Well, after breakfast we decided to see if we could schedule a helicopter ride around the island this morning, but alas, nothing was available on that short notice. However, we did get onboard an airplane ride around the island. It was a 6 passenger propeller craft, and we had a great time. I took almost 60 minutes of video, and Marianne took several hundred photos. I have included a few shots below….

That’s our plane… Just before boarding

"Downtown" Lihue, Kauai

The fishpond and river south of Lihue.

Southeastern corner of the island.

This crater, on the southern shore, near Poipu, is thought to be the site of the last eruption on Kauai Island many thousands of years ago.

The Poupi Coast

Sugar Cane fields west of Hanapepe

Waterfalls on the Hanapepe river.

The "Grand Canyon" of the pacific: Waimea Canyon.

The Napali Coast on the west side of Kauai. These cliffs rise out of the ocean to heights of 4,000 feet, nearly straight up.

The north end of the Napali Coast.

Princeville, near the Hanalei Bay.

Waterfalls abound in the central part of the island, the central mountain, Wai’ale’ale, is the wettest point on earth, with an average rainfall of about 450 inches a year!

Trivia Question of the Trip: Who can tell me where you have seen this waterfall before (and not on Kauai). It has been filmed and used on a very popular show, just tell me which one?

Nawiliwili Lighthouse on the south end of the airport, just before landing.

We are currently waiting for a flight around the island of Kaua’i. We
decided we are a little tired with all the driving and such we have been
doing. I’ll get some pictures posted tonight from yesterday and today’s
activities. We were exhausted yesterday and went to bed about 9pm….

The Hilton Kauai Beach Resort does a nice "Torch Lighting Ceremony" at 6pm that lasts about a half hour. It includes traditional Polynesian dances and flaming sword dancer.

We got to take our picture with the cast after the show.

This is a view out our hotel room at the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort on Kauai, just north of Lihue. We have a ground floor room right on the "lagoon".

We are both exhausted, so we think we will cut back a little on the exploring of
Kauai, and maybe take a helicopter ride around the island tomorrow after our free breakfast buffet. Just have to wait and see….

Short flight…. This is the first sight of land we saw, the southeast Kauai Coast.

Then we passed the cruise ship docking area, just a couple miles from the airport.