Morning with a cup of coffee on the lanai, where meditation and gratitude for the day are easily offered up  with the beauty of nature embracing me.

I watch the mist and fog that cover the mountains that surround Nawiliwili Bay, just beginning to pull back to let the sun have a go at it.

We’ve rented a car again for the day; we’re heading south to Old Koloa Town to check out all the little shops of this once sugar plantation town, and then Poipu for lunch.

We have lunch at Brennecke’s Beach Broiler on Poipu, a great upstairs eatery with open windows all around for cool breezes and a great view of the beach park across the street. It’s fun looking across at the few people there in the park, and the abundance of roosters and chickens pecking about.

At lunch we’ve decided to find the Grand Hyatt since it’s in the general area, and we’ve heard it’s pretty nice.

We jump into the car after lunch and a short walk about the park, and activate the GPS on my phone. It’s a beautiful afternoon. We’re driving through some gorgeous neighborhoods and miss the street we should turn on to continue on to the Hyatt.  We decide that the GPS will re-route us as it usually does, but then we realize that the GPS seems to be repeating the same directions leading us in somewhat of a circle. We’re out on a country road, and all of a sudden we’re following a truck…

The truck turns off, and before we know it we’re at the end of a dead-end road entering church grounds

I am so happy with the beauty we’ve found; and then I freeze, and remember. It is Thursday, December 1st. My best friend’s mother passed away last week, the rosary is today back in Texas  right about this time. I had told my friend that I would find a church today to say a little prayer for her mother, as a way of being with my friend in spirit.

I’m not sure, but I think GPS is in cahoots with my friend’s mother; she wanted to be sure I kept my promise. There is no way we would have found this church otherwise.

As we drove out we saw the sign we hadn’t seen on the way in

This post is dedicated to, and in memory of,  ”Mimi”.

Photos by Angeline M

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If you live on Kauai or if you will be visiting Kauai this summer, be sure to add this event to your calendar and help celebrate Old Koloa Planatation Days. This event takes place over several days and honors Kauai’s Planation days and the contributions made by residents of Koloa.

This picture is from last year’s parade and features Vern Kauhanui as the Grand Marshall–and he’s my Hula Kumu!

As there official website states:  “Over 20 events celebrate the plantation heritage and modern-day vitality of Kauai’s south shore communities of Koloa and Poipu, during this 9-day family-oriented festival. Each year, the festival brings visitors and residents together to learn about Koloa’s multicultural history, experience a diverse range of local foods, culture and activities, explore the area’s unique ecology and archaeology, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the south shore’s resorts, golf courses, and other neighborhood venues. “

Check out the complete schedule of activities on their website:  KoloaPlantationDays.com

While in Poipu, let us tell you about the Kiahuna Golf Village that is surrounded by the beautiful Robert Trent Jones II designed golf course.  This is one of the most sought after residential communities in Poipu close to shopping, dining, activities and the beautiful beaches on the southshore.

Check out our beautiful 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home that was designed so that you will never want to leave.  Once you enter the private gated courtyard, you find yourself in a tropical patio with a private pool that has it’s very own waterfall.  The entire home is built around this central courtyard so it can be enjoyed from both inside and outside the home.  This home is currently a very popular vacation rental.  The owner will transfer the website and future bookings to the new owner should they want to occupy this home for a few months per year and then generate cash flow in their absence.  It is the least expensive home being offered for sale in Kiahuna at this time, so don’t miss your opportunity to become a part of Kiahuna Golf Village.  MLS #241586.

Additional Information:

Call us for more information on this home or anything in Poipu—we specialize in the south shore of Kauai. Contact Ilona at (808) 635-1495, or Lucy at (808) 651-5676.

Koloa Missionary Church in Old Koloa Town

This building was original built by Dr. James Smith who was a medical missionary, and Kauai’s first physician practicing Western medicine. He traveled on horseback all over the island to treat sick people.

His son, Dr. Jared Smith, was taking over his father’s Kauai practice when he was murdered by a patient that he had recently diagnosed as positive with leprosy, which meant the patient would be exiled to the leprosy colony on Molokai. The church purchased this clinic in 1954, and it has been a Koloa fixture since then.

Tears fell during this last service because several members had been born in this church building while it was still a medical clinic. With fondness we say goodbye to the past and look forward to the new home of Koloa Missionary Church.

So, if the “change in your future is moving to Kauai,” let us know, and we will be happy to assist you in finding the perfect home.

