The Garden Island...

...Kauai, Hawaii

~the most beautiful and fun place I've been!~

Yes, it's true.  Clint and I just returned from a fabulous week-long vacation to Hawaii.  We had so much fun and enjoyed every minute of it.  The kids stayed with my parents and had their own fun vacation with Grandma and Grandpa!
Note:  I've only included the major highlights and it still turned out to be the longest post ever! sorry!

Day 1

We arrived in Kauai about 1:30pm on June 23rd.  It was pouring down rain when we hopped off the airplane and continued to pour.  I was a little worried because I had heard that it rains a LOT in Kauai (more than the other islands).  By the time we made it to Poipu (the south shore), got checked in to our hotel and ready to take a stroll along the beach it had cleared up and remained sunny the rest of the day.  In fact, it would rain every day, but usually a light drizzle and didn't get in the way of any of our plans.  After our walk along the beach and around the resort to check everything out we made our way to Kukuiula Village.  We had dinner and did some shopping; mostly just enjoying the weather and the beauty around us!

Isn't it pretty?  

 We had dinner at Bubba's ~very yummy burgers and fries!

Clint just had to get some shots of the signage inside the restaurant.  They were all hilarious!

Day 2

The next morning we woke up early, 5am (still trying to adjust) and we decided to make the best of it.  We went down to the beach where we saw an endangered Monk Seal resting on the shore.

It was great to experience the beach so early in the morning.  There was literally only one other couple along the whole beach that we could see.

Here's Clint saying, "Now you can't tell me this isn't the best place to be at 5 am on ANY morning!"

After breakfast that morning we headed to Poipu Beach Park.  We heard that this was a good beach to snorkel at so we headed that way with our snorkel and masks in hand.  

The snorkeling turned out to be great!  We saw lots of beautiful fish and a few sea turtles, that would swim along right beside you.

Day 3

Saturday, we had booked our helicopter ride, but the rest of the day was open.  We again (as we did every morning)  went down to the beach with our books in hand and read along the shore.  {isn't that what a vacation is all about?! ...or at least should include!}  We then decided to head out a bit before our scheduled ride to check out Wailua Falls.

This waterfall was just mesmerizing.  The best part is that you can drive right up to it and awe from the side of the road {no hiking involved!}  It is an 80 foot fall, which apparently in ancient times, men would jump from the falls to show their bravery!  Really?  I wouldn't consider my man brave if he jumped...more like dumb!

Next we headed over to Blue Hawaiian for our helicopter tour.  I was excited to do this because we were told this was truly the only way to see the majority of the island.  We took a helicopter tour in Maui and loved it, so we thought we had better do the same in Kauai.

We got to sit in the front right next to the pilot, which are supposed to be the best seats for the best view. Now you may be asking where are all the pictures of this view?  Well, the beginning of the ride was smooth sailing and by the time I realized I hadn't taken any photos, the camera was the last thing I was worried about.  Unfortunately, I do get motion sick and to prevent it I had taken Dramamine, but apparently the ride was still to much for me!  I am still glad we did it, otherwise we wouldn't have seen the crater of Mt. Waialeale which was surrounded by waterfalls.  It was truly amazing!  Also, the Napali Coast which was also amazing!  It's hard to believe the beauty of it, until you see it in person.

On our drive back to the resort we stopped to take a photo of the "tunnel of trees".  A man back in the early 1900's had over 500 eucalyptus trees left over after landscaping his yard, so he donated them and they planted them along the highway.

Day 4

Another relaxing day; the highlight was the Luau.  This was Clint's favorite part of our vacation...I'm sure you can figure out why!

Clint went up to learn a little hula, along with everyone else that has a birthday in June.

Day 5

{Clint's Birthday}

Since it was HIS day, I left it up to him to do whatever he pleased!  We ended up going on a short hike to a hidden little spot called Kipu Falls.  It's a small 20 ft. waterfall pouring into a deep pool.  There is also a rope swing hanging from a tree.  There were a few locals there that have definitely been there a ton.  They were doing all sorts of crazy tricks and putting on quite the show for the rest of us.  It was so much fun!  

Later that night we had dinner at Pomodoro's.  An italian restaurant that had phenomenal food!  I wish I had taken a picture there, but sometimes you just got to sit back, relax, and not worry about the picture taking for a night.  Anyways, it was delicious and a great way to end the evening!

Day 6

{my favorite!}

We knew we'd be heading to the north shore in the afternoon, so we decided to head out early to check out a few of the best beaches along the shore.  We first went to Ke'e Beach, which is at the end of the highway (the farthest you can go by car because you run into the Napali Coast).  We had heard this was some of the best snorkeling.  Unfortunately, Clint was pretty disappointed.  So we headed to Makua or Tunnels Beach known to surfers.  This beach was amazing for snorkeling and a really beautiful beach.  Later that day, we were told that this is the beach where Bethany Hamilton (surfer girl) lost her arm to a shark.  Glad we found that out after the fact!

a picture of Ke'e beach...ignore the old man in the center of my photo!

Long before we headed to Hawaii, I knew that I wanted to definitely go on a zip line.  We had heard from so many different people that we had to do it!  Clint, for some odd reason, didn't really think it sounded all that fun. {I know, what?!}  Well, because I was so adamant about going he agreed and I just know that he is SO glad he did!  We went on a four hour long excursion called Zip & Dip at Princeville Ranch Adventures.  We hiked along as we zipped on 9 different lines and stopped at a waterfall for lunch.  Let me just say, it was a blast!!! Seriously one of the most fun things I've ever done!  The scenery was beautiful and the adrenaline rush was awesome!

Because it was on a ranch we walked right through the cows pasture.  

The last line was King Kong ~a 1200 ft. line~  

Before we headed back to the south shore we stopped for some shave (not shaved) ice {not that impressed; Bahama Bucks is way better!}, and checked out a few shops.  We also stopped to take a picture of Kauai's beautiful backdrop.  Basically, you can get a picture like this any where on the island!

Day 7

Our last day was spent on the beach all day boogie boarding, snorkeling and lounging...the reason I have no photos.  We also went to a yummy dinner at Keoki's Paradise.  We both got Ono which is a type of fish they catch locally in Kauai.  It was the best fish I have ever had...I may have to go back just for that!

I also had to get a picture of this:

"a chicken?" you might say.  Yes.  Kauai has a nickname of Rooster Country because roosters and hens are all over the place.  Anywhere you go you can spot these guys.  I guess there was a hurricane in 1992 that broke open all the chicken coops and they never gathered them up, so now they all run wild and crow all day long.  Kind of crazy!

We had such a great time and can't thank my parents enough for their help with the kiddos!  I love that I could come home and feel rejuvenated and refreshed as a mom and wife.  Someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, we'll make it back to this beautiful island.  Aloha!