Kauai Trip: waterfalls and sunset

Our mornings were pretty laid back, enjoying the sunrise, watching the turtle & surfer population, and drinking coffee. On this day our plan was to head east to view two waterfalls: Wailua &  Opaeka’a Falls.

Morning on the lanai…

Mike & Shannon getting ready for the day. Surfers already out enjoying the morning waves.

First fall was Wailua. Not having looked at maps or guide books, I kind of thought we would have to do some hiking to it’s location. Not so! You drive up to a dead end parking, several spots taken up by vendors hawking a variety of wares (palm frond hats to jewelry), and the fall is right there!  According to the guide book it is about 173ft. drop over the fall’s precipice and the pool below is only 33ft deep.  No cannon balling for us! Apparently there were two short trails to better observatory areas but we didn’t look for them.  Still it was a beautiful spot in the noon day sunshine.

This is a shot downstream from the pool. Just liked the lush feeling of it.

Next stop was Opaeka’a Falls north of Wailua. It falls 151 ft. Couldn’t see the pool below. Again it is a easy drive with plenty of parking.

Across the road from the falls is the Wailua River observation area complete with a historical marker.

After touring the waterfalls, we headed into Kapa’a  for late lunch and some food poisoning. Kim & I both had the same meal and almost the same reaction, which wasn’t good! One other thing that kept showing up in a variety of food was hair. Four different restaurants liked serving strands mixed among the salad or other dishes. Oh so tasty!

On the way home we stopped off at a quilt shop for Kim. Outside, I discovered a beautiful zigzag spider among the plumeria tree branches.

Sunset was beautiful that evening. The catamaran cruise was out enjoying it. I felt fortunate to catch parts of it before collapsing into bed.

Boogie boarder still catching late waves in foreground.

Next up: Spouting horn