Jamie's Visit In Hawaii

Jan 10, 2018
Jamie, my closest friend from residency, flew in from Portland to visit me.  We immediately went from the airport to the sandbar to film "Dream a Little Dream of Me" with Jenn on ukulele.  Jamie had never held an ukulele, and Jenn and I had never played this song together, but we all decided this was a great idea.  Bill took off half a day from work to join us.  We saw a rainbow during the boat ride.

Bill Anchoring the Boat

Ukulele in Evening Gowns

Tubing in Evening Gowns

Jamie was on an immediate quest for tropical fruit, so we stopped by the Blaisdell Farmer's Market for fruit and dinner.

Jan 11, 2018
Our original plan of paddleboard yoga was abruptly cancelled due to enterococci (poop bacteria) in the water.  Instead, we took the pups to Oneawa Hills, a beautiful ridge hike.  We stopped by Hawaii Sushi on the way home for hamachi and salmon poke.

Bill joined us in the evening for dinner at Opal Thai, our favorite restaurant on the island, followed by Wing's, our favorite ice cream on the island.

Jan 12, 2018
For breakfast, we ate lots of fruit with M-berry tablets which trick your tongue into thinking everything is sweet.  Then we set out to explore the West Side of the island.  Our first stop was Nanakuli Sea Caves.

Above the Caves

Inside the Caves

We hiked to Kaena Point, where we saw albatross and whales and took a dip in the tide pools.

Nesting Albatross

Tide Pools

I learned that Jamie is dermatographic, which means you can write and draw things on her!

It says "HI LIEN" on her arm!

On our way home, we stopped by Makua Cave (a land cave).  We had lilikoi sorbet at a food truck, and then fresh fruit smoothies and sushi for lunch near my house.  Bill, Jamie, and I flew to Kauai in the evening.  We ate fish tacos for dinner and relaxed in a hot tub at a small beach resort in Kapaa.

Jan 13, 2018
Our plans were abruptly cancelled again int he morning.  First, there was a 3-car collision that shut down the highway for 3 hours, and then there was a ballistic missile threat which wasn't reported as a false alarm for 38 minutes.  Needless to say, Plan A, which was going on a doors-off helicopter ride, did not happen.

Scary Alert

Big Mistake

Instead, we went hiking on Okolehao, which means Iron Butt.  Jamie had her first strawberry guava on this trail.

Such Tall Vegetation

Giant Spider & Web

For lunch, we had Sugarloaf white pineapple at Banana Joe's, which is definitely the best pineapple I've ever tasted.

Pineapple!!!

At Bill's request, we went on a coffee farm tour at Kauai Coffee Company, and he bought a bag of fancy coffee.

Kauai Coffee Mug

We stopped by Lydgate Park to play on Kamalani, an amazing maze bridge playground!

Bill in the Playground

Lien & Jamie in the Playground

We got take out food and ate it on Lae Nani Beach as the sun was setting.  We hit the hot tub and spent another night in our resort.

Jan 14, 2018
Our last day on Kauai was packed.  We started off with tubing through the old irrigation canals, which were hand dug in the 1870s for the sugar plantations.

Mount Waialeale

Getting Ready for Tubing

Tubing!

In an Irrigation Canal

We visited Wailua Fall and took a quick hike to/behind two magnificent waterfalls.  There were rainbows reflected in the falls at several points along the way.

Rainbow at the Foot of the Falls!

Jamie in a Double Rainbow!

Behind the Waterfalls

Bill Behind the Waterfalls

Lien Behind a Waterfall

We had shave ice for a quick snack, and were able to reschedule an afternoon helicopter ride (though this one was doors-on).

Prior to Boarding (Helicopter Behind Us)

Getting Ready to Take Off

Our favorite parts were flying into the crater that created Kauai, getting up close to Jurassic Falls, and seeing a waterfall that reflects a rainbow as you fly past it.  We were mildly motion-sick by the end, but not to the point that we couldn't enjoy the trip.

Waimea Canyon from the Helicopter

We ate at a shrimp shack for dinner before flying home.  We made some cocktails out of lavender gin, pomelo, honey, and seltzer water and fell asleep while watching a movie.

Jan 15, 2018
On our last morning, we slept in, grabbed an early lunch at Hawaii Sushi, and dropped off Jamie at the airport.  Bye, Jamie!  Looking forward to more adventure times with you!

Saying Goodbye to Cadenza