The Labyrinth: Discovering Kauai's Waimea Canyon by Katie Twaddle We travel in a red jeep. The top is always off, and I hold onto the roof bar so tight my knuckles turn white. I’m heading up to Waimea Canyon with my friends, Ben and Connie. When I feel like exploring, they are the people I call because they always manage to find places I never even imagined existed. We drive up Highway 552 (the Kekaha side), where each turn is sharper than the last and nobody goes the legal 25 mph. Just before the first lookout, we stop dead center in the road, a tradition of ours. We exit the Jeep: about 5 feet over to the right there’s a short metal railing and then a 3,000 foot drop. Six months ago there was probably about 15 more feet of red ground past the railing before erosion took it down. In Waimea Canyon, it’s impossible to tell which cliffside will crumble next. I take a quick look down, and then out at the expanse, wondering which edge of the Kokee State Park we will be exploring today. We continue on, and when we reach the Kokee State Park’s museum and café, we stop to grab a map. Even though Ben and his wife Connie have been to the Canyon probably a thousand times, we still aren’t sure exactly where we’re headed today. A place called Mohihi Falls is on the agenda, but finding it is going to be a challenge. Before I know it, we’re on some dirt road I’ve never seen before: Mohihi Road, of course. The road has potholes as deep as the tires on the jeep. We find this out the hard way. It’s recently rained; we can tell because the potholes are filled with red and
The Labyrinth: Discovering Kauai’s Waimea Canyon by Katie Twaddle We travel in a red jeep. The top is always off, and I hold onto the roof bar so tight my knuckles turn white. I’m heading up to Waimea Canyon with my friends, Ben and Connie.
Fun for the whole family: Kauai Mini Golf by Katie Twaddle When visiting Kauai, the thing that is least surprising is the desire to relax while enjoying the view. While you might spend a day at the beach, or on a boat ride up the NaPali Coast, golfing is the activity on many peoples minds. But for those of you who have children, sometimes that round of 18 isn't a likely option. But don’t be discouraged. Allow me to introduce you to a little gem on the Garden Island: Kauai Mini Golf. Located on Kauai's north shore in the town of Kilauea, Kauai Mini Golf is a wonderfully designed mini golf course. It has 18 challenging and fun holes, a mountain range view, and a café for the jet-lagged which serves up healthy wraps for those that may feel a little guilty from indulging in a bit too much lau-lau at the luau last night. This course has it all, including the place you want to go, but no one else is really into: a botanical garden. That’s right! While the kids practice the perfect putt, you are patiently waiting your turn, checking out the information on Kauai’s tropical trees, fruits, herbs and veggies you’ve seen since you arrived on the island. With the sweet scent of the flowers, herbs and ripe guava surrounding you, you’re sure to get that hole-in-one (Somebody’s got to get a hole-in-one, right?). Afterwards, reward yourself with some POG (pineapple, orange, guava) gelato in yes, the sugary kids cone because you’re on vacation! Then sit back, relax, enjoy the stunning views and watch the children play on the jungle gym until they drop. I have a feeling the drive back to the hotel will be a peaceful one Address: 5-2723 Kuhio Hwy, Kilauea, HI 96754 Phone:(808)
Fun for the whole family: Kauai Mini Golf by Katie Twaddle When visiting Kauai, the thing that is least surprising is the desire to relax while enjoying the view.
Local Flavors: Not Your Average Produce by Katie Twaddle The other day, I had the entire day to myself. The men, i.e., my three roommates, were off doing their things, i.e., working at their respectable jobs and I had all day to mosey around the house and do whatever I wanted. I chose, despite the unusually cloudy day, not to mosey around the house, no; I decided to do something the men of my household have thus far refused to do with me, and that is go to a Farmer’s Market on Kaua‘i. Now, on Kaua‘i, there are 15 different farmer’s markets each week located all across the island. The one I visited is the Kukui Grove Farmer’s Market, on Mondays only, and starts at 3pm. (Enough time for me to mosey around all morning on my day off.) Even though I’ve lived here for some time, the experience was a new one to me. I was fascinated at the atmosphere of the Kaua‘i Farmer’s Market. While it was one of the smaller markets compared to others I’ve seen (while driving by of course, yelling “stop, stop!”), it was full of people and I got the feeling the early goers get the best grub. Speaking of grub: vegetables, fruit and more vegetables, and not just your typical tomato, mango, and cucumber. There were things there that I had never seen, much less heard of. How big is the largest avocado you’ve ever seen? Well, I saw one that must have weighed 8 pounds. Guacamole, anyone? However, this is no weight contest. The quality of produce is none that you will be able to find at the local grocery store.Try some beautifully pink mountain apples, ripe apple bananas, kumquat, and rumbutan. There were some classic favorites as well: Kaua‘i grown pineapple, mango,
Local Flavors: Not Your Average Produce by Katie Twaddle The other day, I had the entire day to myself. The men, i.e., my three roommates, were off doing their things,
