Change of Plans

March 15, 2014

We had plans today to go on a boat and snorkel trip of the Na Pali coast. Unfortunately mother nature had alternate plans and in came a tropical storm. Our boat trip was cancelled and the forecast was calling for winds up to 60 miles an hour. We used this free day as an opportunity to explore Waimea Canyon which was a sight we didn’t think we were going to have time for. 

We drove over to the west side and it was about an hour and a half car ride. The views were amazing, it is easy to see why Waimea is considered the grand canyon of the Pacific. 

 

We drove up and down the road checking out different views and small trails. The weather was not the best, windy and rain, so it prevented us from doing a full out hiking trail. After seeing all the sights we decided to test our rental car (a jeep) and do some off-roading. We took a couple of side roads (Scott did all the driving!) and got the car super muddy. 

The trails were fun and Scott got his adrenaline rush in. On the second road we took we saw a lot of locals hunting for pigs which was neat. They didn’t seem to appreciate us driving through the area though. 



I am now writing this up 4 days later so I can’t remember much of the other details of the day. After our excursion we headed back to the inn to pack up and relax before heading to the Big Island in the morning!

Back in Action

March 14, 2014

Today we were back in the island action. We awoke bright and early and headed of to hike the infamous Kalalau trail on the north side of the island. We were in a bit of a time crunch due to our afternoon reservation for zip-lining on the south side. Kalalau trail is 11 miles long and is typically done as a backpacking trip. The first 4 miles are what day hikers normally do. Our plan was to go as far in as possible while having enough time to make it to our afternoon plans. This was our first time to the north side of the island and we were impressed. There were beautiful sights to see and very cute towns.

The winter weather was more apparent on this side of the island, most of the beaches had very little sand and huge unnavigable waves. We made it to the trail head and were surprised that the parking lot was full at 8:30 AM. We squeezed into an unmarked spot and headed off. This hike was a beautiful hike with lots of jungle parts and coastal views as well.

The trail its self is a single track that has a lot of rocks, roots, and lots and lots of mud throughout. There are some stream crossings and the steepness varies the entire hike which added a nice variety.

On the way in we did not see a ton of people. We made it to the beach right around the hour mark. We explored the amazing rocky beach, took some pictures and then decided to head back.

There were some falls farther on down the trail but we wanted to be sure about our time. We headed back and ended up running almost the entire way down which was fast and exhilarating but we passed a lot of people or waited to let inbound groups go by. We made it back to the car in around 45 minutes. We then headed all the way back where we came from towards the south side of the island. We stopped for lunch at the Feral Pig. When Scott was there the other day he heard about the feral burger - an off menu item that features a burger made with local Kauai grass fed beef and kalua pig. The burgers were very good and definitely worth all the hype.

We got back on the road and made it to Kauai Outfitters with 30 minutes to spare. I took a quick cat nap in the car and then it was time to check-in. We were in a group of 12 people: us, a large family group with 2 kids, another couple and a mother and son duo. We took a very bumpy ride to Kipu Ranch where all the zip-lines were set-up. This is a true ranch area complete with huge rolling grass areas filled with munching cattle. We even saw some peacocks and wild pigs. 

We were on the 4 hour tour which included 6 zip-lines. The first 3 were in the same area and were fairly small. This included a "zapeal" (zip-line/rappel) and an nything goes line where you could start backwards and go upside down - on the other side you eventually exited the zip-line via a mid air ladder. Yes - we started backwards and both went upside down at certain points of the line. The last 3 were in a separate area and were all much longer. 4 of the lines were doubles so Scott and I got to go at the same time which was fun. Overall the views were beautiful and the experience exhilarating. I would say it felt too short and I would definitely go again!

The guides were very friendly and gave many local recommendations on the way back to the shop. We were happy to hear a few of the recommendations were already places we had visited. We learned of a Friday art walk in a small town near by and an amazing pie lady so we headed of in search of that. The Friday night art walk was in a small old Hawaiian town, Hanapepe. One street was lined with vendors and food items outside local galleries. We looked at many way too expensive art pieces, tried an amazing piece of mango pie and window shopped. Once it started to get dark we loaded back up and headed back to the East side.

We had dinner at Verde which was had great Mexican food (the fresh fish tacos are where it is at). Then it was back to the inn where we had left from over 14 hours prior! Needless to say it has been a long day and we are ready to rest for the night. Tomorrow will be our last full day on Kauai - what an amazing place we have come to love.

