Feral wild rooster on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.
My first visit to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai was in May 2008. In the time since, I’ve often thought of returning to Kauai, but have never managed to do it. Until, 2024 that is.
My wife and I have traveled to Hawaii many times over the years, but our 2024 visit was planned to coincide with our 17th wedding anniversary. We had never really done a honeymoon, so we took the opportunity to make this return trip to the island while our health and finances could afford it.
The island itself has not changed much in 16 years but there are some notable differences between 2008 and 2024.
The Island seems a little more crowded these days. The traffic along highway 56, The Kuhio Highway, is a bit more heavy now. It’s also more expensive to visit the island now. Most of our meals on this most recent trip were running about $35-40 per person on average and the quality of food served at most of the restaurants seemed to be inconsistent. I guess the recent pandemic has taken a toll on the restaurant industry in Kauai as it has just about everywhere else. Hotels are far more expensive today as well. But, 16 years later, one must expect these things. Time never stands still.
Another feature of Kauai is the presence of wild feral chickens. Released from captivity back in the 1980’s when hurricanes hit the island, these chickens have been breeding in the wild since. There is no way of knowing how many are on the island, but estimates are close to 500,000.
To me, the big attraction of Kauai is the Island’s geography. In 2008, we took a helicopter ride over the Nā Pali Coast Coast and it was a stunning adventure. On our trip this year, we drove up the Wiamea Canyon to the Kalalau Lookout over the Nā Pali Coast , and we booked a catamaran boat trip to sail to the Nā Pali Coast. For those of you unaware, the Nā Pali Coast is on the northern shore of Kauai and may be one of the most beautiful and dramatic scenes in the world. At least I think so.
So here is a collection of Kauai photographs, some past, some present. It’s a beautiful Island, so I’m going to indulge myself a bit.
