Trip to Hawaii 2018 - Island Hopping Part 3 Kauai

The hopping is just beginning...

After 3 days on the beautiful island of Oahu, our island hopping adventure really began. In the morning, we picked up our breakfast to go and sat back on the beach. We had already packed our suitcases the day before because in the afternoon it was time to say 'bye bye Oahu' and 'hello Kauai'. The flight lasted a sweet 75 minutes with a small plane from Hawaiian Airlines, a breeze compared to the long journey.

Upon arriving on the island and checking into the hotel, we started unpacking our suitcases again. The hotel was not far from the airport, but we didn't hear anything from it. We chose it partly because of its location.

For the first full day on the island, I had booked something that you absolutely must do there: a helicopter flight over the island.

When taking off, you feel like Magnum and T.C., the fitting music immediately comes to mind. After a rapid ascent above the airport, we first flew over our hotel, the harbor, and along the coast. Sometimes the ground was not far below us, and sometimes it was hundreds of meters away. Our pilot performed real stunts in the canyons, sometimes it felt like we were going straight into the wall.

Part of the route flies over the water, and you can see spectacular coastal landscapes that can only be reached by air or water.

One highlight was the flight over Waimea Canyon, the little brother of the Grand Canyon on the mainland, no less impressive and filled with wonderful photo opportunities. The pilot explains a bit in between, and some of the film sets are then familiar - for example, the waterfall from Jurassic Park.

The flight was to be our only excursion of the day. We wanted to let the impressions sink in and relax a bit. Because our trip still had a lot of programs to complete.

Day 2 - Full-day excursion to Waimea Canyon, Wailua River, and Fern Grotto

Early in the morning, it was time to get on the bus and go on an adventure again. After picking up other guests and a longer drive on the southwest side of the island of Kauai, also known as the Garden Isle, we arrived at Waimea Canyon. It is no less impressive from the ground.

Our driver entertained us the whole time. He had a small TV behind him and showed film clips all day that were filmed either where we were or where we would stop next. At the canyon, he showed us a scene where a woman looks to the left at the canyon and sees a waterfall. His comment on that: 'And, did you see the waterfall there? Hollywood makes it possible.'

As an addition, it should be said that there was indeed a waterfall, but it was narrower and taller.

After a stop at Spouting Horn, we had lunch in Kukui'ula. There, as on Oahu, a lot of Christmas decorations had already been put up (we traveled in mid to late November). We found this sign funny:

When we got on the bus, our driver asked where we had eaten. We had been more in the mood for ice cream in the sun and told him that. He then said, 'Oh, you found Lappert's.'

Several film clips and stops (including at Nawiliwili Harbor and the Opaeka'a Falls (from the film clip)) later, we arrived at the Wailua River.

Here we boarded a boat that was supposed to take us up the river to the Fern Grotto.

Upon arrival, we strolled through a garden to the grotto, where a small group presented Hula and Hawaiian music.

On the way back, we were glad that we were the last ones to get off the boat. So we were among the first to return. It poured rain on the return trip. The locals entertained us with more music and dance performances, and we were able to try the Hula ourselves.

The 3rd day on Kauai - a day for swimming and sunbathing

Today, it was simply time to do nothing but soak up the sun and go swimming in peace - and of course pack our suitcases...