Photos

Very behind on writing on here BUT here are some wedding photos!

http://samjam.smugmug.com/Mattison-Wedding/n-LtkCx

Day Off

March 13, 2014

Nothing too exciting to post about today. We had initial plans to head to the north shore for some hiking adventures and possibly snorkeling. We started off the day by having breakfast at Kauai Kountry Kitchen - check out the Loco Moco plate Scott got (eggs, kalua pig, gravy and rice)!

There was a little wait and while we were waiting outside we realized how much sun we had gotten the day prior. While we have been diligent about putting on sunscreen prior to activities we did not during the drive yesterday. That 1.5 hour drive with the top down cooked both of our heads and arms. During breakfast we decided we needed to avoid the sun as much as possible in order to preserve our skin for the remainder of our trip. We deemed this day a vacation from our vacation and went into full relax/lazy mode. We then went to see the Farmer’s market as it closed at 12 and only happens twice a week. There were only a few stands but we still walked away with a whole pineapple, large avocado, mangoes, and tangerines for $20.00. We have discovered while the island is beautiful it does have it’s share of creepy critters. Today we came across a cane spider (huge, about the size of a tuna can), frog, and a rat (all outside thank goodness). 

We then did a lot of window shopping in downtown Kapaa. After we had enough we headed back to the inn and started a regime of skin repair: oatmeal bath soak, aloe vera, and aloe vera/vitamin E lotion application on a schedule. We played monopoly on our covered lanai (I won for once!), watched a movie and I also logged into my class (as a short course I could not miss a class with out a grade penalty). We will continue to relax the rest of the evening and hopefully be back in proper form for more adventures tomorrow!  

East Side Bound

March 12, 2014

Today we were scheduled to check-out of the beautiful Ko Kea Hotel and head to East side of the island to stay at the Kauai Country Inn. We were so sad to leave our beautiful views and accommodations at Ko Kea. We will definitely be back again someday in the future!

We woke bright and early around 5:30 AM because we had plans to head to the cliffs at Shipwreck Beach and watch a true horizon sunset. We jogged over to Shipwreck Beach and made the short climb up to the cliffs. We made it a few minutes before the sunrise and it was beautiful. Unfortunately there were a few clouds in the way but it was still a beautiful and bright view.

After the sunrise we explored around for awhile before heading back down. It was crazy to think we had just gotten married on that beach less than 24 hours before! We walked back to the hotel and had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Red Salt. We savored the last of our time at the hotel by enjoying our private lanai and view before packing up and heading to the East side.

It was a beautiful day so we decided to take the top of the jeep and enjoy the fresh air. It was a gorgeous and refreshing drive and we were lucky to not go through any rain. Once on the east side of the island we stopped at a few scenic views of the coast and river. Finding our new accommodations was interesting as it is a residential area of mixed establishments, one house will be large and cared for and then another will be a small uncared for shack. We were pleasantly surprised by the Kauai Country Inn, dropped off our bags since we were early and headed out on some Eastside adventures.

We started off at Lydgate Park which was credited as having good snorkeling especially for beginners. Since I felt a little uneasy on our prior snorkel trip this seemed like a good fit. Upon arrival to Lydgate we noticed it appeared to be crowded, mostly tourists and a little dirty. We ate our lunch and then went to check out the partitioned off snorkel/swim area. As soon as we got in the water it was apparent that this was a poor visibility area. The water was very murky. We did see quite a few schools of fish: parrot fish, goat fish, and butterfly fish but they appeared to be the same schools over and over. These fish are used to being fed by humans in this area so the fish were coming very close to us and looking for food. This made me a wee bit uncomfortable but was a neat experience. This snorkel trip ended up being very short due to the poor visibility. We founded a secluded area of the beach to lay out, dry off and read.

After awhile we packed up and headed out to find a local hiking spot we read about in Kauai Revealed, Ho'opi'i Falls. This spot was in a residential area and was unmarked so it took us a couple of drivebys and googling to ensure we were in the right spot. Thanks to a tip on trip advisor (look for the yellow gate and telephone pole marked with the number 10) we found the trail and were off. Scott graciously gave me his socks and hiked in his flip flops. This was obviously a locals spot and we saw four different groups of locals while hiking. The trees in this area were very large and majestic - the entire hike very much had a jungle feel. We made it to the falls fairly quickly, checked them out and then kept going down the trail. We came across the stream a few more times along with markings for wild pigs! The trail seemed to be intentionally blocked off the foliage and branches at a certain point so we turned around.  This felt like a true Hawaiian hike and was a nice change of pace after being at a tourist location earlier in the day.

