Hawaii, Day 11

Today is Sunday, December 29th.  it is the 10 day of our cruise and 11th day of vacation.

Today was in Nawiliwili.

Nawiliwili harbor

We boarded a tour bus and they took us to an overlook of a small canyon.  The other side of the road was all coffee bean bushes.  Once we got to Waiamimi Canyon we followed a trail up to an overlook.  Took a few pictures, used the rest room and reboarded the bus.

Accessible, even though the path up was pretty steep

The result was beautiful views of the lush canyon

Waiamimi Canyon

We then followed the route home but stopped at a souvenir shop along the way and another rest stop.

Fisherman checking his traps

We saw a car smoking and found it was on fire but got past it safely.  Got back to the port and boarded a shuttle to Hilo Hattie's.  We purchased a Hawaiian shirt each, got back onto the shuttle and back to the ship.

Hilo Hatties, an Hawaii icon.  This is where you buy authentic Hawaiian apparel and jewelry.

There are the beauties we bought.  Kents on the left, DeeAnns on the right.

Met up with our dinner mates again and had a nice dinner.  I had Alfredo pasta but the appetizer size.  DeeAnn had prime rib. 

Alfredo pasta in a Parmesan cheese shell

I wanted to attend the Movie Under the Stars, World War Z, but after about 15 minutes of the movie I left.  It was mostly a zombie mobile, not something I really like.

It is the "Rainbow State" after all.

Research suggests there is very little to do around the port, so we are taking an excursion to Waimea Canyon.  Here is what Princess says about this:  "Ancient Hawaiians believed the loud groan emitted by the lava-tube blow hole known as Spouting Horn was the voice of the angry goddess Kaikapu. Legend has it that this coast was once guarded by a large mo'o, or lizard, whom ate everyone who tried to fish or swim here.

One day, a man named Liko entered the water. When the mo'o went to attack him, he swam under the lava shelf and escaped through the hole. The mo'o became stuck and was never able to get out. The groaning is the cry of hunger and pain from the lizard that is still trapped under the rocks.

There used to be a much larger blowhole called Kukuiula Seaplume adjacent to Spouting Horn. It shot water 200-feet into the air. However, as the salt spray damaged a nearby field of sugar cane, the hole was blasted away in the 1920's.

Thankfully, Spouting Horn remains and when the tide is right, waves surge through the submerged lava tube and erupt in a spectacular geyser of sea water, treating visitors to a stunning show.

Another highlight of Kauai's extraordinary topography is Waimea Canyon. The largest canyon in the Pacific, it is an astounding sight. Ten miles long, 1 mile wide and 3,500-feet deep, it was carved thousands of years ago by rivers and floods flowing from the summit of Mount Waialeale.

The lines in the canyon walls depict different volcanic eruptions and lava flows that have occurred over the centuries. Though smaller than the Grand Canyon of Arizona, Waimea Canyon rivals its more famous counterpart in scenic beauty.

Numerous lookouts and hikes offer terrific views of every aspect of this natural wonder. The canyon is protected by the Koke'e State Park which encompasses 4,345 acres of land and has 45 miles of trails that run through the canyon and the nearby Alakai Swamp. The elevation makes the air 10-15 degrees cooler than in the valley and by afternoon many areas are often shrouded in clouds.

During the course of this moderately active half-day excursion, you'll also take in unforgettable sights through your motorcoach window. You'll pass through Lihue, the island's main town, Koloa, home of flower farms and sugarcane fields as well as the small villages of Oma'o, Kalaheo and Hanapepe."

Lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor

A smaller lighthouse along the golf course.  Perhaps decoration only?

Sunset as we leave Nawiliwili

From the ship log: