Kilauea, Waimea, Kalalau lookout, Kauai Coffee, & Hanapepe (Saturday May 14)

Saturday May 14

Today we continued our own version of a driving island tour.

Kilauea Lighthouse

Kilauea Lighthouse is the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian Islands. Built in 1913, it had the largest lens of it's kind and guided ships heading to and from the Orient. In the 1970's its light was turned off and this landmark was replaced by a low-maintenance light beacon.

Chris was able to tell me all the animals on this sign: Humpback whale, sea turtle (honu), seal, and the bird (but now I've forgotten what kind of bird it was)

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon in the Pacific and truly a dramatic sight to behold. The canyon measures 10 miles long, 1 mile wide, and more than 3,500-feet deep. It was carved thousands of years ago by rivers and floods that flowed from Mount Waialeale's summit. The lines in the canyon walls depict different volcanic eruptions and lava flows that have occurred over the centuries. Even though smaller than the Grand Canyon of Arizona, Waimea Canyon rivals the beauty.

I like to think of it as the Grand Canyon, yet green too

It was a bit of a rainy day... so we didn't get a lot of bright sunny pictures.

close up of the waterfall

another shot of the waterfall and stream

he's actually smiling!

another waterfall

Jared and his little buddy, Lainey

Kalalau Lookout

This isn't just another Waimea Canyon lookout, as many suspect. It's a view into the heart of the Kalalau Valley, one of the most photographed and well recognized valleys in all of Hawai'i. This is primarily because the valley and surrounding coast have served as the backdrop for countless films including King Kong (the original), Mighty Joe Young, Jurassic Park, and Six Days Seven Nights. Kalalau Lookout is also the highest elevation most people reach in Kaua'i by road, 4,000 feet. As we mentioned before, here you will find one of the greatest views in all of Hawai'i. Kalalau Valley is the largest valley on the island at two miles wide. Amazingly, it was inhabited up until 1919

a borrowed picture of what this lookout can look like

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/rainbow-along-the-na-pali-coast-kauai-hawaii-from-the-kalalau-lookout-brendan-reals.html

It wasn't a great photograph day for us though. It was very rainy, and when we got here we had about a 5 min window in the rain clouds to get these pictures. Within minutes the view disappeared behind the clouds

Looking down towards the start of the Na Pali Coast

Kauai Coffee Plantation

Lainey and Chris checking out the coffee plants

not sure what was up with the posing, but he's at it again

He thought the beans were so cool... in fact he picked a few to take home with him....

Hanapepe Swinging Bridge

Hanapepe Swinging Bridge is a foot bridge that was rebuilt after the Hurricane in 1992. It spans the Hanapepe River and brings many tourists to see and walk across it each year.

what a goof ball

on the other side of the bridge... yeah the smile didn't make it through the whole day

looking back at the bridge

my guys on the bridge

Jared and Chris walking on the bridge

Lil Man walking on the bridge... its a bit wabbely because I was rocking the bridge as he was walking and as I was trying to record him walking on it as it rocked.

Ke'e Beach (Sunday May 15)

Sunday May 15

We headed to Ke'e beach and took the hike up the mountain to get a better view of Ke'e Beach.

Ke'e Beach

the view of the beach from about a 1/4 mile hike up the mountain

a zoomed in shot of Chris and his Gramma... they are just about the center of the picture, Chris is squatting down probably playing in the sand

zoomed in on the little man heading out into the water, its a little blurry but thats him in the middle of the picture

zoomed back out, it sure was a pretty view

looking back away from the beach just a little. I love how green it is here

not the best smiles, but Jared and me from the lookout back towards Ke'e Beach

back down at the beach looking back up to the look out that the other pictures were from, zoomed in on other hikers up there now

zoomed back out.... that tiny little white speck is where we were standing taking pictures looking down at the beach

ready to head back into the water

snorkeling with Grandma!

ready to get back out of the water

my little snorkeler! He had so much fun snorkeling with Grandma

It was a very proud Mommy and Gramma moment! He was out swimming around with Gramma with his snorkel and mask, but wouldn't let go of her. Then all of a sudden it seemed to just "click"... and he remembered how to swim on his own and that he could breath thru his snorkel... and after that he was off and snorkeling all on his own. I was so happy to see him so excited and having so much fun in the water. Each time that we have gone to Hawaii he has gotten a little bit better with going out in the water... and now he was out there by himself!

Tunnels (Makua) Beach (Sunday May 15)

After our little hike and a little bit of time at Ke'e beach we headed back up the road to Haena beach, and then walked up to Tunnels Beach.

Tunnels (Makua) Beach

looking back towards Haena beach

a view to the north, with a pretty cute kid playing in the sand

Chris and Lainey yelling "Aloha"

OMG Jared actually smiled for a picture, must be because he's holding Lexie, and she's the real reason he's smiling

a little waterfall up on the hills

zoomed out view of the waterfall

he had so much fun running in and out the water today. After he did a lot of snorkeling he enjoyed the beach and the water some more.

the next big beach model. So darn cute!

he kept climbing up on our backs and saying "Giddy up". Here he's riding on Gramma's back

Lexie, Jared, Casey, Chris, Mary, and Lainey

more fun in the water

Lexie, Jared, Chris and Mary..... hanging out in the shallows

Hanalei valley

Hanalei Valley

my little comedian.... he learned this from "Madagascar 2, Escape to Africa"

we had a little picnic here at Haena Beach, and after eating he started doing this and actually let me record him doing it. It makes me laugh when he does it.

A day at the beach wouldn't be complete without playing in the sand. They said they were building a sand castle, they had a lot of fun just playing in the sand, they eventually buried my leg for me as well.