Today my flight wasn’t as early as my 6am flight yesterday. It was due to depart after 7 am, which let me sleep in a little later.
After a brief line in security I made it to my gate. During down times like this call my family. It was 11am in Nashville.
As I boarded the plane, the theme to Hawaii Five-O played. How appropriate.
After a 40 minute flight we made to Lihue airport. I subsequently found the empty curbside Avis counter with instructions to catch the shuttle to the nearby parking lot. It was a bit confusing as it appears that Avis and Budget share a shuttle van and possibly a curbside counter, but are on different car lots.
The Avis lady tried to upsell me on the car by trying to get me to buy an extra $15 Mustang convertible package. I declined. Also declined the extra insurance coverage and liability. It’s really only a ploy to get more money when in reality we really don’t usually use this coverage. I was given a black Ford Focus. After messing around with the stereo to try and get it to play my Line in from my iPod I gave up. I then drove it to the attendant who helped me figure out what to do. If there’s one thing that I want is good music while I drive around the island.
After getting my music straight down I headed toward Waimea Canyon. Hi pass through a few small towns on my way to the canyon. There were some spectacular views of the and descending to the ocean on the horizon. I then started my way up to the canyon. There were a few pull off points to where you could see a nice scenic view. On my way up there was this dark minivan that seem to be going very fast and wanting to pass me at times. I eventually let him over. He was driving erratically and I would not be surprised if he had ended up in a wreck as he was driving on the wrong side of the road at times during navigation of the Hills.
Made it to the canyon Lookout. There were several cars already there. There was also a Fruit Stand and feral chickens hanging around and even at the top of this mountain.
I climbed the incline up to the top of the lookout. Nick Cannon was spectacular although I don’t believe it was as long as the Grand Canyon it’s still comparable in Beauty. I saw helicopters getting early morning tours to tourists. There was also a elementary-age child there who was exclaiming many Pokemon he had been able to catch. He also explained that the Waimea Canyon Lookout is a pokegym. It’s funny how some things that are so spectacular can have no effect on the younger generation. In a hundred years people won’t remember what “Pokémon Go” was. But 100 years from now Waimea Canyon will still be around and still as spectacular.
I really wanted to get a good non-selfie photo of myself and was hesitant to ask the gentleman with a nice camera taking photos of his camera. He seemed very busy trying to figure out settings on his camera and remarked that it was time to leave.
There were other overlooks on down the road but I figured it was best to try to explore other parts of the island rather than see more overlooks. Had I had 2 days in Kauai I would have explored more of the canyon.
As kind of a unique surpise, I found myself at a fork in the road and sure enough the road to the right eventually went to Polihale State Park according to Google Maps. Polihale was a remote beach on the western part of the island. I wanted to visit it as it had some unique mountain outcroppings which would make for a great photo op. I decided to try to visit it.
After I got to the base of the mountain there was a long road with 50 mph speed limit signs – a rarity on Kauai when it seems everything in town is 25 mph. Eventually I got to a sign which said “Road Floods During Rain” and “Travel at Your Own Risk.” I knew that this beach was remote because many tourists aren’t willing to drive the 3 miles on unpaved roads to get there. So I started on the dirt road in my Ford Focus. If you could imagine going through several potholes at once, that was how the road was at times. You couldn’t go too fast or else you would tear up the car’s suspension. I envied the 4 wheel drive Jeep drivers. Along the way I began to ask myself if this was worth it – to spend 20 minutes driving 3 miles. I wondered if I would be penalized if Avis found I had driven on the road (this blog post might serve as evidence). Sometimes I wanted to turn back. After a while I got to what looked like sand. I met a lady driving a Jeep Cherokee and I rolled down my window to ask if the beach was nearby. “Yes,” she said..”Not too far.” I got to a very sandy part and decided it was best to climb up the hill to see if the beach was nearby. Sure enough it was. I didn’t change into my swimwear and instead took my GoPro and Cannon cameras. There were a few pick up trucks parked in the sand (something I would be very apprehensive about doing figuring I probably couldn’t get my truck out). 
