Forever Stoked: kauai

Garden Isle... welcome me with your open rich green valleys and cascading waterfalls.

I landed to be greeted by my two favorite people, mom and dad, waiting for me outside the tiny airport surrounded by palms in Lihue.

Mom is wanting Starbucks so we make a coffee run to recharge on caffeine, talk story, and outline our next four days together. My mom has already found a destination she thought we'de enjoy...

The Lawai International Center. A recognized healing sanctuary that was built in 1904 by the first Japanese immigrants to replicate an ancient pilgrimage of 88 temples in Shikoku, Japan.

After driving around in circles to find the road, we finally spot the tiny one way dirt path... only to find that the temple is closed for the day! Luckily, a sweet volunteer was there and actually stopped his work of cleaning the shrines to take us on a private tour and give us the historical background to the sacred grounds.

The rest of the day was spent leisurely- walking through the old town of Koloa that my mom kept endearingly referring to as "Koala" ;), visiting Spouting Horn in Poipu, and getting settled into the condo before logging in some pool and sun time.

The following day was our trip to the North Shore. With a stop in Kapa'a to grab a fresh coconut, we were on our way to Princeville. We stopped to take the walk down to Queen's Bath and stare in amazement at the sets of waves that seemed to have no end. Set after set coming in and crashing against the rocks with force. (I chose NOT to tell them that many people had been swept out and died at the site)

Still heading north- we stop at Hanalei and grind at "Hanalei Gourmet"- a suggestion from a friend and it was ridiculously delicous Unfortunately the weather took a turn on us and before we had finished our lunch Hanalei turned into a stormy mess. With regret we turned around and headed back to Poipu hoping to be greeted by the sun when we arrived.

Well that didn't exactly happen so made some rainy day mai tais to brighten things up ;)

Thankfully, the next day brought sun in a pure blue sky. perfection.

We started the Mahaulapu trail early in the morning that started at Shipwreck beach and ended at a secluded beach. The trail had us walking along the cliffs with ocean in sight almost the entire 4 miles.

Hiking brought on an appetite so we met up with my aunt and uncle at the Shrimp Station in Waimea (Shrimp tacos- WHOA) before driving up to Waimea Canyon aka "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific"

Poor Aunt Karen... a wet and muddy trail going down "The Sleeping Giant" produced a fall that led to a fracture in her wrist. :-/ Hope you're healing fast Aunty!

Waimea Canyon was easily one of my favorite parts of the trip. To see such vast and untouched land is truly amazing. The formations, distant waterfalls that seem so small from where you stand, the colors of red, green and brown blending in and out of the valley and canyons- can't say enough about it. It's a must see if you're ever in Kauai.

Capped the day off with a trip to Waimea Brewery- a spot frequented by my aunt and uncle during the trip (what else do you do with a fractured wrist? Aunt Karen made the best of it!) to sip on a lilikoi ale that capped off the afternoon.

We woke up on my last day in Kauai ready for an adventure. We had already secured our kayaks and we were going up the Wailua River and hiking to the falls. I had no idea how exhausting kayaking is by yourself. My parents were in a double floating up the river with ease while I was struggling to keep up in my single - trying to tell myself to stop feeling so frustrated and enjoy my peaceful backdrop.

We were the only ones on the river and the only sound that could be heard were birds flying overhead and our paddles dipping into the river.

We made it to the trailhead, tied up the kayaks and started our hike... that seemed to go on and on and on.

This could be because we had to keep crossing the rivers, or because we were ankle high deep in mud- after what seemed like too long, we finally made it to the falls..... And it was absolutely worth the mud.