Day Two of the Kauai "Mind Trip"

Well, it's not cold AND dreary today, just cold.  So it's time to continue the "mind trip" to Kauai.  Yesterday we visited Waimea Canyon.  It was really amazing.  If you missed it, you need to go back and look so you can catch up and join us today as we head out to the North Shore but not before we find a really amazing breakfast to store up some calories and give us enough energy to get through all we have planned.  Lucky for us, the best breakfast on the island is available on our way to the North Shore.

So, we'll just hop in the rental convertible.... Oh, did I not mention that yesterday?  Yes, of course, our rental car is a convertible because what's the point of renting a car in Hawaii if it has some big metal top on it that doesn't allow the wind and sun in.  Plus there are lots of mountains to look up at while you drive and who wants a top in the way.  The only thing we have to worry about is pulling over and putting the top up before each little rainstorm.  Anyway, we are off and our first stop is Art Cafe Hemingway for what the reviewers on YELP describe as the best breakfast on the island and the atmosphere is pretty nice too!  I'm having The Sun Also Rises, no doubt a great breakfast and an even better book.

Following breakfast we are heading north on the Kuhio Hwy to the Kilauea Lighthouse.  The lighthouse is situated on the northernmost point of Kauai and it is breathtaking.  It also happens to be located on the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge which means we should get to see some really interesting birds during our visit.  And even luckier yet, it is humpback whale season in Hawaii and we are in the perfect location to see the giant marine mammals from land.

After taking a couple hundred pictures ('cause that's how I roll) and searching the water for humpback whales, we will leave the light house and head down to Secret Beach.  It's not an easy place to get to but well worth the journey.  From Kilauea, we drive north 1/2 mile and turn right onto Kalihiwai Road (which immediately elbows left). Then immediately turn right again onto Secret Beach Road (this road is unmarked and rises up between an 8 foot berm on each side). In less than a half mile we get to the end where there is a small parking area in front of a few homes. After a little search we find the trailhead between the houses. From here the trail is about a 5 minute walk down a very steep trail on the left side of a draw next to a fence. Thank goodness we are here on a perfectly sunny day because the trail can be very muddy and slippery. Apparently, it is pretty dangerous to walk down unless it is dry.

Yep!  I think this view was worth the hike from where we had to park the car.

I really like the photo of the lighthouse from the beach as a storm is coming in.  Although, if we stay until it starts raining, we are going to be stuck out here until the trail dries, so we better run back to the car while we can.  Whew!  Just barely made it back to the car before the rain started.  From here we'll drive around to Queens Bath and then Hanalei Bay.  Watch the video on the link provided for Queen's Bath... since it is January we are unable to go down to the bath area and swim in the pool.  I guess that means that we might have to take another "mind trip" back to Kauai this summer when the surf is a little less volatile.

At Hanalei the art galleries are terrific and I really love the pier.  It is beautiful and it's on the US National Register of Historic Places.  It was originally built in 1912 and over the years was changed from wood to concrete.  Since it is Saturday of our "mind trip" the Waioli Mission House is open for tours today.  So, while we are here in Hanalei, we will stop by.  It is an out of the way sight, but not to be missed if we catch it on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.

Leaving Waioli Mission, we'll take the 7 mile drive along the shoreline to Haena State Park.  Tomorrow we will see this amazing shoreline from a boat.  But today we must drive it to get to the park.  I can't tell you how beautiful this drive is.  Before leaving the mission we put the top back down on the car and the scenery is just gorgeous.  I'm posting an aerial view below so that you can see the amazing area that we are driving through.  I've never really had a great desire to do one of those helicopter trips before, but I think if there was ever a place to spend the money on one this might be it.  Unfortunately, it is just impossible to see exactly how beautiful your surroundings are unless you can stand back from them and look from a distance.

Well, it has been a long day.  So it is time to head back to the hotel and sip a glass of wine on the balcony before getting ready for dinner.  I know what you're thinking.....  How did we get stuck in a place like Kauai, while all those suckers back home are dealing with 30 degree weather?  It's just because we take better mind vitamins than they do.  As I mentioned earlier, we will spend the better part of the day tomorrow on a boat, so be sure and take your Dramamine before you open tomorrow's blog.  Enjoy your day, I'm going to escape to Bora Bora for the rest of the day to research a little trip.....