After our hike we checked into our room at the inn. This is a very nice and large location (around 1,200 square feet just for us) and also has a jungle feel to it - complete with many bird and bug sounds. The foliage surrounds us and it is a very private and welcoming location. We settled in for awhile before heading out to dinner. Kintaro’s was a sushi spot that came highly recommended in multiple places. It appeared to be mostly locals. While the food was good it was not sushi that knocked our socks off. This sushi may have been more traditional than we are used to - in Anchorage we are used to sushi with a lot of flavor and punch from the additional of sauces which was not the case here. We grabbed some snacks and dessert from the store and headed in for the night. The east side has surprised us and we look forward to exploring more. Our wedding coordinator also owns the inn and gave us some great news that he plans to finish editing our pictures by the time we leave on Sunday!

The Big Day!

March 11, 2014

Today was our day! It was a wonderful and special event that is hard to fully put into words but here is a shot at it. In the morning we started getting ready as our ceremony was scheduled at 11 AM. Both Scott and I had realizations throughout the morning about this being our last events as single individuals.

Neither of us were in the mood for breakfast and we just got ready in our room. In reality I got ready for a few hours while Scott read until about 30-45 minutes before we had to leave. I am happy to report I only had one freak out moment when I couldn’t get some wrinkles out of my dress. In reality when we were standing together on the beach saying our vows none of that mattered. 

We headed out to the beach, got a killer parking spot and had a minor mishap where we were waiting for our photographer and Reverend for 15 minutes before Scott found them behind us the entire time. We met Dave our photographer and Todd our Reverend/photographer and headed down to the beach via a woods trail. I almost asked to walk down the beach to avoid getting dirty but they were right, it was an easier route. Once we found our site Todd explained the ceremony and Dave the photos. It was interesting because there were quite a few people in the beach around us.

Todd lead us out to the beach and our ceremony began. It was a very special and beautiful ceremony and was actually quite a bit longer than we thought it would be. We were pronounced husband and wife - crazy! and then headed into the shade. Dave had been taking pictures of the entire ceremony and now we would take some more photos by both Dave and Todd at the same time (the pictures here were with our phone, professional shots to come later!). At this point we realized how HOT a Hawaiian beach wedding is. Our entire ceremony we were both fighting the urge to squint because it was so hot and sunny. Even though we both had on moderately light apparel compared to most other weddings we were still hot and sweaty in the sun so we took a lot of breaks in the shade. Luckily Scott had grabbed the sunblock at the last minute so we were protected in that sense.

Dave lead us through a lot of poses and we had a lot of fun, kisses and smiles. The whole event lasted around 2 hours or so. We did our final signatures on our marriage application - it was a surreal experience to have people call the other our husband/wife and to sign my new name for the first time! We said farewell to Dave and Todd and then headed back to the hotel. As we walked to our room we got many stares and congratulations. The entire experience was so special and intimate it solidified that this was the right choice for us and we look forward to celebrating with our loved ones this summer!
 



We quickly changed into our swim gear, had a huge lunch by the pool (we hadn’t eaten in over 24 hours!) and then headed back to Shipwreck Beach. This time we were heading back in more weather appropriate gear and as husband and wife! We were on the same beach we had been married on just earlier that day! We laid out for awhile and then headed out into the water. Shipwreck has rough water and is mostly used by experienced surfers and body surfers. You could really see why there was this reputation when trying to head out into the water. I was pretty scared and chickened out quite a few times. Scott was very patient, walked me through the process and we successfully made it past the waves. Once out in the water we were mostly buoyant and just enjoyed the water and sights. We saw a few crazies jump off the cliff - some looked like the landings really hurt but everyone made it out okay. We headed back to the beach and then laid out and read for a long time.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for our dinner reservation at Tide Pools restaurant. This was the best meal we have had our entire trip - I had the mahi mahi and Scott had the opah. Both were so flavorful and expertly executed. The meal was topped off by a complimentary molten lava cake and we left very stuffed. It was the perfect ending to such a special day!

Some excerpts from our vows:

Today we have come together to celebrate the special Aloha ("love") that exists between Josephine and Scott and their desire to make this Aloha eternal through the commitment of marriage.

As for family and friends that are not here, know that they are here in the spirit and are with you today as you celebrate your marriage.

Let this magical island bear witness to your eternal vows and commitment to each other in my presence and in the presence of God.

May your Aloha continuously grow truer and more wonderful with each day that you enjoy together.

