Kauai was the last stop of our three month Journey. There was definitely some excitement and certainly some relief to think of returning home to Sedona, though the thought of being in the same bed every night and returning to a more “normal” life actually felt quite foreign. We had adapted well to traveling the world’s sacred sites for three months, had become nomads of sorts, and I could feel there was a big adjustment coming.
I just “knew” I had to visit Kauai when we planned our Journey. Astrologically, it proved to be a site where two of my planetary lines ran. The draw to go to Kauai was very strong for me; almost a need. It wasn’t surprising that every moment on the island held magic and wonder for me. And that our last day on the Island, which was also the very last day of our Sacred Sites Journey, held the most extraordinary gift for us. A synchronicity beyond all others.
We arrived at the Lihue Airport on the Island’s east side and anxiously went to get our rental car. It took a frustrating three tries to get a healthy vehicle after check engine lights and weak battery problems, but we ended up with a cute Jeep and made our way around the island toward the Waimea shore, on Kauai’s west coast. We had reservations waiting for us in the Banana suite at Inn Waimea, and I couldn’t wait to see the accommodations. They turned out to be really sweet and homey, with fresh fruit breakfasts, and everything was perfect upon our after-dark arrival.
The next morning the sky was overcast and the air cool. The expansive beach was less than a half block from our suite, which was situated in a large house on a side street perpendicular to the beach. The massive and ever so sweet plumeria bushes outside our unit greeted us and brought smiles to our faces as we went off to explore the island in anticipation. We had heard about Kauai’s “Grand Canyon”, and were eager to take it all in.
Waimea Canyon definitely lives up to its reputation. It resembles Arizona’s Grand Canyon in that there are intricate, multi-colored layers of rock to behold within the chasm. It is far more lush and verdant, however, and the home of some amazing waterfalls. It is ten miles long, one mile wide, and about 3,500 feet deep. Koke’e state park protects the upper reaches of it to an elevation of 5,000 feet, and many species exist in the park that exist nowhere else on earth. The easily traversed 40 mile Waimea Canyon Road affords many breathtaking lookouts, and driving its expanse was wondrous for me. Every turn on the road provided a new vista and I loved every minute of it.
We visited the Park’s Museum and were surrounded by the invasive wild chickens that have just about overtaken the Island. They are everywhere, and the population in the Museum’s Parking lot was quite numerous and healthy, including many chicks. We spied a couple unfortunate though living creatures on the Island with needles sticking through their bodies, including one needle poking right through an otherwise healthy-looking chicken’s neck! Yes, we cringed and I did wish that I could have extricated the long, thin needle that had undoubtedly been shot into the chicken with a blow gun of sorts. No need for Kentucky Fried on Kauai. With no wild predators save domestic dogs and cats, they dominate the island. Other Islands have introduced the mongoose for population control, which have decimated wild bird populations as a result. I prefer the chickens. Wild goats have been introduced; also, and have caused tremendous harm to the Island’s ecosystems.
KAUAI: DANGEROUS FLOWER?
My eye was caught by a very strange plant near the Museum. It was a wet looking, surely carnivorous red flower about to swallow up any bug unfortunate enough to land on its surface. Indeed, Kauai has many unique life forms that add to its allure and energy. On occasion we were lucky enough to see a few nene’s, Hawaii’s wild geese, who resemble a more colorful version of Canadian geese. Indeed they are distant relatives. We took in some of the canyon’s history in the museum, and then went off to explore. I was feeling elated and relaxed and very at home. We drove the canyon roads and absorbed the endless beauty and then were called to drive back down and explore some caves we had read about on the north side of the island, in Ha’ena.
There are two wet caves on Kauai, Waikapala’e, and Waikanaloa which is just off of Highway 560. They are fed by icy cold springs and because of the potential for bacteria, swimming is prohibited in Waikanaloa. We reverently performed a Water Ritual in this cave, and had no worries about the cleanliness of the water, it felt quite sacred to us. There is also a dry cave in the area, called Manin-holo which we visited. It was a perfect cavern for toning, and we gifted the Earth the vibrations that she requested from us. Across the street from the Dry Cave is beautiful Haena Beach. I had a short swim in the shallows, heeding the many warning signs regarding the currents. A few intrepid swimmers did brave the breakers and currents further out from the shore than I. We made our way back to the Inn at dusk; ready for some nourishment and some Hawaii style dreams. next page >>
