The Most Lengthy Post on Kaua'i EVAH

We finally made it back!

Can you hear the desperation in that 

finally?

We hadn't been back to the islands in 2 1/2 years.

My heart was starting to dry out so badly

that I had dreams about

floating in the Hawai'ian ocean...

but not just floating...

being surrounded,

womb-like

in the most comfortable, temperate, clear ocean

EVAH!

So back we went.

As quickly as we could.

Back to our favorite spot:

KAUA'I

**If you click on the photos, you can see them larger**
On our first morning, I hoarded plumerias:

We walked around and took in all of the colors and scents...

so familiar, yet so far away

Gosh dang it...don't we look happy!?! 

I took this pic for my students, 

just to see if they knew what it was:

They Did!  There is hope in this world.

Hanalei Bay...

We got stuck here...

...put our toes in the sand,

enveloped ourselves in the ocean,

and happily couldn't figure out how to leave.

Where's WaldoNick?

..and let's talk about rain.

Not California rain.

Hawai'i rain:

abundant, warm, nourishing

RAIN!

Rain that makes waterfalls flow:

 
We spent 95% of our days here, only returning to our condo to restock the cooler.

Here's a fun beach game for you: 

Draw a circle quadrant in the sand.

Then, throw rocks into the quadrant and score points for the quadrant your rock lands in.

Fun stuff, people.

We ventured out to a very special beach one day.

This incredible paradise was shared with us by a friend who is dear to us.  He was working to keep it sacred, both for the local people and local fauna.  Unfortunately, it is starting to show up in tour books/websites...and no, I will not tell you the name ;)

No way. Sharks live there? Really? ;) 

One of the best ways to travel to Kaua'i on a budget is to stay in a rental with a kitchen.  We cooked 95% of our food instead of going to restaurants.  

Fresh fish and local produce. Every day.

BAM!

 

The sunsets!

Oh! The sunsets!

We also hiked to Hanakapiai Falls...

and swam underneath the falls...

holy bucket list!

Can you see why people illegally live along this hike?

This is my favorite pic of the trip:

Passiflora:

Back to Hanalei Bay

(and the most handsome man alive):

What's he looking at?  Only the most beautiful sunset EVAH:

Now let's discuss orange clouds.

You know, the kind you only find in the Hawai'ian sunset.

My version of heaven has orange Hawai'ian clouds.

Just sayin'

 

Cue Alexi Murdoch's "Orange Sky"

Oh yeah! We also paddle boarded for the first time.

Yee-haw!

If you are still reading at this point in this ridiculously long love story of a post, 

you must be feeling the pull.

You need to GO.

GO TO HANALEI.

Do not pass go.

Do not collect $100.

GO TO HANALEI.

Stop buying unneeded stuff.

Save your money and 

GO TO HANALEI.

aloha.