Kauai Vacation
So many of our friends had recommended Kauai as a vacation destination that we decided to take our first Hawaiian trip there. We booked a week at Waimea Plantation Cottages, a group of cottages that had been moved to the location. Our flight offered us a chance to upgrade (one way) to first class via a bidding process. I bid as low as was allowed, which was described as a “slim to none” chance, but low and behold, got it. Never having flown first class before, I was very impressed and pleased, with the roomy leather seats, constant flow of any libation one could want, great food, and attentive service. Probably a one-time experience.
At the Kauai airport there was rain, thunder, and lightning. In our flashy Mustang rental car we set out on highway 50 toward Waimea. Rain increased and soon the long line of cars were splashing through deepening water on the road. Then we were stopped and told to go back and detour. That road was flooded as well, but not quite as deep. “Will we even get there tonight?” was our thought, but near our destination the weather cleared. Our cottage was charming, two bedrooms and two baths, and was the closest one to the ocean, about 100 feet away. Quite the view.
Jakedog had mentioned chickens when he heard we were going. Well, they are everywhere on Kauai and the roosters crow at all hours. We kept the air conditioners on all the time to drown out the sound, which worked somewhat. We got the local paper in the morning and discovered the extent of the devastation, most of which was on the other side of the island. The statistic that was repeated everywhere: 27 inches of rain in 24 hours!!! We were fortunate in our choice of lodgings. We spent the day as tourists in town, eating shrimp and indulging in the famous “shave ice”, which is like a giant snow-cone. We were blessed with a deluxe BBQ setup in front of our cottage so we had bratwurst several evenings. The temperature was about 75 day and night, strange to Bay area
folks since it gets cool every night around here.
We drove all the way back to the airport for our helicopter flight. After hearing the 15 minute safely lecture and buckling on our life vests we were told “flights are cancelled for today due to weather.” So we explored the area. As you might imagine, the ubiquitous waterfalls were at their height of flow.
We finally had a beautiful day in the middle of the week. We decided to explore the Waimea Canyon, cutting across the west side, and looking like a smaller Grand Canyon. This was a wonderful drive, with view sites along the way, taking us up above 5,000 feet.
The helicopter flight finally happened on Thursday. Road closures on the way back to the airport almost derailed us but finally we were up in the air. We flew around much of Kauai, and down into the mouth of the original volcano which formed the island.
This is one of the areas which had severe damage. The pilot was required to stay above 1,500 feet to avoid interfering with rescue crafts and helicopters. We could see some Blackhawk helicopters taking off. Barges were unloading heavy equipment.
We landed safely. I was only a bit nervous as we descended into the volcano just grazing the walls, but I was comforted in that I never put my full weight down.
Late in the week we had a nice visit with Yosef 52, the author of one of my favorite volumes, “The Emergence and Nature of Human History, Volume One”. He is continuing to write more volumes. I recommend reading the first volume if you can.
The sunset on Thursday was bar none the most spectacular either of us had ever seen, but I was driving so couldn’t appreciate it to the fullest. The next day we went along the coast hoping for a repeat view; nice, but not even close to the prior evening,
In Waimea we found a wonderful japanese grocery with a huge deli full of unusual foods. We bought a lot, including Wasabi Ahi. Amazingly good, but I was forced to share some. We had a guest who hung around our front door. I washed off the Wasabi and, wow, it was most appreciated.
Well, for all the ups and downs of the week, it was a pretty spectacular vacation. Kauai is lovely.
**Thanks to the Kossacks who subbed for me last week: maggiejean, belinda ridgewood, and wee mama.** (OND, KTK, and Partners&Mentors)