Gidget Goes Hawaiian- Kauai & Aulani 8/2012 TR- 5/24 COMPLETE!!

[glokitty]

But for today, this was as far as we would go. Sorry boys.

Writing this, I actually have guilt- guilt that we didn't stay longer on Kauai. Guilt that we will go back, but probably not with them. BIG guilt.

SURE you can all return, vacationing is great with adult children too!

 

[podsnel]

OK, made it up to page 12. It's taking so long because of all those gorgeous photos! Gotta stop too often and drool! Darn you Ellen!

Sorry! Maybe you should read it at MEK's work- she can't see pics there, LOL-

Are Keens kind of a cross between a hike and water shoe? How expensive are they?

Keens are a brand of hiking shoe- they have closed and then the open back ones which we prefer (well, at least I do- I get blisters on the backs of my ankles with closed shoes). They are different from sneakers because they provide EXCELLENT traction- they also have great support. I'm bring them to WDW (just 2 weeks from today!!!). They were a little pricey because we bought 4 pairs, about $85 each- but we'll get a lot of use out of them between Hawaii, 10 days at WDW, and California next summer. I did buy them via mileageplus at Shoes.com, so I got a TON of miles doing that- it helped get us to Cali next summer on all miles!

I don't know if i could do the zip line, especially the Kong. I'd be afraid to even climb the ramp!

You could do it! I did!!

The one shaved ice with the pineapple and colada flavors looked good to me! How's the menu options if you don't like fish/seafood over there? I'd be ordering a #8 every night!

There are tons of other options, like pork and beef- we happen to really like fish, so that's why we choose that so often.

Will catch all the way up soon! Don't go too fast!

If I don't go fast, I'll mix it all up!

SURE you can all return, vacationing is great with adult children too!

YES!!! And I am absolutely looking forward to those vacations, too! Thanks for the positive thought!

 

[podsnel]

Hi Ellen!

Found your TR through Bill (saintstickets), and I'm glad I did! I'm planning a Hawaii vacation for next summer and will be on Kauai as well (just booked a condo in Princeville). Your tips and pictures are great!

Hi Mark! Thanks for joining in- you are going to LOVE Hawaii!! And Princeville is fantastic! So gorgeous- where is your condo? How long are you staying? Can I come?

 

[ACDSNY]

Looking forward to Tunnels Beach, I'm not sure if we've been there. It seems like every time we tried we couldn't find any place to park so please share the secret on parking.

I've never seen Ke'e Beach look so calm...in the winter it's like this...

 

[ACDSNY]

Here's one from Ke'e Beach from Feb 2010

 

[podsnel]

Looking forward to Tunnels Beach, I'm not sure if we've been there. It seems like every time we tried we couldn't find any place to park so please share the secret on parking.

I've never seen Ke'e Beach look so calm...in the winter it's like this...

Here's one from Ke'e Beach from Feb 2010

WOW!!!! Thank-you very much for posting these- it is really hard to imagine it when you are there, because it looked like a lake. What a difference a few months makes, huh? Thanks again- love seeing them-

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Ellen I am back from Disney!!! Next P & P trip will be the Cruise !!!

 

[ACDSNY]

WOW!!!! Thank-you very much for posting these- it is really hard to imagine it when you are there, because it looked like a lake. What a difference a few months makes, huh? Thanks again- love seeing them-

I've only seen it when it's rough, some days rougher than others so it was amazing to see your pics. Now that I think about it, we didn't make it in Oct 2008 as it was raining too much and the water was right up to the small concrete bridges so we turned around and went back. I guess we'll see what early December is like soon.

 

[jenseib]

More awesome updates. I too am drooling everytime I read an update. It's just pure beauty and I wonder why Ohio can't look that way? Especially the are I live in...super boring....

 

[podsnel]

Hi Ellen I am back from Disney!!! Next P & P trip will be the Cruise !!!

YAY!!!! How was your trip? Did you get to play at F&W? Did the clients have a blast?

I've only seen it when it's rough, some days rougher than others so it was amazing to see your pics. Now that I think about it, we didn't make it in Oct 2008 as it was raining too much and the water was right up to the small concrete bridges so we turned around and went back. I guess we'll see what early December is like soon.

Yes you will, lucky girl! Interesting to hear how it is when you go- I was addicted to the forums on TA before going, and I know people would often talk about how it was crazy weather at that end of the island over the winter- such a dramatic, extreme place in so many ways!

More awesome updates. I too am drooling everytime I read an update. It's just pure beauty and I wonder why Ohio can't look that way? Especially the are I live in...super boring....

If Ohio looked that way I'd be making a road trip 4 times a year to visit you!