Additional Information:

If you would like to  learn more about  properties on Kauai, feel free to contact either me, Lucy Adams (808-651-5676) or my sister, Ilona Coffey (808-635-1495).

We are both  Kauai Real Estate agents and work as a team specializing in beautiful Kauai properties.  Kauai offers something for everyone–from oceanfront condos to homes with beautiful views.  Check out some at amazing prices in today’s market.

The first thing that greeted us as we entered the gates was an abandoned truck.

Another truck can be found at the far end of the compound; blending into the horizon.

Prior to our arrival, the owner of the mill had the vegetation around the structures trimmed; else it would look pretty much like this; except may be the whole semi would be fully covered up by bushes.

We were given permission to photograph the inside of the mill, but restricted to one room only; for safety reasons.  Prior to the shoot, we were warned about mosquitoes; which really gave me the creeps – I am basically a mosquito magnet.  So I came prepared with long sleeve shirts, long pants, mosquito repellents, … you name it.  Fully protected, I foolishly marched into the room.

Inside of the mill was actually very dark.  Which makes dynamic range a problem.  The trick to a situation like this is bracketing and HDR. Then pray that the exposures are wide enough to recover the details not visible to our eyes.

I processed these with Photomatix and decided to make them black and white.  I feel that it adds to the nostalgia and it reminds me of the mood at the moment.  Unfortunately, I had to make a quick exit from the mill because within seconds after I entered, I started to get mosquito bites.  I was inside 5 minutes max, and I came out with 10 to 15 bites.  Yikes!  The mosquitoes  followed me even I was outside of the room.  Darn!  But I had to hang around so I can get the other side of the abandoned semi.

As usual, I got bored of shooting rusty buildings and trucks really quick.  Then I decided to experiment with some filters I had.  I pulled out my Sigh-Ray Blue and Gold polarizer; look what it did to the windshields – one blue, the other gold.  Pretty weird eh?

Honestly, I really don’t know how to use this filter.  The results are really wacky; it’s kind of a love-hate situation for me.  I was told it works well on water.  May be I will try it some day.

This was pretty much what I saw from the view finder.  The fun part was it made the sky completely saturated in blue; but it also made the color for everything else off.

Anyway, I am glad we did it.  Didn’t like the mosquito part a bit at all.

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Over the President’s weekend, I had chance to visit Kauai Island. I’ve lived in Oahu for a month now and already got tired of this island mainly because island isn’t big enough and pretty much seen all tourist attractions this island offers.

Before I go further, the island is pronounced Ko-Ah-Ee. It’s not Ka-Wa-Ee, Ka-Woo-Ee, nor Ka-Who-Ee. I had hard time pronouncing it the right way too at the first (much like many towns in Hawaii) but finally got it right after few days. It’s Ko-Ah-Ee, so please keep that in mind =)

Kauai is the oldest island of eight Hawaiian Islands. It’s one of four major touristy islands too. It’s located on the north side of Oahu and pretty undeveloped island compare to other touristy island. It makes Oahu look like New York City.

Don’t want to go too much into details cuz I know you ain’t interested in those. I’ll just highlight few things I learned/experienced from my trip to Kauai.

1. Roosters
Gosh, what is up with this island and wild roosters? They are EVERYWHERE and constantly crying (yelling). The rumor is that Kauai used to have large rooster farms but a disaster hurricane in early 90s destroyed many infrastructures of Kauai including rooster farms. Because of the hurricane, the farm was destroyed and roosters were flown all over the island (apparently survived). Ever since then, these roosters were free to roam around the island and even protected by the state government. They can be seen all over the island and drivers stop for these roosters to cross the roads.

They are seen everywhere on the island!

But there are good things with these roosters too. You would not need electronic alarm in the morning. You’ll automatically wake up around 6:20AM because roosters will be crying out loud.

2. Waterfalls
As you drive through Kauai, you’ll notice many waterfalls by mountainside. They’re beautiful and magnificent but ever wonder where the water is coming from? I mean… it’s not like there’s a pond up in mountain.

Waterfalls from Mt. Wai'ale'ale - the origin of water on Kauai

It turns out there’s a mountain in the middle of the island called Mt. Wai’ale’ale which its top is the wettest spot on the EARTH. That’s where the water is coming from! I have absolutely no idea why the top of mountain rains almost everyday but because that they attract so many tourists every year.

