We took an inter-island flight from Maui to Kauai and drove the rental car to the north side of the island. On our way to our rental condo, we stopped at Kilauea point to have a look at the lighthouse.
The 100-year-old lighthouse has been replaced by modern technology (basically a light on a post, see the 2nd picture above). The area surrounding the lighthouse is a wildlife refuge that is home to a wide variety of seabirds, including Hawaii's state bird the Nene Goose.
Speaking of birds, Kauai seems to be overrun with wild chickens -- they are literally everywhere. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the roosters crowing at all hours of the day and night. We were glad we brought earplugs.
Our condo was in the Princeville area, which was just a short drive from the famed Hanalei Bay, one of our favorite spots to lounge on the beach and people watch.
On the drive to Hanalei is a nice overlook of the taro pond fields. Taro is a root vegetable, kind of like a potato. It's the main ingredient in poi, and is a staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet.
We drove to "the end of the road" -- Ha'ena State Park, which is the start of the Napali Coast Trail. But rather than brave the slippery mud on the Napali trail, we opted for a more leisurely stroll from Ke'e beach to Tunnels beach.
We also explored the Limahuli Botanical Garden, which had a fantastic collection of native Hawaiian plants as well as some not-so-native plants. The hibiscus flowers were the size of dinner plates.
Our rental condo was situated on a seaside cliff, which made for a great spot to sit and watch for whales while sipping some sundowners. So relaxing!
I can almost hear your sighs of contentment :)
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