(7/28 – 8/4/2012)
We took the boys, Brother and Cutie, to Kauai for the 2012 summer family vacation. Sister (our daughter) couldn’t make it.
We have been to Hawaii Big Island, Maui and Oahu. However, this would be our first trip to Kauai. Kauai, also known as the Garden Island of Hawaii, was famous for its verdant scenery and beautiful waterfalls.
Day 1: Poipu
We arrived in Kauai very late last night. The condo we rented at Makahuena at Poipu had 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living room, a kitchen, and laundry facility, which was very convenient. The place was in southern Kauai, right by Brennecke’s Beach and Poipu Beach.
There’s a Costco very close to where we stayed. In the morning, we simply went to Costco to do grocery shopping.
Cutie wanted to learn how to surf, so we booked a Kauai Surf School lesson for him in the afternoon at Poipu Beach. The rest of us just stayed at the beach to watch Cutie and to take photos. Cutie had a lot of fun and managed to learn the basic surfing skills.
Poipu Peach was very popular with beachgoers. The beach was bustling with many activities. While we were waiting at the beach, I saw two Hawaii Red-crested Cardinals and was able to take some photos.
Day 2: Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures
I booked a tour with Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures for the four of us. The tour would take us to see the famous Na Pali Coast in northeastern Kauai on a sailboat. The tour departed from the nearby Port Allen Harbor at 8am, and we had to arrive at least 45 minutes earlier. After checking in, we boarded a sleek sailboat with many other tourists.
We claimed a table at the back of the sailboat with comfortable sofa seats. The scenery from where we sat was splendid. Very soon after the sailing, we saw a pot of dolphins swimming near our boat. It’s very exciting!
Na Pali Coast was spectacular! The rugged coastline was best seen from the water. We took many photos of the scenery. However, the ocean was a bit rough, and very soon we all got seasick!
There’s a snorkeling stop for us to get into the water. We were eager to get off the boat so that we wouldn’t be so dizzy. The water was very clear, and we could see a lot of fish!
The tour also included a delicious BBQ lunch. Overall, this was an interesting excursion despite the motion sickness.
Day 3: Waimea Canyon Hiking
We went to Waimea Canyon State Park in western Kauai to do some hiking and sightseeing this morning. Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, stretching over 14 miles with panoramic views and great hiking trails, was a very popular attraction in Kauai.
The weather was nice and warm. In addition to the beautiful canyon view, we could also see the ocean. Even though the hike wasn’t difficult, we all soon got very hot.
After the hike, we went to JoJo’s Shave Ice in Waimea, and each of us got a big shave ice. Each serving had a ball of ice cream at the bottom and was topped with shave ice with varieties of syrup. We all chose different syrups, and Brother had a very colorful one. It’s a great reward after the hike!
On our way home, we stopped by Kauai Coffee Company to have a tour and to purchase coffee beans to bring home.
Day 4: Wailua River Kayaking
Today we were going on a Wailua River Kayaking tour with Kayak Wailua.
Rei drove us to the meeting place in Wailua, and then we were transported to the marina. Rei and I were on a double kayak, and the boys were on another one. Therefore, I was able to take photos of them. Cutie and Brother did a great job kayaking.
We paddled upstream for less than an hour to a trailhead. Then we walked on a trail to reach Secret Falls, where we could get into the water at the base of the waterfall. The hike involved crossing a shallow river holding on to a rope. After we arrived, we rested and picnicked, watching the waterfall. Both Rei and Cutie went to the base of the waterfall to get splashed!
(Several years later, I learned from the news that some people drowned taking a similar excursion. It was disconcerting to say the least.)
Afterwards, we drove to see Wailua Falls. Wailua Falls was a stunning waterfall with 2 streams. We only saw the waterfall from a roadside viewpoint but didn’t walk the trail to actually reach the waterfall.
Day 5: Zipline
This morning, we booked a zipline tour for the boys to have some fun. We all ziplined in the Costa Rica Cloud Forest many years ago and really enjoyed the adventure. Rei and I didn’t feel that we needed to do it again, so we just booked the tour for the boys. We stayed onsite to take photos of them ziplining.
This wasn’t as exciting as zipping through very tall trees in a cloud forest. However, Brother and Cutie still had a lot of fun.
Afterwards, we went to Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The Kilauea Lighthouse was located inside the refuge. We saw many birds there, including Nēnē, the official Hawaii state birds.
In the afternoon, we simply relaxed at some beach and snorkeled – typical Hawaii vacation activities.
Day 6: Fishpond, Beach, Snorkeling and Shopping
This would be our last day in Kauai. We didn’t have any planned activities and would simply drive around the island and find some beaches to relax.
We stopped by Menehune Fishpond (or Alekoko Fishpond), which was a historical site. According to the legend, Menehune was a race of tiny people with mythical abilities. It was said that they built this impressive fishpond using stones in a single night! The pond was dated to be more than a thousand years old, which was truly amazing!
Then there were more beaches and snorkeling with some shopping to cap this wonderful family summer vacation.
This was a rare family vacation that we just went with the boys. We all had great fun!
Amy 'n Rei 