kauai vacation Jan 2010

John, Mike and I went to Kauai for a 2 week vacation from Alaska. We spent two weeks hiking, snorkeling, boogey-boarding at the beach, enjoying sunsets and more hiking, enjoying waking up to good local coffee sitting on the lanai in Poipu crater. We were there for two weeks.


i especially enjoyed the tropical botanics. these are bougainville that we saw in reds, pinks, violet, orange and lots of other colors. Other great things to view and enjoy included banyan trees, breadfruit trees, betel nut and coconut palms, anthurium, birds of paradise, bamboo, you name it and it grows on Kauai.























we had great views from the napali coast hike, the south, west and all over as we explored, went fishing, hiking, etc. I do think Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.










Mike and I volunteered our time at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens where we met Karin, Junior and Ellsworth, volunteering or working there. We trimmed pritchardia (fan) palms.












Jim and Kwei arrived for a five day vacation and joined us for some beach hiking, kayaking the Wailua river, finding the fern grotto, a dip into a frigid swimming hole and Lauau fun. It was a much-needed sunshine and warm weather break! Here's the five of us doing what we did real well - having fun!



















Kauai is the oldest volacanic island in the Hawaiian archipelago. These are taro fields below.

Here we are the three musketeers: John, Judith and Mike