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Holoholo Hawaii
  • Betty Foidart
Mar – Apr 2017

Holoholo Hawaii

A 38-day adventure by Betty Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 4, 2017
    Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Kapaa, Kauai

    March 3, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Holoholo is an Hawaiian slang term meaning "travel for adventure and fun" and that's exactly what I plan to do on this 5 week trip to the islands. Travel day, February 28th, involved a 6 a.m. flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver; a 9 l/2 hour layover; and a 6 l/2 hour flight to Lihue, which meant that I was awake for 24 hours. First I had to pick up my rental car, a black Chevy Cruze with black leather heated seats....bizarre in Hawaii....and I couldn't figure out how to turn off the heat to the seat! I also had trouble figuring out how to start the vehicle with the push button ignition. It was raining heavily and pitch black as I drove the 13 km north to my resort, the Pono Kai, just another challenge for my exhausted brain.

    I've spent these first 3 days recovering, walking on the ocean front path behind the resort, and enjoying the view and birds from my lanai. The chickens and roosters that Kauai is known for are plentiful, as are the tropical flowers. I saw an Hawaiian monk seal, one of the most endangered mammals in the world as it is estimated that there are only 1200 of these rare seals. The temperature has been around 27 C during the day and 12 C at night. My walks have been limited to 2-3 hours because of the heat and high humidity. It has been mostly sunny with occasional cloud bursts of rain, which is why Kauai is known as the Garden Isle. It's very tropical and has always been my favourite.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Lihue

    March 4, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Today was moving day to Kauai Beach Villas, 9 km south. I was very close to being homeless as I booked this condo less than 24 hours before check-in. At $800 it was my most expensive week but the regular rate was $1900, which is typical for a mid-range condo in Hawaii. The canopy of banyan trees creates a natural gateway to the resort. This is a large resort with several buildings so I was shocked to be assigned an ocean front deluxe unit as only 2 of the 8 buildings are on the ocean. It's spacious at 900 sq ft and has a large lanai with a nice view of the grounds and ocean. The beach is perfect for long walks but it's not swimmable because of riptides. There are no stores or restaurants within walking distance so I had to drive into town to restock food & wine supplies. I'm enjoying the pretty and peaceful location.Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler
    1

    Kauai Beach Villas

    March 6, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    This rooster reminded me of Alyssa.....the feathers are the colour of her hair and the rooster is very chatty! Except the rooster crows at 5 a.m. every morning and I don't think Alyssa is very coherent at 5 a.m. when she has to get up for her day shift.

    I had to take a selfie of my best Hawaiian tourist impersonation. The leis has to be refrigerated to keep its freshness so it's always a nice surprise when I open the fridge door.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Eleele

    March 8, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    I was getting too comfortable staying at the resort every day so it was time to venture out. I decided to head West to look for the setting sun. My goal was to find Glass Beach and a black sand beach, which I never did find. I ended up at Salt Pond Park just as the sun was going down. This park was filled with local young people and their coolers of beer and families with their BBQs. It was a very happy place for a Wednesday evening. The hour drive there was pretty and scenic but driving back in the dark was less exciting. The 2 lane road is heavily trafficked, narrow, winding, and hilly with a max speed of 80 km/h but I seemed to be the only one obeying the law.

    Some observations from my first week in Kauai. They drive fast and get in accidents which can potentially shut down the main highway for hours. Two MVA deaths this week. Also two helicopter crashes this week with fatalities. Groceries are very expensive. For example, chicken breasts $10/pound; romaine lettuce $4; cucumbers $2/pound; tomatoes $4/pound; white mushrooms $7/pound; a small bunch of green onions $2.50; and one yellow onion $2. I've been eating mostly pasta and stir fry, although Canadian farm-raised salmon was a steal at $8/pound. The locals are very polite and friendly, as are the other tourists I've spoken with. Kauai is lush and green so it goes without saying that there will be rain....fortunately most of it has been in the evening and night. The temperatures have been 24-27 during the day and 19 at night.

