vonT's Retirement Living: May 2011

Aloha

This year's trip to Hawaii, we spent a week in Kauai

and a week in Maui. We loved Kauai, as it is known as

the garden isle. We stayed on the east side of the island

and traveled as far north and as far south as we could go.

Kauai is the island of the free roaming

chickens. They are all over the place. We love to snorkel,

so we went to every beach we possibly could find. We really

had a wonderful time.

After listening to the orientation about the island, Gary first took advantage of getting a Hawaiian massage.

That's our condo in the background...it really is in a great spot.

Beautiful poi pond outside the reception area of condo.

Our view from our patio. They did some wind surfing right out front!

The local fruit stand.....mangos, papayas, pineapples and more. Yum

These are the chickens that roam all over the island....

A new meaning to the free range chicken dinners on the local menus.

Recognize those toes? Just relaxing on the patio.

Kilauea Lighthouse is the northernmost point of the main Hawaiian Islands. Built in 1913, it had the largest lens of it's kind and it 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.

We went on a 6 hour snorkeling trip....actually it was more of a boat trip on a catamaran.

Only one stop for snorkeling but along the way, we saw lots of dolphins, turtles and even a whale and her calf, still in the warm waters of Hawaii.

It got a little rough on the way back. Water sprayed over the front of the boat, and I began to feel a little sick due to the rough waters. We got back to the dock just in time....the dramamine really doesn't work well.

The Coconut God......

One of many waterfalls in Kauai.....big rain night before made it muddy.

We went on a tubing expedition while in Kauai. It was actually in an old sugar cane drainage ditch....water looks muddy due to last night's rain. The six wheel drive bus took us through parts of the back country where some movies have been made.

At the base of Kauai's Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest places on the planet, Hawaii visitors can enjoy an unconventional island experience: the pitch black of an unlit stone tunnel. That absolute darkness actually only lasts a moment or two during the mountain tubing expedition, a three-hour activity focused on a lively and highly enjoyable float down the Hanamaulu irrigation ditch.

Built more than a century ago, the four-mile collection of open canals and tunnels brought water from Mount Waialeale's waterfalls and streams to the Lihue Plantation's sugar cane fields.

A must in Hawaii, is the shaved ice. Delicious on a hot day!

On our way to the Tunnel's Beach, there are wet and dry caves to explore.

Spouting Horn is one of Kauai’s natural wonders. Located near Poipu Beach on the island’s south coast, this blowhole can shoot water up to 50 feet into the air when waves crash into it. The water is forced up when the ocean flows under the lava shelf and is shot up through a small opening on the surface. The best times to see this natural phenomenon is during high tide and high surf.

Another hole nearby only makes an eerie groan instead of blowing water. An ancient Hawaiian legend tells that the coastline was once guarded by a giant moo (lizard). This moo ate people who swam or fished here. One day, a man called Liko went swimming here and the moo tried to attack him. Liko managed to swim under the lava shelf and escaped through the blowhole, but the giant moo got stuck in the small opening. The story goes that the moo is still there today, and its cries are of hunger and pain.

Waimea Canyon, on Kauai's West Side, is described as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Although not as big or as old as its Arizona cousin, you won’t encounter anything like this geological wonder in Hawaii. Stretching 14 miles long, one mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, the Waimea Canyon Lookout provides panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges. The grand inland vistas go on for miles.

It's not the Grand Canyon, but pretty impressive.

Interesting bridges in Kauai....many one way bridges.

Great day snorkeling at Kee' Beach. We drove all the way to the end of the road going North. While we were there, it rained..stopped, rained again but still got some great snorkeling in on our last day in Kauai.

First week is over....now off to Maui for more fun. Pretty small plane....hour flight from

Kauai to Maui.

Our condo is located just minutes from Ka'anapali Beach and Lahaina.

Our time share is in the distance. It is a great location with a nice sandy beach out front with some good snorkeling. We saw a huge turtle, lots of fish and just beautiful clear, blue water.

We enjoy the view from our 9th floor balcony overlooking Molokai and Lanai. Where are all the people?

Met our friend, Ted, who lives in Maui part time. He is an avid surfer and wind surfer and also a great guitar player and singer. He plays at different venues in Maui. Ted and another singer entertained us at the Ale House. We hope to see more of Ted in North County playing with his band.

Lots of bananas growing just outside our condo in Maui. (Yes, this picture is correct side up.)

Walking down the streets of Lahaina....Gary looking over Lahaina Harbor. We bought a shirt for a friend from Cheeseburger in Paradise and a few souvenirs while strolling the streets.

This is one of our favorite restaurants on Maui. Up the road from Lahaina, it is right on the beach....great ambience, food and mai tais. It really has the Maui feeling at Aloha Mixed Plate.