I was hoping that I would be able to wrap up Hawaii in one more post, but what can I say, we just did too much. I thought about skimming through the rest of our trip, but while I generally keep a trip journal for every day of our big vacations, this time I forgot. All I have to remember our trip is the pictures and what I write here, so I feel strongly that I need to do this right. So. when we last left that tropic isle, I was having tiny fits of nervousness as we walked home from dinner in anticipation of the next morning's adventure.
You see, when we met up with our friends in Kauai, they told us all about a lovely kayak tour they did up the Wailua River to a beautiful waterfall where they were able to swim and frolic and eat a picnic lunch together. I could see the light in Colby's eye as they talked about their excursion into nature, but I knew that he would never ask me if that's something I would be interested in trying because of all the times I'd looked askance at kayakers and pondered the many varieties of death one could encounter in that manner. So, being the loving wife that I am, I proposed that we try to book a kayaking tour in Oahu. Surely they have rivers and waterfalls there!
Well, they do. But the kayak tour that we booked just happened to be in the ocean. Yes, I willingly agreed--nay SUGGESTED--that we go ocean kayaking when I was still working up to putting my face in the water and relinquishing my floaties. Needless to say, I was a bundle of snappish nerves that morning, and I tried to mostly just keep my mouth shut for fear that the harpy inside of me would come flying out at the least provocation as we signed a waiver and stowed our worldly goods in a tiny, damp locker.
Much to my surprise, I was able to get into the kayak without tipping it over, and even more surprising, when the waves weren't bouncing us high into the air and dashing me with gallons of saltwater, the experience was verging on enjoyable. We went from Kailua Beach out to Flat Island, a tiny island and sea bird sanctuary, where we swam for a while and took a little walk around the volcanic terrain. Feeling a little more confident about my skills after our trip out to the island, the trip back in was much more enjoyable and my snappish comments to Colby much fewer and farther between as I was no long convinced with every paddle dip that we were about to go overboard. It was about 30 minutes out to the island and a little less on the way back as we weren't going against the waves, and I think I can say with a degree of sincerity that I would do it again. Though I think the river kayaking would be a bit less stressful.
And as though that level of excitement could possibly be topped, we went to get pizza at a tiny restaurant next to the kayaking company and lo, what to our wondering eyes should appear? Jorge Garcia, of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes on Lost fame, walking right by our table as he went to pick up a large pizza. Alas, there is no photographic evidence of this moment in time as we were camera- and phone-less, but it was still pretty amazing and surreal.
We spent the afternoon driving around Lanikai, a ritzy neighborhood near Kailua searching for more Lost cast members to no avail, swinging by Moloki'i Island (also known as Chinaman's Hat for... obvious reasons), and visiting Byodo-in-Temple which was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese workers arriving in Hawaii and is more famously known as Sun's father's house on Lost (Are we noticing a theme here?? It was really totally unplanned!). It was a beautiful temple and we had a great time walking around the grounds, taking in the dramatic surroundings, and feeding the fish and swans. That evening we hiked up to the Makapu'u Lighthouse where we were granted an incredible view of Oahu's coastline and the islands of Manana and Kaohikaipu.
And after a day like that, we treated ourselves to some treats from the Cookie Corner conveniently located next to our hotel, and collapsed on the balcony where we enjoyed our saturated fats and a gorgeous sunset before kicking off our last two days in paradise.