3. Life After Dark
There isn’t any. This island becomes silent when sun goes down. Okay, fancy resort area stay open because that’s where people with money stay and business want to make money off them. However, other small towns shut down. I stayed in eastern side of the island (North and South are where ballers stay) and after 9PM, nothing but 7-Eleven stay open. It was an interesting experience but probably not the best place to come if you’re a night owl.

4. True Hawaii
The locals say Kauai represent the true image of Hawaii. They believe Oahu and Maui are too developed with condos and high-end hotels in last 20 years or so and no longer represent the accurate lifestyle of Hawaii.

Kauai is still very much undeveloped and its west coast shows its amazing image of Hawaii. Also being the oldest island help to solidify the natural development of island and landscape changing. The Na Pali coast is the result of true, pure natural wonders of Hawaii. Its magnificent mountain valley needed several million years to develop what it looks today. It’s also one of most segregated places in Hawaii. No car has access to it and only those with brave heart and endurance can take on 11-mile hiking to truly experience the Northwest Kauai. Even with 11-mile, you need good weather because rain can have significant effect on hiking trails

I didn’t get to experience this because of time constraint, but I hope to come back again and truly take on this challenge and experience the majestic Na Pali coast.

Here are few of best pictures I took during this trip. Enjoy!

* Conclusion
If you were visiting Kauai, 3-4 days would be sufficient to just explore around the island and see all the major attractions. If you were looking for some camping and hiking, 7+ days trip would be good to start. I can easily see myself enjoying this island for 10 days or so but shortage of nightlife can keep away the younger generation looking for some fun under the lights and music.

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Tidepools received Zagat Surveys 2009 Best Restaurant on Kauai award and Honolulu Magazine awarded the restaurant its Hale ‘Aina Award for Best Kauai Restaurant in 2006, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1997.  Although considered a fine dining restaurant the attire is resort casual, which is a huge plus for visitors looking for a great meal without having to dress up.  It actually felt a little different to wear resort casual attire after spending a couple of days in beach attire.  We cleaned up real nice!

Tidepools is an open air hale pili floating above koi-filled lagoons and a beautiful waterfall.

We were seated overlooking the lagoon and right next to this beautiful water fall. We could also hear the music from the live entertainment coming from the hotel lobby.

Right below our feet, we could see schools of koi splashing around in the water. These guys swam so close to the water surface that their fins stuck out. Eating this close to the lagoon reminded me of eating at the Pagoda Hotel's Floating Restaurant as a kid.

Tidepools is known for its contemporary Hawaiian cuisine that is an eclectic mix of local ingredients with local and Asian flavors and dishes.  The menu is pretty extensive, so we took our time perusing through it while enjoying our cocktails, listening to the waterfall, and taking in the breathtaking view.  Across the lagoon, a photographer was taking a couple’s wedding photos and a hotel worker was busy lighting all the tiki torches along the lush walking paths while the sun was setting and lighting up the sky with various shades of orange and pink.

Island Tomato Salad: He ordered this thinking that it would consist of slices of sweet tomato on a bed of Manoa lettuce tossed in a creamy bleu cheese dressing. So, we kind of scratched our heads when our server placed the dish on the table. That's it? One whole tomato?

Our server noticed our confused facial expression and explained that he needed to cut into the tomato for the salad. Sure enough, he sliced the tomato in half to see that the tomato is stuffed with shredded Manoa lettuce with bleu cheese crumbles and bacon. What a unique way of presenting a salad!

Poke Appetizer sampler: I wanted to save room for dinner so we shared this small sampler that consisted of spicy tako poke on a cucumber cup, ahi poke in a fried wonton cup, and a seafood ceviche in a thin rice wrapper package (we broke through the rice wrapper to get to the ceviche before I took the picture).

Hawaiian Opah: Opah grilled with avocdo-crab stuffed shrimp, potato croquette, and tangerine-yuzu sauce.

Hawaiian Salt & Garlic Rubbed Prime Rib: We obviously switched our orders from Brennecke's because I got the prime rib and he got the opah that night. This dish was monsterous and served with Yukon mashed potatoes, broccolini, truffled jus, and horseradish cream. I barely finished half of it. He laughed when he noticed that the size of my meat looked bigger than my head. I actually think it was.

Molten Chocolate Cake: Our server asked us when we ordered if we would be interested in having their famous Molten Chocolate Cake for desssert as it takes 25 minutes to prepare. We looked at each other and nodded yes. It came out beautifully!

I took this picture using the flash so that the rich molten chocolate could appear as it oozed out of the cake. The dessert was warm, rich, and decedent. I kept thinking to myself, "I really don't have anymore room in my stomach for this," but would find myself eating one bite full after another.

