We Love It Here!

The night before last we checked into our beach house, "Kahakai," in Hanalei.Knowing that we were headed to a beach house in Hanalei, we would have been happy with anything, and I think it would have been impossible to disappoint us. But we got to this place, and we were blown away! The house has four rooms, and a nice living room and kitchen area for everyone to hang out. There is a beautiful deck out front looking toward the ocean, which is just beyond the yard. The yard though is like a football field! When we first arrived we all ran out there and went crazy. Abby was running around the yard like an airplane with her arms outstretched, I was doing kart wheels, and Rob was throwing the ball to Josh, and then Josh and David started wrestling on the grass. We were all so excited! Then we all ran out to the beach and swam in the waves, the ocean was beautiful out because the sun was setting. We took Abby Grace out with us, she was so brave swimming out in the ocean and ducking the waves. She even caught a wave in by herself on the boogie board!
Yesterday my sister and Abby swam first thing in the morning, then took a run,  (or vice-versa.) Then my sister and Abby and I took a long walk all the way to the end of Hanalei Bay. Rob worked on the blog in the morning, then rode cruiser bikes with my brother along the North Shore. Then we had a tropical fruit party for lunch. Abby and Rob were playing tag in the yard too. Then we had cocktail hour, (rum and pineapple drinks!) and made dinner, (shrimp tacos.)
Today Rob, my sister, brother and David are going to hike the Na Pali coast. I am taking my mom to the dentist because she has a dental emergency going on. So after that we will probably just hang out at the beach house or on the beach or in Hanalei. I hope she's ok.
That's all for now, we'll post again soon.

Aloha!

Two Awesome Hikes

On Friday, David, Josh and I went on a short hike down to the beach and around the cove into Hanalei Bay. These beaches were incredible.

A big spider!

On Saturday, we went on a more challenging hike. A lady at the coffee shop told me about a hike up the ridge of the mountain with views of the whole bay. Even though it was all up hill for two miles, it was really worth it.

Local delights at the Hanalei Farmer's Market

This morning we woke up bright and early and headed to the Hanalei Farmer's Market. Although I've been here several times, I've never been to the farmer's market, and neither had Rob. We were immediately overtaken by the deluge of tropical fruit stands, many of which were selling fruit(s) that we'd never heard of. I found an ice-cold coconut, which was so refreshing, and we tasted all kinds of new tropical fruits: rambutan, chico fruit, egg fruit, lingon berries, and something else that looked like a yam or sweet potato but tasted like some sort of tropical fruit pudding.Rob was having a blast taking photos, and the vendors were all so friendly and full of the aloha spirit. We even had a celebrity sighting! Gabrielle Reese, ex-pro volleyball pro, model, and the wife of big wave rider Laird Hamilton, was there with her keikis. We were both star struck a little, especially Rob, but we tried not to stare too much. :)
My highlights of the farmer's market were talking to the vendors, especially the rambutan vendor, and the papaya vendor, and also the sunrise shell vendor. The rambutan vendor was from Santa Cruz, had gotten a degree in agriculture and was living out his dream of growing tropical fruits and vegetables in Kauai, and making a living from the sale of the crops he grows on his farm. I love hearing stories of people who just go for it and make their dreams come true.
The sunrise shell vendor shared a secret with me: I figured he wouldn't tell me where to look but he said that wouldn't be living aloha. So he told me to go to Lumahai beach just north of here but before Na Pali coast to look for sunrise shells. Maybe I will be lucky. These guys sell just the shells for $50 a piece and sunrise shell jewelry can cost up to $200 or $300 for earrings, rings and necklaces. They are like works of art, it would be so thrilling to find one on the beach!
We also picked my sister and Abby up today, they are here safe and sound! And in a few minutes we'll be moving over to the beach house in Hanalei.
Rob, Josh and David went on a beautiful hike today while we went to the airport to pick up A & A. I'm sure Rob will have plenty of stories and beautiful photos to share when he returns!
Aloha for now,
Jeneka

A little slice of Hanalei heaven

Our first night here! We are so happy!


My brother with the sand crab he found on the beach.

Picking up where we left off....once we got our car in Lihue and drove to Princeville where we have a room for two nights until we move to the beach house in Hanalei. We dropped our bags off and went straight to my parents' condo to enjoy some cocktails and our first beautiful sunset. We were pretty ecstatic to be here. After the sun had set, we went to a place for dinner nearby with my family, then called it a night. We were tired after a long day of travel.
We woke up this morning and went to Java Kai's for breakfast in Hanalei. I think it was the best breakfast I've ever had: a cup of Kona coffee, a coconut biscotti, a half of papaya, yogurt and banana slices. I was in heaven. Rob had a breakfast burrito which he said was tasty and spicy but a little small, it was a mini burrito. From there we came to my parents' condo and hung out. The guys hiked down to the beach to explore and my mom and I shopped for awhile in Hanalei. We met them for lunch at Bubba's burgers, which Rob said was "small, but tasty." My brother said the same.

After lunch we took a long walk on the beach in Hanalei, my brother and stepdad David were swimming in the waves. We came back to our hotel, swam in the pool and enjoyed the waterfalls, there was even a warm waterfall in the hot tub! Nice. Then came over to see my family, we all enjoyed one last sunset from this particular place, and made dinner together.

Tomorrow we are headed to the Hanalei Farmer's Market. I can't wait, it's always one of my favorite things to do here. My sister and my niece Abigail also fly in tomorrow. And we are moving from our rooms above Hanalei Bay to the beach house in Hanalei where we will be staying for the next week.

We are finally here!

Our first day of the trip was spent traveling from Sacramento to Honolulu, and then on to Kauai along with Jeneka's brother Joshua. Even though we had an hour long layover in Honolulu, time almost got away from us because we were having so much fun at the airport bar. We had to literally run to catch our connecting flight to Lihue. Once we arrived in Kauai, Janna and David greeted us with leis. It was official, we'd finally arrived. We can't believe how gorgeous it is here and how the weather is warm and perfect! We are so happy.




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Location:Hanalei,United States

Looking back, looking ahead...

We will be leaving for Kauai in 11 days, and there is so much to look forward to. Hanalei, Kauai is my favorite place on Earth, although the last time I was there was June of 2002. Rob was there the year before that. Rob is planning to go fishing, and we're going to take a surfing lessons together. Kauai as I remember was always like a dream; sweet balmy air that smelled like plumeria blossoms, stunning sunsets, hibiscus flowers blooming in the yard, and just a quiet old Hawaii feel where life goes at a slower pace. The beach in Hanalei is like a long crescent moon that goes for miles. Such a lovely walk and so relaxing. I am looking forward to hearing the Happy Hawaiians, a group of old Hawaiian men in their seventies, play their ukuleles on Friday nights at Tahiti Nui's, the one and only bar in Hanalei. They make great Mai Tai's of course.
The Hanalei farmer's market is always so much fun. The tropical fruits are so beautiful, and it is such a delight to try new fruits and vegetables that we have never seen or heard of since they don't grow here. Also, sometimes if you are lucky, you can find sunrise shells at Secrets beach. If you're not so lucky, sometimes someone will be selling sunrise shell jewelry at the farmer's market.
Some of my family's best memories have been while we were on vacation in Hanalei. I can't wait to make more memories there together, along with the newest member of our family, Rob.