Hawaii Day Seven - Waimea Canyon

On our last day in Hawaii we started out with early morning stroll down the beach to see if there was a place to snorkle. Then we went swimming one more time in the resort's big pool. Then we sadly packed up our bags and checked out of our room. We loaded up the car and headed west to Waimea Canyon area, a ten-mile long canyon that is kind of like the Grand Canyon. From the top of the ridge you can look down in the Napali coastal mountains where Jurrasic Park and King Kong was filmed. There are many scenic lookout points on the road and we stoppped at every one and took pictures. After spending about three hours in the canyon, we drove down to the Waimea beach to an area called the salt ponds, and went snorkling. We found a protected little cove that wasn't too deep and spent a good hour face down looking a schools of angel fish and lots of other "tropical fish". After snorkling we ate a picnic lunch and headed towards the airport hoping to find another snorkling spot before the sun went down. Alas, it was not to be. We finally found a highly recommended spot that turned out to be a 1/2 mile from our hotel, but got there just as the sun was slipping over the horizon. We saw a huge green sea turtle on the beach, and Jane washed the salt out of her hair in the rinse-off shower at the beach. We then changed into our travel clothes in the bathrooms and headed for the airport. We got checked in, waited a bit to board and headed home. The plane left at 9:45pm, and we arrived in Los Angeles at 5am local time. Our connection left at 7am, and we arrived in Denver at 10am local time. By the time we got our bags and drove home it was noon. Jane took a nap and I started working on yard because I was going to be leaving on Monday for another trip and wanted to be prepared in case we got snow.

This was without a doubt the best vacation we've ever taken and I really was grateful that Jane could get some reward for all of her sacrifices and work to manage our house and family while I am gone so often travelling. It was so nice to spend quality time together, and we actually had to get to know each other a bit better because we haven't spent a lot of time together in the past couple of years. It was a real treat and we're already thinking about where we can go next!

The Napali Coast from the top of Waimea Canyon

Looking east

Funny sign at the beach where we snorkled

Looking at the protected cove where we snorkled

Jane overcame her fears to have a total blast. She says that looking at all of the life in the ocean helps her appreciate the Creation all that much more

Beautiful clear water

The giant sea turtle. I bet it weighed over 200 lbs

Sunset over Poipu Beach as we get ready to leave for the airport