aloha...and...mahalo

 Patti asked us all a question during our last vacation dinner.

The question was simple.

What was your favorite vacation moment.

I said my favorite moment was being on the catamaran tarp with Caricia.  But I had three more..

Patti said it was the day we arrived at Poipu and the girls saw the turtles. She said it set the tone for the entire trip.

Jav said it was the trip up the Na Pali Coast...and the turtles with the girls.

John said it was the girls and the turtles...hmmmm

Solea said it was the Dolphins on the NaPali coast

Caricia said it was the Dolphins and the ... turtles the first day...

I had more to offer and gave up these:  Jav and the tamales; the rum bar with Patti, my husband going to Maui to see Danielle, Jason and Makenna...and....the expression on Solea's face when she saw her first Dolphin on the boat trip...and, it was the pure joy watching the girls explore the ocean with snorkel gear!
John said it was the best vacation EVER! I agree.

the wonderous Na Pali...

It occurred to me while sitting on the breathable tarp that stretches across the front of the Catamaran I've boarded that this spot..the very spot my butt occupies is one of my favorite places to sit in the entire world that I know...or have experienced. To sit with my body facing into the wind and seeing each wave tumble toward the Cat is a feeling I love...the salt spray, the sun playng peek-a-boo through the clouds always brings out the adrenaline rush! HA!  you thought I was going to say something sweet.  Nope!  I'm a thrill junkey at ehart.  I know the closer we get to the magnificient Na pali cliffs, the waves will get bigger..the drops into the troughs will get deeper and the crashing over the Cat will be...SPECTACULAR!

We left shore at 8am for 5-1/2 hours on one of three Capt. Andy's Catamarans. This is my 6th trip with Andy's boats and I never get tired of it. Patti, Jav and kids are making their first voyage.

The Spinner Dolphins put on a dancing show:  They spun out of the water, chased the boat and played along side the pontoons. They thrilled Solea and Carica with their friendly and seemingly approachable antics.

We passed the pods of dolphins and the waves got bigger, the troughs deeper, the big cat slowed down and into the trough we fell.  The first wave caught Caricia and I a little off-guard. She, being only 100 pounds was pushed almost off the tarp to the galley wall!  I...being just a tad over 100 pounds stayed right where the wave found us! We dubbed ourselves "The Adventure Girls" and assumed the prone position hanging on to the tarp bindings with our heads level with the tarp.  Wave after wave came and we squealed with delight as the boat soared up and into the waves.

The "Adventure Girls" Aunt Pat and Caricia braving the Na Pali Coast waves!

this fish is gold...

About the only thing my husband really likes to do besides read on vacation, is to go deep sea fishing. Mexico, Hawaii...same - same - got ocean-got fish! this time, he had company. Jav went with him. The standard deep sea fishing rule is to share the bounty with the rest of the fisherpeople on the boat. That's cool..

Coming into Port Allen after a hard day fishing on the open sea!

 Javiar

John

Here's the fish..it's pure gold at 15 pounds divided into the cost of the trip that netted ONE fish for 3 fisherpeople...But, itt's not about the cost of the ONE fish....it's did the guys have fun? Do you see the3 grins on their faces?

so...who really caught the fish?  John!



Honu..the turtle

There are a few animals that, when I look at them, I know right away what they symbolize. There are three that speak to my heart for various reasons.  The reasons are very personal.  Oh, I'll share the reasons, 'cuz the telling doesn't diminish the emotion of the reason.  Hawaii is the turtle...Honu. NOTE TO SELF:  Read Hawaiian Folklore about turtles.

The first afternoon at the condo, we walked along the ocean wall and were happily greeted by two Green Sea turtles playing in the surf. I tried to capture photos, but was unsuccessful; so I took pictures of Solea and Caricia trying to get photos.  Simply beautiful young women interacting with the wonderous ocean and two playful hono...

 Patti Rodriguez- seawall sitting!

 Solea up close and personal with the turtles.

 Solea and Caricia

Patti, Jav and John: seawall sitting-watching the turtles on Poipu beach.

Tamales...Hawaiian style

So, there we were on the East shore of Kauai on the way to the Kileuea Lighthouse to see the Red Footed Booby Birds, the Lawyson Albatross and the mystical NeNe Goose (which we saw!!)  Along side the road..ocean side, is a sign that says, Tamales! A roar went up from the van and Patti Urban Rodriguez who was driving, pulls the big red van over to the Tamale stand. One of the great things about a blended/married to someone not of my cultural roots, is that we get to glimpse a part of their roots.  Patti's husband, Javiar, being Hispanic, speaks fluent Spanish and as he conversed with the roadside vendors we all got excited to eat freshly made authentic Tamales...in Hawaii!  A few feet away sat a deserted oceanside picnic table where we hungrily ate the Tamales which were critiqued by the Rodriguez family. Knowing nothing about Tamales...I took their critique as gospel as they have elevated Tamale making to a fine-family art. their consensus was there was too much masa in the wrapper. REMINDER TO PAT (Me)..bucket list: go to their house when they make them!!  And, while I'm at it...learn to speak Spanish!

 John, Jav and Patti choosing the Tamales.

 Caricia and Solea check out the view while Jav tells me and John about the Tamales.

Sunny Skies of Kauai

  

Aloha from Kauai!

Everytime I come to the islands I amazed at the ocean. The sheer power of it can make me swoon and go weak in the knees. Oh, the trees and flowers are fine, but I can see bigger trees and different flowers at home. Granted, these are tropical flowers with their broad red leaves.At home I can look out the window or walk into my backyard and see hanging moss, lichen and blackberry vines. Ok. OK! The flora is gorgeous, but no more beautiful than the NW offerings. It's the OCEAN. I can stand or sit for long periods of time just looking out into the horizon and watch the breakers follow the tides pull to shore. The ever-old pounding of the surf always holds me transfixed. Now, if I could only wiggle my nose and have all of the people vanish...but, I digress....

Right now, at this very moment, it's raining. It's not a NorthWet rain...thank you, God. It's a tropical shower that is coming down in buckets. It's dark on the lanai, but already I can see the clouds and rain are going to blow out to sea. It's early on Sunday morning July 23. I'm listening to the resident rooster signal the coming dawn.  The sun is up signaling the coming of a gorgeous day, my hubby just kissed me good morning as I look out onto MY OCEAN..my communing temple with God...I see surfers on the close in and far out breakers....sigh...memo to Pat....you are not alone in Kauai. Awrighty then...I will quit waxing poetic and get down to the serious stuff of what the heck am I doing in Kauai.

VACATION!

Normally, if there is such a thing, John and I would wait until late August or September in order to avoid a lot more people. So, why are we here amidst a sea of the multitides? FAMILY.

We are here with the Rodriguez family: Johns's sister, Patti, her husband Javiar (Jav), and two daughters, Solea 15, and Caricia 13. We hatched the idea on the phone one day and two days later, we had flights booked and our condo space locked in. ACTION WOMEN! This is their first time to the Hawaiian Islands and it is wonderful to see it for the first time through their eyes. Having them as family is only a bonus, as we are close friends. They are an example that you can't pick your family, but you can pick your friends amongst family. We are so greatful they are both! And as we gather and talk...we are reminded just how fragile relationships are. They take work and time to maintain. To me a valued friendship, be it in a family or not, is about sharing a history of events where there is give and take, mutual and shared opinions and a true and open line of honest communication....and ya just gotta like the person or persons enough to want to spend time and share with them. We have that kind of relationship with the Rodriguez family. We are blessed.