After doing some video taping and photography I figured I might was well wade near the water…or at least get my feet wet. Some of the waves didn’t push the water much, others pushed it pretty far. I was caught off guard and did get the bottom of my shorts a little wet. After a few minutes I figured it was time to go. But now was my conundrum: how to wipe off the sand from my feet without a towel? I tried putting them back in the water on the beach, but it didn’t work as I still had to put my feet on dry sand to put my shoes on. So I ended up walking back to the car barefooted.
At first I couldn’t find my car. I have this “worst case scenario” in my mind when I travel. If I can’t find my car then obviously it’s been stolen. After looking around I did find it. After wiping off my feet, it was time to start the car. Whoops! Can’t go forward. The thought of having to call a tow truck entered my mind…or at least asking for help with the guys with the pickup trucks on the beach. But my car did go reverse and I was able to maneuver it out without much issue. Then back on the really bumpy road again with a good hour drive to Puka Dog.
On my way back to eat at Puka Dog, I stopped at Hanapepe to visit the nice old historic town. They have self proclaimed “Westernmost Independent Bookstore in the United States.” There were quite a few art galleries (yawn)…no I don’t want your overpriced art. I did manage to go on the swinging bridge, the entrance of which is located in an alleyway. I misunderstood a native Hawaiian sitting at the base of the bridge asking for the time. I figured he was taking up money to board the bridge. But in reality he just wanted the time.
After a bit more driving (and backtracking to get some good driving views for GoPro), I made it to Puka Dog which was located in an outdoor touristy type mall. The mall must have been relatively new as there was plenty of parking. After finding the restroom it was time to try the Puka Dog. I got a Polish Sausage with mile garlic lemon sauce and Banana relish and Hawaiian mustard. The garlic and banana relish sound strange together, but it did taste good. I also got fresh squeezed lemonade with half of a lemon on it.
Next was to find some better hiking shoes. The soles of my current hiking shoes had come undone. This would not last when I took my lava tour tomorrow on the Big Island. So I found my way to a Payless Shoe Store and explained my predicament to the sales lady. She was very nice and helped me pick out a size 8.5 hiking shoe much like my old shoes. Satisfied with my purchase I asked the sales reps what they could recommend for my last few hours on the island. They recommended a lookout and waterfall. I plugged it into Google maps and was on my way.
Along the way I stopped by some waterfalls and lookouts and took photos. Kauai is so lush and green in contrast to the Big Island which in some places could look like the surface of the moon.
Google Maps could not find this particular place recommended by the shoe sales lady. It kept wanting me to turn into private property or non existent roads. Finally after about an hour of driving around I gave up and drove back to Lihue, where the airport was.
I stopped by a souvenir shop where things looked cheaply made. Then I went across the street to Hilo Hattie’s which I was given a shell lei and invited to try to open a treasure box. (the key didn’t work) As a consolidation prize I was given 50% off of pearls in a oyster which I declined. The pearls seemed tiny.
I decided to have pizza again as somewhat of a personal goal to have pizza on every Hawaiian Island. I ate at Pizza Hut opting for a personal pan sausage pizza. Within view of my seat was the Lihue Theater, now retirement apartments, but with still the marquee on the outside.
After I finished supper I walked up and down the street taking photos of interesting things along the way. I briefly lost my keys (they were in my seat). Then I filled up my tank at the local shell station and asked the attendant (an older lady) why there were so many feral chickens on the island. The answer: Hurricane Iniki in 1992 released the chickens from their cages…and now they are all over the island.
I then returned my rental car and went through airport security. I had been given the TSA Precheck stamp which allowed me not to have to go through the hands over your head x-ray screener. And I kept my shoes on.
I got to gate 5 and started writing this blog post. Tomorrow I’ll be spending the night on the Big Island after my lava tour. Looking forward to it!