The Texas Mountaineer
www.txmountaineer.com
Last Site Update: 04 Mar 2010
< Previous Album
|
Next Album >
Kauai, Hawai'i (Hawai'i, USA) - 05 Aug 2007 to 11 Aug 2007
After a long day of flights, Hawai'i and Maui come into view just before the Sun completely sets.
On our first full day on the island, we took a walk along the coast near our hotel. The scenery was truly amazing!
Looking back along the coast toward Anahola Mountain
Haupu (higher) and Hokulei (lower) seen from our walk
A beautiful strip of golden sand in front of our hotel
Meeting one of the locals
Wailua Falls - "The plane, the plane!"
Dinner at Dukes ... Mmmmm, Hula Pie!
Just call me Jonah!
Up top!
On the 7th, we took a raft trip with Kauai Sea Tours. The ride was "exciting" at times, but Wendell and Justin showed us a great time on the Na Pali Coast.
Dolphins!
The first "wet" waterfall of the day; many others have dried up due to sugar cane irrigation.
The raft took us many places where the catamaran passengers couldn't go.
These fluted buttresses are typical NaPali Coast vistas!
The other raft & the catamaran take one last look at the Kalalau Valley before heading back for lunch at Nualolo Kai.
Looking out to sea from the ancient Hawaiian fishing village at Nualolo Kai.
I snapped this picture just before snorkeling in the crystal clear waters off-shore.
After an "exciting" raft ride back to port, Carol and I drove up the nearby Waimea Canyon for the afternoon.
Three Smiths & the canyon
Ni'ihau, or the Forbidden Isle, can be seen northwest from the Waimea Canyon Road.
The so-called "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" is aptly named!
Another canyon view
Waipo'o Falls
Looking out toward the ocean from the Pu'u Hinahina pullout
Kalalau Valley Lookout - Carol & I saw the valley from the top and the bottom in the same day!
Pu'u Pihea bathes in the afternoon sun.
We visited Keahua Arboretum on the morning of August 8th; clouds cover the jagged, steep ridges leading up to Kawaikini.
Is the the Ridge of Kane leading up to Waialeale? The picture was taken on the way back from the arboretum.
Part of Kauai's South Coast near Poipu
An up close and personal shot of Spouting Horn in action
Carol stands by one of the many water spouts on the southern coast of Kauai.
We found a shady spot on the hot but beautiful Shipwreck Beach.
Looking out from the top of the bluffs at Shipwreck Beach
A tufa outcrop on an otherwise black volcanic island
The south-side of Haupu from the bluffs above Shipwreck Beach
Looking mauka, Kawaikini is clouded in much like it is 80% of the time.
The sunset view from our hotel room balcony
At dinner in Lihue, we shocked our waiter by recognizing Popo & Ixta in the painting, doing justice to our Texican heritage!
On the 9th, we moved from the Hilton in Lihue to a resort in Princeville. Though older, the scenery was amazing!
Kilauea Lighthouse from a bluff near Secret Beach
Looking down to Secret Beach
Sunset on our 5th night in Hawai'i from Anini Beach.
Hihimanu (left) and Mamalahoa (right) with taro fields below
When you have to have food delivered to your hotel room and you just
can't
wait...
A forested portion of the trail to Waipo'o Falls - On the 10th we returned to the canyon for some hiking.
A view of the Waimea Canyon from an overlook on the Cliff Trail
Don't go the way I did! It was exposed and very loose, but at least made for a nice picture.
Middle Waipo'o Falls (the Lower Falls are an even longer drop)
A tree grows in Waimea Canyon ... or at least it used to.
Upper Waipo'o Falls - There's even a great shaded spot to sit and have lunch.
The Three Smiths again - The baby was tired by this point.
Walking back up the Canyon Trail
Walking through the koa forest
A walking boulder? No! It's the state bird of Hawai'i, the néné.
Looking out over the cloud-covered Alakai Swamp on our hike to Pu'u Pihea
High rain-fall & the tread of many feet have created one of the oddest trails I've seen!
Carol negotiates one of the more difficult sections of the Pihea Trail.
Looking to the other side of the Kalalau Valley from the summit of Pihea
Clouds erupting out of one of the valleys near Pihea
Standing on the summit of Pihea looking down over 4000' to the sea
More fun on the descent!
Another view of the Alakai Swamp
At the head of the swamp stands Kawaikini, the highest peak on the island and very difficult to reach.
Sunset over Hanalei Bay from the resort's beach in Princeville; this was the best one we saw!
Our last day in Paradise! It was a foggy and rainy day at Tunnels Beach.
While I snorkeled at Tunnels, this guy came up to Carol looking for a hand-out.
Looking to the Kilauea Lighthouse from Secret Beach (the best "chill" beach we found on the island)
A fresh-water pond and spring on Secret Beach - There were hundreds of tadpoles in the water!
We stopped by the Hilton for this picture on our way to the airport. What a wonderful way to spend a vacation!
Back to Top
© 2002-2010 - The Texas Mountaineer
Website Design By: Daniel E. Smith
Legal Disclaimer
The Texas Mountaineer
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)