We had a wonderful time at Tidepools and it was the perfect way to cap off our excellent vacation to Kauai.  The prices are steep, so save this restaurant for that one special splurge meal while visiting.  The ambience is simply beautiful and the food is simply delicious.  All in all, we had a great time during our stay in the Garden Isle and despite being impressed with the Grand Hyatt Kauai, we will probably stick to the Sheraton Kauai Resort for our next visit as it is offers a more low-key resort vibe and the rooms are closer to the beach as well as a little more affordable for us.  I honestly can’t wait for our next vacation to Kauai and discovering more eateries to dine at and share my experiences!

Happy Dining,
The Common Foodie

This is my view from our cabana. Please forgive the un-pedicured toes! Doesn't this remind you of a Corona commercial? As the afternoon wore on, rain clouds moved in, so we were forced to pack up our stuff and continue our lounging from our hotel room lanai, which faced the ocean.

This picture was my computer's wallpaper at work for a little bit after I came back from vacation. Sometimes I get go busy with life that I take for granted the paradise that I am so blessed to be born, raised, and living in. Unfortunately, I had to remove it as my wallpaper picture because I found myself sitting at my desk with my mind back at Poipu Beach!

This guy (or gal, not sure which) agreed with our mantra that day - relax and unwind at the beach. Because Hawaiian Monk Seals are endangered animals, the nearby hotel roped off a roomy area to accommodate his nap. People are not allowed to touch or be within a certain area of the seal or suffer a federal penalty. Although the hotel placed a warning sign, there were some (I can only assume illiterate or highly oblivious) tourists who tried to work around the ropes. One kid even tried kicking sand at the seal to wake him. Fortunately, his mother quickly stopped him.

Since he got in the rental car to pick-up and deliver lunch from Puka Dog from the Poipu Shopping Village the last time we spent the day at the beach, I volunteered this time to be the lunch gopher.  (NOTE:  Despite all the rave reviews of the puka dog, we fail to see what the excitement is all about.)  While we were at Kukui’ula Village, we found Bubba Burgers and decided that was the place to get lunch from during our day on the beach.  I hopped in our rather dirty rental car (don’t the car rental companies drive their returned cars through the car wash before renting them out to the next customer anymore?) and took the super short (but unwalkable) drive to the Kukui’ula Village.

Bubba Burgers is located in the Kukui'ula Village and is its third location on Kauai. There is a branch in Kapaa and another on the North Shore in Hanalei.

As I waited in line to order (the place was packed with hungry customers), I noticed the side window by the cashier corner. $5 for a kiss...hmm, seems like an awfully steep price. I thought this was a cute touch. The waiting actually provided me time to take a look at the menu and figure out what to bring back to "His Royal Highness" who was sunning himself on the beach in his private cabana. Just kidding.

Lunch is here! The ladies at Bubba's wrapped and packed everything neatly in this cardboard box making it easier for me to carry it to the beach. Other people at the beach looked a little jealous.

Double Bubba: He decided on a Double Bubba, which is two quarter pound beef patties. Lettuce and tomatoes or cheese cost extra, but I know that he likes his burgers "dressed," just like me.

Bubba Burger: A single beef patty with cheese and lettuce and tomato added. The burger had a delicious smoky flavor from grill. I think eating it out in the open on the beach made the burger taste even better!

Frings: I couldn't decide between a side order of onion rings or fries, so I got the combination called, "frings." How convenient. The fries were tasty, but could have been left in the fryer a little longer. However, the onion rings were spot on and simply delicious!

Chili Bowl: I wasn't sure if a Double Bubba would be enough for him, so I got a bowl of chili, just in case. I requested cheese and onions for added flavor, but it needed a little more zip, like more chili powder or maybe a couple of dashes of Tabasco sauce. It was a little bland, but we finished off with a mental note that we didn't need to order that again.

Other menu choices include the Big Bubba, which is three beef patties; the Slopper or Double Slopper, which is an open-faced burger smothered with chili; Teriyaki or Double Teri Burger; and the Hubba Bubba, which includes rice, burger patty, and hot dog all smothered with chili.  Bubba’s also serves Chicken Sandwich, Caesar Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, and Corn Dogs.  Bubba’s is a great place to take the kids and satisfy your burger and fries guilty pleasure.  Bubba’s is an open air take-out place with tables and chairs available to sit and dine, but there is only counter service, so make sure you order first before making your way to a table.  Bubba’s is open 7 days a week from 10:30 am to close.  Bubba’s is definitely on our list of eateries the next time we are in Kauai!

