Hawaii....There is something truly magical about the word. It brings to mind so many exciting adventures...We spent a wonderful 10 days in this paradise.

A week in the garden island of Kauai. While there we explored Waimea Canyon, on Kauai's west side. It is more than 3,000 feet deep and provides stunning panoramic views. My camera clicked away as the sun reflected through the clouds resulting in brilliant rainbows arcing over crested buttes, rugged crags, and deep valley gorges. The grand inland vistas go on for miles, which is why Waimea is nicknamed "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Waimea Canyon Drive leads you to several lookout points, offering breathtaking views of Kauai's dramatic interior. The road continues into the mountains and ends at Kokee State Park. There are numerous trails to traverse for beginners and seasoned hikers.

We went on a 7 hour charter boat trip on the Holo-Holo, which we were told is Kauai's largest vessel and one of the fastest. At 65’, this powerful boat is long and wide enough to give you a swift, adventurous ride. The crew of the Holo Holo proud of it's safety record and takes every measure to insure their customers safety and comfort needs are met.

We headed first towards the Na Pali Coast. The North Shore of Kauai, the incredible Napali Coast overlooks panoramic views of the vast Pacific Ocean. Along this spectacular coastline, you can view velvet green cliffs towering into the clouds and cascading waterfalls plummeting into deep, narrow valleys. The only land access to this enchanted place is via the Kalalau Trail, 11-mile trail that crosses five different valleys and brings you to Kalalau Beach. The hike into Kalalau is often challenging, and sometimes even dangerous. Due to frequent and heavy rainfall when we were there, we were cautioned not to try it. So this will be an adventure that will await us on our return trip! If you do go plan on a 2 day trip. We were advised to break the trail up into two days, setting up camp at the beach of Hanakapiai, then heading to Kalalau the next morning. Camping permits are required from the State Parks office in Lihue. A trail guide is recommended and hiking during the winter months is discouraged.

We watched the dolphins playing near the bow of the Holo-Holo and observed the massive beauty of the humpback whales. After sightseeing and hearing the history of the Coast we headed across the channel to the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau. Our Captain chose our snorkel spot. We spent our next hour being awestruck by the wonders of the aquatic world. No other place in Hawaii offers you such unique formations. Niihau’s old age means it has been shaped and carved by ocean currents and waves the longest of all the Hawaiian Islands. These formations formed the backdrop of an amazing silent show of brilliantly colored marine life. I forgot to take pictures as I floated along watching the show of fish glide by me within inches. I tried to recognize all the species from our snorkeling trip we had taken a couple of days before. I soon recognized the brilliant colors of the parrot fish. An zebra eel lunged out of an unseen hole in the ridge below me. The water is so clear that you can see quite a distance. I became so absorbed in the show around me that I drifted out past where the boundaries that the Captain had restricted us to. Suddenly my leg above the flipper was gripped and I spun around to find a crew member reminding me of my safety boundaries. Way to soon, they were tapping me on the shoulder to tell us to head for the boat. While I started to swim over to the boat, a movement caught my eye and I saw a large white fin splash onto the water in the distance. I motioned towards it and asked if the others saw the whale, as I was sure that was what I was seeing. One of the girls said no but that she wanted to swim with the sharks instead! I knew they did not believe me. I was amused as we climbed up into the boat and removed our gear to hear their excited calls to each other about the whales breaching near by. I turned to her and with much satisfaction said, I told you I saw a whale!

Soon we were on our way back pounding the waves in our rapid journey. I loved it! The captain requested that we come off the bow and then when I took my position on the port side of the cabin, they told me I had to go back closer to the stern. I stood at the rail, feeling the power of the engines in the boat below me. Energized by the feeling of the power of the ocean as she kicked up her skirts around us. I have a healthy respect for the water, any water. I love it. Water has always sang a special song to me. The rippling of a quiet pond to the pounding of the mighty Hawaiian surf to me is a truly inspiring sight. My love of the water goes to my core. Here with the spray in my face and the power of the ocean rolling beneath my feet, I could easily picture myself sailing endlessly into the sunset. All to soon we were pulling up to the pier and off to another adventure.

Who am I?

Recently I was asked this question and it really got me thinking. To really answer this question you have to closely examine your core values and where you are in your life journey. For that matter what is your life journey. Why are you here? To what end were you born? Who amoung us has not asked these questions to ourselves before?
It does not matter what exotic destination you are at, or which one you are headed to. Some people travel to avoid answering these questions, some work excessively. Most of us associate ourselves in relationship to others. I am someone's spouse, parent, child. We associate who we are by what we do. I am a writer, photographer, traveler, doctor, dock worker, etc. We associate who we are by our hobbies. I am a fisher, camper, biker, bowler, etc. When we strip all that away WHO ARE YOU?
This was what I came up with. May I encourage you to embark on your own journey of discovery.

I am in a discovery of self. On a journey of discovery, with an ultimate destination of returning home to my Heavenly Father. Along the way I hope to learn and grow. I hope to make new friends and encourange them to be the best that they can be while striving to be the best that I can be. I strive to love the Lord with all my heart mind and soul and to love others as I would want others to love me. I hope to be the voice of encouragement to all I meet and to always be a builder and not a destroyer ever. The most important thing I can do this day is to be a witness to my Lord Jesus Christ and I testify to you that He Lives and He loves you. May you learn to love him is my humble prayer. amen