Hey- we need to exchange phone #s before we go to WDW in 13 days! I forget- are you in Jambo or Kidani? Do you want to come see the GV?

 

[jenseib]

YAY!!!! How was your trip? Did you get to play at F&W? Did the clients have a blast?



Yes you will, lucky girl! Interesting to hear how it is when you go- I was addicted to the forums on TA before going, and I know people would often talk about how it was crazy weather at that end of the island over the winter- such a dramatic, extreme place in so many ways!



If Ohio looked that way I'd be making a road trip 4 times a year to visit you!

Hey- we need to exchange phone #s before we go to WDW in 13 days! I forget- are you in Jambo or Kidani? Do you want to come see the GV?

jambo I'll pm you via facebook with mine

 

[podsnel]

jambo I'll pm you via facebook with mine

I just Pm'd you mine-

 

[jenseib]

I just Pm'd you mine-

 

[podsnel]

There are so many gorgeous beaches on Kauai- each one has its own personality- ST John is like that, in the USVI, too. So many beautiful beaches, so little time...
Anyway, one of the beaches I had read alot about was Tunnels Beach (also called Makua Beach). It is east of Haena Beach Park, which had parking, so we parked there and walked.

You can see Bali Hai (Mount Makana) from here-

The BIG reason to go here, though, is the absolutely enormous reef. I found an aerial pic on the web to show you-

There are mountains all around, so this beach is picturesque both in and out of the water!

I was anxious to get in-

C'mon, Pods! What are ya doin back there?

Seriously, who wouldn't want to spend the day here?

I have heard two reasons why this beach is called Tunnels. One is in homage to the tunnels you have to swim through in the coral through the reef. The other is referring to the tube surfers surf through here. This is a very popular surf beach, especially in the winter, but out beyond the reef. This is also the beach where Bethany Hamilton (aka Soul Surfer) was attacked by a 14 ft Tiger Shark while she rested on her board- but she was 1/4 mile out when that happened, and I had no intentions of swimming out anywhere NEAR that far! (ETA- here is a link to her bio and blog- http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/bio/ ) These are the little fish you can see closer to shore, in the tunnels through the coral-

I saw a camera shy eel poking his head out of a hole, but I never did manage to get his photo, he went back in everytime I clicked the camera. Now I wish I would have snorkeled out further, because I think there are loads of turtles out there at the edge of the reef, but maybe next time- today I was content with these fishies instead.

Cont'd next post-

 

[podsnel]

I really enjoyed snorkeling here, it was very good, and somewhat unique- rather than the coral all being below you as you swam over it, it was on each side of you as you swam through it. Very cool!

Time for some RnR-

Sorry for posting such similar pics, but I look at them and all I can think is, I STILL can't believe we were THERE!

I had brought this bleacher seat in our luggage to have an an extra beach chair- it worked out ok!

Happy 26 years!

Woah baby!

A couple of hours later, we started to get hungry....and I had just the place in mind. Two guesses where we went...

 

[jenseib]

That is really interesting aabout that being "the beach" they had surfed off of and had the shark attack. I love that movie. I remember seeing the girl a few tims on the today show too. Such a freak thing.

And the beach is beautiful.

 

[podsnel]

That is really interesting aabout that being "the beach" they had surfed off of and had the shark attack. I love that movie. I remember seeing the girl a few tims on the today show too. Such a freak thing.

And the beach is beautiful.

I loved the movie, too- what a brave and courageous girl- here is a link to her bio and blog-

http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/bio/

 

[franandaj]

Such beautiful pictures!! I love the water shots. We definitely have to go there!

Remind me what are your CA plans for next year? I remember you saying something about switching your DL trip from the Expo week to the following.

 

[ACDSNY]

Another great set of pics!

Sharks! To swim or not to swim that's the question.

 

[podsnel]

Such beautiful pictures!! I love the water shots. We definitely have to go there!

Remind me what are your CA plans for next year? I remember you saying something about switching your DL trip from the Expo week to the following.

You will love it- it's a great place!

Next summer we will be (hopefully) staying in DL from 8/14-8/19. We start our trip in San Francisco for 4 nights, then staying in Groveland for a night at the Hotel Charlotte outside of the park entrance, 2 nights at the Ahwahnee, 1 night at a hampton on the way to DL and then DL! I switched the trip so that hopefully, we can use our points at VGC- I knew I'd never get it during D23, people were already taking about having difficulty at 11 months.

Another great set of pics!

Sharks! To swim or not to swim that's the question.

We never saw a shark. And we HAVE seen them before in other places (especially in Destin, Fla- a 7 foot shark in the breakers which was between my swimming family and on-the-beach me and 2 hammerheads right in the breakers - we spent the vacation at the pool after that, lol!).