Poipu Beach

     As always when we travel to Hawaii I was awake at my usual home time which is 4 am in Kauai.  The roosters were starting to crow (lots of very colorful chickens roam the island), but it was not time to get up.  I burrowed back into my very comfortable bed and slept until almost 7.  The rain has stopped and the early risers were out on the beach including a bride and groom getting some sunrise pictures taken - beautiful.

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We had bagels and fresh pineapple for breakfast and then wandered down to sit on the beach and watch surfing classes.  Some folks were doing pretty good.  We are on a protected bay so we can see some huge breakers off shore but the waves by the beach look good for beginners.  The water is warm and beautiful.  Ahh.
     We took a brief trip out to view Spouting Horn which is a hole in the lava rock where water shoots up.  Some pretty big bursts of water but I was not quick enough to catch on camera.  We stopped for lunch at Puka Dog - a wonderful Hawaiian hotdog - Soft bun, juicy hotdog, mango relish, sweet Hawaiian mustard -- the best!  Our afternoon was pure relaxation on the lanai - watching little kids play on the lawn and listening to the booming surf.  There are surf warnings up for the island until Friday which means that we really get to see some great rollers.
    After lunch we stopped at a little market in Koloa which is a the site of an old sugar mill.   Many of the old plantation-style houses are still there as well as some huge old trees.  There is so much new construction along the beach it is wonderful to see a bit of old Kauai.
    In the late afternoon we went to a small shopping center for a hula show.  Beautiful girls doing beautiful traditional Hawaiian dances.  We sat under the canopy of a huge tree while a few quick rain showers came through.  We enjoyed a fresh fish dinner at a restaurant which has a roof but no windows - very common in Hawaii.  I don't know why there are no birds flying around, but it is wonderful to feel the breeze, and smell the flowers after a long Minnesota winter.  Perfect day topped off with some coconut/pineapple ice cream.