March Madness

Hi friends and family!  I hope everyone is well and excited for spring time.  I’d like to apologize to all my readers (yes, all 5 of you) for letting a month pass between posts.  It was a busy March, as I had my very good friend Otis and his wonderful girlfriend Marina visit, then snuck in a quick weekend trip to Lake Tahoe, and then had another good friend Rachael visit.  The month was filled with fun adventures and great food, but to keep the blog fresh, I am going to try and write about the “first times” only.

 

When Otis and Marina visited, we went on a hike that I had not been on before, and we enjoyed it so much that I had to take Rachael on it when she visited a few weeks later.  The Canyon Trail starts at one of the lookout points for the Waimea Canyon.  It is a mostly wooded trail, which provides nice cover from the sun, which can get pretty hot midday in Kauai.  The elevation drops and rises dramatically throughout the hike, making the slicker parts of the trail a bit treacherous.  There are also a number of little challenges along the way, like fallen trees to climb over, boulder mazes to weave through, and water crossings (the kind you tight rope across and pray you don’t fall).  The hike only takes about an hour one way, and puts you right out in the middle of the canyon.  The landscape is wide open with steep drop-offs at the edges, which makes for breathtaking views and pictures.  Around the corner from the wide open view point, there is a short hike down to the top of a waterfall, which makes for an awesome spot to stop for a snack, with the legs hanging over the edge, the sound of rushing water a few feet away, and a view of the canyon that never gets old.

 

 

 

One of the only down sides to taking this assignment was missing out on snowboarding this winter.  A few months back, I got invited by 2 different friends of mine to come to Lake Tahoe for a week, and I regretfully had to decline both invitations.  However, I found out very last minute (a few days before) that I was going to have off from work on the Thursday and Friday of the week that my friend Alex had invited me.  Needless to say, I booked my travel that night, and Dad hooked me up by FedEx’ing my gear to the hotel for me.  The trip took 3 overnight flights and a bus, but it was definitely worth it.  Lake Tahoe is absolutely magnificent.  It’s a really breathtaking view from the top of Heavenly Mountain, where you can see the lake, the snow-capped mountains, and a vast dessert all at once.  I got in 3 days on the mountain, and had a blast with some awesome friends that I haven’t seen in a very long time.

 

 

 

 

One thing I have wanted to do for a long time is to go scuba diving, and when I found out Rachael was also interested, it was settled. The day started at the dive shop, where we filled out a few forms (you know the really long ones that you don’t really read, but just sign your name 20 times…)  After that, a van brought us over to a beach where one of our instructors gave us a short lesson on diving.  This included everything from how our bodies react to pressure, how the equipment works, and what hand signals to use.  Next, we suited up into our gear, and had a little training session in a few feet of water.  We quickly realized that diving isn’t quite as easy as it sometimes looks.  Breathing underwater is unnatural at first, so I found myself rushing to do things and becoming a bit unsettled.  But after a short while, I became more comfortable, and was able to remember the things I learned just a half hour earlier on the beach.

 

 

After stopping back at the dive shop to get our wet suits, we finally arrived at the boat.  There was a 5 person crew and about 20 divers.  Our group ended up just being Rachael, myself, a father and his daughter, and of course our instructor Greg.  The boat ride out was a short 15 minutes, and we were treated to a nice little show from a few whales not too far off.  Once in the water, I felt the excitement and adrenaline running through me.  We slowly descended, stopping every few feet to equalize, and making sure everyone was doing alright.  Once at the bottom, we were treated to a quite a spectacle.  Between the two 30 minute dives, we saw sea turtles, a spotted ray, eels, and countless other marine life.  Our instructor was great at stopping to point out some of the more rare species, like the frog fish.  And the best part was, while uncertified divers are only allowed to a depth of 36 feet, our instructor took is as deep as 50 feet, as well as through some small sea caves.  It was definitely an exhilarating experience, and one of the coolest things I’ve done since being in Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

As for the food, more visitors meant more trips to my favorite restaurants, and delectable meals of which I’ve shared on previous trips.  But there was one new restaurant I tried this month that stood out from the rest.  I have heard people talk about the food at Merimam’s since living here, but had never made it there until this past weekend, and man was I glad we did.  (1) Truffle Fries, with truffle oil, fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, and sea salt (2) Ahi Pizza, with ahi tuna, avocado, sweet onion, cilantro, and wasabi aioli (3) BKE Burger, grass fed beef patty, topped with kalua pork, a fried egg , and house made kimchee, served on a house made bun.

