On our last full day in Kauai, I was REALLY hoping for some sunny weather. I was kind of counting on it actually. Alas, it was not to be. We woke up to strong winds and sideways rain and we all felt a bit disappointed as our plans to spend a sunny day on the beach blew out the window.
Instead, we spent the morning at the Kilauea Lighthouse, which was actually better than expected, and included a bit of a show by a pod of spinner dolphins who were in the bay.
The place is also a bird refuge and there are tons of Nenes, the Hawaiian Goose, all wandering around looking like they aren’t sure what to do next, and mostly trying to avoid being blown off a cliff.
Nenes can read, I guess.
The surf was huge and the winds were very strong. I was blown and buffeted around and could barely stand up at times. I was also, in my usual fashion, sure that I was going to be blown of the ledge and into the surf where I would be dashed against the rocks to my death. If that didn’t happen, then either Jacob, or Zoe, or both, were going to somehow trip or hurl themselves off the cliff from great heights and fall to their deaths.
Fortunately none of this happened and we made it safely to the visitor centre to read up on the history of the lighthouse. While we were there, we met the super friendly and knowledgeable volunteer guide Norm Schuller, who told us all about the albatross that live at the lighthouse, and several other bits of trivia, until he noticed that Kent was wearing his new Hanalei Canoe Club tshirt that it had been ‘suggested’ (ordered) he purchase by General Julie. Turns out he was Colonel Julie’s husband, (Norm, not Kent) and knew everything about us already as he had been debriefed by the Colonel after our canoe boot camp session the day before. Apparently, things went better than I thought as he had only nice things to say about us and reported that he had been told we were a very nice group and had done quite well for a ‘bunch of novices’. Small World here on Kauai.
He was a charming man, and his wife was lovely too, and it was great to meet both of them.
Love this…
We left the lighthouse and stopped for some lunch before making our way back to the house to grab Jacob’s surfboard and head to a beach with some great waves near Kapa’a. This is the same beach we had visited two years ago when Pepi sliced his toe open and we hung out while he got stitches at the hospital up the road. Unfortunately, it was closed due to high surf, so we headed back to Hanalei for a swim in the rain. There were quite a few people in the water, and Jacob paddled out to the far break with his board.
We had to get a bit creative on the drive home as we had the smaller car and couldn’t fit the board in the back. Thanks to Silas for coming up with this idea:
Then Mel rolled up the windows and it was all good.
It was our last night in Hanalei so we went for dinner at the Tahiti Nui, made famous by its role in the movie The Descendants, starring George Clooney and a bunch of other people and filmed right in Hanalei. Everyone here, it seems, was either in the movie somehow, or knows someone who was in it. I still haven’t seen it but apparently it captures the Hanalei spirit perfectly.
The bar at the Tahiti Nui is a favourite with the stars and Zoe was intrigued to hear that we had just missed Katy Perry and John Meyer by a few days. She was possibly more fascinated by the revelation from our server that Katy Perry had been caught peeing around the back of the building. Glad I missed that. It would be a bit awkward, no?
Owner: Hey, lady, dis ain’t no public toilet! You gotta pee you can use da toilet!
Katy Perry: But I’m Katy Perry.
Owner: Yeah right and I’m Elvis. Move along, lady!
Katy Perry: But I pissed on here and I liked it!
Owner: Disgustin’. What kind of girl are you anyway.
Katy Perry: I’m a California girl. It’s undeniable.
Owner: Oh yeah? Well next time you can use the bathroom like all de other girls. Go on home now!
Katy Perry: Fine. Come on, John.
John Meyer: But your body is a wonderland…
I‘m sure it didn’t go quite like that…
Anyway, we ate ribs and shrimp and huge steaks and listened to a local band sing harmonies and play their ukuleles and guitars before heading home to bed.The sun never did come out, but their were some impressive stars that night and we all slept well on our last night.
Tomorrow we fly to Waikiki, and hopefully some sunshine.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Jane
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