June 16, 2015, Tuesday, Nawiliwil, Kauai, HI

We are tendered in Kuaui and had to get the rental car.  It took a long time to do this, but eventually we drove with Tom and Carol up to Waimea Canyon.

Our first stop was Starbucks.  I wanted a chai latte.  Then we went to the Aloha Coffee Co at the foot of the road up the canyon.  Candy Bar gave us the detailed instructions on how to see the canyon, basically saying we needed to get out of the car!  Then she served us coffee.  First we had to decide what size cup, then if we wanted it regular or decaf, then strong or weaker.   Iced or hot.  With milk, cream, lowfat, soy, or rice milk.  With whipped cream or not.  Each person had the same choices and had to call out all the answers.  It was actually very good coffee.

She said to drive up to the top first to see the Kanapali Coast overlook.  It can be socked in.  We had an absolutely beautiful clear day.  We could see all the way to the beach where we spent our honeymoon 42 years ago in September.

View of the Kanapali Coast

Kalalau Valley lookout

Down there is the beach.  The trail is on the right along the coast, up and down and up and down.

Waimea Canyon and a falls.

Another falls by the road and where the rushing rain has made gullys in the red earth.

Another view

Useful warning

David at the top of the gulley

Another view to the South from the road

We stopped at Salt beach on the way back.  This brackish pool is used to traditionally harvest salt.

It is also a very nice beach.

We returned to drop off the rental car on time and made it back to the ship on time.  Happy days!  We are getting more and more homesick.  We also want to return to Kuaui to see more and do more.  I would like to spend some time at Hanalei Bay as well, and we would like to go back to the Plantation Restaurant, one of our favorite places to eat.  

After our honeymoon in the Kalalau Valley for a week, eating dehydrated food and getting sick on it, and very hungry, we rented a car, a very cheap hotel with a view of nothing, and drove aroujnd the island eating at the best restaurants and hanging out at all the beautiful beaches.  Not much was there then, a Sheraton was all I remember.  We had to take a taxi to the trail head.  We could not catch a ride hitchhiking because no one was driving that way.  Now it is all condos, timeshares and hotels.

Another special Horizons buffet.

This entertainer Ray Michaels, is also a cruise director for Oceania.  He lives in Maui and came onboard to just do his act.  He is very good at singing and entertaining.