 

 

 

Less than 8 weeks to go in Kauai, but a few fun adventures still planned - bass fishing, deep sea fishing, trip to Mauai… So stay tuned, and as always, mahalo for reading!

Guest post by Kristina - Part 2

We needed a rest Friday, so when we realized it was pouring rain in the southwest, where we were, we decided to just get in the car and drive away from the rain. We drove up the entire coast to the very northern tip of the island, and there was no rain! We watched surfers on the biggest waves I have ever seen, which was pretty awesome to see. They make it look effortless. We ate Bubba burgers and then headed back down the coast, where we got some fish tacos, and then headed to Poipu beach (where most of the hotels are located). We got some Puka dogs and then decided to head back. Then we hit up happy hour outside and snacked on shrimp. This weekend just happened to be the annual Waimea town festival, which we all wanted to check out. It was like a Hawaiian carnival, and we got to try some specialties.  We tried corndogs, fried poi (which was weird), flying sauced hamburger pies, and pork lau lau.  A fat kids dream!  There was local bands and a beer garden, and it was a really fun thing to experience.

Saturday, we woke up at 4:45 am so we could drive up to the northern tip of the island and do the 8 mile hike to Hanakapia’a Falls.  We got there at 7am for sunrise and were the first ones on the trail. The views during the first 2 miles were breathtaking. We were walking along the northern coast of Kauai and the water was pure blue and the waves were amazing, and huge. After 2 miles, we made it to a rocky beach for a break. After this, the hike got more challenging and skinny at times. We had to cross several running streams and climb slippery rocks, but he payoff was worth it. We made it to the 300 foot waterfall (first ones of the day) and it was unbelievable! Nate and Dave swam under the fall, while I snapped some pictures. I was in awe of the size of the waterfall. It was by far the largest and most amazing I have ever seen. And we had it all to ourselves. On the hike back, we started to see people, and the trail was muddier and more slippery. The last mile was hard for me, due to my tiredness and the crowded, slippery trail. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment for completing the hike in 5 and a half hours and keeping up with the boys :) We were all famished, so we decided to head back home and stop for tacos on our way. We stopped at Dave’s favorite place, Verde, and absolutely gorged ourselves on chips, margaritas, and pork/fish tacos. It really hit the spot! Then we headed to Poipu beach, and Nate and Dave fell asleep on the beach, hard. I went for a swim and relaxed. We decided to just get Poke from the local market and make some rice and enjoy a dinner at home. Delicious ending to a tiring day!

Sunday, we slept in and decided on a beach day. We went to Polihale beach, which is only accessible by a 4 mile dirt, pot hole filled, muddy road! Crazy ride, but the beach was huge and gorgeous. The view was beach on one side and staggering cliffs on the other. It was windy, and the waves were really rough. Swimming was a challenge, but fun! Nate tried to surf, and then we all realized we were rocked from the sun! Successful beach day. We had a reservation for a fancy shmancy dinner at the Beach House in Poipu on the water. We left early to catch the sunset and had an amazing fish dinner on the water. It was definitely the way to end an amazing island vacation!

Dave was the best host! Thanks for having us :)

Guest post by Kristina - Part 1...

Hey Everyone! This is Kristina, Dave’s sister, and I am doing a guest post of our recent visit to Kauai to see Dave. Kauai is amazingly beautiful and such a fun island to explore. Since the island is pretty small, we got to see the entire island during our stay, which was pretty fantastic.

