After sailing by as we enter Nawiliwili Harbour, we walk up through the Royal Sonestra, a Marriot resort, towards the airport. Nope we’re not making a break for it, we’re just picking up our hire car. We’re astonished by the wild chickens everywhere!
Firstly heading East we aim for a particularly nice waterfall at Opaeka‘a Falls, and before retracing our drive, we look at the gorgeous Wailua River as it winds back to the sea, miss out on a boat trip because we hadn’t noticed today is Sunday, but later are thankful we did as it might have prevented our last place of call.
Then we head West and begin our ascent up to the incredible Waimea Canyon, an astonishingly beautiful State Park and certainly the most famous attraction on the island of Kauia. Although rather cloudy we still experience some spectacular views rivalled only by the Grand Canyon.
Although it’s not high like we’re used to on Tenerife, we make it to 4000 ft. We descend on a road the hire-car man advised against – he doesn’t know we’re accustomed to crazy road shicanary.
Back at sea-level we pick off various sights on our list, a sweet little town, a blow-hole and finally several beaches – at the last of which we find green turtles that have come ashore to rest.
These are protected by a multitude of state laws – here they are serious about wildlife and the environment thank goodness.
Our dinner is in MDR and we have a wonderful menu including chicken and lamb.
There’s an Hawaiian party upstairs so we watch carefully from a safe distance!!
