Ka-uai is this place so nice?

After leaving San Francisco the ocean just got bluer and bluer.  The weather was warming up and the pool deck was back in full use.

Nawiliwili, Nawiliwili, Na – wili -wili, I just love saying that out loud… This was where we were docking for Kauai Island.  Named after the wiliwili tree….. Naaaaa  wiliwili J

It was a tight squeeze getting in past the breakwater, but with the assistance from the tugs, Captain Perra performed a three-point turn to tuck us up against the pier.

This was a replacement port so we had nothing planed.  Deciding on a taxi tour we were a little alarmed to see a long queue and only a couple of taxi’s … but luckily that was because only two taxis were allowed in the port area at one time, so as one left, another came in. 

The biggest issue was that there was a long Walmart queue but no Walmart shuttles.  A few quick phone calls and it finally turned up.

Our taxi tour was to Waimea Canyon, nicknamed The Grand Canyon of the pacific.  An amazing canyon stretching 10 miles long and 3600 ft deep, and over a mile wide. So rugged and yet so beautiful with layers of browns, reds and greens.

Away from the canyon the island is lush and green thanks to its really high rainfall.  Also known as the garden isle, Kauai is also popular with film makers with movies like Jurassic park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Descendants and South pacific to their credit.

Pit stop on the way to the canyon was at the Kauai coffee plantation.  With all their coffees in specially marked urns waiting for you to try, and encourage you to buy.

Taking us to the end of the road after the canyon, from the Kalalau lookout lay a beautiful vista of the ocean from the other side of the island.

Whilst in a US territory, you can’t help but ask a local what they think of their election race.  After listening to some interesting and sometimes some strange views, todays took the cake…

Our Drivers predictions … one candidate will be assassinated before the election while the other will die of natural causes within six months…….  Yes, folks, you heard it here first!!

To round off our day, we swam at the beach just next to the port. At first I decided to sit on the sand and guard our belongings while Garry swam.  It looked so inviting, and remembering our taxi driver mentioning they have nearly zero crime rate, it was not long that I carefully stacked our things, covered them with a towel and ran into the water to join Garry.

With just a little more time to spare we were joined by Ed and Bev, and enjoyed a snack and a beverage of the alcoholic kind before returning in time for sail away.