Road Trip 2

On our second venture out of Po'ipu, we traveled east and to the north of the island.  The north of Kauai is considered the "lush" and "natural" part of an already lush and natural island.  It was a rainy day on the island but it was particularly wet the further north that we drove...and scenic!  A little movie trivia.  The island of Kauai is where movies such as South Pacific, Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean (pt. 4), Tropic Thunder and, most recently, The Descendants have been filmed.  The northern part of the island is primarily where the epic shots are from.  I had to check it out!

Our first stop was the Kīlauea Lighthouse

 and Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

little tree climbers

 Hala! at the pineapple tree.  Just kidding, pineapples don't grow on trees.  This is a Hawaiian Hala fruit tree.

 Tiago, always in the mood for climbing was disappointed to find out that the light house is actually closed to the public.  However, he enjoyed a film on the lighthouse's history (seriously).

 At the wildlife refuge, we spotted the Hawaiian Nene, and several albatross, which momma Guilar found fairly uninteresting.  Nate, looking a little like a pirate here, helped Tiago get a better view of the north shore. 'Ahoy, Looks like more rain up ahead'.

 As we ventured further north, towards Princeville, we spotted this amazing view of the Hanalei Valley full of taro fields set against the backdrop of the carved out and waterfall bejeweled Namolokama mountain.  (Unfortunately, I had left my camera on the "Landscape" setting instead of the "active child" mode.)

 Just past the town of Hanalei heading towards the "end of the road."

 We stopped for lunch at Ha'ena beach and...

... took a look inside Dry Cave on the side of the mountain wall.

 On our way back "home" we stopped in Hanalei at Black Pot Beach.

 This picturesque pier was featured in the 1950's movie South Pacific...

 The beach is also recognizable from the movie The Descendants, with George Clooney.

 The weather was not "beach weather" but we couldn't convince Tiago.  He'd jump into the north Pacific.  He loves the ocean.

 

 Interesting story:  Tiago had to pee.  We pulled the minivan to the side of the road where we saw a small hut with a sign for shaved ice (it was closed).  A handsome native with a machete (and some missing teeth...and red-dirt-stained bare feet) allowed Tiago to pee behind a camper.  He gave us a mini lesson on the benefits of coconut and how to properly consume the fruit.  We bought fresh coconuts and drank coconut juice through a straw; then, we ate fresh coconut by scraping it out with a shard of hard coconut husk, as instructed!

 Natasha went cookoo for coconut.  After being duped by empty coconut shells used for alcoholic beverages, scattered on beaches, and finding underipened cocos still attached to their palms, Natasha was worried that she might never get to find a real coconut for consumption.  At last, she finally got her authentic coconut fix.

 Tiago was not a fan of the tepid, milky beverage.

 More for Natasha!

Road Trip #2 = SUCCESS!