Jim and I moved from our beautiful hilltop villa at Kaimuki a few weeks ago, to the familiar penthouse at Canterbury Place in Waikiki. Seems fitting to end our stay as we began it :o)! Although it feels good to be back in our highrise abode, on top of the world, happy to be close to the ocean, we, especially me, miss the quiet, peaceful tranquility of the Garden Villa. It is a special place I will not soon forget and hope to come back to one day.
April and May have passed quickly as we visited and spent five days on two other islands...Kaua'i, the end of April, Easter weekend and Maui, at the end of May. We loved Kaua'i's laid back feel and the diversity of climates and the contrasting countryside, beaches to farmlands on Maui. First up Kaui'i!
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| Canyon Cliff Trail |
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| View from top of canyon cliff trail |
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| Top of Kalalau Lookout with NaPali cliffs at right |
While we were in Kaua'i we did a couple hikes: Waimea Cliff Trail with breathtaking views of the canyon, said to be "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific." After the four mile round trip hike we visited Kalalau Lookout for the majestic scenes of the northern most part of the famous NaPali coastline.
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| Kalalau Lookout, NaPali cliffs |
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| Beach on Hanapakai'i Falls Trail |
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| Hanapakai'i Falls |
Our second hike adventure, Hanakapia'i Trail, was 8 miles round trip with a huge waterfall at trail's end. The first two miles of trail traverses the ocean, then inland a bit and down to a secluded beach where you can swim, picnic and or take a rest, should you decide to continue on to the Hanakapia'i Falls, another two miles inland. This hike is the beginning of the famous Kalalau Trail, 11 mile hike (22 mile round trip) through and along the NaPali coast. The 8 mile round trip hike took Jim and I five and a half hours to complete, average time (sign says to plan on 4-7 hours). To say we were pooped would be accurate...lol but well worth the effort!
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| NaPali Coast |
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| NaPali Coast |
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| more NaPali Coast |
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| On catamaran, NaPali Coast |
We also took a catamaran sail and snorkel tour along the NaPali coast to get an "up close and personal" view of the spectacular cliffs on the westside of Kaua'i...a much different and overwhelming view from the ocean. We were not disappointed! Many movies were filmed along this coastline but to view it today, you would never know it. The Hawaiians hold many places sacred, this being one of them so when filming is finished (and before filming) prayers are said to thank the gods for allowing the use of this sacred area. The Hawaiian Polynesian people are respectful of nature and the history of their culture.
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| Kalahau Lookout |
Maui was just as special as Kaua'i...with its hundred beaches, cliffs, gardens, farmlands, hustle and bustle and Haleakala National Park...a down right welcoming island! Another great place to explore and enjoy...you gotta put these two islands on your bucket lists, people! We called both trips vacations
but there was little time to relax as we wanted to see and do as much as we could in our short stay. We did manage to get into ocean every day!
Pa'ia town, Maui, north of the airport and the beginning of the famous Road to Hana, was once a sugar plantation town. It is a funky little town with stylish boutiques and art shops to browse...my cup of tea! Lots of talented artist reside and create on the islands with a local artist coop in Pa'ia center...very inspiring place to be...I could live here!
We visited a couple other small towns nearby, Haiku town for a delish dinner, Makawao for more funky shops, glassblower and Kula town for the Lavender Farm on our way to Haleakala National Park. Most visitors to Maui stay and frequent the beaches but there is much to see inland and "upcountry" and we were sure to include this "other side of Maui" in our visit and we are happy we did. I tried to find Oprah's house on Maui but to no avail...what was I thinking???
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| Ioa Valley |
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| Upcountry Maui |
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| Makena Beach Park |
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| Protea at Lavender Farm |
Opting NOT to do the Road to Hana on this visit, Jim and I took another drive mostly ignored by tourist, along the northern tip of island. And although the sights were awesome and spectacular neither one of us dared to take our eyes off the road, cliffside, and sometimes only ONE lane of traffic with minimal space to pull over when two cars came face to face, which we did more often than not. Jim actually backed up to allow other car to pass! Very scary indeed! At road's end and thankfully, a cool art gallery shop, a sweet end to a wild ride :o)...thank you God!
More awesome sights at Haleakala National Park and crater on the ride up 10,000 feet to summit. Our drive took us from no clouds, to in the clouds, to
above the clouds! Then a visit to Ioa Valley another sacred Polynesian place to end our day.
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| Haleakala National Park |
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| Silversword Flower only found in Haleakala |
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| Lahaina Banyan Tree planted 1870 |
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| Hard Rock, Lahaina Maui |
Lahaina town, Maui, on west coast near Ka'anapali Beach, was an old whaling town with lots of history and views of neighboring islands, Moloka'i and Lana'i. This was quite a happening place back in the whaling days. Lahaina reminded me alot of the Cape and Martha's Vineyard, of course there were lots of New England influence with the missionaries arrival and the whalers from New England as well. It felt like home!
Our hotel, located on Ka'anapali Beach, near Black Rock, was the perfect spot for snorkeling and watching the cliff divers reinact an old Hawaiian ritual of diving off the cliffs at sunset (Lele Kawa-cliff diving).
While snorkeling, Jim and I saw a huge turtle on one of our excursions. We were close enough to touch the old guy...I say old because the turtle had a couple HUGE barnacales attached to his neck...he clearly had been around awhile! And the fish surrounded you immediately...unbelievable...all colors, all shapes, all sizes!
Our stay in Hawai'i has been one of the most exciting experiences of our lives...we truly feel grateful and blessed for this opportunity, ya! I do not want to think about leaving this here and cannot believe I only have 10 days left...say it ain't so! Jim will follow sometime in July. I am breathing in every minute, every sight, every pleasure through all my senses so as not to forget a single minute of this adventure!
See you soon! Aloha nui loa!
Robin and Jim
PS gonna add a couple videos to next blog
