Friday, Aug 28, 2015
When the alarm goes off at 6am everyone is already awake. Sandy and Tjitske are the poster children for 'bright eyed and bushy tailed', while I squeeze my eyes shut and try to snooze for a few more minutes.
Less than an hour later we're on the road, but I am distracted looking at the beautiful scenery and we miss our turn. Oops! I reroute us to Route 520, also known as Tree Tunnel Road.
We were planning to drive it tomorrow, but judging by the signs everywhere it will be closed for construction tomorrow, so I'm glad 'faith' aka, my crappy navigating, brought us here a day early!
We'll be out exploring most of the day, so we stop by the Kalaheo Cafe first for a hearty breakfast. Tjitske has a vegetable omelet with gluten free toast, while Sandy and I have the Paniolo style breakfast. I get mine scrambled with cheese, with home fries and bacon. It also comes with the most delicious corn bread muffin ever. Yum!
Before we leave, Sandy and Tjitske pick out some pastries while I score a few more muffins for the road.
Last year, we learned the hard way that clouds often move into the canyon early in the day. Get there too late and you might be looking at a wall of white. That's why it's best to leave early and keep driving until you reach the Kalalau Lookout.
We beat the clouds! What a view .... looking down to sea level from over 4,000ft.
My little tree from last year is still there and I can't resist climbing back up there.
We found this giant plant behind the restrooms. As my cousin says it feels like Alice in Wonderland!
Next up, the Pu'u O Kila Lookout, which might have an even better view of the Kalalau Valley. This is as far as you can travel by car ...
... which means we'll continue on foot on the Pihea trail! Borrowing one of Tjitske's pictures here.
Look at those pretty blues!
The clouds kept moving in as we were walking.
Recent rain has made the trail a lot muddier than the last time we were here and both Sandy & Tjitske are struggling on the slippery hills.
Tjitske's thinking, "whose crazy idea was
this!?"
But we press on! No, just kidding, we turned around pretty quickly haha.
Look at the clouds now! You almost wouldn't recognize this as the place we started out a few pictures ago.
After saying goodbye to the chickens in the parking lot we start our drive back down the mountain, but this time we'll stop at all the attractions we passed on our way to the top.
We don't get very far ... because who can resist pretty flowers?
There's a whole stretch with all kinds of different shapes and colors and we pull off to take some pictures, which coincidentally puts us in the parking lot for the Awa'awapuhi trail.
Don't worry! It's a day hike to the cliffs so we won't go anywhere near them, but it's drizzling and the level ground keeps us from sliding around too much.
Uki'uki berries
The world's creepiest, grossest mushroom, the Starfish Stinkhorn. At its peak it apparently smells like decaying flesh. Yum!
I take a crazy lot of pictures whenever I'm traveling, but Tjitske isn't far behind. We often end up taking pictures of the same thing ... and each other! Although I got busted here haha.
Koke'e State Park seamlessly changes back into Waimea Canyon State Park as we drive, which brings us to our next stop, the Pu'u Hinahina Lookout.
Sadly, not much is going on.
Sandy and Tjitske spot a goat in the distance, but it scampers around the corner before I can find it. Pu'u Hinahina is also known as one of the best places to see the island of Ni'ihau 17 miles offshore, but again no luck with the clouds. Luckily we saw it during the drive up this morning.
We have much better luck at the Pu'u Ka Pele Lookout which offers a great view of Waipo'o Falls.
Another tourist comes over and tells us she has found a bush of guavaberry. They're small deep red berries with a sweet and sour guava taste. Yummy!
We can hear goats bleating in the distance and suddenly my dreams come true and a pair of brown goats come prancing around the side of the cliff.
Please don't fall little goat!!
I needn't have worried ... the goats are happily careening around the sheer cliff without so much as a stumble.
At the Waimea Canyon Lookout there are partial whiteout conditions; clouds have gulped up most of the canyon, but the fruit stand is open and selling passion fruit. Yay! Tjitske gets some dried fruit and I buy a container of cut up sugar cane, one with sour sop and of course a few passion fruits.
Cute little flowers at the lookout.
It's hard trying to find the little river running through the red dirt on the way back, but there it is! Wow! There is a lot more water coursing through it this time and the water is churning orange.
Looks like another planet!
There are two roads leading into Waimea Canyon; 552 Koke'e Road and 550 Waimea Canyon Drive. We took the twistier of the two, Koke'e Road, earlier so we'll head down the other way.
Beautiful views a little further down the road.
Back at sea level we swing by Spouting Horn Beach Park where we enjoy the waves crashing on the rocks and rocketing up through the narrow opening. You'd miss the sound of the water if I just posted a picture, so I made you a short little movie instead.
Time for some relaxation at Poipu Beach after a long day's travel! Tjitske is keeping an eye on the storm clouds over the water.
Tjitske decides to go for a quick swim, but the choppy water doesn't deter me from snorkeling and it doesn't take long before I'm happily bobbing around on the waves. Unfortunately, cloudy skies and chop don't make for the best underwater photography conditions.
Ambon toby
Christmas wrasse
Back ashore it's time to try my sour sop. It has a strange texture with whitish sheets of fibrous flesh containing smooth black seeds, but a nice sweet & sour tropical flavor.
Before we leave I take some pictures of the surfing action.
Kicking up some spray off the lip!
Waaay too big for me, but it sure makes me want to go out and surf!
The clouds are rapidly moving in and we drive back to our place to give Tjitske a taste of the Grand Hyatt experience before we get rained out. I generally don't like to stay in high-end resorts, but even I must admit it's a beautiful place.
The lush grounds are immaculate as always.
I'm not sure what all of the matching leis are for, but someone was getting married so maybe it was part of their ceremony.
Queen Emma Spider Lily
By the time they manage to drag me away from all of the pretty flowers, there's barely a cloud in sight looking out over the ocean. Hawaii's weather continues to amaze me!
Little lizard while walking home through the neighborhood.
Deciding on dinner is a bit tricky while we're still figuring out what everyone can eat, but we'll get there! Today we check out Amici where they prepare a nice grilled vegetable dish with beet and corn puree for Tjitske.
I stupidly OD'ed on garlic with garlic bread, and Caesar salad with garlic croutons. Not great and I think my body is rebelling against me ha ha.
It's not all that late, but I'm falling asleep and it has just started raining outside which is making me even sleepier. Can't wait to get over this jet lag!
♥
Breakfast: Kalaheo Café & Coffee Company
Lunch: Waimea Canyon Overlook fruit stand
Dinner: Casa di Amici
Hotel: AirBNB Lanai Villas
Mileage for today: 93 miles
