Kauai March 29

 This would be our 3rd full day, I think! I had booked an afternoon/evening sunset whale watch cruise. We decided to have a leisurely day prior to cruise. I think our morning activity was Dave going for coffee at the Hyatt Poipu and I walked up to Spouting Horn. We then spent some beach time at Baby Beach. 

 

Resting seal at Baby Beach 

Me resting at Baby Beach 

Chicken not resting at Baby Beach 

Followed by lunch at Bubbas Burgers, which were delish but I guess didn't take any pictures of, funny that they have squirt guns around for patrons to use to keep the chickens away from their outside dining area! Then pool time and lovely flowers around the condo area, I did not take any pool pictures either!

We had a lovely sunset whale watching cruise.

Kauai- North End

 I had a change of plans for our 2nd full day. I had been watching the weather and decided today we should head to the north end since it was forecasted to be sunny and no rain. After breakfast again watching the sunrise from our balcony, this was a great little condo unit, we packed up the cooler with some sparking waters, diet pepsi and fruit and headed out. (condo had beach chairs, beach umbrella and cooler) 

Sunrise breakfast

We stopped at some view points along the way up the coast.

Enjoyed beautiful scenery along the way while I was reading about what we should see and do!

Taro fields in the distance

Discovered we should see a botanical garden that we needed reservations for, so I made reservations from my phone but could only get last entry at 2:00, mostly because of limited parking. I suggested we go straight there and see if we could get in early. We didn't realize this garden was sooooo far north, so after passing through several one way bridges and winding road we finally arrived, so hoping we could get in because we didn't want to come back! Yes! There was a parking spot open and we were allowed in at around 10:30!

One of many one way bridges

The Limahulia Gardens show the few native plants that grew here as well as all the plants that were brought to the island, so not a showy garden but more of an educational garden.

Mountain (Bali Hai) made famous in South Pacific, but not its actual name.

After wandering through the gardens we drove back to the north end towns stopping at Hanalei (Puff the Magic Dragon) for lunch. Hanalei was a very cute little town. We had delicious tacos from a little almost food truck type place.

Then off the to Pier of Hanalei, which is where the scene from South Pacific is shot when the actress "washes that man right out of my hair"

Hanalei pier

This was actually a great beach but I had wanted to seek out another beach I had read about, and a couple by our pool today me about,  Anini Beach which was just down the road.

Relaxing on Anini Beach

Dave floating at Anini Beach

We enjoyed the peaceful calm water at Anini beach for a while then headed back, stopping at Costco to pick up dinner, a $4.99 roasted chicken along with and a big pack of asparagus which we enjoyed along with a box of couscous I had brought from home.  What a tasty bargain, we made a couple sandwiches out of that roasted chicken over the next 2 days. 

Tasty and peaceful dinner on the lanai 

Kauai 2025 - March 26 - April 3

 So many people have told us the Kauai is the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands, we felt like we should take advantage of my free SWA flights this year and go see for ourselves!

I booked a studio unit at Prince Kuhio Condos from VRBO that had a bit of an ocean view located at the south end of the island across the street from the famous Beach House, which we never ate at but did enjoy sunset views from as well as some of the nightly and morning parakeet activity.

We had forgotten how long flights are from her to Hawaii, why we love Mexico so much! Also the dollar goes a lot further in Mexico. The price for our 8 nights condo unit was what about we pay for 4 weeks in PV! 

Arrival wine on the lanai

Chickens and Roosters at Prince Kuhio Park as seen from our balcony

Our first nights dinner was at Kenji Burgers in the little town of Koloa, just down the road from the condo, a very popular place on the island which several locations. We did not have katsu burgers but had chicken katsu bowls. 

Of course our first morning we woke up very early because of the time difference, had breakfast and coffee on our balcony and watched the sunrise. Then we headed off for a long walk to Poipu beach area to check it out. 

Lawai beach, looking back at condo we stayed in

In front of the Beach House, across street from condo

After an hour or so walk we arrived at Poipu beach, which is quiet in the morning but gets very busy as the day goes on.

Beach at 9:00 AM

Resting Harbor Seal

Resting sea turtles

Beach at 9:00 am

We continued walking to check out all the resorts in the area then walked back to our condo as it was too early for lunch and we had been told by several people we needed to have a Puka Dog which is located in the Poipu area. We later drove back for an early lunch picking up Puka Dogs which we at the Poipu beach picnic area. I am not sure what all the fuss is about them? One and done for us!

That afternoon we drove up to see Spouting Horn, which we discovered was only about 1.5 miles from our condo, I walked up there almost every morning. 

We then went and found Baby Beach which was about a 5 minute walk from our place, we loved this little beach and went there a couple of times for beach time.

Dinner was at The Shops of Kukuiuka just up the road from us, can't remember the name but kind of a healthy food joint, which we felt we wanted after that Puka Dog! We had great salads.

First Mai Tai

                                         

 

Watched the sunset across the street in front of the Beach House, our first of many, it's obviously a popular thing here.