Rocky Bluffs

After the coffee plantation excursion, we went driving for a secluded beach.  Our navigation took us through some all factory/plantation lands and included a run-in with some pick-up truck that considered themselves security.  We ended up on some bluffs overlooking the beach we had been trying to reach from afar.  Although we couldn't make it to the beach, the coastline was beautiful.  I also got to snap some more of my favorite pictures- waves crashing on rocks.  I think I've said before that I like capturing the water splattering after the crash.

That's the beach we were trying to get to.

Elise checking out the waves up close. 

There were several kite surfers out taking advantage of the wind.

Coffee Plantation

On Friday of our vacation we got to visit Kauai Coffee Plantation.  Kauai Coffee Company was founded on the island in early 19th century and have been producing coffee there ever since.  They grow coffee on some 3000+ acres on the western side of Kauai and allow guests to take an 1/8 mile tour through some of the plants.  There are signs along the way describing the process of coffee production from planting and growing to roasting and selling.  They also had many different flavored coffees out for sampling.  I tried some of their regular coffee and banana macadamia nut.  I also bought an iced coffee cup there and was given a free fill-up.

A beautiful close up of unripe coffee beans.

Coffee plants as far as the eye can see.

They use machines like this to harvest their crop.

Sign 7 here says "Sorting things out".  These structures are used to
sort through their different grades of coffee beans.  They have five
classes and sell coffee for each one.

Sampling some of the coffee.

4th of July Part II

After our waterfall adventures we finally arrived in Poipu.  Elise and I went immediately to the "Spouting Horn".  The Spouting Horn is a little tourist rocky beach; the incoming waves crash into the rocks and have carved their way under.  The water then spouts up from holes a few feet in from the water line creating blowhole like springs.  They also have a place for boutique shops there but these were already closed.  And as any good American's Independence Day should, our 4th of July ended with fireworks that we lit off from the beach.  First the ones from the Spouting Horn

This was the biggest blowhole there.  Our timing was impeccable;
we got there a little before high tide when the spouts are highest.

A more dispersed spout generated a good sized rainbow.

In the lower middle is a junior spout.

Besides the spouting, the beach had a great view.

Apparently it became to risky to actually go on the rocks so
they (those un-liked powers to be) put a fence in.

These next few are from our back lawn.

Looking northwards.

The sun setting behind a building.

Some surfers savoring a sunset surf.

Some family fun before fireworks.

I found some games in a closet.  I decided to bust out twister while
we waited for the dusk to fade before lighting fireworks.

Alex Pfotenhauer: Twister Champion Extraordinaire.

Finally to the fireworks.  Since I was show master, most of these were taken by Elise's sister.  As fire master, I managed to walk away with only three small burns despite the severe wind.

Elise doing a local, time-honored dance with fireworks.

Backing away after lighting one off.

Lorrie dancing with sparklers.

The Grand Finale.

4th of July Part I

On July 4th, halfway through our vacation, we left the Princeville area to spend the rest of the vacation on the west side in Poipu.  During the drive we stopped at some different scenic places to see more of "The Garden Isle" and snap some pictures.  Here are some select pictures from the drive including a stop at Bubba's Burgers (which takes a Bubba locations visited to 2 out of 3).

Tide pools we stopped at along the east side of Kauai.

Looking west towards Kauai.

One of the signs  up at Bubba's.

After Bubba's we stopped by a waterfall scenic overlook.  The waterfall was about a quarter mile away; we tried to drive back behind it to see if we could hike to the top.  The area behind the waterfall was mainly fenced off and there was no definitive trail so our hopes were turned away.

A bridge running over the river back behind the waterfall.

 Later in the drive we turned off of the highway to see another waterfall.  It was much larger than the first one.  We were also much closer and found a way to get on the rocks right at the top.  The pictures from the top are taken from the rock in between the two falls in the first pictures.

A full view of the falls.

An archaic bridge about 100 yards from the falls.

Looking straight down the falls.

The three of us who found our way to the top.

 After our adventures we had lunch at Duke's in Lihue.

Enjoying a local drink after the waterfall adventures.