Almost Sunset

This was the closest I got to capturing a Hawaiian sunset during my stay on Kaua'i. I took today's post facing the Na Pali Coast from the Hanalei Bay Resort. Due to the rain clouds in the sky, the sun's rays appear to be exploding as it dips behind the Na Pali Coast's cliffs. There are no roads along this coastline, so to see this stunning and rugged site, visitors must either hike through it, sail along it or fly over it. The fifteen-mile stretch of Na Pali coastline on Kaua'i's northwest shore literally means "the Cliffs," due to the sheer cliffs that drop straight down thousands of feet into the Pacific. It was such a spectacular sight watching this kaleidoscope of colors reflect off of the clouds, mountains and water to create this beautiful sunset painting in the sky.

Pink Plumeria

Growing up in California spoils you when it comes to tropical plants and flowers. While the state is not as tropical an environment as the Hawaiian islands, California landscaping includes such tropical flowers as hibiscus, bougainvillea, and orchids typically found at island locales like Hawai'i. As a result, I did not photograph many of these flowers during my Kaua'i vacation, since I am able to capture them in pictures on the mainland. Instead, I sought out unusual flowers which became quite a challenge to find during my stay on the island. After visiting Queens Bath, I came across these hot pink plumeria flowers near the parking lot. I loved how they seemed to soak in the sunlight and shine brightly in its high tree perch.

Wailua Falls in Kaua'i

Feeding the Wailua River near the East Shore of Kaua'i, Wailua Falls' claim to fame was for being featured in the opening credits of the 1970s television show, "Fantasy Island." While the pool below the  looked tempting, we avoided temptation and instead, marveled at these twin 80-foot falls from above. The trails to the pool are steep and slippery when wet and offers visitors a treacherous journey to the base of the falls. In ancient times, Hawaaian men would prove their manhood by diving off its cliff. Thankfully, no one attempted these feat during our visit.

The authors of The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (which I highly recommend, by the way) measured the falls themselves and disagreed with the official 80-ft height measurement. They claim that the Wailua Falls are actually 173-feet tall. After seeing it in person, I would side with the shorter measurement, but regardless of the falls' actual height, it is still a breathtaking sight.

Hanalei Bay

Can you imagine a more beautiful backdrop for a wedding ceremony? When we arrived to our friends' wedding site at the Hanalei Bay Resort, my breath caught at the panoramic view of Hanalei Bay before us. Towering mountains with majestic waterfalls, lush foilage, and pristine beaches surround the bay and in the right light, the water sparkles. Although a rouge rain cloud dropped rain sprinkles on the wedding party, the scene provided such an incredible setting for this special ceremony. Watching my friends commit to each other enveloped by this heavenly-designed environment was so moving that I spent most of the time brushing away tears along with the rain drops. However, I never allowed my tears or rain to prevent me from enjoying the tropical scene around me.

Hawaiian Girl

During my Hawaiian vacation, I took photographs of almost everything. I used my camera to capture memories of this special trip. The only thing that I stopped short of doing was taking pictures of the food I ate. Even I have to draw the line somewhere.

While waiting to take my island hopper flight from Oahu airport to my vacation final destination, Kaua'i, I took photographs of the Hawaiian Airlines plane that would take us there. Of all of the airline logos, Hawaiian Airlines most typifies its brand and communicates to its passengers the beauty and peace of Hawai'i's aloha. Before even arriving in Kaua'i, I was already living aloha and feeling as Hawaiian as the striking woman illustrated in the Hawaiian Airlines logo on the tail of their planes.

Unusual Sunset

During my stay on Kaua'i, I tried multiple times to photograph the famous Hawaiian sunset. However after ten days on the island, the sunset photograph proved elusive. I was just never in the right place on the island at sunset time. To still capitalize on these moments, I would try to find alternative ways to capture sunset without the typical multi-colored streaks in the sky. I loved how the Po'ipu coast appeared in silhouette as the sun set; another byproduct of sunset in the Hawaiian islands.

The Real Black Swan

While Natalie Portman may have won the Academy Award for Best Actress this year for portraying a black swan, she had nothing on the performance of this real black swan at the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort and Spa in Po'ipu. As if it knew it was being photographed, the swan struck one pose after another, including this iconic swan position, for my camera. After I took one photograph, the swan would move into another position to be photographed. Perhaps a trained swan model was all part of the Grand Hyatt's plan to create a surreal tropical destination for its guests or maybe this black swan just knows how to milk an encore.