We walked along the lithified cliffs above Shipwreck Beach again today. We stood where the folks stand and jump off into the ocean. It's a long way down! We could see the shadows of sting rays in the surf below.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
View from Princeville of waterfalls above Hanalei, Kauai
From Pu'u Poa Beach (at the Princeville Hotel) they provide public access to the top of the bluff that overlooks Hanalei and the cliffs beyond. We counted 5 waterfalls that were visibly growing in size as the rainstorm clung to the mountain all afternoon.
The tangle of hibiscus roots
The original natives brought 27 plants with them in their canoes when they came to Kaua'i. Among them was hibiscus because it creates an incredible tangle of roots and branches that they used to protect their living areas. This pathway leads up several hundred feet from the beach at the Princeville to the top of the bluff -- and it is carved out of the tangle. Pretty fun to experience how impossible it would have been to sneak up on the settlers with this kind of fence.
Congregational Church - First one in Kaua'i
This is the Waioli Church in Hanalei -- we drove up here again on Wednesday to see their museum but it wasn't open. So we went to the Princeville Library to learn more about the early missionary experience on Kaua'i. We had the chance to read an out of print book about the church. The Wilcox's came in 1837 and God truly moved among this community. The native Hawaiians were anxious to have their own pastor and had built a home in preparation for their coming. Out of 3000 living in this area then, over 1000 were attending services. They built a large meeting hall with the traditional Hawaiian palm roof but it was destroyed a couple of years later. So they decided to rebuild using a blend of New England and Hawaiian architecture. This was their church building -- they important the stained glass windows. It's gorgeous. They worked hard reducing the Hawaiian language to print, teaching people to read, developing schools for the children and seminary instruction for the leaders of the church. Within about 15 years, the native Hawaiians were leading the churches. The Hawaiian king changed the laws to allow foreigners to own property, so their families were able to buy property and develop it. There was a true openness to the gospel and to living the Christian life.
I have to wonder what it must have been like for the Wilcox family to leave New England in the early 1800s (we'd only been a nation for 50 years), travel by ship around the tip of South America then out to this tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no real connection to home. They had such a deep trust in God to provide for them, and such a desire to see the good news about Jesus shared with this community. It is truly inspirational to consider how they lived out their faith.
The sign on the church and their website still embraces their dream: "To Know Christ and Make Him Known."
Sunset from Ke'e Beach-North Shore
To experience the fury of the storm in Hannalei and then the beauty of the Na'Pali Coast at sunset at Ke'e Beach with clear skies was fabulous.
Rainbow at Sunset
It poured down rain on the north shore as we drove to Ke'e beach. And just as we arrived the sun broke through. It was gorgeous, so we decided to stay and enjoy the sunset. What an incredible blessing!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday at NTBG - Allerton's home
This home was the home of Allerton for the last 30 years of his life. He walked the gardens twice a day until he was 89 and then he used his golf cart. This home is now a part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens and has been used by various people after tragedy struck -- including Jackie Kennedy and her children, and Richard Nixon. The home is tucked away under a cliff that is covered in pink bouganvilla (Queen Emma's favorite color) and next to a little river and a secluded beach. An incredibly beautiful setting.
Orchids
I'm surprised that we don't find orchids growing everywhere in Hawaii. I thought Kaua'i was the orchid island, but it's rare to find an orchid. Apparently, they aren't native to Hawaii.
Heart regulating fountain
This fountain is designed so that as you sit in the garden you hear the sound of a heart beat (da-dum, da-dum) at 60 beats per minute. The fountain was designed to help you relax and it is said that it will regulate your heart rate to itself. It's all natural--no pumps or anything but a beautiful design and gravity.
Ficus tree is only 60 years old
The highlight of Monday was an early morning tour of the Allerton Gardens at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. This Chinese ficus tree was featured in Jurasic Park. The whole tour was fabulous.
Sunday - Princeville and Hanalei
Sunday morning we joined Kauai Christian Fellowship for worship. We enjoyed being visitors and being with them. Then we decided to drive up to Princeville, enjoyed lunch poolside at the incredible Princeville Hotel. We explored the beach with incredible banyon trees providing shade and people surfing with what appeared to be oars? Didn't quite get that. Then we walked up to the top of the bluff behind the hotel. The views were stunning. We walked a mile or so around the residential area and the golf course. I love seeing the way they landscape here.