The Hawaiian blessing is E Ho'omau Maua Ke Aloha - may your love last forever.    

The Day Prior

March 10, 2014

We awoke bright and early around 6:30 AM. We quickly threw on some clothes and headed out to see the sunset. Our balcony has wonderful western views of the sunset but not enough of a view to the east to see the sunrise. We walked down the oceanside pathway to the public Poipu beach. We went out on a peninsula but were unable to see a horizon sunset but it was pretty nonetheless. 

We have discovered how popular sunsets and sunrises are around here - there are usually crowds of 10-20 people waiting to see such views, even before 7 AM. After the sun rose we played in the tide pools for awhile before heading back. 

We got dressed for the day and headed out to breakfast at a locals type eatery - Kalaheo Cafe and Coffee. We enjoyed some food and the freshest tasting smoothie ever, while dreaming of owning the beautiful $1,000-1,900 paintings that hung on the walls. After that I set out to find a nail salon as I ran out of time back home. I discovered that everywhere I called was all booked up for that day or closed. This was quite disappointing as I envisioned my perfect manicure for our wedding day photos (hello rings and bouquet pictures!) and of course a pedicure is needed for all that sandal wearing. We took off to see the spouting horn, which was labeled a must see in multiple locations. Upon arrival it was a sight to see, but not what we would consider a must see. 

We then headed down to check out Shipwreck Beach where our wedding ceremony would occur a mere 24 hours later. 

This was a beautiful beach that was bordered by a steep cliff. There are rumors that many a foolish people have jumped off said cliff. After looking around on the beach we took the short hike up the cliff and checked out the magnificent views. Scott deemed the jump doable while I confirmed I was his primary beneficiary. 

At this point we had not put on sunscreen and it was almost mid day. Since most of our activities were in and out of the car I hadn’t thought it necessary. Atop this cliff with the high sun beating upon us I realized my mistake. I quickly said let’s go and we headed back down. We did one look through on the beach, finding the ceremony sight marked with corral and lava rocks in the shape of a heart. 

On our way back down the beach I picked up the pace as I was feeling hot and red. I was just short of a sprint to the shade before Scott deemed me bridezilla material as my main concern was not being burnt for our photos the next day. We headed back to the hotel, changed into swim gear, generously applied ample amount of sunscreen and played in the water and on the beach for a short while. We even got to see a Hawaiian monk seal sunning themselves on the beach just yards from us. 

 
While rinsing off the sand in the foot bath I saw a critter on the sidewalk. I called for Scott to come back exclaiming, “look it’s a slug with a shell!” Scott informed this Alaska girl those were called snails. :) 

We then had to pack up again and head to Lihue, where we flew into the day prior, for our marriage application verification process. En route to our appointment we checked in with our wedding coordinator who assured us that everything was set and the weather forecast looked good with only a 20% chance of rain. We were further assured of this probability as the current day’s forecast had read 60% and was obviously bright and sunny on our nuptials beach. We quickly finalized our marriage application with one hiccup. The agent stressed how important it was that the parents' information be correct. Scott, nor his mother, were confident about Scott Sr.’s birth place. We left it to chance that our original thinking/guess was correct and went on our way. 

I made one last chance at a nail appointment and luckily found a quiet salon that was awaiting my arrival. Scott made friends with workers at the Feral Pig, a local pub, while I made friends with Wendy the friendly salon worker. By the end of the appointment Wendy had invited herself to our wedding ceremony the next day as my local stand-in Mom - I laughed it off and promised to send her wedding photos but I would not be surprised if she was hiding in the bushes somewhere (with my sister Lisa) come our ceremony. 

We then went in search of a late lunch - we tried a local fish vendor but their grill had closed for the day and the offerings they had left intimidated me. We went to another local fish vendor, Mark’s Place (take-out only), and munched on some yummy local plates from the car while watching feral chickens and roosters do what they do (hint, hint). We started up the GPS and ending up heading the wrong direction which costs us some time in end of day Hawaiian traffic and construction. 

We made it back to the south shore, checked out a local dive shop and headed back out to the hotel front beach. We sunned ourselves (again with ample sunscreen) while reading and relaxing. When the sun went down we played in the hotel’s luxurious salt water pool and made a quick did in the whirlpool spa. We now find ourselves winding down for the night  again by 10 PM. Our thinking at the moment is after our wedding we will stop being old fuddie duddies, which is quite the opposite of the norm. It is hard to believe that tomorrow will mark our lifelong commitment to each other which has been 7 years in the making!  

At Beluga Point back in October 2006!