Helicopters and more

Ok I went in a helicopter and it was freaking AWESOME! FREAKING EXPENSIVE BUT FREAKING AWESOME. The funny thing is the cheap side of me had a very hard time committing to this ride, but it was really neat. I loved how close you could get to things and how the pilot could tip you side to side to really see the beauty of the island. Kauai is amazing. There is so much beauty rolled into such a small place. Beauty you can't see from a car or a hike, definitely can't see it in a few short days.

 

We were all pretty excited to be in a helicopter:)

 I lucked out and got a really good view. I was in the front seat next to the window. I was just pumped for a new and different adventure.

One of the first things we did was head to Jurassic Falls, you know the big waterfall from Jurassic Park 1. It was through a beautiful canyon. As we were approaching the waterfall he played the theme music in our headphones. It was really really cool. Seems a little cheesy but it was great.

It was an amazing canyon and the 400 ft falls is stunning.

 So tall. You can really only get to the falls by air. It is possible by four wheel drive but there are 7 river crossings and so the timing has to be perfect.

I used the go pro and it did an awesome job of capturing video of the canyon and other things on the ride. Maybe someday I will load the videos.

 We needed one group picture in front of the helicopter.

Then it was off to view Waimea Canyon also known as the grand canyon of Hawaii.

I didn't get as many pictures of the canyon but it did look similar to the grand canyon. Not as grandiose so a little different feel but it was similar.

Really I was most excited about viewing the NaPali coast. I had read about it years ago and just could not wait to see it. It was just as beautiful as all the pictures I have ever seen.

The colors are so vibrant. The scenery amazing. All the pictures I took really don't do it justice. There are some things a camera just can't capture.

I was in love

 I took so many pictures of the coast.

 The pictures look a little weird because of the reflections from the windows

 The mountains were so crazy

 There are so many reefs it just made me want to snorkel

 So pretty!

 There were so many waterfalls all over the island. This one went all the way down the mountain. Waterfalls that fall into a pool and then create another pool and just continue all the way down the mountain. So cool!!

The Wai'ale'ale Crater is the wettest place on earth. I think it rains an average of 400 inches a year.

Really beautiful and fun to see. In the winter I saw pictures where the entire mountain side is covered in little waterfalls. We rode all the way in on the helicopter.

After the helicopter ride we checked into our new hotel. This is our view from our room.

We really just dropped of our stuff, grabbed lunch, and then headed to snorkel. On the drive we drove on this really pretty street.

I just loved how the trees made a canopy.

We snorkeled at Po'ipu Beach. It was great snorkeling. The roughest water we were in. There was definitely a strong current so I didn't get to far from the reef or the shore. I don't trust my swimming that much and I wasn't wearing my fins.

 It was a beautiful beach

 There were two places that had great snorkeling, lots of fish

  A big turtle just hanging out on the beach

 One little fishy

I forgot to mention that on our kayaking excursion I busted my underwater camera. BOO! While we were hiking my shoe got caught and I tripped. My camera was on my wrist and I caught myself before I fell but my camera slammed into a rock. The shockproof camera then had a shattered screen. It was unfortunate but that is life. I then purchased a case for my iphone so it could be used underwater. It is really cool but I don't have it completely figured out.

We snorkeled for a little while and the headed to the Spouting Horn.

 The camera does not quite capture how cool this spot really is

 The waves roll in and then shoot water through the rocks

 It happens in multiple places. I was trying to get that with a panorama shot but it never quite worked out.

 It was a fun place to watch the sunset

 So much beauty on this little island

 These were from the earlier beach. But they are good to end on.

Don't do chasing waterfalls . . . . . oh wait

Day 5 was fun!

We started the day off with a kayaking trip. We kayaked up the Wailua river. It was 2 miles up the river to the waterfall hike trailhead, then we hiked 1 mile and 1/2 to Sacred/Secret Falls, and then repeated to get home. So a good 7 mile adventure. It was a really fun way to spend the morning. The waterfall was not as cool as I was expecting but it's all good we found some cooler ones later on.

 I like what is reflected in my sunglasses

The start of our trip looked like this

 Cyndee and I paddled together.

 We switched positions for the way back

 Katie kayaked with Random dude.

 We survived

 It really was relaxing and beautiful.

sacred/secret falls

The falls fall into a nice little swimming hole:)

After the river trip we were hot and ready for more Shave Ice!

They were HUGE. I was actually quite sick after eating this entire thing. Stupid to eat it all, it was just so delicious. No self control when it comes to food....argh!

Then we went waterfall chasing. There were two close by that you could drive to so we decided to check them out.

The first waterfall we checked out was Wailua Falls. I believe it was part of the Fantasy Island TV show. I have no idea what that show is but someone who reads this might.

 These falls were beautiful. The water falls 173 feet before landing in the 33 ft pool below. Apparently back in the day boys would jump off of the falls to prove their manhood. Many didn't survive.

 There are trails to the bottom but they have been closed. Lots of people still hiked down but we opted not to. I mean we had other waterfalls to find.

The last one we visited this day was 'Opaeka'a Falls.

 These were beautiful as well. Unfortunately as far as we could tell you could only enjoy them from a distance.

On the road back from viewing the waterfall there was also a lookout to see the river we had kayaked up earlier in the day

While we were kayaking Cyndee was claiming to smell cow dung. From the picture you can see that the view from the river is really thick bushes. Once we stopped at the lookout we were able to spot all the cows that were at pasture down by the river.

For dinner this evening we tried Tiki Tacos. It was a fun little taco joint by our hotel in Coconut Beach.

Cyndee and I were not quite worn out for the day and so we rented beach cruisers from the hotel and rode the shoreline trail at sunset. Amazing! I love biking in new places. I love love love biking on the beach!!!! Well next to it I guess. It was awesome.

I was only a little excited. And I was taking the picture while biking, so not safe.

 We stopped in a couple of spots to take pictures.

 It was a perfect evening and just so beautiful

 Life lesson 20 year old cruiser bike seats are not comfortable. Neither is biking in a swim suit. The trail was 5 miles and about 1 mile from the hotel so we cruised a good 12-13 miles on these little boppers.

 I took pictures of Cyndee while I was biking as well. Not the recommended method of taking pictures, but it worked.

 I made her ride on the grass so I could get the bike in the picture

 In my living room I know the exact picture I want to capture to hang up. It involves bikes. It will be beg. It will be on canvas. I was trying to capture it on this bike ride.

 Tried a couple of shots

 I don't love any of them but they are fun

 Not quite what I was looking for. I need more cruisers, more colors. And a tad of burnt orange. I am on a quest.

Looking back we were so busy every day in Hawaii. This was a fun day with lots of great activities.