Aloha Hawaii! Our 10 Day Cruise to Hawaii on the Disney Wonder, September 7, 2015 Trip Report completed 07/31/2016 - Page 17 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Isn't the drive around the island just soooo gorgeous? We stayed on the north side and ended up doing day trips all over so we got to enjoy quite a bit. We did the same as you and stopped off a bunch on our way up to the "Grand Canyon of Hawaii"
We flew out there during our visit to Hawai'i and I remember some of the same images, but from above and much further out! I think your view of approaching the item is neater.
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It truly was gorgeous. I kept thinking, "This really is paradise!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
Isn't the drive around the island just soooo gorgeous? We stayed on the north side and ended up doing day trips all over so we got to enjoy quite a bit. We did the same as you and stopped off a bunch on our way up to the "Grand Canyon of Hawaii"
We were limited in time, so we couldn't explore like we wanted to, but what we did manage to see was pretty awesome.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
We flew out there during our visit to Hawai'i and I remember some of the same images, but from above and much further out! I think your view of approaching the item is neater.
I would LOVE to see it all from a bird's eye view!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kcamozzi67
I loved that you had made your own excursion and rented a vehicle for the day - what a smart idea! The drive looked so gorgeous!
Much cheaper! (And we didn't have to wait for the same folks all the time )
Quote:
Originally Posted by benchley
What a beautiful island
I might be our favorite
Quote:
Originally Posted by SharonK0527
Beautiful photos! I'm glad the weather on this day was so much nicer than the day you were in Hilo.
Oh my yes!
***********************
Kauai: Waimea Canyon
An ever upwards, seriously winding road finally brought us to the canyon. I love that so many beautiful places are set aside for everyone's enjoyment and maintained so nicely. We decided to drive as far as we could to start near the end of Waimea Canyon Drive. We made it about halfway, but we saw more than enough...
This red dirt was everywhere.
This was our first view of the canyon, near Pu'u Ka Pele Lookout. We stopped on the side of the road and I got out. I can't believe I did this, but I stood on a concrete ledge, stepping over the guard rail - NO BARRIER - and snapped this shot of Waipo'o Falls. Woo!
We made it to the first of the two lookouts we wanted to see that day - Pu'u Hinahina Lookout. This is one of the wild chickens that just roam around Hawaii like they own the place.
We headed up to the viewing area, taking mental note of the trail we'd have to come back to Hawaii to see. (Yes that's my youngin' NOT using the path )
Wow.
You can see a bit of Waimea River in the valley down there.
We just stared at the colors for a while, trying to take it all in.
It was so windy! My poor hair
The boys and Grandma
Shaka!
I zoomed in on this: It's a trail - with people on it!
...pulled back on the shot. Look how far down!!
The sign says the trail one way is 1.8 miles, takes 2-3 hours to walk, no picking or removal of plants. Then name of that crazy trail is called, "Cliff Trail".
Here are some more of the locals and their home under the palms.
I thought it was hysterical that they weren't afraid or really even skittish!
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Beautiful photos - it's such an amazing part of the island, isn't it, with just stunning views. I have very fond memories of our visit there.
Such a pretty island!
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
I definitely didn't see the walking trails while we were there! How cool to get to go into the canyon to explore for those brave souls
Brave indeed!
********************************
Kaua'i: Waimea Canyon Part 2
We continued back down Waimea Canyon Drive and found the entrance for the canyon lookout. It was close to 12pm and breakfast was long gone. During my research, I discovered that there would be a food truck at this lookout and we were eager to try it out. The ladies decided to stay in the van as they were a little tired and just starting to feel a little motion sickness from the curves in the road. Anne's knee was bothering her and there was a bit of walking to get to the lookout, so we'd bring something for them to nosh on while we took in the sights.
The restrooms were near this sign to the right. They were cleaner than I expected, by the way.
Impressive! The book said "food truck". I wasn't expecting real food!
There was so much to choose from, it took us a while to decide. I'm so glad I remembered to bring cash
We are going through a pork bun love affair right now and our goal was to get as many "real" ones as we could while in Hawaii. (Instead of the frozen ones at home.) This is the char sui barbequed pork bun.
The curried chicken version - so fresh the steam is still condensed in the package!
yum, yum, yum. (no pic of the inside of the char sui - the kids gobbled them up!) Anne and Martha tried the curried chicken buns. One bite and they both gave them a big thumbs down, not being able to get past the actual "steamed bun" part of the steamed bun. They did not go to waste, let me tell ya.
Dragonfruit. I'd never had it, but we wanted to try it. It's one of the bright pink fruits in the above pic. It kind of tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a mild pear. It was pretty light, but juicy and refreshing.
I wanted to start with this (blurry) photo because it shows the same waterfall that I shot when we stopped on the side of the road, but from another perspective.
Here it is again pulled back a bit.
...and finally from where we were standing. (See way over to the left?)
Dh took this pic from above and behind us.
Looking to the right from where we stood, we could see the ocean. (Not clearly in this pic though.)
Looking to the left side.
There were so many different colors. My phone sort of washed all the colors so it's hard to appreciate how vivid they really were from these pics. Limes and oranges, reds and olives, grays and so many different greens. And a little bit of white that pops.
My favorite part of the whole canyon was the almost perfectly shaped small pyramid right in the middle here.
Pride Rock??
I wish the panoramic shots could be seen better in the forums.
It was time to start heading back. But I took this shot because I just loved that among all the immensity, there was tiny life too.
...and chickens.
The windy-ness of the road started giving us just a bit of weirdness on the way back.
Next: Kekaha Beach and Waimea (and finally some shave ice!)
Oh that view brings back so many great memories - and I remember that food truck, as I believe we got some fruit there. We couldn't get over the choice it had!
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Wow, that's some food truck! We LOVE char siu bao! Great lunch, and another day of phenomenal views. Could you get close to that waterfall without hiking a precarious trail?
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