I love Kauai. It’s become familiar, and now feels more like a version of home that I come back to rather than a place I visit on vacation. I’d love to own a home on the island someday—even if (or especially if?) it’s a tiny shack that runs on solar panels—where I could spend a few months at a time.
My parents spent some time there this summer, and since I’m able to work remotely, I decided to tag along for a week, sans husband. I didn’t let the time change affect me—I basically woke up at 4:30am Hawaii time, still aligned with my teammates on the West Coast at least, and worked a half-shift. Then, on a midday break, we ate lunch, or ate shave ice, or went to the beach, or tried another shave ice truck, or took a drive along the coast—and often did a mix of all of these. We then returned in the late afternoon so I could finish my workday and eat dinner.
Over the past five years at my current job, I’ve actually grown to dislike this sort of arrangement—working while on a trip—and these days prefer to just take time completely off from work. But in Kauai, it’s easier for me to relax, to just be. I know the island, so I don’t feel the need to follow an itinerary, and whenever I’m in Hawaii in general, I immediately shift into island mode: I live in my swimsuit, I get sand in my hair on the first day that never washes out, and I become so incredibly dark and aware of how brown I really am—and I love it and feel completely in my element. For me, it’s truly one of the most pleasant places to be.
On this trip in July, we stayed near Poipu Beach. We tend to spend time either here in the south or north near Hanalei and Princeville. I love both areas—both have lovely beaches and shave ice stands, which pretty much make up my time in Hawaii. But I do favor Kauai’s north shore because I love the little town of Hanalei and the beach at the end of the road, Ke’e Beach, from where you can set off onto Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast.
I’m not sure when I’ll visit Kauai again, so in the meantime, I’ll daydream as I look at these photos.
Photos taken with an iPhone 7.
Great pics – what camera did you use?
iPhone 7. Thanks!
❤
It’s absolutely beautiful! And it sounds like paradise, really. My happy place is my circus school. Even when I keep falling from the rope, the training is hard and my hands are all blistered, no place makes me smile like that place.
My family lived on Oahu for 3 years. Unfortunately, we never had the chance to visit Kauai. It sounds lovely. Maybe one day…
Such beautiful images.
Love it! Beautiful outdoors!
Looks a bit like our paradise Islands here in lovely Trinidad and Tobago! Enjoy!
Hi Cheri, I will be visiting next month and couldn’t be more excited. Bucket list check off…
Wow ! It looks so beautiful! Which of your experiences was your favorite !?
Eating shave ice (anywhere) is always my favorite thing to do 🙂 Other than that, visiting and swimming in Ke’e Beach is another favorite — I love this beach.
Everything about this place is stunning! So vibrant, so pretty! 🙂
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Beautiful photos
I’ve never made it to Kuai, but want to. Been to Maui and spent a fair bit of time on Oahu, and been to Kona for a conference (I really don’t think that counted as I never left the hotel).
I can’t think of one place in the US where I would feel comfortable settling down and spending the rest of my life other than Hawaii…either Kauai or the Big Island. No wait…I could do Aspen forever (spent the 70’s there). Love your photos in this post.
I’ve never been to Aspen! I admit I’m more a beach than snow person though I love the outdoors and Colorado in the summer (was in Boulder in August—love that town). But Aspen in the 70s sounds fun 🙂
Aspen in summer is just as good as Aspen in winter (for me). The 70’s…yeah…I owned a natural food store. And Boulder is another town I might be able to settle down in.
I agree with Heide and I think how lucky joyacey is to live there. I feel like I have had the pleasure of a visit thanks to your quality photos Cheri…who knows, maybe someday a visit will become a reality!
As “working vacations” go, this one doesn’t look or sound half bad! Thank you for sharing your beautiful images, Cheri.
Sin duda hay que ir.
Mele Kalikimaka. So glad you love our island. It was 81 degrees here yesterday. Life doesn’t get much better.
Sounds like bliss. Would love to be there right now!
Such a stunning place through the eye of your lens… one of the places on my travel list for sure 🙂 Thanks for sharing