Kauai - Monday, April 28, 2008

Our Hawaii trip is coming to an end. We board our flight to Houston Tuesday night and land about 10 am on Wednesday. Today was another beautiful day with a lot of sun and a few puffy clouds. We did some swimming at Po`ipu Beach Park and at Lydgate Beach Park. This must be the season for chickens to hatch as we have seen a lot of range chickens with their chicks as we drive about the island.

In the absence of any real predators, chickens rule the island, growing fat and sassy on fallen fruit and earwigs. These wild chickens were in the parking lot at Po`ipu Beach.

One of my favorite views on the island of Kauai is the Kalalau Valley Lookout from Koke`e State Park at the end of Waimea Canyon. This picture is from 4120 feet above the Na Pali Coast. You notice the waves breaking on the coast far below. It is a beautiful spot on a clear day but I have been up here when it was in clouds. This glorious lookout provides you with a panoramic view of the Kalalau Valley, the largest valley on Na Pali. This point and the less frequented Pu'u o Kila Lookout provides the greatest views of the Pacific.

Maui - April 14, 2008

We drove up Haleakala to see the crater and the silverthorn bushes. Then we had lunch at a cafe and did the Ioa Needle and drove to Lahaina to see banyon tree that was planted in 1873 and enjoy the harbor.

The next day, we did our drive on the road to Hana. Actually, we drove above Hana until the road was blocked by a large boulder. On our way back from that point, we stopped to visit Charles Lindbergh's grave and the Oheo Pools (7 sacred pools). Below Hana, Donna and I stopped at the black sand beach at the Waianapanapa state park. Dinner tonight was at Mama's Fish House in Paia.

www.mamasfishhouse.com
Click on the link for some Hawaiian music from Mama's Fish House.


Big Island - April 18, 2008

We are enjoying our stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village with trains and boats that run through the lobby. We are in the Ocean Tower just above the Ocean Tower Pool on the Executive Floor. That gives us access to their lounge for continental breakfast and the appetizers and drinks in the evening. On Saturday, we go to Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii Vacation - April 13 - 30, 2008

Donna and I leave on a Continental Airline non-stop from Houston to Honolulu April 13. We switch from Continental to Hawaiian Air in Honolulu for a short hop to Maui. Our first four nights are at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa which is the fanciest resort we have had a chance to enjoy. This is a Waldorf Astoria property.

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

After Maui, we have six nights at the Hilton Waikoloa Village with trains and boats that run through the lobby to take you to your hotel room. We have enjoyed this resort on previous visits to the Big Island (Hawaii).

Hilton Waikoloa Village

From the Big Island, Donna and I are going over to Kauai, our favorite island, for six nights at the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort. This is Hawaiian Air's longest flight in the Hawaiian islands as it is about 300 miles from one end to the other with a stop in Honolulu.

Hilton Kauai Beach Resort

We leave on April 13 and return on April 30 after a overnight non-stop from Honolulu.