Larry, Sarah, and Emily left early this morning for a kayak/hiking trip. They kayaked on a river whose name translates to "push on through". Apparently, the trade winds blow through and aid one's progress up the river. The girls reported that it was certainly easier paddling than going across Hilo Bay, and that the water was only 3-10 feet deep. What beautiful scenery!
They kayaked to a take-out point, ate lunch, then climbed/hiked the sometimes slippery trails to two waterfalls.
The second had a shallow pool where they swam and splashed. Larry even jumped from the rocks! Glad I wasn't there to be freaked out; he said it was quite slippery back there!
I, on the other hand, stayed closer to the ship. Couldn't sleep in too long since we were to leave port at 2:00, so I took the shuttle the short distance from port to experience the shopping opportunities in beautiful downtown Nawiliwili. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek...) This consisted of a road with no traffic light and a crosswalk boasting two strip shopping centers geared toward tourists - just like me! Kukui nut oil was at the top of my list; we were anxious to test out its purported healing properties on our sunburned skin. Having found that, I bought color-changing gifts at Del Sol for Larry and the girls, and, at a jewelry store, opened an oyster to discover a sleek black pearl. My favorite find, though, was a lovely beaded cuff-style bracelet with red, blue, and gold stones. Very different!
They call Kauai the Garden Island, but Larry decided it should be called the Chicken Island. Indeed, everywhere you look are chickens. They cheered us on while ziplining and we've seen them everywhere since. While shopping today, I saw a chicken family - rooster, hen, and eight chicks - wandering around next to the roadside with cars whizzing by. Apparently, when Hurricane Iniki hit the island in 1992, all the chickens, pets and those being commercially raised, were set loose. Impossible to round up again, they've run wild ever since. With no natural predators on the island (King Kamehameha wouldn't allow the mongoose to be introduced here after one bit him), and because all birds on Kauai are protected, the chickens have the run of the place. Pretty funny!
Once back onboard, we met out on the deck for the famous Na Pali Coast crossing. This beautiful coastline of Kauai was named one of the 50 most beautiful places in the world. Indeed, the scenery was breathtaking.
A lovely view to end our cruise week.
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