00d2c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 136"></a>

5-18-08
Up really early and snorkeled Tunnels. The man of war sgn was still there but we got in the water anyway.
Very good this morning. Typical fish here: all types of butterfly fish, triggerfish, filefish, wrasse, puffer, convict and achilles tang, surgeonfish, unicornfish, trumpetfish. We saw a spiny lobster. Not many angelfish or parrotfish. I wanted to see a Moorish idol but never did.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521886783/" title="Kauai 160 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2299/252 ... c7d1ec.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 160"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521887857/" title="Kauai 176 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/252 ... 1d4635.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 176"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521888457/" title="Kauai 183 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/252 ... 0d46bd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 183"></a>

Later that morning we left for a tour of the island in our convertible mustang.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521889233/" title="Kauai 192 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2089/252 ... d4f23c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 192"></a>

We ended up at Waimea canyon. It was so huge and spectacular! Great views! We had no idea just how big this canyon was. It is kind of like the Grand Canyon, but more green.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522714594/" title="Kauai 204 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/252 ... 08ae16.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 204"></a>


Next we checked out a few beaches on the South shore. We went to lunch there and I had another Mai Tai. We went to Poipu beach, which is a popular south shore beach. It was crowded and way smaller than I had imagined.

Then we drove to the East side and stopped at a few beaches (I am not sure about the names of them). We watched some surfers.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521891693/" title="Kauai 221 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/252 ... e96dea.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 221"></a>
Then we stopped in Hanalei again for a few cocktails where I proceeded to have a few more MaiTais.
Back to Tunnels for sunset. It is getting better every day as the vog is clearing up.

5-19-08

To Tunnels at 8 am for snorkeling. It was great! We saw a turtle and a lot of fish.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522719398/" title="Kauai 296 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/252 ... 281fd1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 296"></a>

We walked the beach. (My husband does not "sit" on the beach. We have to be walking or swimming).
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522721350/" title="Kauai 321 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/252 ... 85fd96.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 321"></a>
To Hanalei again and this time shopped for souvenirs and actually bought some. We booked a sail/snorkel charter and a Luau. To Ke'e beach and walked to the South. We saw a monk seal! They are endangered and supposedly only about 35 on Kauai. He isn't dead, just sunning himself.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521899257/" title="Kauai 375 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/252 ... b68a3b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 375"></a>

I have a video of it so I will have to see if I can somehow post that too. It was so cool!

We snorkeled at Ke'e for a while and it wasn't too great and it was crowded.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522724462/" title="Kauai 387 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2342/252 ... 15eb7d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 387"></a>
The scenery of the mountains and water was beautiful though. I got my husband to sit for a while and we had a few beers on the beach.

Grilled out dinner. I tried to get in the hammock and it spun around and I fell crashing n my butt, but wasn't hurt. Thank goodness. That would have been a good picture or better yet a video. LOL

Back to Tunnels for sunset and it was spectacular! I only took about 99 sunset pictures and I think maybe I did get a few good ones.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2521903207/" title="Kauai 424 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/252 ... aa85c6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 424"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-nile/2522728094/" title="Kauai 443 by jtmmrut, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2330/252 ... d6bfc9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kauai 443"></a>

More to come...

Looks nice sounds like you had a great time hurt butt and all.

Great TR, you have a knack for keeping things interesting! There are some beautiful fish there

Very nice - I'm not TOO jealous!

Your pictures are beautiful. Sounds like a really nice trip. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, beautiful! We almost went to Kauai a few years ago but I could not find a place to stay that I liked. I did not want a resort, I wanted a condo or something like that. Where were you staying at?

Wow Seanile, a Monk Seal! Very special. We've not been to Kauai, only Maui but I loved it and we had fantastic snorkeling. Definitely different from STJ. Can't wait to read more!

Thank you Sea-nile for the interesting report. Your photos are great, as always. Loved the monk seal.

I want to go back when I see these pictures. We stayed in Poipu and I remember the beach being small, but still nice.

Isn't it so much fun to see some new speices of fish, that you are not used to? I did se Moorish Idols in Thailand, but I know they are common in Hawaii also.

Did you travel just the two of you?

Thanks for the report. After a 2006 trip to Maui, I swore I'd never return to Hawaii again unless it was Kauai. Sorry you didn't see any Moorish Idols. They were all around Maui and they were my favorites. I'm also curious where you stayed. The craggy hills in the background of your "home" beach make for some spectacular scenery.

CariBert, the water is cooler out there, but still quite warm. I'd say its like the Caribbean in the winter months.

Hi Sea-nile

Thank you for your TR. The pics are really great and most of all the sunset pics - so beatiful!

Linne

Hi sea-nile,
Those shots are absolutely beautiful!! The coastline looks amazing! Makes me wanna go in a BIG way!

Looking forward to your next installment.

Enjoy,
Kathy

Hey sea-nile,

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for the 1st installment. Looking forward to the next one. Great photos.

I would also like to know where you stayed. Who did you rent your car from?

Thanks for your report and pics. We covered some of the same areas when we were there. This makes me want to go back. Were you happy with the place you rented? If so, I'd appreciate any info. Thanks.