ocean

Experience the Charm of Island-Style Living

For island-style charm, on the historic Royal Coconut Coast, the oceanfront sunrise is unbelievable. As the dawn turns from azure-blue-grey to the golden cerulean seagreen of clear Pacific waters, the pull of the ocean practically lures you over the balcony to become one with the sea. Across the only road that runs north and south, like a horseshoe, on the island just beyond the lush valley is a view of the Sleeping Giant Mountain Range. The view can literally take your breath away. Old Kapaa Town is just a stone’s throw away. Walk the uncrowded shoreline, paying attention to the kite-surfing enthusiasts, or choose the paved Kauai Path for biking and daily exercise. Whatever the whim, the East Shore fits the bill. 

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai!  Fling open the doors for an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see. Look closely. You may see the water spouts of a humpback whale or two on the horizon. Feel the cool breezes as you bask in the glorious sunshine. Glance around the room. Pay attention to the hanging art inside, which captures a peaceful easy feeling. Now order a meal with a beverage to match. Sam’s Ocean View fits the bill for coastal-living. Today’s special: Seared Ahi Eggs Benedict with a hollandaise sauce; a perfect blend of rich, creamy butter and lemon citrus. Mahalo. 

On Golden Pond: The Nā Pali Coast

For the biggest white gold sandy beach in Kauai, offering a panoramic view from sea to coast, you must be determined to make the road trip real. Everything is fine until you hit the state park sign at the end of Highway 50. The arrow points west and promises to be nothing less than tough for another four miles. I have witnessed discouraged tourists reverse direction and head back to solid ground. I have also witnessed rental cars broken down. The old sugar cane road is unpaved, extremely bumpy with deep ruts, and a single lane trail of sand at best. And that’s if it hasn’t rained in awhile. But the adventurous spirit must know no bounds. You know you have arrived when the landscape beyond the windshield joins mountain and beach in an unforgettable breath-taking view. Forget cell phone coverage. Radio station signals are nil. And unless you park at the end, beyond Queen’s Pond, no facilities are available. On the endlessly long and wide beach, sweeping sand dunes and clusters of lava rock, are washed with powerful white-capped waves that roar like a coalition of male lions. And this is Paradise. You have arrived!

Delta Dawn Tug-of-War

Warm ocean waters dance with a cool mountain stream at the tidal mouth of the bay. Unusual, yet captivating. This tug-of-war between salt water and fresh water changes the landscape of the beach every single day leaving one to wonder if the results were sculpted by a gigantic sandman while you were sleeping. Be aware. The waves from the sea in this spot are driven by the surf and the rainwater from the wettest mountain range on the island is powered by gravity. Oftentimes, the point where the two collide creates a momentary whirlpool. Entertaining to watch before the freshwater current rides the waves back out to sea. The bank is no different than a sand castle. It may leave you with a false sense of security believing the beach is more solid than it appears. One step can crumble the wall like squeezing the water out of a sponge. Another may leave you off balance sinking up to your knees in a quicksand-like soft bottom. Either way, it’s an enigma worth beholding. 

Blame it on the VOG

“Don’t worry, it’s the VOG,” chirped Gina, our island friend, as she hugged me tight when we met. I was hesitant to get too close since I had developed a very congested cough that required relief from the drug store shelf. “El Niño reversed the trade winds so we’re getting the volcanic ash from the big island,” she went on to explain. Gerald and I had noticed a white milky haze atop the mountain range a couple days ago. Thinking it was fog, similar to what we experienced on the mainland, we never gave it a second thought during our outdoor water activities. We continued to walk along the beach, relax around the pool, and explore the island. To our dismay, we learned no one is exempt from the clutches of the VOG. Islanders suffer from bouts of respiratory ailments, difficulty breathing, headaches,and sleepless nights whenever the trade winds reverse their course. Although Kauai is 305 miles away from the active volcano, it occasionally falls victim to VOG leaving tourists feeling lethargic wondering if they came into contact with a cold virus. In actuality, it’s the result of a chemical reaction between volcanic ash, smog, and weather conditions. Symptoms improve by drinking plenty of water to clear the body of toxins as well as remaining indoors where air-conditioning is available. So, in conclusion, we blamed it on the VOG. By the weekend relief came, as promised, in the moderate trade winds. 

“Dense vog as seen from Hilo Bay, Hawaiʻi. Vog is a form of air pollution that results when sulfur dioxide and other gases and particles emitted by an erupting volcano react with oxygen and moisture in the presence of sunlight. The word is a portmanteau of the words “volcanic”, “smog”, and “fog”.*

* Hawaii News Today