Saturday at the Grand Hyatt
Saturday was gorgeous at Po'ipu. We just enjoyed our fabulous setting, walked over to the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i and had a wonderful lunch. We poked around their grounds and walked through their "lagoon" - a really fun swimming pool. Had a quiet dinner at home and watched a dvd after sunset: "Cry the Beloved Country."
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday evening
Well, we decided to check out Hanapepe...an "artsy" little town. In my opinion, it's rather run down and uninviting. Not much to see here. So we chased the sunset and decided to eat at Wranglers in Waimea -- thought we'd experience a taste of the "old west" Kaua'i style. What a mistake! So much for the old West.
We poked around the shops in Old Koala and had to have some ice cream just to get over our dinner.
We watched the San Jose State vs Univ of Hawaii football game. Here U of H football is a huge, big deal. This game has been talked about all week -- made front page news at least two days. They loved Dick Tomey when he was their coach...so they were really looking forward to this game. (Dick Tomey is now the SJSU coach.) With only 4 minutes left, SJSU was up by 2 touchdowns. We couldn't believe it as they gave the game away. What a heart break for us but a total joy for them.
We poked around the shops in Old Koala and had to have some ice cream just to get over our dinner.
We watched the San Jose State vs Univ of Hawaii football game. Here U of H football is a huge, big deal. This game has been talked about all week -- made front page news at least two days. They loved Dick Tomey when he was their coach...so they were really looking forward to this game. (Dick Tomey is now the SJSU coach.) With only 4 minutes left, SJSU was up by 2 touchdowns. We couldn't believe it as they gave the game away. What a heart break for us but a total joy for them.
Pu'u o Kila Lookout 4200' above the ocean
You can't tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins.
The last stop on the Koke'e Road (Hwy 550) is the Pu'u o Kila Lookout. From about 4200' you can look down Waimea Canyon out to the bay, see Mt. Wai'aleale covered in clouds, and watch the clouds dissipate as they blow over the lookout. Down below is the remote Na Pali Coast -- the unaccessible-by-road portion of Kaua'i. It's gorgeous and we were lucky enough to be there are on beautiful day.
I don't know what happened on Kaua'i, but roosters are apparently "wild" here and they are everywhere...even up at the Koke'e Museum and the lookout! I hear them cock-a-doodling all of the time...even at 4 a.m.Here's a video from the lookout -- I tried to do a 360 but some tourists got in the way!
Waimea Canyon
We had a gorgeous day!
The blue on the top right is the Pacific Ocean on Kaua'i's south shore.
Waimea Canyon is 1 mile wide, 10 miles long, and about 4000 feet deep. The layers visible in the cliffs were created with each additional lava flow. Mt. Wai'aleale attracts lots of rain (440"/year) and all of that rain finds it's way down waterfalls and rivers which have carved out the canyon and flows out to Waimea Bay. It's beautiful.
Friday -- Waimea Canyon and Kaua'i's westside
What can I say about shave ice (not shaved ice)? It's like a snow cone except the ice is shaved not crushed and it's served in a bowl, not a cone. And the best places use really sharp blades so that the ice is just perfect. And Jo Jo's gives you the option of 60 different flavors of syrup -- you can choose up to 3. So I got coconut, pineapple, and strawberry; Kevin got "rainbow." And we both had it served over a scoop of Macademia Nut ice cream. It was delicious. Really delicious. We sat on the wooden ledge out front.
Friday, October 12, 2007
The Rainiest Spot on Earth
The clouds hug the top of Mt. Wai'aleale--it rains up there 440 inches a year! It's beautiful at sunset.
We had a fun day on Thursday. We went for a 3 hour walk along the coastline -- found a beautiful golf course and some awesome views. Then we drove up the coast to Ka'apa -- had some of the best BBQ ever at Scotty's. Then took a drive up to see Wailua Falls - a true disappointment. And then to Opaeka'a Falls and a lookout over Wailua River -- that was very beautiful -- on the way to the Keahua Arboretum which had a pretty funky bridge and an awesome spider that did cross stitch up the middle of his web and some crazy weeds along the road and more of the jungle vines. A great day!
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