Honeymoon Day Ten: Paradise
We awoke early on day ten of our adventure, because we had to be at the Port Allen Airport to check-in at 7:30 a.m. for our helicopter tour. We had put a lot of thought into which helicopter company to use for our trip over Waimea Canyon and along the NaPali Coast. Relying on our trusty guidebook, we ended up going with Inter-Island helicopters. We made that choice in large part because they fly with the doors off and the particular type of helicopter is set-up well for photographing/filming during the flight. We also chose them because they offered something no one else did: the helicopter lands in the middle of a rain forest where we can go swimming underneath a waterfall.
I must admit that I was a little nervous prior to the flight, because I have never been in a helicopter. I was also a little worried about getting airsick, especially when they highlighted that possibility in the "safety video" we were forced to watch prior to take-off. We also had to sign a wavier that encompassed all the things that could go wrong. All these worries would dissipate once we took off.
Prince E and I ended up in the back by ourselves and the other couple, two older women, sat in front with the pilot. We had to fasten a small yellow packet around our waists, which contained a life vest. I tried not to think about how much of the ride would be over land rather than sea and how, of course, no parachute had been provided. Someone helped us fasten our belts properly and we were ready to go.
Our pilot, a man originally from Italy, made me feel at ease and was very entertaining throughout the flight. We all wore headsets so that we could hear the pilot's narration, as well as ask him questions, ask for a barf bag, etc.
The ride took us over nearly the entire island of Kauai (is only about 550 square miles), including some of the most beautiful land I have ever seen. The main attraction of the topography is Waimea Canyon, which, according to legend, Mark Twain called "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." According to our pilot, Mark Twain never even went to Kauai, so whether he really made the famous quote it uncertain. The moniker, either way, fits. On the ride, we actually flew inside the canyon, so that we were wholly surrounded by its beauty. The other highlight is the Na Pali Coast, a stretch of 16 miles on the west coast of Kauai that is largely inaccessible by automobile.
There are really no words to describe the beauty of this area, so I will let some photographs by Prince E do the talking. It was difficult to narrow down which shots to include because he took so many beautiful photos. Check out my photo section for an extended collection of photos.
After viewing all these beautiful sights, the pilot dropped us down into the middle of the rain forest. We walked a few hundred yards to a waterfall, which emptied into a small pool. I came prepared with my swimsuit on under my clothes, so I stripped down and headed in. It was cold. Although the sun had risen, it had not yet made an appearance in this area yet that morning and the water temperature reflected it. At no time did I consider not swimming, though, because how often do you get the chance to swim with a waterfall just a few feet away? The first picture below is after we finished swimming, when the sun finally came into view.
Here are some more photos that Prince E captured on the flight back to the airport, including some fantastic shots of the inside of the canyon. Click to enlarge to get the best view.
After the helicopter tour, which certainly would have been enough excitement for one day, we drove up to the North Shore of Kauai. We drove all the way until the road ends (there is no regular road that goes entirely around the island). Along the way, we stopped as various sites, including Wailua Falls, the town of Hanalei, and several beaches.
In Hanalei, we got shave ice from Shave Ice Paradise, recommended as one of three good shave ice places on the island (yes, we eventually went to all three). I got mango/guava over macadamia nut ice cream and it was the best yet. The kid (you know you are getting old when you start calling teenagers "kids") that made it was very fast, although it showed in his work, as it was a bit sloppy.
Across from the Ha'ena Beach was the Manini-holo Dry Cave, which, as legend goes, is named for the chief fishermen of the Menehune who, along with others, dug the cave looking for supernatural beasts called akua who stole their fish.
After our trip to the end of the road, we headed back to our hotel. It rained along the way, keeping our raining streak intact.
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And thanks to Prince E, for the stunning photos!