Our port of call for today was Nawiliwili, Kauai. We were docked before 8am, but not cleared immediately. It was mostly cloudy and overcast with a 40% chance of rain. Honestly, don't believe the percentage….trust your instincts. Kauai is the garden island of Hawaii, and what keeps the gardens green? Plenty of water, like the most rainfall world-wide, we have read.
Sitting at our Pinnacle Grill window table, we had the best seats to watch the activity happening on the dock. Several tour groups were heading off to their coaches, all trying to outrun each other for the best seats. Oh, we don't miss that. However, if you have never been here before, the tours are a good way to see it all.
We had given Raj our order, which always begins with yogurt and fresh fruit. We were so intent on watching the people down below, we forgot we had not gotten our entrees. Maybe 20 minutes had passed, so we asked Raj where they were. Since another waiter delivers the entrees, Raj had assumed we were already done. He was shocked when we said no, we never got the food. Within seven minutes we had our all American and skillet breakfasts. Oh well, it did not matter since we were in no big hurry to get off of the ship.
Our plan today was to take the shuttle to nearby Lihue, 2 miles away, and make a sweep through Costco or Kmart for a few missing items. However, since we were here three years ago, Kmart has closed, and the shuttle was no longer running. The only shuttle going anywhere was to Anchor Cove, a short distance from the pier. Among other shops, there is an ABC store there, although it is quite small.
So we left the ship around 10:30am to find another long line of folks waiting for the little free shuttle. Truthfully, it is so close we always walk. A mistake one of us made today was forgetting to bring the umbrellas, trusting that 40% prediction of rain would happen later in the day. Within minutes, we were at the Marriott complex built above the Kalapaki Beach. They have it all in a comfortable setting. The stretch of white sand beach has a gentle surf and lots of grassy area to use as well. There are restaurants, bars, a massive swimming pool, and hotel rooms with a view. It is not a new hotel, but it is well-kept and landscaped beautifully. Most people do not know that if they followed the pathway up towards the hotel, they would discover the hotel's central garden and impressive lobby.
Just about the time we walked into the garden, it began to sprinkle lightly. A little water wouldn't hurt anything, and it was so warm and humid, the rain felt good. The ginger plants, banana trees, blooming hibiscus, and various palms surrounded the many ponds here. Every body of water held numerous koi carp. There is one area in front of the main lobby where these fish are fed during the day. There were hundreds of them waiting for a handout, many of them very large. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the Hilton at Waikiki, this place is much less crowded, but still offers similar amenities. An extended stay here could be very relaxing. After taking many photos, we headed towards the sandy white beach. That's when the sprinkle turned into heavy rain.
Time to make our way to Duke's for lunch, as this was no passing shower. Even with a 20 minute wait, we were undercover enough not to get wet. The folks that run Duke's Canoe Club love the rain. They directed the guests to wait at the bar, where inevitably, they would buy drinks. Works for everyone. We split a delicious cheeseburger, once again, coming with extra fries. But the best had to be the mountain of Kimo's Hula Pie. This decadent dessert of ice cream comes with a frozen Oreo crust, drizzled with hot fudge, sprinkle with chopped macadamia nuts, and covered on one side with strips of whipped cream, resembling a hula skirt. Thus the name – Hula Pie. Our nice waiter said we were welcomed to lick the plate. It doesn't take a fancy restaurant to make us happy.
During the entire meal, the rain pounded down in passing waves, flooding the floors actually. By the time we left, the storm was breaking up. The restaurant greeters said try to stay dry and mahalo as we left. We replied by telling them that this rain would be most welcomed where we live in California, and we didn't mind getting a little wet. We made our way back to the shops at Anchor Cove, but the shuttle had just left. Rounding the corner, we spotted the line for the little shuttle, and it had about 15 people in it. The worst of the downfall was over, so we just walked back, and barely got wet. Just lucky.
There was a sail away party at the Seaview Deck, but as always, we chose to enjoy the sunset right from our veranda. It did not disappoint. Now we are headed towards Maui, but not the town of Lahaina. We have no idea why that port was switched, but now we are going to Kahului, a different port we have never been to. Guess it will be a new adventure, or not, depending on how close we are to town.
Dinner was good with a salmon entrée and a chicken parmigiana with spaghetti. The portion sizes are smaller, but then it leaves enough room for a small dessert, not that we needed it after that Hula Pie. Thank goodness we only had one, and not two servings this afternoon.
Bill & Mary Ann