    As I was finishing my packing the night before my departure, John had a sudden attack of "aloha envy" and asked me to find him a flight to Kauai. Once I arrived here it took several attempts but I eventually got lucky and was able to get him a return flight at a reasonable cost. He arrived safely this evening on the same grueling flight itinerary I was on.....tired but happy to be in Kauai.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler
    1

    Waimea

    March 9, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After a good night's sleep John was reenergized and ready to explore. I'm not sure why but he has insisted that I do all the driving, which is very unusual. Today we drove nearly an hour southwest to one of the highlights of Kauai and a favourite spot of ours....Waimea Canyon (16 km long, 3 km wide and 3000 feet deep). Driving the 30 km up to the canyon on a narrow, winding road is part of the adventure. Waterfalls, red soil and scenic valleys dot the landscape. At one of the lookouts there was an Hawaiian man dressed in traditional garb who was providing information about the canyon as well as Hawaiian history and culture. We had a picnic lunch and were joined by some curious chicks. This time we didn't do any hiking because the area was muddy from the heavy rainfall this past week. We were fortunate to have such a beautiful day.Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Koloa - Poipu

    March 10, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We had to check out of Kauai Beach Villas this morning so we decided to spend the day at one of our favourite beaches, Poipu Beach Park. On our way we stopped at Koloa Rum Company and tasted 4 different rums, later buying 2 bottles of John's favourite....Coffee Rum.

    At the beach I witnessed a pregnant monk seal come ashore. She was 400-500 pounds and isn't due to give birth until August. Some tourists wouldn't stand back the recommended 50 yards so the seal became stressed and had to be assisted back into the water. Ignorant tourists! There was another monk seal resting on shore that had been roped off for protection. The water was warm, clear and excellent for snorkelling. There were so many different coloured fish. Snorkelling in Hawaii is always an amazing experience. We shared a picnic table with a retired couple from Boise, Idaho and had an interesting conversation about the immigration issues each country is facing (Thanks to A&J for sharing their knowledge!).

    We spent the night in a one bedroom unit at Kapaa Shores as I couldn't get consecutive timeshare weeks. I used a Bonus Night plan that is offered by my timeshare company, Vacation Internationale, so it was a real deal at $65 per night.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Princeville

    March 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    It was only a 35 km drive North from Kapaa to our next home in Princeville so we stopped at the Kilaeua Lighthouse, another favourite as it is also a wildlife refuge for Hawaiian seabirds. We then went to a farmers market in Kilaeua where organic produce was a bit cheaper than in the grocery stores. I liked the Aloha greenery at the entrance. Next was a stop at one of my all time favourite scenic lookouts because of the patchwork shades of green.....the taro fields at Hanalei Valley. Princeville has the highest rainfall amounts on the island so the area is very green and lush.Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Ka 'Eo Kai

    March 11, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    This is the name of our resort and you have to pronounce every vowel! We were fortunate in getting assigned a one bedroom unit that overlooks the golf course with the ocean in the far distance. It is spacious at 1000 sq ft and has a continuous wrap around lanai. The birds sing and the roosters crow. The first 3 evenings the resort offered free mai tais from 3-6 pm so we took advantage of that. We also get to see colourful sunsets from our lanai. What's not to love!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Hanalei

    March 13, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    There are 3 or 4 Farmers Markets every day in different towns on Kauai. Some are just produce but others, like Hanalei's market, has a good variety of things. We bought some local tangerines and 2 slices of pie.....Mango Lilikoi (passion fruit) and Island Lemon. Both were delicious.Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler
    1

    Anini Beach - Hanalei

    March 13, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Yesterday we went to Anini Beach, a few km South. John read his book while I walked the beach and swam. I attempted to snorkel but there was no one else in the water and the reef looked to be quite a distance out. The beaches here all have the warning sign, "If in doubt, don't go out". So I didn't go out! John was so involved in his book that he wouldn't even be aware that I had drowned.

    Today we drove West across several single lane bridges to where the road ends at Ke'e Beach. We had a picnic at Ha'ena Beach; John read his book; and I went for a long beach walk. The sand was soft and I would sink 2-3" with each step, kind of like trudging through deep snow but not quite! It was a real workout. I saw another monk seal with 3 tourists far too close taking photos.

    On our way home we stopped at the Hanalei Farmers Market and at Hanalei Beach. This is the beach where Garrett & Alyssa had their first surfing lesson! Lots of good memories here. Hanalei has the prettiest United Church I have ever seen.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler
    1

    Princeville - no ordinary neighbourhood

    March 14, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Going for a walk in Princeville can't be beat. It is the most scenic neighbourhood with it's golf greens, flowers, birds, ocean vistas, and grove of rainbow eucalyptus trees. We did an 8 km walk and stupidly we picked the hottest, sunniest, and most humid day! JS had to have an $11 beer at the posh St. Regis Hotel before tackling the return trip. I did a second walk on another day but John wasn't interested!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Flowers of Kauai

    March 15, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    I can never resist photographing beautiful flowers.

