This starts here-
http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/cgi-bin/forumscgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=000675 Part 2
We flew out on Friday 7-11 for the island of Kauai. We stayed at the Sheraton Kauai Resort which was the best of the places we stayed in Hawaii. It's right on a beautiful beach with the restaurants overlooking the beach and it's open to the elements day and night.
Heres a couple of shots I took at the Sheraton.
View From Our room
My Computer Desk
We shared our breakfast everyday with the birds that were free to fly right in and clean the floor. We spent 5 days here on Kauai. I liked this island the best. the pace was much slower and easier. We drove around the entire island (well as far as you can- the road doesn't go all the way around).
We spent our first day exploring up the east coast and going all the way up to the end of the road. We stopped at many of the beaches long the way as well as other scenic spots.
This was the day we got to the best of the Lighthouses in Hawaii- Kilauea. It's part of a Bird Sanctuary, but the Rangers and other workers are very knowlegeable about the Lighthouse as well.
You can walk into the base of the Lighthouse, but cannot actually climb the steps. The view from the cliff it is on is amazing. You also get a great sight as you come to the end of the road to the preserve- you are looking down to the cliff the Lighthouse sits on and it's beautiful.
Here's a couple of shots of the Lighthouse
View At The End Of The Road
View Of Both Lights
We also drove through Princeville and continued into Hanalei and saw the view that was Bali Hi in South Pacific. We drove to the end at the State Park. the NaPali cliffs get in the way past there so no road was completed around the Island.
We spent Sunday driving through the Waimea Canyon and continued onto the Koke'e State Park which ends at the NaPali cliffs. This is the area that was used in filming much of the outdoor scenes for the Jurassic Park movies.
Waimea Canyon Outlook
We stopped on the way at the site of a Russian Fort- Ft Elizabeth. At one point there was a treaty in which much of Oahu and Kauai were under the "control" of the Russians. It didn't last long.(1815-17). There's a park with the remnants of the fort on the mouth of the Waimea River in the town of Waimea.
We found a nice little place to eat called the Camp House Grill. there are actually two places on Kauai. They specialize in BBQ- ribs and chicken. Great food and the price is nice. We liked it so much we ate at both of the places.
We did some exploring in the Lihue area and found our way out to Nawillilli Lightouse. It's a bit difficult to get right up to the Lighthouse itself. We followed some signs for Beach Access which took us close via a golf course, but I couldn't find that direct route. I could see others ahd done so- there were cars at the Lighthouse.
We went back up the road and asked a couple walking and they gave us the secret- there's a little indescript dirt road that you have to go down to get to the Lighthouse. We went back and got out there.
The dirt road actually seperates the end of the airport property from the golf course. It's a bit rutted so if you go there- go slow.
It's very similar to Barber's Point. they were built using the same plans and it's Lantern room was removed also.
Nawilwili Lighthouse
The beginning of the main runway is about 1000 yards from the Lighthouse and the planes come in very low above the Lighthouse.
Plane After Lighthouse
Our last day in Hawaii we spent exploring along the only navigable river in Hawaii- the Wailua River. We stopped at two nice waterfalls in the area also- Wailua Falls (Da Plane, Boss! Da Plane!) and the Opaekaa Falls.
Wailua Falls
We flew out of Kauai and made it to LAX without incident on 7-16.
We spent the next 5 days roaming around Southern California visiting relatives and seeing Poco Concerts (well I did leave the third one before the end as I wasn't feeling well).
We were on our way home when we got diverted and then stranded in Detroit. This was on 7-22. I woke up on 7-23 and felt worse than I had previously. I got myself to the Emergency Room and it was determined that i had suffered a mild heart attack.
I had some tests and they performed some procedures ( ending with the installation of a stent in one artery) and they sent me on y way on Sunday 7-27. the first thing that the Agent at the Airport said to us was- "That flight has been cancelled."
We did make it home only after a short delay.
I didn't find any Lighthouses in Detroit, but I was somewhat preoccupied. I was lucky in this respect- I have a Nephew who lives in the area so Esther had someplace to stay and some people to be with. It would have been worse if we had been stranded in Cincinatti or elswhere.
Sorry I don't have pictures of all of the lighthouses. I thought I had the problem licked before I left.
Overall the trip went very well- except for possibly the trip back from CA.
Denis
