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Perspectives on Kauai Part I

Jason and I had a trip booked with Jason’s parents to a Caribbean Island for June of 2020. This was supposed to be a thank you to them for raising that rascal. Because of COVID, our original plans got canceled. A year later, those arrangements were still pointless as the country we had intended on visiting was not accepting travelers due to continued flareups. Last fall, we determined that taking a trip somewhere was better than continuing to wait, and as traveling internationally was unreliable, we settled on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the only standard Hawaiian island Jason and I had never visited.

at the crack
One benefit of jet lag is beholding brilliant sunrises.
lenses and waves
As a photographer, one makes sacrifices.

Part of the appeal of traveling is seeing the world from different perspectives. While it is impossible to understand the heart and guts of any location during a brief stay, a tourist’s observations and experiences should ideally at least shift their viewpoint groove. Therefore, I was thrilled by how many different perspectives we acquired on Kauai, and that’s what, as you might guess, this post and its upcoming continuations are all about.

Pa'a Dunes
The lithified sand dunes on Kauai’s southern coast were under the sea some 125,000 years ago.
abrupt abrasions
A lava rock covered in sea slime made a worthy opponent for Jason’s calf.

The Wind’s Perspective

Our first morning on Kauai, Jason and I went on a hike down the Maha’ulepa Heritage Trail. The Maha’ulepa Trail roams through lithified sand dunes worn by wind, salt, and sea into strange caverns and figures that line the shore. Just past Shipwreck Beach and Makawehi Point, only 15 minutes down the coast, Jason tore up his leg and foot on some lava rocks near a tide pool we had stopped to investigate. We had to return to our hotel before his savage wounds consumed him.

Five Sisters
This spilling ensemble fed by Mount Wai’ale’ale is called the Five Sisters.
Waimea Canyon
Each of Waimea Canyon’s many layers represents a different volcanic eruption.
among thousands
It’s rumored that Kauai contains almost 10,000 waterfalls.
Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay is the biggest bay on Kauai’s north shore.
Na Pali Coast
The slender sea cliffs of the Na Pali Coast rise up to 3,000 feet above the ocean.

Later that afternoon, we took a doors-off helicopter tour with Jack Harter Helicopters. In a tiny MD Hughes 500, we zipped 100-120 mph about 1,000 feet above the ground and over 2,000 feet above the water. We traversed the whole island including much terrain wild and inaccessible by foot. Having a lack of machinery between our bodies and the lush landscape far beneath us wasn’t as terrifying as I thought, but, then again, due to my short stature, I was forced to take the Captain Kirk seat. This remarkable ride ended up being everyone’s favorite piece of our whole trip, and I would highly recommend splurging on a helicopter tour if you find yourself on Kauai.

Cathedrals
The cathedrals of the Na Pali Coast are more impressive than any of human construction.
Wai'ale'ale's way
Mount Wai’ale’ale gets about 430 inches of rain a year making it one of the wettest spots on Earth and a prolific waterfall generator.
Wall of Tears
The Wall of Tears or Weeping Wall constantly flows with Mount Wai’ale’ale’s surplus.
up with Jack Harter
We’ve done helicopter tours on three Hawaiian islands, but I think this one was our favorite.

Next week, the varying viewpoints will continue.

Rachel March 21, 2022 No Comments
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