Endangered

Visiting Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in Kauai, I spotted three species Ive always wanted to see. My first sighting of a Laysan Albatross, Hawaii’s State bird (Nene) and a humpback whale!

 However, even after spending the night camping in Waimea Canyon State Park, wettest spot on earth at 3,250 feet in elevation I have yet to see an endemic Hawaiian Honeycreeper.

Our quest to be inspired and in awe of nature is ongoing so we shall trek on.

Happy travels!

Turtles

Snorkeling in Hawaii is one of our favorite past times. Many nearby beaches on the North shore offer wonderful sightings of Honu. The majestic creature with eyes of an old soul is really a spectacular spectacle. I could hover over a turtle in the water for hours enjoying the symbiotic relationship between the Honu and reef fish!

Parasaling in Oahu

Parasailing over Maunalua Bay on the South East shores. A thrilling experience that turned out to be exciting, pleasantly peaceful and stunningly beautiful. From high above the boat we were able to see Koko crater and the Ko’olau Mountain Range. This was truly something I would recommend anyone to try; it’s not as terrifying as it looks! Just be prepared for when they bring you down and dunk you in the ocean!!

Ziplining in Maui (Haleakala)

With Skyline Eco-adventures we decided to soar over gulches, hike over swinging bridges and enjoy 5 zip lines. Included was one of the fastest zips in the U.S. where you can get speeds up to 50 MPH, this one definitely made my hands sweat! We enjoyed nice views of seasonal pools below and the wonderful scent of towering eucalyptus trees. A nice way to end the day is to stop at the Kula lodge for some delicious salad and brick oven pizza. Enjoy the gorgeous sunset view from upcountry Maui!

Makapuu Lighthouse Trail and Tide Pools

We took a 45-minute hike to the top of a ridge and according to some of my co-workers there is an off trail down the side of a cliff that leads to beautiful tide pools. Andrew and I decided to be adventurous and follow a group of other people headed down the rock wall like mountain goats. To my surprise this was one of the scariest hikes I have ever done prior to Stairway to Heaven, due to the magnitude of the sheer cliff side and steep embankment with loose pebbles. Andrew really had to coach me down and keep me calm, but in the end when we reached the bottom and bathed in the azure pacific it was magnificent. The climb back up wasn’t nearly as treacherous. Overall it was a great place to cool off after the hike and I enjoyed spying underwater on all the zebra blennies.

At the top of the trail, getting ready to head down to the tide pools.

View from of the tide pools.