Based on inside information from our new hiker friend, we went to the street in the neighborhood where an Albatross chick was roosting(?) There it was right in someone's front yard (lucky them!) one of the biggest birds I have ever seen. After some quick pictures without getting too close, we headed to the west.
By the time we reached Waimea, we decided to pack some lunch for our time in the state parks. We chose a pasta salad and a wrap from the limited vegetarian options in the store there. We started seeing parts of the Waimea canyon from the highway. One of the surprise sights on entering the park was the waterfalls on bright red rocks - something I wouldn't have even dreamt of before I saw it. We stopped in many of the viewpoints to view the canyon, the Waimea river and the Waipio falls. After lunch, we headed up to Kokee to be treated to a grand view of Na Pali from the start of the Pihea trail. It is quite unforgettable and worth the entire drive up there from the North even. The trail was dry and we could have taken it if we wanted to. The campsites and the lawn near the museum is very inviting.
After sufficient gawk time and pictures, we headed further west to Polihale beach park where we really did not spend much time. The sand was still hot and we could see the beginning of the Na pali coast. The sand dunes were not as high or impressive as I had imagined. On our way back, we stopped for shave ice which true to Blue Book's word, was very yummy. We discussed a lot before stopping at the Glass beach and all the wave action past the cemetery. THis was truly beautiful. While we couldn't make out all the caves and formations eaxctly as the book says, just the random blow-holes, air-holes, rock and wave scenery was awe-inspiring. And what the ocean has done to the the glass at the Glass beach is also surprising. No wonder there are no warnings about glass cutting your feet. The ocean seems to have taken care of that bit by rounding and polishing every piece that's washed ashore, The sad thing was that we saw many people (who didn't look like tourists) harvesting these jewels at a rate that would leave the beach glass-less that very night. We had great Thai food at Mema's in Kapaa.
A relatively relaxed day with unforgettable scenes for the mind's memory eye.
By the time we reached Waimea, we decided to pack some lunch for our time in the state parks. We chose a pasta salad and a wrap from the limited vegetarian options in the store there. We started seeing parts of the Waimea canyon from the highway. One of the surprise sights on entering the park was the waterfalls on bright red rocks - something I wouldn't have even dreamt of before I saw it. We stopped in many of the viewpoints to view the canyon, the Waimea river and the Waipio falls. After lunch, we headed up to Kokee to be treated to a grand view of Na Pali from the start of the Pihea trail. It is quite unforgettable and worth the entire drive up there from the North even. The trail was dry and we could have taken it if we wanted to. The campsites and the lawn near the museum is very inviting.
After sufficient gawk time and pictures, we headed further west to Polihale beach park where we really did not spend much time. The sand was still hot and we could see the beginning of the Na pali coast. The sand dunes were not as high or impressive as I had imagined. On our way back, we stopped for shave ice which true to Blue Book's word, was very yummy. We discussed a lot before stopping at the Glass beach and all the wave action past the cemetery. THis was truly beautiful. While we couldn't make out all the caves and formations eaxctly as the book says, just the random blow-holes, air-holes, rock and wave scenery was awe-inspiring. And what the ocean has done to the the glass at the Glass beach is also surprising. No wonder there are no warnings about glass cutting your feet. The ocean seems to have taken care of that bit by rounding and polishing every piece that's washed ashore, The sad thing was that we saw many people (who didn't look like tourists) harvesting these jewels at a rate that would leave the beach glass-less that very night. We had great Thai food at Mema's in Kapaa.
A relatively relaxed day with unforgettable scenes for the mind's memory eye.
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