    * Plumeria - yellow, white and pink (which is used to make leis as they are the longest lasting colour)
    * Hibiscus - plentiful in colours of orange, pink, yellow, red, and two-toned. The yellow hibiscus is Hawaii's state flower.
    * Angel's Trumpet - poisonous if ingested but so fragrant at dusk    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Birds of Kauai

    March 15, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    So many birds but difficult to photograph. The least colourful bird, a solid dark grey, had the most beautiful singing voice and preferred perching on the highest tree branches!

    * red-footed booby seen at the Kilauea Lighthouse Wildlife Preserve
    * nene, or Hawaiian Goose, is the world's rarest goose and is the state bird
    * red-crested cardinal is not closely related to the true cardinal and are plentiful, visiting us daily on our lanai    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Lihue

    March 16, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We were fortunate to have such good weather but today was our final day on Kauai and it was cloudy with occasional drizzle. That didn't stop us from renting bicycles and cycling along the Royal Coconut Coast. The Kapaa Path is 8 km long and we turned back just before the trail ended as we had only rented the bikes for one hour (at a very reasonable rate of $5 each). It was very different peddling a one-gear cruiser with pedal brakes! Such a beautiful area and we would have had perfect views if the sun had been shining.

    Our flight to Honolulu wasn't until 11 pm so we explored the area and shops at the Nawiliwili Cruise Port, stopping for a drink at the oceanfront Kauai Marriott. The 2 singers were excellent and their stage setting couldn't have been prettier. We had dinner at the BBQ Inn, a local's favourite restaurant in business for 75 years, that had been recommended to us by the bike shop owner. Although it was very flavourful, I learned that I didn't like the texture of sea bass. Our rental car was then dropped off and we were on our way to Honolulu.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Waikīkī

    March 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    For our very late arrival we had a one-night reservation in a timeshare studio for an amazing $56 per night. This was just to fill in until we could check into our 1 bedroom condo at the Imperial Hawaii. In the morning we hauled our luggage down the street about 6 blocks to the Imperial. We're located in the centre of Waikiki just one block from the beach and are very pleased with our accommodation.

    Waikiki continues to attract Asian travellers and I'm estimating that they outnumber visitors from any other country, including mainland USA. Everything here is bilingual....English & Japanese. They obviously have money to spend because they are the only ones in the expensive designer shops, of which there are many. In contrast, I've been shopping at Ross Dress for Less where there is always a bargain!

    Day one we walked to the Ala Moana Centre, the world's largest open-air shopping centre with 340 stores and 80 restaurants. It was a pleasure to walk by all the luxury shops on our way to Walmart and Sam's Club to restock our food & wine supplies. The 5 km return trip was too much for John so we took a trolley home and he hasn't returned. He did enjoy going for lunch at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. where he feasted on 20 shrimp prepared 4 different ways. I've been walking to the Centre daily, mainly for the exercise, and have learned that lugging a bag full of groceries plus 2 bottles of wine 2.5 km is just too much!

    Every Friday night the Hilton Hotel has a 5 minute fireworks display that can be seen from the beach.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Waikīkī

    March 20, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    The beach is far more impressive than I remember from previous visits. The fine sand and turquoise water makes for a very enjoyable beach walk. The clear, warm water was refreshing although I heard on the news today that there was a box jellyfish warning. So maybe I won't be so quick to jump into the ocean this week! Oahu is John's least favourite island but on this trip he seems to be taking it in stride and is actually enjoying himself. Can you find him walking along the beach in the photo below? After a long afternoon walk I lingered on the beach to wait for the sunset. The beach was alive with people, music and an expressive hula dancer!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Pearl Harbour

    March 21, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We took a one hour bus ride to Pearl Harbour today. This had been on my "to-do" list for my past 2 visits to Honolulu and I was determined to make it happen this time. I had to get up at 7 a.m. to reserve free tickets on their website. The tickets were gone by 7:10. The Memorial gets 1.8 million visitors a year. First we went through 2 small museums which covered the history of the war and the effects it had on both the Armed Forces and the Hawaiian people. There were videos of survivors who described their first hand experience after the attack and it left me teary eyed. This is followed by a 20 minute movie with actual footage of the attack. So much carnage in a 2 hour attack. Then the Navy operates a shuttle boat which takes you to the USS Arizona Memorial.

