Our Trip to Kauai

Tony's family arrived in Honolulu on Thursday, December 23, 2010. I had to work both Thursday and Friday so there aren't any pictures! On Friday, we headed to the beach in Waikiki. It was a beautiful day. 

Saturday, .December 25, 2010

We started Christmas morning by opening gifts and digging through our stockings.

Christmas Day brought perfect beach weather, so we headed to Waiamanalo beach. Kerry and I relaxed on the beach by reading, while the rest of the group played in a heated match of beach football.

After the beach, we returned home to play with Rusty.

And then Rusty and Tony shared the sofa for a quick nap.

For Christmas dinner we went to Hula Grill for a lovely oceanfront meal.

December 26, 2010

Early the next morning, Tony took Rusty to Pacific Paws for his vacation, and then we headed to the airport. Check out this tiny plane that took us over the ocean to Kauai!  

We landed 30 short minutes later, headed to get our rental cars, and then drove to Poipu. Tony and I took a walk to the beach for sunset, while everyone else got settled in.

That evening we took it easy and relaxed in our condos, preparing for the day ahead.

December 27, 2010

We woke up Monday morning to rain, rain and more rain! The plans for the zip line and tubing were canceled by the travel company, so we took to the road. Thanks goodness for the "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook" (Thanks Tracy)! It was a great tour guide, leading us all around the island for the week.

Our first stop was Waimea Canyon - known as "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific." The canyon is 10 miles long, 1 mile wide and over 3,600 feet deep! It was still raining, so the pictures are a little foggy.

There are wild chickens all over the islands, and the chickens up on Waimea canyon were lucky on December 27th. They were hand fed at least 2 peanut butter sandwiches!

Shannon wanted to get in on the fun, so she held out her hand to a chicken, fist full of peanut butter and jelly. All was going well until Tony came up behind her and grabbed her... ending her chicken feeding for the trip!

Some of us couldn't stop laughing!

We ate lunch at the tiny restaurant at the top of Waimea Canyon, and then made the long trek back down the windy road. Next stop was the Waimea Swinging Bridge. The original swinging bridge fell in 1992, so this version is much safer, but still very swingy!

Across from the bridge is Menehune Ditch - which was said to have been built by the menehune, to bring water from Waimea River to the taro fields.

We headed back towards Poipu, but stopped at Spouting Horn first. It is a small lava shelf, where water from waves is thrust through an opening, causing water and air to squirt out a horizontal blowhole.

For dinner that night, Jill, Shannon, Tony and I headed to Keoki's, one of the TS Restaurants' on Kauai.

Blackened Ahi, Ahi Poke & Ahi Sashimi

Slide Trio - Hamburger, Pulled Pork, Crabcake

It was really nice to see another TS Restaurant. Kauai has two TS Restaurants, Keoki's, and Duke's which we never made it to. 

December 28, 2010

On Tuesday, I (sort of) conquered a fear, and jumped aboard a helicopter! 

Before we took off, I was still excited...

Shannon and I playing co-pilot

Jurassic Park....

Checking out all of the emergency buttons...

I will have more pictures from the amazing helicopter tour as soon as I get Jill's photos! 

After the tour we went to Wailua Falls (seen in the opening credits of Fantasy Island). 

Now this is where the book failed us a little. It tempted us with "a glorious little secret place you might find enchanting." Kipu Falls is a small waterfall that pours into a pool. There was a rope swing, which enticed Jill even more. The book mentions a "very short (but sometimes slippery) trail" but this is false. It was a long, very muddy trail, through thick plants and high grass, that never ended. We finally arrived to what we thought would be the falls, but it was further down still. 

I was getting bug bites up and down my legs, and no one seemed to want to get in so we headed back. Once we got back to the cars, Jill decided she didn't want to miss out on this opportunity, so her and Tony headed back to swim in the falls and jump from the swing.

December 29, 2010
On Wednesday, we decided to explore the North Shore of Kauai, and it is too bad we waited until the last full day, because everyone really enjoyed it!

We were told not to miss out on Queen's Bath... a natural pool located on a lava shelf. Again, the book failed us slightly on the distance from the road to our destination, but this was worth the hike. Jill's camera has better pictures than I do, which I will hopefully be able to add soon.

We left Princevlle and continued down the road, past Hanalei Bay (it was getting late), and into Ha'ena to see the Dry & Wet Caves. We wanted to see the Blue Room at the Waikapala'e Cave, but I didn't realize until just now that we were at the Waikanaloa Cave. There wasn't much water in the cave we were at, so luckily we convinced Tony & Jill not to go in the standing water. Going through the book now, I realized that we were at the lower cave, and the upper cave (Waikapala'e) is where the blue room is located! Whooopsie! 

Before heading to the Dry Cave we stopped at Ke'e Beach.

View from the car on the drive back. 

December 30, 2010
On our last day in Kauai, we went bowling and to the movies to see Little Fockers. After this, it was time for Tony and I to head to the airport. Check out the busy Kauai airport.

We had a really great time in Kauai, and it was nice being with family for the holidays. Thank you Callaways! 

December 31, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!! I had to work New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. There were fireworks off of a boat right in front of Hula Grill! Front row seat!!

January 2, 2010

I had had a great start to the New Year, but Sunday made it that much better. I was at work, took a drink order for a couple, walked over to the well to prepare the drinks when a group of friends ran over and said "IS IT HIM???" Confused, I asked who? They exclaimed, "Jason Mraz." I started to think, oh wow, it does look like him. So I walked back over and asked for their IDs and sure enough, it was Jason Mraz and his fiance, Tristin Prettyman. I talked to them both for a few minutes, and asked if I could take a picture with him. He said absolutely, just asked that we don't do it at the bar. I told him I would find him later and to enjoy his drinks and meal! 

After I finished my shift, I headed over to their table, just to tell him it was nice meeting him, and to enjoy his meal. He pulled out the chair next to him and insisted that I sit down! We chatted for a few minutes, and Tristin took a picture for me!