Hawaiian Island Cruise

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Thursday, 5 January 2023 - Left the Big Island and sailed to Nawiliwili Harbor on the island of Kauai, took a scenic riverboat ride up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto with lush tropical foliage, then drove to Princeville and Hanaiei Bay for lunch, saw surfers and scenic views, visited Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge including the historic Kilauea Lighthouse and seabird sanctuaries, watched birds like Red-footed Boobies and Laysan Albatross in flight, and finished the day with a luau at Kilohana Plantation featuring traditional food and dance.

hawaii2023 — Our initial tour was on the Wailua River, one of the navigable rivers in Hawaii - all the navigable rivers are on Kauai, which receives over 300 inches of rain a year.

The water was very slow and beautiful palm trees lined the river's edge.

hawaii2023 — We were headed up river to the Fern Grotto. It was a short ride but beautiful.

At the landing for the Fern Grotto was this Red-crested Cardinal.

hawaii2023 — Long curved flower of Red Ginger.

hawaii2023 — We think this is a Torch Ginger flower on its last legs.

hawaii2023 — A short walk and we arrived at the Fern Grotto with hanging ferns.

hawaii2023 — A small waterfall cascades through the tropical foliage.

hawaii2023 — The grotto is in a lava shell covered in plants.

hawaii2023 — Red Ginger is everywhere.

hawaii2023 — The green and rock make for a good contrast.

hawaii2023 — Nesteled into the cliff wall was an Octopus Tree with distinctive red flowers. The plant is from Australia.

hawaii2023 — Torch Ginger flower.

hawaii2023 — Sailing back on the Wailua River and old building being swallowed up by the jungle.

hawaii2023 — Muscovy duck is native to the tropics of Mexico and Central and South America, but in Hawaii they are domestic stock living near ponds.

hawaii2023 — After the boat ride we traveled to the northern side of the island. To a town named Princeville - here we stopped at Hanaiei Bay for lunch.

hawaii2023 — There were several surfers - way out in the ocean to catch the waves before they entered the bay. By the time the waves reached the shore they were tiny.

hawaii2023 — Surfing instruction on the beach.

hawaii2023 — Hanaiei Bay framed by one of the long tall lava flows from the volcano Kawaikini.

hawaii2023 — Liz Brooks and Virginia Ann on Black Pot Beach on the shores of Hanaiei Bay.

hawaii2023 — Black Pot Beach was very busy on a sunny day.

hawaii2023 — Taro farms just inland from Hanaiei Bay.

hawaii2023 — Next stop was Kilauea Lighthouse which is in the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

The lighthouse is 52 feet high and 180 feet from the ocean below. It was built in 1913 and had a powerful beam which could be seen 22 miles out to sea. In 1976 the lighthouse was decommissioned.

hawaii2023 — Just off the point where the lighthouse stands is Moku'Ae'Ae Rock Islet Seabird Sanctuary.

hawaii2023 — Ocean waves crashing into the rocks below the lighthouse.

hawaii2023 — Patterns made by the water on the rocks.

hawaii2023 — The Kauai coastline. Just imagine the lava flows hitting the water.

hawaii2023 — Hawaii's state bird, the Nene, is an endangered species and considered to be the rarest goose in the world. A bird sanctuary is a great place to live,

hawaii2023 — The Red-footed Booby has made the bird sanctuary home as well. Several hundred on the cliff side trees.

hawaii2023 — Unfortunately Cal was unable to capture the underside of the Red-footed Booby to spot the red feet. Here is one passing by with the distinctive blue beak.

hawaii2023 — A Laysan Albatross captured in flight.

It was fun to practice capturing the birds from the top of the cliffs.

hawaii2023 — The cove which makes up most of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

hawaii2023 — Our last stop on the excursion was the 151-foot tall Opaekaa Falls. "Opaekaa" means "rolling shrimp", which were once abundant in the stream.

hawaii2023 — Mary Holman, Liz Brooks, Virginia Ann, and Cal at the Luau Kalamaku.

The luau was held at an original working plantation homestead; Kilohana was home to Gaylord Wilcox who operated Grove Farm Plantation, a 23,000 acre Sugar Plantation.

hawaii2023 — Exotic fauna surrounded the property.

hawaii2023 — The pitmaster revealing the pig which has been cooking under round.

hawaii2023 — The finished pig headed for the buffet - the meat was delicious as was the entire meal.

hawaii2023 — During dinner were traditional dances

hawaii2023 — The luau was very entertaining and the food was great - but at the end several hundred people getting back to the ship was a bit overwhelming.

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