Happy Dining,
The Common Foodie

Regarding the controversy of Brennecke's using a certain product name in its menu, I am in no way involved in restaurant management's decision to use or remove this particular product name from its menu.  I do not know who restaurant management is nor have I ever met any individual affiliated with restaurant management.  Thus, any inferences that I am somehow affiliated with or influenced by restaurant management are totally false.  My photo descriptions (which I have edited and deleted any product name or references since then) were taken directly from the menu posted on the restaurant's website.  I believe that particular product name is no longer on the website menu.  Again, I was not involved in that decision to remove the product name nor was my decision to edit my descriptions influenced by or in conjunction with the name removal.  It was my OWN decision to make my blog post edits.  No one asked me.  I edited the post solely because I respect the aggrieved company's effort in protecting its product name.  However, any comments or questions regarding Brennecke's use of any particular product name should be taken up with restaurant management; not this blog.  This is a personal blog consisting of my take on restaurants and delicious offerings.]

While vacationing in Kauai last May, we were looking for a great place to cap off our day of relaxation without having to go too far.  A couple of restaurants were recommended by friends, such as Tidepools and the Beach House Restaurant, but unfortunately, those restaurants were already booked that night.  Incidentally, we made reservations for Tidepools for the next night, but that will be reviewed in a future post.  As we munched on a late snack from the Living Foods Market & Cafe at the new Kukui’ula Village, we came across Brennecke’s Beach Broiler listed on the map of Koloa/Poipu in a visitor magazine provided by our hotel.  Thanks to our handy smart phones, we found the restaurant’s phone number and were relieved to find out that they could squeeze us in for late dinner.  Perfect since we needed time to digest our late panini snack.  [Note:  We ate better tasting and more affordable paninis from elsewhere.  Scratch Living Foods Market & Cafe off our list of Kauai eateries.]

Incidentally, the Kukui’ula Village is a new shopping and dining area in Koloa hosting a variety of shops and restaurants, including Merriman’s Kauai, Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill, and Bubba Burgers.  We also did a little shopping at Quiksilver one night and ate ice cream for dessert from Lappert’s Ice Cream & Coffee.  The buildings are reminiscent of a quaint sugar cane town of old Kauai with authentic plantation-style architecture.  It was still pretty new as some of the stores were still moving in and there were still store spaces available for lease.  We made note of the restaurants in the village and placed those on our list for our next vacation to Kauai.

Brennecke’s (we are not sure if the name is pronounced “bren-necks” or bren-neck-keys“) is a beach front restaurant located along Poipu Beach.  The restaurant’s slogan is, “Right on the Beach, Right on the Price,” and we found that to be absolutely true.  The restaurant provides open air casual dining with a great view of the ocean and a menu offering an array of steaks, seafood, pasta, sandwiches, and salads.    Since we had late dinner reservations, we missed the sunset, but I imagine that sunset dining here is spectacular.

Brennecke's Beach Broiler is located on 2100 Hoone Road, upstairs from Brennecke's Beachside Deli and Nukumoi Surf Co. Surf Shop. While downstairs, you can also shop in the gift shop for Brennecke's logo gear or make a reservation for a helicopter tour, deep sea fishing, or zip lining at Brennecke's Activity Center.

Even though we had reservations, we had a wait a little while for the earlier party seated at our table to wrap up their dinner. The place was packed with sunset dinner diners and late diners, like us. We waited at the bar area while watching the bartenders mix one mai tai after the other. He noticed the walls were adorned with college pennants. As soon as he spotted the top pennant, he instantly knew that he was going to love this place!

Arugala with Warm Goat Cheese: The goat cheese was lightly breaded with seasoned panko crumbs and fried and then placed on top a bed of fresh arugula tossed in a raspberry vinaigrette with spicy honey macadamia nuts. He loved this salad!

Baby Romaine Caesar Salad: Crisp leaves of baby romaine lightly tossed with a creamy caesar dressing and topped with shaved parmesan cheese and a garlic and herb croustini. What I loved about this salad was that the romaine was lightly tossed in the dressing rather than drenched. I prefer my salad greens crispy, not soggy due to excess dressing. The caesar dressing was creamy and flavorful, and did not overpower me with garlic.

14 oz. Prime Rib Roast: He asked for the end cut because he likes the charbroiled seasoned crust found on the edges of the roast. The meat was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. He was able to satisfy his carnivorous appetite in one sitting. Notice that the plate says, "Poipu Kauai" and is decorated with palm fronds and plumeria flowers? How appropriate for a beachside restaurant, don't you think?

