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Photos > Hawaii - Spring 2005

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Michal and Heidi, both being Pac 10 students, had the same spring break. We flew out to Kaua'i to meet Michael and Heidi's parents for a ten day adventure on the 'Garden Island' of Kaua'i.

Kapa_a Sands condominiums. We all stayed in a condo on the beach. The heated pool came in handy on shady days.

First day we toured the island_s north coast. Here we stopped at Kiluea point - a wildlife bird refuge and lighthouse.

Kiluea Point - Michal and Heidi checking out the cool birds

Kilueaa Point - Carol, Michal, Heidi and Bob doing their best album cover impression in front of the lighthouse

Kiluea Point - Michal and Michael overlooking the bay below

Hanalei Bay - Michal and Heidi checking out the surf and surfers

Hanalei Bay - Beach and mountains

Near Kee beach - a wet cave called the _Blue Hole_. Supposedly you can swim underwater here to a hidden cave...

Michal in front of the cliffs backing Kee beach on Kaua_i_s north end

Kee Beach - Michal up a tree where continuous wave action has exposed the root system

A baby Monk Seal taking rest at the beach in front of the condo. These seals are endangered and the area was quickly roped off when it came ashore

Bob, Michal, and Heidi overlooking the Wailua river and the Fern Grotto

Michal and Heidi on the Nounou trail (aka Sleeping Giant). Legend has it that a boy caught a fish. When the fish demanded feeding, the village continued to feed it until it grew into a giant. To rid this nuisance, they wooed it to sleep with songs

Nounou - Heidi and Michael on the trail overlooking the valley to the west

Nounou - cool display of the variety of plant types. _Stilt_ tree is the native _Hala_. Also visible are ferns, pines, mosses, and tropical looking plants you can only grow indoors in our part of the world

Nounou - Local Tim and his dog Hector tell us about the island and their history near the top of the mountain. Tim estimates that Hector_s been to the peak about 1,500 times!

Nounou - A view from the peak overlooking the Wailua river valley and down towards Lihue

Nounou - Another view from the peak, this time looking East over Kapaa - the site of our accomodations

Nounou - Heidi and Michal descending the steep trail from the summit

Back at the condo stand Heidi, Carol, Michal, and Barb. Barb is a longtime family friend who own a condo in the complex.

Bob and John - Old army buddies from the fighting 57. John and Barb are owners in the adjacent complex.

Princeville - We went to a seafood buffet at the ritzy Princeville resort. Michal_s mom would not have liked the menu very much - all seafood :)

Carol and Heidi relax in the lushly decorated lobby at the Princeville resort - sleepy eyed from eating

Moa Roosters at Kokee state park. These chickens wander free all over the island and you can hear them _cockle-doodle-dooing_ night and day. One of our guidebooks warned visitors to be very careful around these _endangered_ birds - we couldn_t figure out

Nualolo Trail - Michael, Michal, and Heidi descending down towards the Lolo overlook on the NaPali coast

Nualolo Trail, Napali Coast - Bob and Heidi posing on a lush part of the trail. There were no visible or audible roads or power poles on the trail. However, look closely and you_ll see one of the many helicopters giving tours of the area

Lolo Point, Napali Coast - described as knuckles gripping the sea, the trail descends out to a point overlooking one of the many steep and lush valleys

Heidi, Michael, Michal, and Bob posing on Lolo point with the Napali coast in the background

How Romantic!

Michal rolling her luggage along the trail! Porter, my bags please...

Looking back up the trail from Lolo point. Look closely and you can see Michal still rolling the luggage along :)

Viewing the valley from the Nualolo Cliffs trail. One of the most beautiful hikes I_ve ever been on. At one point the trail hugged a crumbling cliff edge that dropped about a thousand feet to the side of the 18 inch wide path

Heidi and Michal walking through the tall grasses on the Nualolo Cliffs trail

Nualolo Cliffs trail continued - Michal and Heidi. Michal was the only one brave enough to get in (near) the chilly wet water

End of the trail - Michal still pulling the luggage :)

Next day we took a catamaran tour of the Napali coast. Shortly after launch we found these Spinner dolphins riding the pressure waves from our pontoons. The rugged area is not accessible by car, so foot, helicopter, and boat are the methods for access.

Napali Coast - Michal smiles as a rubber raft investigates a sea cave behind her

Napali Coast - Bob, Heidi, Michal, and Carol pose happy :)

Napali Coast - Michael wearing Carol_s fancy hat. Very comfortable its the next wave in men_s fashion

Napali Coast - panorama of the view from the boat

Napali Coast - Carol getting ready for some snorkeling along the reef

Waimea Canyon - Michal wearing a _sun flower_ in her hair

Waimea Canyon - aka the _Grand Canyon of Hawaii_ (Mark Twain). Michal_s _happy/sad_ impression

Waimea Canyon - taking in one of the many breathtaking scenes from the comforts of the mini-van

After a long day, Michal and Heidi relax by the pool

Gillin_s Beach in Poipu - Bob, Carol, Michal, and Heidi investigate the area

The Lithified Cliffs in Kawailoa bay, in the Maha_ulepu region east of Po_ipu, the rock juts right out over the water and are shaped by the never ending surf

Michael and Michal find a nice little cave to escape from the sun and waves

Looking down at Heidi and Bob from their hiding spot in the cliff

Michal riding an ancient camel in Maha_ulepu

At Po_ipu Beach county park, a sea turtle came right up to the shore to feed near the rocks

The turtle was quickly noticed and drew much attention

We capped off the Po_ipu adventure with a fine meal at Brenneke_s. They had some pictures from the 1992 hurricane showing the whole area devestated

Carol and Heidi finished off the night with a swim back at the condo

This was the general late night entertainment - a lot of word consumption this week

Vines consuming a tree near Kee beach on the north side

Hiking the Kalalau Trail overlooking Kee Beach below

Kalalau Trail - Heidi Michal and Bob coming up the trail

Hanakapiai Beach - several tributaries spill out from the Hanakapiai valley into the ocean here. Check out rounded out boulders

Hanakapiai Valley - A composting toilet in the woods. Michal and Heidi are both very interested in toilet technology :)

Hanakapiai Valley - Michael poses for a picture at one of the many falls in the valley

Hanakapiai Valley - Frog hiding away in a little pool in the river rock

Hanakapiai Falls - The trail ends at these falls where Michal and Heidi enjoy a swim. The water was numbingly cold and very refreshing.

Hanakapiai Falls - This shows the height of the falls above

Hanakapiai Valley - Michal enjoying a rest on the trail

Michael and Michal rented a kayak and paddled up Nawiliwili bay inland. Here_s the end of the line

We tagged another boater to get a picture for us. Beautiful mountain views along the river

Smith Family Luau - Michal treated us to a luau. Here we are getting leighed

Smith Family Luau - Michal made friends with a peacock in the gardens

Smith Family Luau - Everybody posing in the Polynesian section

Smith Family Luau - Pulling the pig from the pit before dinner

Smith Family Luau - This is what it ended up like on the plate

Smith Family Luau - The dinner was followed up by a show that featured dances from around the region. This guy was twirling a flaming sword

Michal, Bob, and Carol shopping. What trip would be complete without it?

Kapaa sewer notice. In Seattle its Salmon, in Hawaii its a reef fish

Heidi, Michal, and Heidi stop fore some Saimin, a Ramen style dish, on a cold day

Our last day was Easter Sunday. Michael and Bob went to a sunrise service on the waterfront

Our last sunrise before returning home

Saying goodbye from the plane

Some of the animals we saw on our trip. Plenty of birds, fish, amphibians, water mammals, and a pig!