    By this time the mood was sombre except for a few tourists taking smiling selfies. The memorial was partially funded by private individuals, Elvis being the largest contributor. The Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship and is the final resting place of 1177 crewmen. Oil continues to trickle from the ship, about a litre a day, and is referred to as "black tears". Since there has been no evidence of environmental damage from the oil, it was decided that it would be disrespectful to disturb the remains. The message the Memorial wants you to leave with after your visit is.....Remember, Honour, and Reflect.    Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Adjustment Day

    March 24, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    This morning we had to move out of our nice one bedroom, 2 bathroom condo and into a studio unit with 1 tiny bathroom but in the same building. Ugh! There is a double murphy bed that folds down from the wall so I'm sleeping on the sofa instead of fighting for space on the small bed. No stove (microwave only), dishwasher (John will have to replace the automatic dishwasher), or fridge (bar fridge only). We've been spoiled by our other spacious accommodations. Should be an interesting week. On a positive note, the view from the 9th floor is much better than the 5th and we're still in Hawaii!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Prince Kuhio Day Parade

    March 25, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    John decided to sleep in today (suffering from vacation fatigue!) while I went to see the Prince Kuhio Day Parade. It was held one block away on Kalakaua Avenue and started at 10. Prince Kuhio Day celebrates the birth of the prince and is a state holiday. The parade was only one part of the long weekend festival of celebration. Schools and government offices are closed but it is business as usual in Waikiki. It was an excellent parade, complete with marching bands, horses (one of which came very close to where I was sitting on the curb!), hula dancers, and dignitaries. A great way to start my day.Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Mānoa Falls Trail

    March 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    It was time to explore the island beyond Waikiki. We rented a car for the day....a whopping $71 plus $8 gas for 10 hours usage. This was the best "deal" I could find.

    Our first stop was the Manoa Falls Trail, about 30 minutes north in a residential area of Honolulu. This is a filming location for Jurassic Park, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. The 2.5 km trail is very popular with tourists and locals. The 100 foot Manoa Falls was not the highlight of the hike but getting there was unbelievably beautiful, a true rain forest. The elevation gain is 784 feet and the rocky sections of the trail were muddy and slippery. It was hot and humid so John finished the hike well ahead of me as he was anxious to get back to the air conditioned car. I loved this hike!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail

    March 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Next we drove through Honolulu heading to the southeastern-most point of Oahu. I had not researched this trail thoroughly and it turned out to be more difficult than anticipated. Although it was only 3.5 km the elevation gain was 500 feet and the surface was asphalt. This area of Oahu is desert-like with cactus, such a strong contrast to the Manoa rainforest! The temperature was 30 C; it was sunny with no shade; and the trade winds were very strong.....all contributors to a punishing 2 hour hike. The amazing views made it all worthwhile (although John might disagree with that as I think this hike really pushed his limits!). But look....at the summit we are both smiling!! And I have very windswept hair!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    The North Shore

    March 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The 3rd highlight of the day was Sunset Beach on the North Shore, about another 45 minutes up the coastal highway past all the fresh shrimp trucks. Sunset Beach is one of 3 surfing meccas on the North Shore where professional competitions are held. The weather forecast predicted 20 foot swells with the warning that only pro surfers should venture out. Watching the surfers in these ferocious waves is one of my favourite Hawaiian activities. I am always awestruck at their skill and willingness to challenge these potentially life-threatening waves. Several guys on jet skis were in the water for rescue and to take the surfer back out. The beach was crowded with onlookers. We had just arrived and John asked, "When are we leaving?". Ugh....who invited this guy?!!Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    Sunset on the West Shore

    March 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Since we were on Sunset Beach I thought it only fitting that we stay to watch the sunset. I couldn't convince John so we carried on along the West coastline towards Honolulu. Eventually he agreed to pull over to allow me to watch the sunset as the colour changes were too spectacular to dismiss. The photos have not been edited so these were the natural colours.Read more

  • Betty FoidartHoloholo HawaiiTraveler

    A Resemblance?

    March 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    A challenging, tiring day makes for a grumpy face! Even the name is spot-on! This wood sculpture was at the driveway entrance to an ocean front home on the North Shore that I passed on my way back to the car. When I took the photo I didn't notice the name underneath and only realized it when I viewed the photos I had taken during the day! "John's" next door neighbour had a unique gate and is obviously a surfer.

    It was an exhausting day but we certainly got our money's worth on the pricey car rental. The island of Oahu offers much more than just Waikiki!    Read more

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