More Kauai

Pulled some more photos from my camera and grabbed some that Chris took, so without further ado, here are more Kauai photos.

Chris took this cool shot in Waimea Canyon. That tree is the only thing stopping you from falling off a giant drop off.


Me heading down the trail along the photo above.


Checked out the wet and dry caves on the North side of the island. This, of course, is the Maniniholo Dry Cave. It's really not very exciting.


Scenic lookout outside of Kapaa.


I believe this was Kalihiwai Bay. We accidentally found it while going after a yard sale.

My favorite stretch of highway on the island. It feels like you are driving through the treetops, which you kind of are. Love these trees. I think this is just outside of Kilauea.



Kilauea Lighthouse, which we decided not to pay to see up close.



I'm not promising this is the last Kauai post, but I think it will be.

Waimea Canyon

On Friday we spent the day exploring Waimea Canyon and the South & West sides of the island. It's much dryer, but as you can see below, the vegetation is still really pretty. This was taken on the drive up into the canyon. There are a zillion intersecting trails to hike, and I'd love to take a trip back to Kauai just to hike this area.



Weimea Canyon behind me.


If you drive far enough in, you'll come to this view of the west coast. The canyon runs right down to the water, which is why there isn't a road that completely circles the island.


If you hike a couple miles further, you'll come to another lookout area. Chris is posing for this picture because I preferred to stay away from the steep drop-off behind him. I'm not a big fan of heights.


The trail continues further along the crest, but we decided to move on since we had just run several miles in flip flops.


After another long hike down a different trail, we found the spot we saw from the helicopter ride. Down this path is a giant waterfall that crashes into the canyon floor far below.


This is one of the preceding falls and pool to the big one down stream.


This was the end of the line for us. The big waterfall starts here and then continues down to the canyon floor. I think Chris has a better shot than this one that I'll have to track down.

Helicopter Tour of Kauai

I had the opportunity to do something I've never done before: take a helicopter ride. The icing on the cake was that it was over the island of Kauai.

The copter:


Our native pilot and I had something in common--we both prefer driving with bare feet.


After takeoff, we flew over the resort's golf course which overlooks the ocean. Being in a helicopter is the closest thing I've ever experienced to flying. I'm sure hang gliding is a little closer.


Mountains like this abound around the island.


Later on my trip Chris and I hiked to the edge of this waterfall in Waimea Canyon. This is the overhead view.


Check out this amazing coast.


Waterfalls are everywhere.


Plenty more pictures to come, when I get a chance to upload them.