We started Day 1 with a 5 mile hike of the Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It spans about 10 miles and they take about 45 minutes of windy switchbacks to get to the view at the top. The day started out a little foggy, but once we got hiking, the views were amazing! The trail was super muddy and slippery because of all the rain the week before, but that made it fun. We were done by 2 and decided to head to Salt Pond Beach, which is an inlet with calm waters and picnic tables. Dinner was at a nearby cafe, and we had some fresh fish tacos and ribs, yum! We ended the evening in awe with the stars. If you are city folks like us, you know you can’t always see stars, even on a clear night. The stars in Kauai were unbelievable! Most I have ever seen.

Day 2, we didn’t have a set plan, so we decided to sign up for a last minute excursion. It was a 5 mile kayak down the Wialua river, and 2 mile hike to Secret falls. The kayaks were doubles and the river was surrounded by forest and mountains. Nate and I were in the lead and having a blast. When we got to the hike, we were warned about “waist deep mud”, again due to all the rain.  It was the most mud I have ever seen, and we trudged through it up to our knees. So much fun to experience a mud hike.  \We ended up at the waterfall for a swim and a rest, which was really nice. The waterfall was raging, but the water was cool. The day was a blast and I definitely recommend this tour for some outdoorsy fun!  We sat outside with live music for dinner, and it was a great end to the day.

Day 3 was probably the most fun. We woke up early and headed out on a catamaran snorkel tour of the Napali Coast. First off, catamarans are awesome! You can sit up on the front and see dolphins and get some sun. They served breakfast and then we got to snorkel. The water was a bit cloudy, but Nate and I got to see and a pretty large sea turtle, which made it all worth it.They are amazing to see up close. We cruised the Napali coast and on the way we saw tons of dolphins and whales jumping fully out of the water.  I’ve seen plenty of dolphins before, but seeing the whales play and jump was unreal. They are so large and great to see up so close. The Napali Coast is spectacular!  An absolute must see in Kauai. The staggering cliffs, waterfalls, and caves were amazing. We cruised back pretty fast and I sat up front and got sprayed with water; it was a blast! I highly recommend this or the sunset tour of the coast. Dinner was one of the favorites, The Port Allen brewery.  We finally tried Poke, and the ahi tuna was delicious!

Mom and Dad visit Kauai!

Aloooooha! I hope everyone is doing well, staying warm, and enjoying life. The past few weeks, I had the pleasure of hosting my parents, and then my sister Kristina and brother-in-law Nate. We had lots of fun exploring all sides of the island, especially the culinary side… Mom and Dad spent one night in the luxurious Hotel de Dave in Kekaha, and then had to slum it for the rest of their trip at the Grand Hyatt.

 

 

Their first day here we explored the beautiful Waimea Canyon, and mom broke in her stylish new hiking shoes on a nice little three mile hike along the ridge of the Canyon, affording us some specular views.

The next day, Mom forced Dad and I to go ATVing, and we’re glad she did! We piled in a four person dune buggy, and took turns driving, seeing who could sling the most mud (Mom won). Our ATV tour guide made some stops at scenic lookouts, old sugar mill tunnels, and movie sights from Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and 7 days 7 nights.

 

The rest of the week, they enjoyed snorkeling, sailing along the magnificent Napali Coast, driving up to Kapaa and seeing the Waliua water falls, and relaxing on the beach. As for meals, we had LOTS of good ones, and I think Dad has fish for just about every meal… I think our favorites were the pork tacos and fish tacos at Verde, the sushi at the Grand Hyatt, and everything that entered our mouths at the Beach House, most of all the crab crusted mahi mahi.

 

Two days after Mom and Dad left, Kristina and Nate arrived, so read the next post for more adventures!

