We've decided that Mia Kai has basically waited until we were on Hawaiian soil to hit any of her milestones. She started crawling around ten months while on Kaua'i then took her first steps at 13 months old, once again on Kaua'i. She was nine and ten months old during this trip and I have to say, this is the age I captured some of my favorite photos of this sweet girl. We got her ears pierced, hiked the Wai Koa Loop on Kauai, hung out on Baby Beach in Poipu, walked around the International Market Place on Oahu, and ate our first starfruit!
Read MoreHike the Sleeping Giant // Kauai, Hawaii
I can't believe it took us so long to find this hike! We read about it in the Kaua'i Traveler magazine and immediately planned to venture out to the Sleeping Giant on JD's first day off. It was worth every step. I'm pretty sure this was one of our first big hikes since Mia Kai was born so we started off with the easier trails. JD carried our GoPro Hero5 Black and backpack (which weighed quite a bit more than MK at the time) and I carried Mia Kai in our Ergo. Whew! We were obsessing over the giant canopy of trees we were walking under at the beginning of the hike!
Read MoreThe Rainbow State // Kauai, Hawaii
Oh, the Rainbow State. You hold such a sweet place in our hearts! We spent the month of June exploring our favorite island but we'll just compile everything into one post. This is one of our favorite spots, mainly because it's close to the hotel and it makes for the perfect walk to either Poipu Village or Keoki's Paradise. We've seen tons of giant turtles just surfing the waves and even a couple of whales in this area. It's also the perfect place to spot a rainbow after a quick rain shower.
Read MoreSecluded Beach // Kauai, Hawaii
When the parking lot was full for Secret Beach, we improvised. Our main goal was to find a secluded beach with shade somewhere around that area so that we wouldn't lose much time. I'll be honest. I have no recollection of what this beach was actually called. But I can give you a description of how we got there! We parked at a condo parking lot near the St. Regis in Princeville, walked down a small path to this outlook...
Read MoreKalalau Hike // Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai has some of the best hiking we've ever experienced. JD always researches the coolest hikes and this one was no different. There were zero waterfalls (which is high on the criteria list for a great hike) but the views were amazing and inspiring! And we also love a good tree tunnel. I especially loved the giant ferns uncurling to bask in the sun. Sometimes I wonder if Dr. Seuss hiked through Hawaii for inspiration. Seriously. The fauna here is remarkable.
Read MoreMia Kai // Six Months Old
Our little one is still very little but she is definitely growing!! She is curious, content and chill. Terrified of beards, sitting up like a pro, almost able to roll from her tummy to her back by herself, and has decided not to take a paci anymore. She's a fickle little one but also very determined. She's either stoic or really giggly... not much in between. Her little personality is definitely coming through. In fact, she seems to be pretty shy, which we never would've expected. She "talks" to her toys until she notices JD or me in the room with her then goes silent. Haha! It's actually super cute. She's loving the Exersaucer now that her feet can touch the bottom but she despises the Johnny Doorway Jumper.
Read MoreWailua Falls // Kauai, Hawaii
If you're following along with the Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 41:
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
This is a story about a time where we stood among a crowd of people mesmerized by the huge waterfalls flowing from a cliff into a pool. We stood among the onlookers on the road that looked down below, searching for a way to get down to the pool for a closer look and a quick swim. After much investigation and reading through our handy Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, we found the fence and Hazardous Cliff signs blocking the trail down to the falls. So we did what any adventure-craving, crazy person would do: trekked around the fence and hazard signs, scooted down the rocks and dirt while holding onto a couple of the ropes that guided us through the mud without losing our shoes, and enjoyed the luxuries of nature at the bottom of the falls.
This is also a story of our Father's faithfulness. I look at the photos of these waterfalls, carving out the edge of the rocks into an eroded overhang. Rocks, to me, seem like the steadiest of all natural creation. Together, they form hills and mountains. They are solid - literally rock steady. Because of their fortitude, we barely see their changes due to other natural elements. But they do change. Over time, they change.
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
But our Father doesn't change. He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His love for His children will not and cannot be shaken, regardless of time and situations. His covenant of peace to us, the covenant of salvation, will not and cannot be removed. He is a Father who overflows with compassion for His children. And we don't even have to trek through mud and slide down mountains holding onto ropes to find Him. That is peace.
Secret Beach & Lava Pools // Kauai, Hawaii
If you're following along with the Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 32:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Welcome to (the not-so-secret) Secret Beach! As always, take lots of water and get ready for amazing views and fantastic adventure!