Fresh Island Fish (Opah): The fresh catch of the day was Opah (Moonfish). I ordered my opah sautéed with lemon caper sauce (rather than with the tropical fruit salsa). Other fish selections may include ahi, mahi mahi, or ono. This was a simple yet very satisfying meal. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Warm Apple Crisp à la mode: As if we didn't have enough to eat, we treated ourselves with this delicious apple crisp drizzled with caramel sauce. We were on vacation so we loosely adhered to our diets (we could deal with the food remorse when we got back home).

We had a wonderful dinner and are so glad we found Brennecke’s.  The food was great, the service was attentive and friendly, and the prices were reasonable.  Next time you find yourself on Kauai, consider Brennecke’s, which is open daily 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, serving lunch and dinner.  They really do live up to their slogan.

Happy Dining,
The Common Foodie

[02-14-2011 UPDATE:  References to a certain product name were removed from this blog post.  For those who have taken issue with Brennecke's use of this product name, please appropriately direct your discussion with restaurant management, NOT with this blog.  Menu descriptions in this blog post were taken from the restaurant's website.  As of 02-14-2011, there were no references to the product name on the website; however, I do not know if the product name is still listed on the restaurant's menu.  Thank you.]

anyway, back to my entry. we spent 4 days and 3 nights on the island of kaua’i. the last time i visited the garden isle was some 15-20 years ago. so like rie, this was practically my first trip there. when you’re “small kid time”, you don’t have the capacity for memory like you do now – to understand and put things in perspective on what the island is about, etc. all you remember when you were small is how fun the sand was and how long it took before you and your brother could get to an arcade.

we did many things while staying there. like grind!

hamura’s saimin stand

sueoka’s snack shop

koloa fish market

mark’s place

waimea canyon

a hui hou kaua’i!

Jess picks a red car!

Grace opts for the sporty red jeep!

Tonight we let ourselves loose in the parking lot of the Waiohai Marriott Beach Club in Koloa, Kaua’i. Our mission was to ShiFT the World by empowering vacationers to send a heartfelt, but simple “Aloha” to their loved ones back home. We purchased a handful of postcards with scenes of Kaua’i and pre-stamped them. We placed each postcard in a Ziploc baggie with one of our business cards on which we wrote “Send a postcard home on us.” Then we placed the baggies under the windshield wipers of five random cars in the parking lot. We hope that this simple gift is a happy surprise for the drivers of the cars/vacationers, and thrills the recipients when they find a beautiful Kaua’i postcard in the mailbox.

Forty-five Youth Conservation Corps members will participate in a day of service on Monday, February 15, 2010 to restore Maui’s Kanaha Pond in Kahului.  The group will work to remove invasive plants, plat native species, and remove a fence to improve accessibility for future restoration efforts.

Kanaha Pond is a 234-acre wetland adjacent to industrial buildings, commercial centers, and the Kahului Airport.  The pond is home to three endangered Hawaiian birds: the Hawaiian coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o), Hawaiian stilt (ae‘o), and Hawaiian duck (koloa). More than 80 species of migratory shorebirds, waterbirds, and ducks also frequent the pond.  Native plants including makaloa and kaluha, species favored by Hawaiians for mat making, are also found at Kanaha.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife was awarded funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to engage the youth in protecting and preserving Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources as members of the Recovery Youth Conservation Corps.  The Corporation for National and Community Service awarded the competitive funding to DLNR.

View of the Pacific Ocean from the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i

The boys enjoyed handcrafted ice cream from Lappert's in Koloa, HI

qb enjoyed 45 holes of spectacular golf at the Poipu Bay course at the Grand Hyatt

Holes 15-17 at Poipu Bay parallel the beach and afford some spectacular views. Fortunately, they also play downwind!

qb got to play 9 holes with each of the boys. Here's Isaac finishing a nice swing from the 8th tee

qb’s got some restaurant reviews coming, most of them pertaining to ahi tacos or sashimi.  The Grand Hyatt is a fantastic place to stay, but the surf is a little too aggressive for weak swimmers.  The pools are fabulous, though.  Stay tuned for foodie info!

qb

Lihu’e
Koloa
Hanapepe
Waimea
Ko’olau
Hanalei
Kawaihau

Kauai, Men

Lihu’e
Hanapepe
Waimea
Hanalei
Kawaihau