Last Day in Kauai

On our last day we just stayed around our beach/pool. We enjoyed doing our usual beach activities for one last time.

Chris wanted to go back to Brennecke's one more time to try out the waves again, so I walked over with him and watched.

That night we went to Bubba Burgers (kind of like an In n' Out of Hawaii) and walked around this little shopping place.

I had a wonderful trip and really didn't want it to end. It was so wonderful to be with all of my family and to be in such a BEAUTIFUL place together. Can't wait to go BACK!!!

Wailua Falls and Tunnels Beach

Our next adventure we decided to head to the north side of Kauai. On our way up we stopped at the Wailua Falls.

It was quite overcast and even rainy as we drove farther north. I was worried it was going to be a cold, miserable day... but I was hopeful. But the drive up was BEAUTIFUL. The north side is so lush and green I thought I was in the jungle. All the homes were up in stilts because of the flash floods they get. If it weren't for that and it being farely remote-I would move there in a heart beat!

It was still a bit rainy when we got to our destination of Tunnels Beach, on the the farthest north beaches you can get to without hiking. But after lunch and some snorkeling it turned into a beautiful day!

Us older kids...being very "mature" wanted to TREASURE HUNT for cool shells in the ocean. I collected shells to complete my fish mosaic (see picture above) but Brandon and Chris found some cool shells diving below the waves. Paydan build another sand castle... or pit, as usual and we also saw a crab.

After we were done at the beach we headed to a shave ice stand that can recommended by friends. It was YUMMY and was the first time my shave ice was flavorful all the way through!

Tunnels beach was BY far my favorite beach we visited... it was sooo beautiful!

shipwreck beach- Kauai

We headed to Shipwreck Beach, which was a little ways down from our condo. It was right next to the Hyatt Hotel which was beautiful! We walked through the lobby which was open and had a huge garden in it with Parrots and other birds!

The beach was lots of fun, Chris of course spent most of the time out in the waves on his boogie board, I alternated between laying on the beach reading and getting in the water. We also played some more smash ball.


We got to see a huge monk seal come up on the beach. Since they are endangered when ever they come up on shore to rest some one from the government (or city?) come and rope them off so they can sun bathe in peace! But that actually was NOT the most exciting wildlife we saw... we saw a SHARK!!!!

We were one the beach and we heard this couple near by pointing and debating whether it as a shark or dolphin they saw. I didn't look at first because I thought no way would there be a shark. But lo-and-behold there was a 5 foot shark swimming in the waves right on the shore! it stayed in the shore area for a long time... needless to say I did not get back in the after much after that.

The funniest thing was that Brandon the whole trip had talked about sharks and wanting to see one... but of course he left the beach like 15 minutes before the shark showed up... BUMMER!

That night we went out to eat and Chris had the best fish of his life... so he says. It was called Monchong- funny name but delicious.

Na Pali Coast and Brennecke's Beach- Kauai

On Tuesday we headed out early to catch our Catamaran tour up the Na Pali Coast.
The Na Pali Coast can only be visited by either boat or helicopter... and we of course choose boat.
The coast line was spectacular... I totally understand why TONS of movies have been filmed there.

We had a fun boat ride, enjoyed the views, got to watch spinner dolphins( there was a group of like 75 right by our boat), snorkeled a bit, and more. The ride back got a bit bumpy and a it rained a bit. Paydan and Chris braved the weather and rode on top of the nets of the Catamaran.

Since the tour started so early we got back with still a lot of day left... so after a break Chris and I headed with my parents and Paydan to Brennecke's beach. It was a very quick walk from our place and Chris wanted to go because he heard there were good Boogie Boarding waves.

Chris and I even got to see like 5 HUGE turtles in the water. It was so funny because they were just getting tossed around in the waves... it looked like they were trying to boogie board too!

Poipu Beach- Kauai

Our second day we hung out close to our condo (especially after sleeping in trying to knock my cold). We made a Costco run and got WAY too much food.

We spent the day at Poipu Beach, which you could literally take about ten steps out of the pool and be on the beach.

*Can you see Paydan's large muscles in that sand.. those are courtesy of Chris. And also here we are playing Smash ball, which became a favorite activity for Chris and I and we were constantly trying to beat our record of volleys.

That night we walked to a little restaurant right down the street called Brennecke's.