ocean

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

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View in Kapaa, Kauai. Places come and places go, but the location remains the same. Because no building on Kauai can be taller than a coconut palm tree, when one type of business moves away, another is quick to grab that valued and often historical site. That’s exactly what happened with Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant and Bar. Last year’s restaurant is old news. The current owner, Samantha, continues the ambience with her own sense of style and most importantly, the freshest island food. Old school bartenders blend the perfect cocktail to match the stunning view. Cool sea breezes encourage relaxation and conversation while frolicking whales on the horizon make the entire visit truly memorable. 

WaterMan Versus Raging Sea

“It’s probably Laird Hamilton. No one else would dare go out and surf in waves that high today,” the waitress calmly surmised. We watched as if hypnotized by the lone surfer riding the massive waves of the North Shore. At times the sea acted like a bucking broncho, changing directions with powerful strength. And yet Hamilton, the standup paddling surfer, never succumbed to the superior force of Nature. In fact, upon closer scrutiny, a high-powered jet ski seemed to run parallel perfectly poised at the end of the surf to drop a line. As if on cue, the two connected and the waterman was hauled back out to another monstrous wall of waves. There the process was repeated over and over again. We must have watched the systematic series of actions for almost an hour, completely mesmerized by these well synchronized human machines. No doubt we were witnessing one of the best surfers in the world who made danger look like child’s play. Until you see a man freely standing on a surfboard, it’s impossible to judge the height of these wave banks. Only then do you witness the scale of Man versus Sea. Truth be told, thresholds can reach up to 30 feet making the surf extremely dangerous for inexperienced surfers. The North Shore trek did not disappoint. Beauty was in the eye of the beholder. 

Lights. Camera. Action!

A grey-striped cat, feral in nature, viciously chewed on the corner of a rolled up newspaper bundle laying on the ground next to a fishing pole. A pair of agitated red-combed roosters strutted back and forth awaiting their turn should the feline get discouraged or frightened and dart off. The seasoned fisherman on the wooden pier had his sun-burned face focused elsewhere with two lines already submerged in the sea water below. Ahukini Landing seems to be a hidden gem from the visiting tourists. Unless…you meet an islander who shares the secrets of its allure. At first glance it appears to be just another scenic spot to gaze upon the powerful aquamarine waves as they splash against the jagged shore. This is Hanama’ula Bay where disciplined fishermen and women understand the fierce strength by standing safely beyond the ocean’s mighty grasp while reeling in the catch of the day. Warning signs are clearly posted along the short breakwater drawing attention to High Surf, Slippery Rocks, Sudden Drop Off, and Waves Break on Ledge. Glancing toward the massive concrete and broken beamed structure draws the attention of something magnificent now abandoned in a graveyard of ruins. The architectural skeleton, home for a band of scurrying crabs, tells no tales. It seems, once upon a time in 1920, this extinct dinosaur became the first port where inter-island boats and freighters could tie up directly. It was the beating heart of the island for supplies and visiting tourists. Eventually bigger ships needed more room, thus Nawiliwili Harbor was built down the coast near the lighthouse. Things were dismantled down to bare bones leaving the dilapidated overgrown site a secret hideaway for avid fishermen, adventurous divers, and an occasional film director.*
* “Donovan’s Reef”, starring John Wayne, was filmed on this pier at Ahukini Landing.  

Dining Outside the Home: Olympic Café in Kapaa, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Olympic Café in Kapaa, Kauai. Six miles up the coast, along a paved bike trail, sits a casual open-air second story restaurant with a view of the ocean on one side, and the center of activity on the other. It has become a favorite vantage point for people-watching while tropical drinks are chilling, popular music is playing, and generous portions are filling. Cushioned bamboo seating over wooden plank flooring is as inviting for beach lovers as it is for the feathered friends who occasionally drop by to nibble on floor crumbs recently fallen. 

To Each His Own

Some people come to the beach to play volleyball all afternoon while bystanders cheer them on. Others hit the waves carrying poly-constructed surfboards with barking dogs in tow. Every now and then an ageless couple is seen strolling hand in hand with waves tickling their ankles in every step as a dedicated jogger passes them by. From grandparents to teenagers to toddlers, the crescent-mooned shoreline is dotted with primitive sand castles and elaborate sculptures, each one a masterpiece to the artist who creates it. Yellow, red, and orange umbrellas promise shade with lingering sea breezes when the tropical sun becomes relentless. As I glance up from my enticing paperback novel, take a sip of raspberry iced tea, I notice a middle-aged man standing chest high in waves smoking a Kauaiian cigar while staring longingly out to sea. Tell me now, what is your idea of Paradise on Earth?

Point Loma in San Diego, California Offers a Cliffside View

Old Point Loma Lighthouse and Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, California. Imagine discovering a land of plenty with unbridled beauty from cliff to sea. The 16th century explorer, Juan Cabrillo, managed such a feat on a voyage that began in Europe and ended on the California coast. Today it is known as an Historical Landmark. Many years later in 1855, 422 feet high above sea level, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse served as a coastal beacon and California’s first of its kind. Challenge yourself to ascend the spiral staircase leading to a 360° panoramic bird’s eye view of the Pacific Ocean, the skyline of San Diego, Coronado Island, and the Mexican coastline. During the winter months it’s not uncommon to walk around the grounds and watch migrating grey whales from several vantage points. Visit Point Loma for a view to remember.