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Highlights of
October 2002
Kauai
    
Friday, Sept 27th, Jon and I packed up and left for a week
in Hawaii. We arrived mid-day, settled into our room at the Hyatt Kauai,
ordered our first poolside margarita and later headed over to the Anara Spa for
a relaxing massage for us both. That evening it was dinner at Roy's.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sept 28, Saturday. With an early start, we joined a
tennis clinic with Larry. We had to prepare for our vacation tournament-
total games wins a dinner of choice. We finished our day at the Beach Cafe
at sunset - a beautiful site to watch the sunset and drink a great bottle of
wine.
 
 
 
 
Sept 29, Sunday. At 5:30 am we were ready for a trip
to Niihau and the Na Pali coast by catamaran but our driver forgot us. So
with bleary eyes we had breakfast and planned an alternative day of hiking in
Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. Before canyon climbing, we rode out toward
the Pacific Range Missile Facility, Barking Sands and Kauai's most remote beach,
Polihale State Park. The rough ride amid the cane fields was worth the beautiful
two mile wide white beach.
 
After lunch we started our ride up the canyon. On the way
to the top, we chose a hike that began at the the Iliau Nature Loop. From here
we descended a couple of miles into the canyon. Although we were a little
nervous due to all the posted "Stay on Trail - Hunting Season", we did spot 3
wild goats scrambling up the hillside. After tennis it was dinner at
Gaylords.
 
 
 
 
Spotted group of wild goats in the canyon (below).
Sept 30, Monday. After our aborted start Sunday, we
drove to Port Allen at 5:00 am and climbed aboard the Holo Holo catamaran for a
day of snorkling and sightseeing. Our first stop was off the coast of Niihau.
This is the mysterious island owned by the Robinson family that has remained
inhabited by only the family owners and native Hawaiians (~50-75) who select to
remain on the island and live a very traditional old style Hawaiian existence:
native language, no electricity or automobiles, ranching and farming, no
drinking, traditional clothing, etc. We could not beach on the 73 sq mile
island. Instead we snorkeled in a slot between Niihau and Lehua Island,
ripe with feeding for monk seals, man-a-rays, and all kinds of fish.
 
 
 
 
After our swim we headed back the 17 miles to the Na Pali
Coast. Here we traveled from the southern tip of the Coast past the Valley
of the Lost Tribe to the edge of the Kalalau Valley. Lunch was off-shore
from one of the many pristine but remote beaches on the Coast.
 
 
Oct 1, Tuesday. Helicopter Day. It is amazing
the number of companies operating helicopter rides around the Island. We
chose Will Squyres with the big 6-seater Bell copters. Our hour ride took
us out of the Lihue airport southwesterly toward Waimea Canyon, over to the Na
Pali Coast, up to Hanalei-Princeville, down toward Mount Walaleale, Waipio
Valley,the Wailua River and the Fantasy Island waterfalls, across the Lihue
Forest Reserve and returning to the airport. We capped our ride off with a
reward for Jon of a burger at the Camp House Grill.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oct2, Wednesday. Total vegetation day except for our
ongoing tennis clinics and matches. We did venture up the eastern coast to
A Pacific Cafe for dinner.
Oct 3, Thursday. Rested and recouped, we took a
tennis lesson in the morning, hiked easterly along the coast from the Hyatt,
rode mountain bikes out to Gillin's Beach and the Koloa Sugar Mill, and
completed our final day of tournament tennis. Care won by a mere 4 games-
Jon had an extremely strong final days comeback.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oct 4, Friday. Jon departed early in the morning for
Korea. Care had a last loop around the resort, swim and then hauled all the
resort gear back to the mainland. It was a relaxing and enjoyable vacation.
 
Jon's Asia Trip
From Kauai, Care flew home and Jon flew to Korea for a
whirlwind tour of Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing - all in one week...
 
 
Bay Flight
 
A couple of pictures of the pilot-in-command, Mr. Jon.
New Jeep
We finally traded in our 1993 Jeep for a new 2003 Jeep Grand
Cherokee
On to November
2002
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