7. Kauaʻi - Salt Pond Beach Park

It is Independence Day, and we are taking it easy today. First, we drive 30 minutes north. There, a hotel named 'FLOWERWORKS' is hosting an event. At 9:30 AM, the spectacle begins. A helicopter flies over the beach and the hotel, dropping flowers. I expected it to be larger and with more flowers. The kids eagerly collect flowers, and it is a lovely gesture from the hotel. Afterward, we visit a market where fruits and vegetables are sold. The prices for a pineapple range between $10 and $30. We enjoy a fresh coconut for 10 euros. First, we drink the juice, and then we get the flesh. It is very refreshing. I wonder why a pineapple costs $20 locally, but only 3 euros at our supermarket.
Around noon, we reach Salt Pond Beach Park and discover not one but two Hawaiian monk seals.
It is the only seal species native to the tropical waters of Hawaii and is found nowhere else in the world! With an estimated population of only around 1,600 animals, it unfortunately ranks among the most threatened seal species on our planet. Both are sleeping on the beach and are undisturbed. Warning signs mark off an area to avoid disturbing the animals.
We go swimming and snorkeling. Again, we are thrilled by the colorful underwater world. The photos with my action camera keep getting better. Before heading back to our accommodation, we stop by the Spouting Horn. It is a spectacular natural saltwater geyser (a so-called Blowhole) on the south coast.
After a coffee break, we walk back to Popui Beach and see a trapped turtle lying on its back. It tries to free itself, but it doesn't succeed. After a moment's hesitation, René helps it with a strong shove to get back on its belly. It immediately seizes its chance and returns to the sea.
We are quite excited by the action. Upon reaching the beach, we put on our snorkeling masks and dip our heads underwater, and suddenly, we are in a different world. It's simply magical to drift among colorful fish and observe the vibrant activity at the reef. In this peaceful silence underwater, one quickly loses track of time – and sometimes even orientation. Erik and I have ventured quite far out. The waves there are very strong, and it takes considerable effort to swim back toward the beach.
After dinner, René and I go back to the beach. The sea turtles are supposed to come ashore at sunset. We wait a few minutes, and indeed the first one arrives on the beach. It struggles to reach the shore. Only 4 to 5 movements at a time, then it takes a longer pause. It is amusing to watch. In the meantime, it closes its eyes and rests. Gradually, several animals come ashore. Not all move as purposefully as the first one. One even turns back. They do this every evening to sleep deeply and soundly there until the next morning.
Hawaii is one of the very few places in the world where green sea turtles come ashore without laying eggs. They do this to regulate their body temperature in the sun, conserve energy, and free their shells from algae while drying out.
For egg-laying, almost all Hawaiian turtles migrate hundreds of kilometers to completely uninhabited, remote islands in the northwest of the archipelago.
We observe the whole scene for almost an hour and then return to our accommodation. There are many small fireworks, mostly fountains, along the way. Many Americans gather and celebrate their country with a BBQ and fireworks.