It's no secret that I love Hawaii. But I haven't really seen much of it, other than Maui where I spent the first 18 months of the pandemic. I have been to Kauai, once before. But when my daughter, Jenny, offered to take me with the family to celebrate my eldest grandson's 25th birthday, I was in!

Jenny, who is nothing short of amazing when it comes to organizing travel (or, really, anything else), made all the arrangements for us to stay right at Poipu Beach in the town of Koloa.

Poipu Beach, located in Koloa on the southern coast of Kauai, Hawaii, is renowned for its beautiful sandy shores and vibrant marine life. Historically, Poipu Beach was a significant area for native Hawaiians who utilized its resources for fishing and other subsistence activities. The region of Koloa holds historical importance as the site of Hawaii's first successful sugar plantation, established in 1835, which played a pivotal role in the island's colonization.

Geographically, Poipu Beach is characterized by its golden sands, clear blue waters, and an offshore reef that creates a calm swimming area, making it a popular destination for both tourists and locals. The beach is divided into two sections by a narrow sand spit, with one side providing gentle waves ideal for families and beginner swimmers, while the other side offers more robust waves suitable for surfing and snorkeling. The surrounding area is rich in natural beauty, with lush gardens, scenic hiking trails, and nearby attractions such as Spouting Horn, a natural blowhole that shoots water high into the air with each incoming wave. Poipu Beach's unique combination of historical significance and stunning geography makes it a beloved spot in Kauai.

Should be awesome!

Flight to Kauai

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/20/2024		Page Views: 452
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
Today I flew 3,000 miles for my grandson's birthday.
Estimated reading time: 3 minute(s) (659 words)

My daughter, Jenny, and two youngest grandkids (who we call The Littles) flew to Kaua'i yesterday. Today I flew to join them. My ex-husband and still-friend Michael is watching the dogs, cats, and fish while we're gone; and he drove me to the airport at 8:30 AM; my flight left almost 2 hours later.

Boogie Boards

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/21/2024		Page Views: 453
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
Today the Littles had their boogie board lessons.
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (459 words)

My grandkids wouldn't be my grandkids if they weren't water babies…and they are. So today their mom sent them to the beach with Justin, their surf instructor. This gave me the opportunity to take their pictures while doing it, as well as a chance to get a lot of really nice pictures of the beach park directly across the street from our AirBNB.

Birthday Surfing

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/22/2024		Page Views: 462
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
Paradise with the Birthday Boy.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (232 words)

I picked Zach up last night at Lihu'e Airport, and despite his having flown all that way (from Minnesota!), he was ready to hit the beach with his siblings today.

The Shops at Kukui'ula

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/23/2024		Page Views: 383
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
When the going gets rainy, the tough go shopping. Or something.
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (454 words)

Since we had a beach adventure yesterday, and today was cooler and with more frequent showers (always normal on Kaua'i), we decided to visit a local shopping village, what passes for a mall on the island.

Wailua Falls

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/24/2024		Page Views: 372
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
Who doesn't love a waterfall?
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (276 words)

We all enjoy hanging out at waterfalls, and Hawaii has many to choose from. Perhaps too many, as we learned today.

Ho'opi'i Falls

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/25/2024		Page Views: 485
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai #Waterfalls
Today I hiked three miles with a bad hip. But it was worth it!
Estimated reading time: 4 minute(s) (947 words)

Increasingly in the past few years, I have found walking to be challenge. I have a hip replacement scheduled for next month. But in the meantime, it's important for me to maintain (or rebuild) my strength and endurance for the recovery. And so I accompanied the family to a hidden waterfall on Kaua'i.

Sonrise, Sunset at Poipu Point

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/26/2024		Page Views: 669
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
Never miss a sunset. You never know how many more you'll get to see.
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (345 words)

My grandson, Zach, was in my care for a few of his early years; so I think of him more as a son than grandson. And as a 25-year-old following in my footsteps as a software engineer, I couldn't be prouder of him (not just for that, but for the quality man he's become). So today we celebrated his birthday with a special dinner and a show: A Kaua'i sunset.

Na Pali Snorkeling

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/27/2024		Page Views: 420
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai #NaPali
Today's adventure was a boat tour of the Na Pali coast.
Estimated reading time: 13 minute(s) (2988 words)

15 years ago, on my previous trip to Kaua'i, I took a very nice boat tour of what's known as the Na Pali coast, a forbidding and difficult-to-reach stretch of breathtaking beauty on Kaua'i's west and north shore. Today's tour, on a much smaller boat with a more personal crew, was able to get us much closer and even to include snorkeling!

The Grand Hyatt

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/28/2024		Page Views: 389
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
Today we left our AirBNB and moved into a resort.
Estimated reading time: 4 minute(s) (730 words)

So when my daughter made her plans for the Kaua'i vacation, it turned out the AirBNB we wanted (and got) in Poipu wasn't available for the last three nights of our vacation. And so, using points, Jenny got us into the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, just about a mile away.

Poipu Beach Park Views

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/29/2024		Page Views: 361
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai #PoipuBeachPark
Oh, the things that you'll see!
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s) (48 words)

Today I spent awhile just gazing at the ocean past Poipu Beach Park. It's such a peaceful place, the sea breeze is so soft and sweet; and, even though occasionally people will get in the way of seagazing, it's still a most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

Surfing Lessons for the Littles

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/30/2024		Page Views: 366
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai
This was the grandkids' last day for surf lessons from Justin.
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (254 words)

The Littles (my youngest grandkids) have had a number of surfing lessons from Justin, a local surf instructor. Today was their last, and I went down to watch. However, first we just hung out at the resort's beach.

Waimea Canyon and Home

By: Paul S Cilwa	Occurred: 5/31/2024		Page Views: 391
Hashtags: #Hawaii #Kauai #WaimeaCanyon
Today we left Kaua'i, but not before I got in a little more sightseeing.
Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s) (443 words)

And so, today is the day (or, rather, evening) all of us but grandson Zach are returning to Arizona. (Zach will be returning tomorrow.) Since Zach needed to spend another night, we kept the resort room so we had a place to hang out until it was time to go to the airport.