Kauai 2023 – The Week in Review

Let’s wrap this trip up. To recap – we spent a week with our neighbors at a timeshare in Kauai that had been in Nancy’s family since at least the early 1990s (plus a few years). I think they bought it when the complex was new.

We start the stay by hiking the old Hanalei Plantation Road down to Puu Poa Beach. Which follows the Kiaiakua stream to Hanalei Bay.

During the trip, we walk thru the old Club Med recreation site that is now only foundations and ruins. One of the few vacation destinations for adults that just could not make it financially on this tiny rural island back in the 1970s. Or maybe they were just ahead of their time.

The ¾ moon shape of Hanalei Bay. Some of the finest ground sand on the island, and is a great place for kids to learn how to surf.

We cross the beach over to the newly reopened 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Formerly, St Regis, this place was really run down. But a new company came in and spent millions. Including new beach beds and umbrellas.

But the best part is the out in the open weight training area. Does anyone wasn’t to squat some logs?

Or better yet, let’s go pump some wood with a great view while all of the beach bunnies watch. I’m pretty sure those wooden rounds are filled with sand to meet the weights marked.

Finally some beach time on the sands of Hanalei Bay. There are about 3+ miles of continuous beach here to walk and enjoy.

Off in the distance, you can see the Hanalei Bay Hotel and Resort. NOT to be confused with 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Hmmmmm…. Maybe some purposeful market confusion there?

Our cottage came with a great common area just made for snacking and hanging out at the end of the fairway.

For cottage owners and guests, there was a free Mai Tai night at the pool. We met a fellow named Juan here, who was a wealth of local information.

Taking a shortcut through the fairway. Since the back nine holes at the Makai Club were turned into a frisbee golf course, there was very little traffic.

But they did keep the front nine for golf. Easier to get people to pay a couple hundred for a round if they are looking at the ocean all of the time and not the dense tropical rainforest.

The main reason selfie sticks should be outlawed.

Storms came and went quite frequently. But it never got cold. And humidity is a thing you learn to live with (like the roosters).

More than a few glorious sunsets, if you knew when to look for them. The weather was constantly evolving.

High tide at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. I’m not sure why they don’t just hang a restroom sign over these lounge chairs.

Speaking of the 1 Hotel, we go there for an evening meal to celebrate Launa’s birthday. And what a sunset it was.

I’m a big storm cloud fan. And I was not disappointed.

The hotel had just been reopened for three weeks (after a two-year closure for the remodel). The food was eclectic, unique, and good. The company made for a great evening.

Kilohana was an old sugarcane plantation. They had everything from a railroad to trendy shops, to most importantly a rum-tasting room. All local run is made with sugar instead of molasses.

Known as the French method, I thought it produced a much cleaner spirit. And given the abundance of sugarcane once grown on the island, made complete sense. You work with what you have.

They also did some kind of safari ride. I measure out this beast of a bus. It is just small enough to still be allowed on the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park. Maybe it will replace all of those old Red Bus Jammers someday? Doubtful.

There is this mile or so length of highway that goes thru columns of eucalyptus trees that were planted generations ago for reasons no one remembers. It falls on Highway 520 right after you turn to go south off of Kaumual’ii Hwy 50. Horrible video, but on a great day I hear it can be glorious.

We went to Anini Beach where the stream of the same name hits the ocean. It stays shallow a long way out. Although it does get rocky, that can be great for snorkeling. The sand is coarse and the wind can kick up. Lots of windsurfurers.

Although the clouds came and went, with a few sprinkles here and there, it was never cold. Nancy still got good sun, as usual.

The daily late mid-morning cocktail hour on the beach. This became a pretty common occurrence.

In the town of Hanalei, we find a nice spot for dinner and happy hour. NorthSide Grill & Sushi. The second floor of a retail building is just across the street from Kushio Hwy. Good views, good sushi, and good company.

We extend our back patio time from our cottage to the golf fairway turned frisbee golf. Freshly mowed. Lots and lots of tropical birds to be seen (but mostly heard)

Nice little walkout back deck. With neighbors on only two sides, the cottage was for the most part peaceful and quiet. Except of course for the roosters. Of which there must be 10,000 of them within a hundred yards of my bedroom.

Playing with my camera settings, I was able to capture the full moon rising. Our humble abode for the week to the right.

We take a trip to Kilauea Lighthouse. Kauapea Beach to left, with the Kilaeau Point National Wildlife Refuge. Home to an incredible array of cliff-dwelling sea birds.

Looking east down the rough coastline that makes up so much of Kauai.

Built in 1913, fully decommissioned in 1979. There were no roads on the island when the structure was constructed. Everything was brought in directly by boat and dragged up the cliffs from the ocean.

Looking west towards Kauapea, Kalihiwai, and Anini beaches. Eventually, this will end at the Na Pali coast. The longest stretch of undeveloped coast anywhere in the Hawaiian islands.

Morning sun at just the right angle. Make the old lighthouse almost look alive again. The 4-ton Fresnel lens cost $12,000 in 1913 dollars. So heavy it had to float on a bath of liquid mercury (like a primitive bearing) to be able to rotate smoothing and provide two flashes every minute.

One last day on Hanalei Beach. The weather kept getting better every day we were there. Natually.

I like having mountains to look at. The beach to me is just a means to an end. But this place balances out most of what I look for in a vacation. As usual, for me, it is more about the company you keep and the shared experiences you can create. The best memories are often of people more than places.

We could have used a little more sun. But I got plenty. And some good sandy walking for my Garmin watch to tabulate biometrics. This bay is all sand and so shallow you can walk out over 100 yards (even in a rising tide).

Last night out. Happy Hour at the Happy Talk bar and restaurant at the Hanalei Hotel. Which means no shop talk. Or angry talk. Or talk about how the waitress took a really horrible group photo of us at the table with a great view. So I had to make up for it myself. Personally, I love this giant bowl.

But let’s go for a better picture of my companions.

Closing out the trip. Just about time to shave on my Ernest Hemmingway beard (with just a touch of Sean Connery). I felt more like Panama Jack. Cleaning out the fridge of any leftover beer and wine. And pizza, ham, eggs, some kind of fish product, and a slice of SPAM.

Goodbye until next time to our little cottage in Kauai. Maybe by then there with be 10 chickens for every person on the island. Instead of the current 6 to 1. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for chickens to someday outnumber roosters.