The Awaawapuhi Trail passes through a bunch of forest before popping out on the coast for the most fantastic view you could imagine. You are literally a couple thousand feet in the air on cliffs overlooking the ocean and green everywhere. But before getting there you have to pass the guard chicken. I kid you not, about halfway along the trail I come around a bend and there is a chicken in the middle of the path.
Once out to the cliffs I took a break for food and views. While eating I almost accidentally dropped my GoPro over the edge when I knocked it from where it was sitting next to me. Thankfully it didn't roll all the way down down down, and I was able to retrieve it.
After making my way back up the trail I headed to the back of the park to take a look over two different overlooks. The view wasn't much that day, unfortunately. Based off pictures I've seen it would have been spectacular, but it just wasn't going to be happening that day. But it did make for some interesting pictures. In the picture below this ridge splits the Waimea Canyon (to the right) from views of the Na Pali Coast. The coast was just wet and foggy so no visibility, but it was interesting how drastic it was.
No sunsets that evening because I was exhausted. I did settle for what I would call the best Hawaiian Shaved Ice I've ever had. I had thought JoJo's which I had already had twice was good, but Wailua Shaved Iced beat it by a mile! My pineapple strawberry shaved ice was doused in fresh pineapple juice with fresh strawberry juices, topped with little pieces of pineapple. So, so, so good!
My last day I kind of wandered all over the southern coast of the island. I started out in Poipu (Poh-ee-poo) and wandered along the Maha'ulepu Coastal Trail.
Looking down on one area there looked like a whole bunch of large spiders moving around on the rocks, but they were just crabs...I'll take that any day over spiders.
After following the trail a bit I headed to Kaua'i Coffee Company, a farm where they grow coffee, so I could pick up some for my brother (because I'm the WORLD'S BEST SISTER...all caps). They irrigate their coffee trees using water from Wai'ale'ale, one of the wettest places on Earth. It gets around 460 inches of rain a year. Meanwhile, the south side of the island where the coffee farm is, is quite dry in comparison.
My last stop before heading to the airport was Hanapepe. This place was a must visit for one reason...it was the inspiration for the town where Lilo and Nani live in Lilo & Stitch (probably my favorite Disney movie of all time...I can quote much of it for you). The town is small and run down, but still very Hawaiian in look and feel.
On the way home I flew from Lihue to Honolulu and then on to Dallas and finally Wichita. I made it home, exhausted after flying overnight. I'll work my way through my pictures and videos and compile something here in the coming weeks. Mahalo!
