Kauai - 2/22/99 - Monday
Our wake-up call came at 6:50am and Lisa headed for Kiahuna Golf Club for 18 holes. She invited me to walk the course with her, but I opted to stay and explore the beach's snorkeling potential. It's a good thing I stayed at the hotel, as I spent the next 2 hours in the bathroom. I wasn't sure how traveling with colitis would be, because I've been in a pretty good remission for months. Something had to "give" eventually, and it sure did this morning. No "D", but enough activity to keep me in the room and catch up on this journal.

There are still lots of clouds, but some sun today. The trade winds have picked up again, so I hoped Lisa got her round of golf in without too many lost balls. Turns out she shot a good game of 109!

We had to travel west to find a little sunshine today. After lunch at the hotel (I passed on lunch today to give my tummy a rest.) we headed toward Waimea and the Na Pali coast. The clouds followed us the whole way. We stopped briefly at Salt Pond Park, but after 5 minutes soft rain found us. As we turned up on the west side, past Waimea and the spot where Capt. cook first landed in 1778, the wind calmed. We took a chance at the foot of the Na Pali cliffs and followed the road when the paved highway becomes a dirt road. We drove for what seemed forever. The cliffs to our right were breathtaking as the sun finally came out. The reached Polihale State Park and we were pleased we took the effort to find it. A wide beach with the cliffs to our right and endless beach on our left. The surf and cross currents prevented us from swimming, but the air and view alone made it worthwhile. The sun came and went, as did brief showers. I let Lisa experience driving back on the dirt road! (Shhh, don't tell the car rental folks!) Below the cliffs are miles of sugar cane and corn fields that we assume are part of the Robinson land. The family owns more than 25% of Kauai, including most of the interior and west end of the island. That's why no resorts have been built on this sunny west side.

We stopped at a huge coffee plantation on the way back to Poipu,

but the visitor's center was totally enclosed in a tarp and was being fumigated by a pest control company. We made a quick stop at "Mustard's hot dog stand and I got Tabbert's ice cream. Yum! We found out later that we shouldn't have patronized this place. There is a lot of ill-will between the owner and the islanders because he gouged the locals on food after Hurricane Iniki a few years back. Oops!

We saw bouganvilla flowers everywhere on the road back to the south coast in Poipu!

Just before the turnoff into the Sheraton there is a short road leading to Spouting Horn, a lava formation with a geyser of water that shoots up through it. It is accompanied by a soulful whale-like sound as the air is sucked back by the Pacific. Awesome!

We got back to the hotel in time to change and head east back to Kapaa for dinner at The Pacific Cafe. It lived up to its reputation. It is located in a strip mall, but don't let that stop you! The staff was gracious, the Kauai paintings on the wall were beautiful, and the food is something we'll talk about for a long time. Lisa had tiger eye prawns as an appetizer and I ordered the duck and shrimp "taco". The portions were huge! I can see why many people just order a couple of appetizers as their meal. Lisa's main course was spicy pork loin, garlic mashed potatoes, and veggies. It was fit for an Hawaiian King.

My shutomi (Hawaiian swordfish) was delicate and tasty, the rice cooked perfectly, and the shrimp tempura was firm and delightful. Finely shredded and lightly spiced eggplant was a good match with it. We had heard so much about their desserts, I couldn't pass up trying one. It was a macadamia nut tart with coconut sauce and was topped off with a spiril tower of a cookie-type pastry. WOW!

Lisa passed on dessert, but enjoyed a decaf latte. This is a "don't miss it" restaurant. We may visit the one on Maui, too.

We had exotic nightcaps at the Sheraton and called it a night. Everyone retires early because the activities start early. Lisa had 2 messages from Richard today and they will play golf at 8am tomorrow. I went to sleep feeling myself a part of this island of Kauai.