We went to Poipu Beach one evening to find that there was a Monk Seal. Monk Seals are endangered and are only found around the Hawaiian islands. They are one of two mammals that are native to the islands. The other mammal is the Hoary Bat. We even got to see the Monk Seal sneeze!
I was able to visit the Kona Coffee ranch. We took a little tour of the coffee garden. I saw a humming bird and quite a few spiders. I do not like spiders. Kona is on the island of Kauai and uses renewable energy to water, grow, harvest and grind their coffee. Though i do not ever drink coffee i did enjoy my visit.
It was still raining by the time we made it to Spouting Horn. Unfortunately the storm made it so the horn did not spout to its usual spouting glory. I did get to see the cutest little chicken in the world sheltering her chick under her feathers.
This is Mahaulepu Beach. It is at the end of a road that looks like its not even a road. This beach is different from normal beaches because there are fossilized sand dunes. I got to be used as scale here! It was a little cold this day and it began to rain. Some of these dunes are on overhangs over the water and there are holes that air and water spout up through.
This is the Pacific Grand Canyon. Waimea Canyon was formed as the island of Kauai settled and old rift zones developed into fault lines on the island. The original shield failed and the main fault slipped forming a low valley which with weathering and erosion created this canyon.
I hiked to a waterfall which it turns out you cannot see because you are standing at the top of it. The river that feeds this waterfall has leptospirosis in it, so you really do not want to touch it. The ledge you see is part of the path you walk on and where I had my picture taken. I am not so fond of heights so I stayed back from the edge.