Da Big Island Part 2

Apparently this blogging app has character limits, so here is Part 2... Anyway, Monday was another early morning, as I had to make the 2 hour drive across the island in time for a 7:15 check-in at the dock. I ventured out with a small group on a traditional double hull canoe, the kind that the Tahitians used when they found the islands. We had a whale flanking us for a few minutes, surfacing a few times before diving down again. It was about a 45 minute ride out to Kealakekua Bay, the place where Captain James Cook (the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands) docked during his second visit to the islands. The bay is known for its rich marine life and excellent snorkeling, and it definitely lived up to the hype.

After that voyage, I ventured into the town of Kona and added tried two new elements of Hawaiian cuisines. The first was a drink called Kava, which is made from the roots of a pepper plant, and has a natural sedative quality.  It is consumed in the Pacific to relax without disrupting mental clarity. The other was squid luau, which is made by cooking young taro leaves and squid in coconut milk until the leaves are tender. The squid dish was quite delicious and reminded me of cream spinach.

Monday night, I went out on a Manta Ray dive, which was definitely one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. On the way out, we passed a school of spinner dolphins, which are known for the aerobatic displays. The captain stopped for a bit and we were treated to a pretty cool show. 

The boat anchored in the bay just after sunset, and we dressed in wetsuits, with some gearing up for scuba and some for snorkel. The crew setup a big surfboard with 6 bright lights on the bottom, which attract the manta rays who feed on plankton. They are truly beautiful creatures, and I never knew how enormous they were. Some of the rays around us had wingspans of 15 feet and weighed over 1,000 lbs. As they swam around us with mouths wide open, it often times looked as if they were swooping in to bite our heads off, but they were extremely swift and would turn at the very last second. Manta ray populations are threatened, and a bill was passed in 2009 to protect them. The rays also have distinct patterns of black spots on their underside, and over 200 have been identified and named and are tracked online, so the crew was able to tell us which ones were around us.

Well, mom and dad arrive this Friday, and then my sister Kristina and brother in law Nate after that, so I hope to have more fun (and hopefully delicious) experiences to share in a few weeks! Mahalo for reading, a hui hou!

Da Big Island Part 1

Aloha friends! This past weekend, I spent 3 full days on the Big Island of Hawaii. I lodged in Hilo, home to the University of Hawaii. And after talking to some friends and reading a bunch online, I decided to rent a 4WD Jeep Wrangler, and I'm definitely glad that I did.

Saturday morning, I got an early start and drove about an hour and a half to South Point, the most southern location in the United States. There was a great 35 foot cliff jump into crystal clear blue water, with a few sea caves to explore down below.

 

After that, I went to look for the secluded green sand beach nearby. Getting there meant either a 5 mile round trip hike (which I wouldn't have been opposed if I had more days there), or off roading through the maze of different tracks (this is one of the times where 4WD was a must). I decided to follow a local who was shuttling a few others in his truck since he knew which tracks to follow, and all he charged me was a banana and cold bottle of water. It was definitely the most dangerous off roading I've ever done, and I'll admit I was pretty nervous, especially being in a rental. But once we made it to the beach, the view proved worth the trek. The sand was a rich olive green from the olivine mineral which is abundant in the nearby volcanic cinder cone.

My next stop on Saturday was Volcano National Park. I spent the afternoon driving around to all of the different volcano sights, including the museum, the hot steam vents, the lava tubes, the fields of past lava flows, and the spot down by the ocean where you the lava flow met the road. Looking out at miles and miles of black lava rock is a pretty eerie feeling. After sunset, I headed back to the museum, where I was able to see the bright orange glow of Mauna Kilauea's caldera.

Sunday morning, I drove down to Puna, which is kind of known as the island’s outlaw town. I even heard someone refer to the locals as punatics. I made a quick stop at Lava Tree Park, where the fast flowing lava once covered the trees, leaving behind molds of hollow tubes of lava rock. My next stop was Ahalanui Beach Park, where I took a quick swim in an ocean fed pool enclosed by rock that is volcanically heated to a warm 90 degree temperature. After what felt like a refreshing warm bath, I drove about north 2 hours to the Waipio Valley. It is a beautiful site that was once a meeting place for the Hawaiian chiefs. At a time many people lived there and the valley floor was known for great farming. But the valley was wiped out by a tsunami in the 1940s, and in the 1960s became inhabited by hippies and others looking to live off the grid. The valley is still home to 50 or so residents who aren't big fans of outsiders or tourists. I read that they pretty much govern themselves, without much connection to the rest of society. The only way down into the valley is on an extremely steep and windy road that drops 900 feet, and all of the rental car agencies ban you from taking your car down it. So it's either choose to take the grueling walk, or hitch a ride with locals headed to the valley’s beach. I chose the latter. The sand at this beach was black and consisted of very tiny fragments of lava.

