Hiking Sleeping Giant

Hiking can be so exhilarating, relaxing, strenuous, and fun, all at the same time! We recently went on a hike I had never done before. There was a new discovery at every turn in the path ... incredible panoramas of the island ... stately trees ... deep peaceful breaths. 

The hike: Sleeping Giant, otherwise known as Nounou Mountain.

photo courtesy Wikipedia

The beginning of the trail traverses a Norfolk pine forest. Quiet and cool, the regal trees towered above us.

The trail itself is like other Hawaiian trails: red dirt that gets very slippery in the rain, tree roots forming natural steps.

The Giant's Toenails (leaves from the Koa trees, I believe):

The goal: make it to the top of the cliff alive.

Okay, so it wasn't that scary. Besides, this view is the reward:

Eastside Beach Town

I recently had a quite a bit of time to kill one day so I thought I'd explore a small seaside town on the east coast of the island. Even though an island by its very definition is isolated and limited, I find that there's always something new to discover, some road never traveled. And though I've been in this town a thousand times, I still managed to find new things about it. This is the backdoor perspective, empty lots and rusty roofs included. Disorder and imperfection, beauty beneath a blue beaming sky. 

Surfboards can be strapped to any kind of vehicle...

Shee thin...

Something's rather beautiful and mysterious about this falling down house...

Cinder block house...

Rusting right into the ground...

Mower and Marine...

An Asian mural inside the Dragon Building...

A cute cafe stuffed between buildings..

Hundreds of orchids and all different...

Empty lot...

Fruit stand...

These are sold all over the place, but I still can't figure out what they're supposed to be...

Tower of lumber...

Untouched beauty...

The clearest water...

Seaside Signage

The small details are the ones that count, right? When you live on an island, the sea seeps into all the little cracks and crannies of life. It doesn't take a long time to realize when you're by the seaside; all the signs are pointing to it.

You know you're at the seashore when the pedestrian crossing signs look like this:

Quicksilver and Roxy- surf shops for those who know how to spend a Quickdollar. (As a note, have you ever noticed that the Quicksilver/Roxy stores in the mountains show surfing movies on their TVs, while the stores by the beach show snowboarding movies? The grass is always greener...)

Mmm... Aloha is so tasty

Lappert's Kauai Pie? Best ice cream ever!

 I love this sign - it would go great in my imaginary beach house!

Bubba's Burgers - great beach food, but I must say their milkshakes are better than their burgers.

No, it's not a snow cone, a slushie, or even a shaved ice - it's SHAVE ICE.

Found this down at the harbor - it's all written in Pidgin, which is a slang made up of English, Japanese, and Filipino words and who knows what else.

I'm a sand people, what are you?

I thought it was cool how the store was able to put an outrigger canoe up above, making you look like you're Overboard.

Aloha means: Hello, Goodbye, Love, Peace, and pretty much whatever you want it to mean.

E Komo Mai means: Welcome 

This should have been my license plate, but unfortunately, my only boat is imaginary, and for some reason, the state won't give me an imaginary license plate.