We spotted these cute little geckos racing across the sidewalk daily.
I couldn't get a sunrise in Kauai without getting a few family pictures of all of us with our hair combed and dressed a little nicer. This particular morning was a touch cloudy, but we were running out of vacation time to capture them. I woke everyone up (to their dismay) but the girls were delighted to see a misty morning on the beach gathering rocks and shells and a surprise from a very cool visitor.
A Hawaiian Monk Seal! This one was treated for a shark bite and what you see on top is a tracker they placed during surgery last year. They are endangered and they are estimated to have only 1300-1500 in survival. We kept our distance (these pictures were taken and cropped). We found out that 5 seals visit frequently to this particular beach. The beach is quite desolate and used mainly by the condos that surround it and it isn't a swimming beach..or at least for those that aren't used to the Hawaiian shore. The monk seal is named for both that they are found alone or in small groups and that they have a "monk's cowl" that is a fold of skin around neck.
Monk seals spend most of their time in the ocean but come to shore to rest or to avoid predators. They eat octopus, eels, lobsters, and fish.
A person passed by and said that the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal had beached itself! What a super cool experience to see them up close! This is the second one just down from the one with the tracker.
Volunteers quickly are called and place fences around them to protect and keep a healthy distance from them.
Tide pools with sea cucumbers.
The sea cucumbers are slimy and covered with sand.
After breakfast we drove south and west to see the Waimea Canyon.
We waited and waited for the mist and clouds to roll through. They did but more clouds quickly followed. So we had no luck to see them at the lookout, as this was pretty much the view we got!
Papaya
Mango
Dragonfruit
On Kauai, there were chickens and roosters EVERYWHERE!
Off a scenic overlook on the side of the road...getting a glimpse of the beautiful Canyon and Waimea River.
We then drove further upward for a better look at the canyon. Past the 18 mile marker we parked at the Pu'u o Kila Lookout. We viewed the beautiful Kalalau Valley when the clouds would briefly break. The clouds were moving quickly in and out of the valley. This is the largest valley on Na Pali. It would also frequently mist and lightly rain and then stop just a few minutes later and was a lot cooler. We didn't happen to have our rain jackets here but the girls didn't seem to mind!
...and we also don't recommend hiking in flip flops on this terrain! ;)
We did not hike this but traveled down a little from the overlook to see some better views.
We traveled back toward Po'ipu to spend some time at the beach and have an early dinner.
Spouting Horn, Po'ipu
This is a small lava shelf that when waves go through the opening it comes out in a rush, like a blowhole. There is also another hole that blows only air giving it a moaning sound.
Poipu Beach park
Snagging one of the coveted boogie boards...an endless fight with 3 girls wanting possession of the 2 available boards.
Gettin' their bronze on...
This beach park was quite busy!
Dinner at the Beach House Restaurant
Another beautiful sunset...
...that led to a huge, gorgeous full moon.
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