Kauai Part Four - Last Day

So, our last full day in paradise, and we got rear-ended tonight on the way to Smith's Tropical Paradise Luau! We were stopped at a light and there was quite a bit of traffic when, out of nowhere, a Chevy Tahoe (of all cars...it couldn't have been a Mini Cooper) couldn't stop in time and slammed into us. It was quite a hit, in my opinion, and Dae said the front of the guy's Tahoe was pretty dented. The impact also pushed our car forward and lightly hit the Prius in front of us. Meanwhile, our little renter Mazda 6 emerged from the debacle pretty much scratch-free! I couldn't wrap my head around that one. The kids started crying immediately and I was shaking like a leaf right afterward, I was so worried about them. Luckily they were all strapped in and seemed to be totally fine, just scared at the sound and the subsequent yell from me.

Anyway, Dae got the guy's information and off we went to the luau. I am worried about telling the rental car company but at least it wasn't our fault. I also kept asking Leelee for updates on the baby on the way to the luau ("Are his eyes open? Is he awake? Check again!").

Here are luau photos:

Baby with businessman-parted hair

Kahlua pig cooked underground

This guy ate pretty much everything I put in front of him. I was so happy. Must have been a fan of Luau food.

Well, let's just say the dancers were alright. We took this obligatory photo, but truthfully we were far more impressed by the free show at the Poipu outdoor mall!

So tonight is our last night here. We were talking today about how nice of a trip it was, all in all, misbehaving children and everything. Kauai is gorgeous...breathtaking, really. We got to experience it in all its glory in the helicopter and today we drove up to Waimea Canyon, which was just as beautiful as I expected. At the top of the Waimea Canyon Road there is a lookout toward the Na Pali coastline which was also gorgeous. Below are the Canyon and Na Pali coast photos:

This view really did not seem real, it was so pretty. Clouds kept drifting in and out but when they parted the colors and the terrain were amazing!

On top of the world! At least Kauai :)

Waimea Canyon. The vivid greens and reds impressed and surprised me the most.

Ignore my pointy bandana-turned-hat, and two very lackluster kids. Otherwise pretty, right?

Probably one of my newest favorite photos. Olin's hair and smile continue to just crack me up!

Yesterday we checked out Tunnels Beach on the Northern Coast, the beach that the helicopter pilot had said has the best snorkeling. His assessment was spot-on! The beach was a nice long stretch of white (beige) sand with calm water and visible fish right at the shoreline. We also spotted a turtle right away and then got a special treat when an endangered Hawaiian monk seal flopped onto shore and rested for the entire time we were there! It was quite cute and seemed to really relish in its sunbathing. The lifeguards were all over that monk seal, though. A few minutes after it came on shore a lifeguard hurried over and planted these stakes all around the perimeter of the seal. A few minutes later another lifeguard came over and did an intricate rope situation to make absolutely sure nobody got within 10 feet of it. We thought it was a little bit of overkill but I guess an endangered species warrants a little bit of paranoia.

In order to hang out with my family, I have been forced to turn into a seeker of shade.  I suppose my skin will thank me when I am 80!

Love this beach. I love the high, green cliffs surrounding it.

Well, hello

Rolling over to tan his side.

This fish was super vibrant. Don't know the name of it, nor any other marine life we saw.

One update: the daily trips to the pool and the forced dunking of their heads seemed to work. They are much better than they were at the start of the trip as far as fear of water. That's not saying much, but at least forward progress was made! Leelee let Dae throw him up in the air and land underwater without too much hesitation and baby no longer cried when he got into the pool by the last few visits. Hurrah!

And now, miscellaneous photos. We were laughing SO hard at this next one. Leelee has been taking photos at every opportunity and, apparently, when we are not aware. As I was uploading photos last night, we found not one, but four variations of these little beauties on the disk.

Dae, in a panic, asked "are you going to put these on the blog?" and I could not resist. I told him as a compromise I would not blow it up to Buddha-like proportions (and at least his stomach is now tan).

Kauai-style bus stops.

Love this photo of a surfer Dae took when we were at the Beach House restaurant.

This guy looooves gnawing on a nice hunk of delicious white bread. Only the best, nutritionally, for our children! By the way, the jar of baby food was totally untouched. Grrr! 

Good old Hippo. Leelee's best friend and iPhone App. Another photo Leelee snuck in while no one was watching. Yes, I think he took a photo of a screen.