 

After watching some locals surf, I followed a couple from Oahu to poke around the valley a little bit. The people living down there put up all sorts of signs to show their discomfort with outsiders, so I was sure to keep some distance. As we headed towards the back of the valley, we caught a glimpse through the fog of the two towering waterfalls. I also finally tried a Lilikoi fruit, which I had seen in the forest on past hikes, but never really knew what it was until my new friends from Oahu showed me. Very tasty.

Sunday evening I ventured up to Mauna Kea, a one million year old volcano, one of the five that formed the island. The mountain is 13,800 feet above sea level, but measured from its base, the mountain is actually more than twice the size of what Mount Everest measures base to peak. As I ventured up, I passed a number of locals who had loaded up the beds of their trucks with snow, and were hurrying back down to share with friends and family. As I passed the 12,000 foot marker, there were local children sledding on boogie boards! I would have never imagined seeing all that snow in Hawaii. Luckily, my friend Andy had warned me to bring warm clothes, because when I reach the summit, it was FREEZING. There were a number of huge telescopes scattered across the summit, because Mauna Kea’s high altitude, dry environment, and stable airflow make its summit one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observation. I hung out at the top for a while to watch the sunset.

On my way down, I stopped at the visitor’s center which was about 9,000 feet in elevation. For the hour or so that the clouds were cleared, I saw the most stars I’ve ever seen. They had a few very nice telescopes setup for the public to use, with one focused on the moon and another on Jupiter. It was really cool to see them both in so much detail. There was also a woman with a high grade laser (the kind that is banned by the FAA) and she was pointing out the different stars and constellations.

No fear of heights allowed!

Hi friends! I hope everyone is doing well, and I love when I hear from each of you.  Since the last post, I've added another new fish to the books, which is very exciting out here in the furthest west town in America.  It’s called the blue striped snapper, and I’ve had the most luck with catching it at night as you can see from the pic.

I had my first of many visitors last week. Nikki stopped in on the way to her awesome adventure to teach English in Thailand.  We checked out the Waimea Canyon, Polihale Beach, a Luau, and took on the challenging 8 mile hike to Hanakapia Falls (I didn’t get lost in the jungle this time…)  But we also did a few new activities that I hadn’t checked out yet, the first being Ziplining through the mountains.  Our guides were pretty funny, and showed us some neat tricks, like how to go upside down!

We also Kayaked the Wailua, which is a serene river that runs through the mountains towards the Eastern shore of the island. After about an hour of kayaking, we pulled off to the side and hiked (through some deep mud) to the “Secret Falls.”  Our guide must have been third cousins with Bob Marley (yes, for the reasons that you're probably thinking...) but he was really fascinating and friendly, and told us a lot of interesting facts about the history of the island.

The most extreme activity of the week came this morning at 7am, when we jumped out of an airplane named Sharky…  It was Nikki’s first time Skydiving, and my third, although this was by far the best view (no offense South Jersey and North Georgia).

Whale season is in full swing, and we've been seeing them just about everyday for the past few weeks. Here's a cool pic from this morning of a tail slap off the South Shore.

Lots of good meals this week!  If I had to pick the top 3, I’m going with the syrup infused taro chips, the malasada (Portuguese sugar coated donut), and the ahi tuna tostada that we had this week.

On a side note, this is one of the weirdest chickens I've seen in Kauai so far…

Mahalo for reading, a hui hou!