We had a little trouble actually finding the place to park for Secret Beach but To Hawaii's directions were super helpful: From Kuhio Highway (Hwy 56), turn onto Kalihiwai Road near mile marker 24 and turn right onto the first dirt road. Proceed to the end of it and park. Nearby is the trail leading to the west end of the beach.
The trail only takes about 10 - 15 minutes to walk down. It's pretty steep and a little slippery but, oh, so worth it! (You may be thinking it wasn't as worth it when you have to walk back up the trail.) JD and I went to the left as soon as we got down to the beach because we really wanted to see the Lava Pools. We passed a family on the way over to the Lava Pools but they didn't trek the whole way. It's pretty rocky so it may not be the best place to take young kids (even though it sounds amazzzing!!).
And it was, indeed, amazzzing! There are two small freshwater waterfalls that pour into the Lava Pool area. We recommend hanging out in the pools for a little bit then rinsing off the salt water under the waterfalls.
We really wish JD had his iPhone at this location. This would've been the perfect place to get a nice landscape panoramic! (If you missed a previous post, he fell over in his kayak with the phone in his back seat pocket - insert palm to the forehead here - so the circuits got wet and it went a little crazy; i.e. it died). A girl dropped her iPhone while she was crossing underneath the waterfall here too. This island really knows how to distract you from tech gadgets. ;)
After exploring the lava pools, we walked back to Secret Beach. JD found the perfect spot in between towering lava rocks where it was basically like our own little beach. There were actually a lot of people out on the beach this day so it was nice to feel secluded. We spread out our favorite giant blanket and basked in the Hawaiian sun.
Then we headed over to Kukui Grove Cinema to watch Jurassic World - because who wouldn't want to watch a movie that was filmed on the island they're staying on!? Side note: Kukui Grove was super old school - not in the cool, vintage old school way, but legitimately old school; it felt like we were in Mystery Science Theater because of the seating) but it was definitely an experience. And the theater had air conditioning, which is apparently a big bonus for anywhere on the island!
Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail // Poipu in Kauai, Hawaii
If you're following along with the Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 29:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
If you're looking for a lengthy yet leisurely trail with lots of breathtaking views, the Maha'ulepu Trail will be perfect for you. As always, bring lots of water. It's an adventure filled with incredible lithified sand dunes.
This trail was super close to our hotel in Po'ipu. You basically walk the coastline (and walk on the edge of a golf course at one point) then hit a semi-secluded beach at the end of the trail. We were running out of water (and daylight) so we didn't spend much time on the beach this day. However, we did drive back a few days later (incredibly bumpy dirty role with lots of pot holes - motion sickness almost got the best of me) and spent the afternoon bathing in the sun with only a couple of other people around. Bliss, my friends. Sheer bliss.
Here's the random, infamous pink chair...
You can also find an ancient open-roofed sandstone sinkhole called Makauwahi Cave but it was closed by the time we got there.
Waimea Canyon - Canyon Trail // Kauai, Hawaii
Welcome to the Grand Canyon of the Pacific (i.e. Waimea Canyon). We suggest starting early in the morning, driving all the way to the top first rather than stopping at viewpoints along the way. Since we hiked the Canyon Trail before heading all the way up the Canyon, we arrived to the Pu'u O Kila Lookout around noon. We hit it right when the afternoon clouds began rolling in.
Our favorite trail in the Canyon is the Canyon Trail. It has two entries. Coming down from the top, take the first Canyon Trail entrance (to your left) if you want to hike a shorter route (we didn't know about this route until we heard car doors opening and closing as we were hiking). We took the other trail head - very steep doing down and very steep going back up. However, this was, by far, the best-smelling trail we've ever ventured. So, that was nice.
There are two intersections along the trail. Go left at the first one (not the lookout), and go right at the sign that says Falls. You'll hike up some intense dirt pathways and end up on top of the exhilarating Waimea Canyon. Breathe in the view and take a few photos, though none will fully capture the beauty.
Continue walking down the trail to your left. You'll walk on top of some large rocks. Follow path to the left (not right). You may have to push through some tall brush. You'll find a waterfall and natural pool to your left. There's a giant rock to your right when you keep following the trail. We named it our Resting Rock and enjoyed a picnic on top of it.
After passing the Resting Rock, follow the path along the river and you'll find one more waterfall to your right along with a massive drop off for the giant waterfall!! This is also a great picnic spot if you can hold out that long.
We made a few friends along this trail, including a family from Slovakia, a local family (who let us in on a few local secrets), and a wonderful couple celebrating their 40th anniversary. They had intense trekking sticks and kept up with us the whole time. #respect
