Spring break was a girls trip to Hawaii. Such a beautiful adventure.
Day 1 we arrived later afternoon and gawked at our ocean side view in Kapaa, Kauai. We checked out the art festival across the street where we tried mini pancakes- so yummy and the artistic creativity..
Day 2 started with a beautiful sunrise, and long run around the coast and finding the perfect yoga spot. We then went to the nearby Hindu monastery which and got to see the worship service and explore the beautiful gardens and temple. At our condo we found a mama chicken with her with and a proud rooster nearby. We did a short hike- that ended up being long to Ho-opi waterfalls and watched cliff jumpers.
Day 3 started with a sunrise yoga and then we headed off for our big Kalalua hike to Hanakapi'ai falls, we thought was 4 miles but on the shuttle discovered it was 11 miles. We were chest deep in water and hiking in rain and mud but it was beautiful and totally worth it. 50 hikers got stuck on the hike a few days before so they closed the trail and a a few days after we hiked they closed the trail again. We were really lucky to have it open for us.
Day 4 started with another beautiful sunrise, morning yoga, and some relaxing reading. We went to a lei making class and hula class. We tried lau lau chicken for lunch and then headed to salt pond beach for snorkeling. I discovered having a mask that fits is the key to snorkeling and it was amazing to see the colorful fish. We went to Brenekes beach at dusk to try to find sea turtles and were amazed to find not just one but dozens. We did some more snorkeling and watched the sunset.
Day 5 started with another beautiful sunrise and yoga. We then headed over to the river for a 5 mile kayak adventure and hike to secret falls where we listened to some native tour guides playing the ukulele and playing the conch shell while we swam under the waterfall. We ended the night with a shave ice from Wailua and headed to a luau.
Day 6 started with another cloudy but beautiful sunrise and yoga. We headed to Captain Andy's raft exploration tour of the Napali coast and the Kaulala valley. Wow! It felt like we were in Moana and finding Tafiti. We saw dolphins, whales, baby sea turtles swimming, and found seals on the beach. Amazing! We took a tour of an ancient Hawaiian village where goats still roam, coconut plants grow, and a natural x marks the most beautiful island with a carved owl still watches over the village. We took a drive up Waimea canyon and have to agree with Mark Twain- it is the grand canyon fo Hawaii. We ended the evening with dinner at Dukes with live music and a koi pond atmosphere.
Day 7 we found one more waterfall and went to the beach. We had Hawaiian hot dogs and snorkeled. We were lucky enough to swim with lots of sea turtles. It was a perfect ending to a beautiful vacation.
