Day-8 – To Kauai and Waimea Canyon

Today we leave the island of Hawaii and head to Kauai.  To get there we have to land in Honolulu, Oahu then change planes for our next leg to Kauai.  As we are leaving Hawaii I get this view of the island and the shadow of the jet.

Flying in over Oahu we are starting our landing approach into Honolulu.

We are flying over the naval base and can see several Naval vessels. 

From the air we have a good view of the Arizona Memorial and the Missouri. 

We land in Kauai and after everyone is on the tour bus we begin our journey to Waimea Canyon.  We see volcanic mountains and pastures immediately.

As we are driving along RT 50, the driver stops at Hanapepe scenic overlook.  At the end of the valley is Manawaiopuna Falls, the waterfall that was used in Jurassic Park when the helicopter first landed on the island to bring the people to test and verify the park.  However, we did not get to see it since it is on private lands and the only way to get there is by one particular helicopter ride.

While we were overlooking the valley, I got Carmen to stand in front of me so I could get her picture.  This proves that we were actually here.

We pass this little food joint but do not stop.  Too bad, fish tacos and a beer would be good right about now.

It looks like we are getting closer to Waimea Canyon because the mountains in the background are getting higher.

We get to the town of Waimea and travel through it to get to RT 552 the Koke’e Road on our way to the canyon lookout.  As we travel along one of the switchbacks we can see the valley as it opens up to the ocean below.

We reach the canyon lookout, at 3400 feet and this is our view.  Although it does not look far, the valley on the other side is miles away.   You can clearly see the horizontal striations on the canyon walls, very similar to those in the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA.  This view gives the canyon the nickname of the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and you can see why.

To our left we see this waterfall which I think is the Awini Falls.  They are nearly 3 air miles from the lookout where we stand.  Still it is pretty impressive.  Look at the helicopter just above the waterfall and how small it is.

Looking around, we can see more of the canyon and the various eroded rock. 

The sun was finally hitting Awini waterfall, so I had to get a close-up of the waterfall.  You can see that the picture shows how windy it is in the canyon.  Look at how far the water at the bottom of the falls is pushed out way to the right.  Now that is a some breeze.

Carmen and I continue to look at the canyon and take more pictures, but many are the same and like taking pictures of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, none of them will really express the true grandeur of the place.  Heading back to the bus I see that there are wild chickens and roosters here also and this one is brightly colored.

Another rooster was crowing, so that must be the alarm clock to indicate that it is time to go to the bus.  Ha, ha, ha.

Back in the bus and heading down the canyon road we have this view of the land as it slopes down to the ocean.

As we make our way to the hotel we will take a slightly different track.  Driving past a beach, I was able to get this picture.  Now wouldn’t it be nice to spend the afternoon here?

Also, we have some great views of the mountains that we just left.  Here the sun plays on parts of the hills and valleys showing the stark differences.  The lands before the mountains were used for growing sugar cane, but not anymore.

We are on RT 540 and pass by the Kauai Coffee Company and the many coffee trees/bushes growing in fields. 

Next we are on Lawai Road heading to the Spouting Horn.  This again is a lava tube opened on the sea side forming a flume for the water.  Here we can see the results of the high wave action and the spouting water out of the hole.

From the Spouting Horn, looking west along the coast towards Kaiwa point, you can see how rugged it is.  Kauai being one of the oldest islands in the chain these lava flows are very old.

Here are a couple of monkey trees in a field which overlooks the mountains in the background.  I don't know if I lived here that I would ever get anything done because of the scenery.  I guess that if you live here all of the time you become complacent. Maybe - maybe not. 

We are on Maluhia Road (RT 520) and are approaching the Tree Tunnel.  I did not get a picture of the tree tunnel as the bus driver did not stop to let people take any pictures, but I did get this picture (with thanks to and courtesy of Google and Bob Linsdell) of the trees on both sides of the road ( a very good picture by the way). 

We arrive at the hotel (the Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Coconut Beach) and settle in before going out to get something to eat.  As we are cleaning up I was able to get this picture of the sun nearly setting.

We ate dinner at a place called Bobby V’s Italian Restaurant.  Ordering a pizza which was thin crusted was pretty good and if you are in that area we would recommend it.