Boat tour along the Nali Coast line. We went in a catamaran, because they seemed the best for pregnant women. But Jason end up getting sick on this one- poor guy. It was still one of our favorite things about the trip for both of us. We contemplated doing a boat tour vs. a helicopter tour. And as I was reading a tour guide book for Kauai, they mentioned that helicopter tours are pretty cool, but they are only an 1- 1.5 hours long and they literally fly by the sights without even hovering. Of the helicopters we saw in Waimea Canyon and while we were on our boat tour- this is exactly what they did. So I am glad that we choose the boat tour! We met up in Waimea at 8am and then left around 8:30am- gotta remember the laid back thing when we are running 2 mins late. And we got back around 2:30pm. It was gorgeous!
We saw flying fish,
a baby dolphin,
a family of dolphins,
more dolphins,
a few sea turtles,
the gorgeous coastline,
cool caves ( other big ships like catamaran- have sails and can't go in the caves) ,
and waterfalls.
We end up going in 4 or so cool caves
There were people hiking around here, and they were tiny looking (tunnel in 6 days 7 nights)
I think at this point we saw Ke'e Beach and started heading back south toward Waimea
and then with about an hour more of boating before we arrived in Waimea, we ate lunch went snorkling for an hour. We saw lots of beautiful fish and a sea turtle. Some even saw a small shark (harmless- he was hiding away until our tour guide tried to entice him out of the coral). Great snorkle spot- no big waves pushing you around- fishes are not afraid to swim all around you (as our cool tour guides fed them leftovers from lunch)
catamaran boat we took with Liko Cruises
Tree tunnel
Then we stooped in Popiu for my missing snorkel part- and finally had success! Then since we were close by, we went to Spouting Horn. There were a lot of great tourist stands with really cute, intricate, and durable Hawaiian souvenirs here. We end up getting all of our souvenirs/gifts here, besides the chocolate covered macadamia nuts. (Waves were really big on Popiu so we didn't go snorkeling here)
Ate at Hamaru's Samin Stand- authenitc Hawaiin food- I was thinking it would be stir fry- but it was soup- pretty good. There lilikoi pie is yummy! Just don't forget cash- they don't accept credit cards here...oops
Tuesday- sunrise near airport
We went snorkeling at Lydate Gate beach- even though its sectioned off (so no waves crashing on you)- you still get pushed around a bit. No coral. But the fishes here are so friendly
Ate at Paco's Taco stand in Lihue- So good! And the prices were great too! I think it was just as good as Monico's Tacqueria, if not better! It was so yummy we went back there for lunch on Wednesday- when our bagels went moldy (too humid to stay out of fridge...oops)
Wednesday- Last day- these last few days we took it easy! It was great! swimming, lounging, napping, reading books, playing dominos (in hotel's owners lounge- available to use when you have early 10am checkout- they also have a shower available for your last day)
We had to take some pictures of all the little things about Hawaii that we would miss, yes lizard that includes you
Huge circular pool
5 jacuzzis
Since we turned in our rental car at 3pm, we went walked to a close by restaurant. Which I knew would be more pricey (considering proximity to our glitzy, hotel) but this place was about the same price as the other places we ate it that week- Kalapaki Grill
I got the blackened Ahi salad... A- MA- ZING. And I don't even love fish. The fish looks raw, but is more tender than chicken, no fish taste at all either. I told my dad about it, and he said he had something similar in Japan. What they do is marinate the fish so long that its really tender and then just sear the outside. He assured me that many pregnant women in Japan have been eating fish that way for years.
( I had already told the waitress I was pregnant, asking about if the feta and blue cheese were pasteurized- so I assumed this option was okay to eat- but I kept thinking while I ate it... the fish looks raw- but it tastes so good- it can't be raw). Lol
We saw a huge princess cruise ship sail in our small kalapki beach (it was pulled in by smaller boats, timing and pushing it exactly where it could fit)
Wow! When we got back it felt like we had been gone weeks, with all the we saw and experienced in Kauai! "Wow" really sums it up, and "Amazing".
