Hawaii - Part Two

From Kauai we traveled on to The Big Island. Even though we managed to get direct flights from LA to Kauai, and from Kona to LA, our flight from Kauai to Kona had a layover in Honolulu. We checked into our hotel just in time to see the sunset. This is the view from our room!

The next morning we drove along the coast. This beach was just south of where we were staying.

We stopped to take in the view, and we saw a bunch of seaturtles. They swim right up to the edge of the water.

We also saw a stereotypical Hawaiian surfer.

Nearby, we found this beautiful little church. When we drove past it later, there was a wedding going on.

Dig that crazy tree!

There was no shortage of beautiful ocean views. Since the island is pretty much the result of volcanic activity, the land is predominantly black rock.

People were diving off this cliff into this cove. Crazy people.

We entertained the notion of ocean kayaking, but it seemed kind of intimidating. After seeing these people though, maybe it would have been kind of fun.

Another nice ocean view...

Another turtle...

Love that black rock.

We visited an area known as the Place of Refuge.

Apparently, in the good old days, there was a serious class system at work on the Big Island. People on Hawaii were frequently sentenced to death for a variety of infractions - from using the same trail as an upperclassman, to letting your shadow fall across a Chief.

Once you were sentenced to death, you had one chance for reprieve. If you could make it to the Place of Refuge before your enemies got to you, you were allowed to live.

The black rock makes you feel like you are on a different planet.

Or maybe back in prehistoric times.

Nah. More like on another planet.

One of the fascinating things about the Big Island is that is in inhabited by almost every conceivable climate - from desert to snow to rainforest.

Every time we turned a corner there was another stunning landscape.

After the Place of Refuge, we visited The Painted Church.

(It's the inside that's painted.)

The church has been standing since the early 1800's. Father John Velge painted the ceilings, and frescos along the walls in the late 1800's, early 1900's.

We ended our first long day in Hawaii with some pizza back at the Kona Brewing Company. They have excellent food, and excellent beer, but is packed with more flies than people. We went back three times anyway.

Then, back to the room to watch the ugly, ugly sunset.

Hawaiian Vacation - Part 1

A few weeks ago, we went to Hawaii for some much needed rest and relaxation. All in all, we spent 8 nights - 4 on the Big Island, and 4 in Kauai, visiting my parents.



When I think of Paradise, the image that is conjured up in my head is pretty much exactly Kauai. We could have easily stayed another two weeks without missing home. For all the relaxing we planned on doing, we barely had enough time to do everything we wanted. One of Kauai's main attractions is Waimea Canyon. It's sort of a lush Grand Canyon. Pictures don't do it justice... But here are some anyway.

We went for an awesome hike in Waimea Canyon. Along the trail we stopped to pick berries and plums.

Here is Gina, about to eat one of the berries:

We actually took a few hikes. This lake is part of the property that borders the Marriot hotel.

On this hike, we saw a lot of beautiful trees. Like this one:

And this one:

We saw tons of waterfalls. This is Opaekaa Falls. My parents live in the hills just behind it.

My parents are growing a pineapple in their backyard. Doesn't it look fake?

My parents neighbor has a goat named Oreo. He also looks fake. The owner put rubber tips on the end of his horns to minimize the damage he can do. (That's duct tape on his horns, holding the rubber tips on!)

My parents own a vacuum that is so comically loud, it's ridiculous. My dad has to wear headphones while he uses it to protect his ears.

My mom made some incredible dinners.

I mean seriously. Look at that shrimp.

People on the island seem seriously outnumbered by roosters - who apparently like to cackle loudly for no reason at all times of day. It's like having a really annoying alarm clock - that goes off every seven minutes!

People in Hawaii are too polite to vandalize, so instead they do things like carve their names into leaves.One of the days, we took a tour of an old sugar plantation. I don't remember the tourguides name, but the horses name is Buddy.

Kauai has lots of neat old cemetaries and churches.

These ruins were on the site of Kauai's oldest Catholic church.

Our next to last night on the island was the 4th of July. Which also happens to be my parents anniversary. We went to a great dinner, then watched an amazing fireworks show from the post office parking lot.

On our last day in Kauai we went kayaking along Wailua River. It was quite an adventure. Everyone warned us that kayaking together can really test a marriage. There were a few hairy moments (like when pur kayak capsized), but I am happy to tell you that we are still married!

Kauai truly is a paradise.

We can't wait to go back!

More photos from our trip can be seen here.