KAUA'I SUMMARY

Day 1 - After a leisurely breakfast on the lanai, I took a 2-hour flight with Ultralight Adventures. We left from Port Allen in the south, flew over the island to the north coast, then headed down the entire length of the west coast. I then joined the rest of the family for a stroll through the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Next we visited Spouting Horn Beach Park and finished the day with a lovely dinner.

Day 2 - Today we drove up to the north side of the island. We stopped at Kauapea (or Secret Beach) and wandered around the volcanic tidal pools. We also paid Kilauea Point a visit with its lighthouse and beautiful views. On the drive to Ke'e Beach, we popped into Maniniholo Dry Cave and Waikanaloa Wet Cave. While everyone else went swimming, I explored a bit of the wet, muddy and very slippery Kalalau Trail. We watched the sun set at Hanalei Beach Park.

Day 3 - The morning started with a 4-hour catamaran tour along the Na Pali coast. We cruised in and out of caves, saw Spinner dolphins, and watched colorful fish in the turquoise water. Afterwards, I went back to Port Allen for a 55-minute helicopter ride with Inter-Island Helicopters, since this was one of the few that flew with no doors. We went via Waimea Canyon up to the Na Pali coast and then back down over the lush interior.

Day 4 - We spent the day adventuring with Outfitters Kauai. We took kayaks down the river to the Hule'ia National Wildlife Refuge. We walked through the jungle and got pulled by a tractor across Kipu Ranch. We arrived at a zipline platform and got to zip over a river. The tour ended with a visit to Kipu Falls. The tractor tram pulled us back to the river where a motorboat carried us back upstream. We had a spectacular dinner at the Beach House Restaurant.

Day 5 - We drove up the east side of the island for a visit to the Kilohana Plantation, complete with a 40-minute train ride. Afterwards, we made short stops at Wailua Falls and Mahaulepu Beach. After dark, we celebrated the 4th of July with fireworks on the beach.

Day 6 - At Lydgate Beach Park, I explored some old temple ruins and petroglyphs. We then drove inland to the Kamokila Hawaiian Village, where a traditional Hawaiian village has been recreated from centuries ago. In the evening, we partook of their luau, a traditional Hawaiian feast.

Day 7 - We walked around the charming stores in Koloa, then went to the Kauai Coffee Company to enjoy some free samples. We walked across the swinging bridge in Hanapepe then headed inland to Waimea Canyon until it ended at the Kalalau Valley at the Na Pali coast. On the way back, we found some lovely hills made of the island's famous red dirt. We took short strolls at Salt Pond Beach and Glass Beach.

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