Last time I tried to fly around Kauai, there were no rental planes available and the trikes I rented were barely able to keep up with the wind, so I didn't get very far. This time around, the one plane I could have rented was not available either, so I got a passenger flight. Sadly this time of the year, the weather around Kauai is seldom sunny around the entire island (it's the green island afterall), and the schedule for the week was inflexible enough due to many places having limited hours/days, I ended up opting to stay with the flight, even if it could not go around the entire island and missed the south and waimea canyon.
I got copilot seat, but was just passenger
The flight ended with the double/triple Wailua Falls close to the airport:
cool to see the parking lot I had just driven to a hour prior
It had been a good 15 years since I last went, so it was a good time to go back, revisit a few fun things, and check out a few new ones. Once planning and there, I got reminded that this is the least developed of the 4 islands, so lining up attractions and tours or even main national gardens, was not trivial as many things were only open a few days a week, and not all on the same days. Also many things were pre-booked tour only.
It took a lot of juggling to get everything to fit in a week, but after lots of shuffling, I managed to do so, although it did not offer any flexibility in changing things for weather....
One other thing I also found out was that of course the Hawaii islands are not cheap anymore (only the flight is cheap), but Kauai especially seemed especially expensive. Some tours like a simple garden and chocolate tour, would ask for $140 per person (!).
Anyway, here is the map:
after landing, had a quick drive to Wailua Falls while waiting for the flight time:
walked around a bit to burn time
quickly found a friend :)
happiest cat in the world
Day 1: Partial Island Flight
Then, it as time for the scenic flight, which sadly was partial due to weather, but realistically weather was not great for flying for over half the time there. It's the garden (green) island afterall, and that comes from all the rain... Flight details there
rode copilot
same waterfall
Smith Family Luau
After the flight was time for a nice dinner and show at Smith Family Luau
pretty almost viewsonic birds
Starving peacocks and happy duck
yummy drinks
Day 2: Diving and sunset dinner
Day 3: Diving and kayaking to hidden waterfall
The kayaking was all fun and good until it started pissing rain :) then again the waterfall was wet too :)
that was me at the bottom :)
I look happy :)
I then had to deal with the idiots at dive Kauai and their idiot passive aggressive boat driver, Nick, who did his best to ruin my diving by showing how much of an idiot he could be. Dive Kauai, only barely worthwhile for beginners, was totally not worth it. At least I'm making proper notes this time to make sure I never go back to those people.
Despite the time wasted by them, had a bit of time to check out an evening art festival at Hanapepe:
Day 4: McBryde+Allterton Gardens, Koloa Zipline
McBryde+Allterton Gardens were nice, but you could only see one of them as part of a timed tour, which was not available every day, making the visit not as easy as it should have been. It was a very nice tour, though:
happy ducks :)
hungry, even :)
After the park, spouting horn was right there:
Day 4: Koloa Zipline
And it was then time to head to Koloa Zipline:
And it was then time to head to Koloa Zipline:
Then, almost a sunset:
Day 5: Full Day of Diving (6 dives)
This was all nice and good until I let an octopus climb on my hand while it was feeding at night, and it decided to cut my finger, inject me with its paralysing poison. Ended up in not the best ER on a sunday night while they tried to figure out whether I had pieces of octopus beak left in my finger that had to be dug out, or not. Not the best night (was over around 03:00).
Day 6: Waimea Canyon
I was supposed to start with 2 dives that morning, but with my previous night's injury and open wound, those were cancelled, so off to Waimea that was:
then it was time to drive up to Waimea Canyon:
the famous red dirt
beautiful scenery
After an mostly unimpeded quick drive down, and rental car brakes that didn't fade, and time for a few quick stops before the 2nd Luau:
Day 6: Aulii Beach Luau
how to open coconuts
yum
Day 7: North Island Tour to Road's End: Princeville Botanical Gardens
I decided to skip Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park as they required slow and painful tours that didn't happen every day, and instead opted for the Princeville Botanical Garden 3H tour which was worth the drive and time.
Day 7: Princeville Botanical Gardens
Day 7: Limuhali Botanical Gardens
From there, 30mn drive to Limuhali Botanical Gardens, which unexplicably also required advance reservations for a limited parking spot and self guided tour:
After that, there was some time for a slower drive back and stop at a few places on the way:
more shaved ice with ice cream
Day 7: Kilauea, the northmost point of all of Hawaii, and Nenes
Went to Kilauea, the northmost point of all of Hawaii, and its famous Nenes ducks:
babies!
unfortunately the tip is now open only certain days with advance tickets, WTF?
one used to be able to just drive there :(
boobie!
Day 8: Kauai Museum
Day 8: Kauai Plantation Railway and Rhum Tasting
Then, finished the half day and the trip with the Plantation Railway and Rhum:
