Big windy night and day. Easy decision to go to Lihue Lutheran. Head South to Waimea's Grove Cafe . . . New name! The final Olympic hockey match is being tevised; fsudden death overtime.
We stroll to the beach and the sand is too hot.
Time to check in at the Aston, we head to the pool, it is so windy and cool: the hot tub is really the only option now. Dan is a gpod sport!
At 6 we try a new dinner spot. . . Kauai Pasta. So many offerings! We each choose a simple bowl of spaghetti and a glass of red. An efficient operation there.
Once home we watch the closing ceremonies and watch the sun set one last tine. . . .
The funk is settli
G over me, too much analysis. At the end of this precious vacation time i often wonder how to integrate all the Aloha into life in Vancouver.
Eat fruit
Spend time outdoors
Smell HAwaiian
Do less
Relax more


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Big windy night and day. Easy decision to go to Lihue Lutheran. Head South to Waimea's Grove Cafe . . . New name! The final Olympic hockey match is being televised; sudden death overtime.
We stroll to the beach and the sand is too hot.
Time to check in at the Aston, we head to the pool, it is so windy and cool: the hot tub is really the only option now. Dan is a good sport!
At 6 we try a new dinner spot. . . Kauai Pasta. So many offerings! We each choose a simple bowl of spaghetti and a glass of red. An efficient operation there.
Once home we watch the closing ceremonies and watch the sun set one last tine. . . .
The funk is settling over me, too much analysis. At the end of this precious vacation time i often wonder how to integrate all the Aloha into life in Vancouver.
Eat fruit
Spend time outdoors
Smell HAwaiian
Do less
Relax more

Throughout the early morning hours a shrill tsunami siren pierced the hour. Five, six, seven, and I notice i am afraid to get up. Dan says he needs to fill the car's tank with gasoline. This triggers some innate survival response. We make coffee and turn the TV on to the news.We fill all available containers with water and I boil up what little brown rice pasta we have, anticipating a loss of power. The television reporters are watching Hilo harbor for the first signs of approaching water.
The Cliffs are silent, a still and frightened hush. As we watch, afraid to leave our unit, the nervous energy rises outside. We hear folks churning about, settling at the ocean's edge on lawn chairs. . . .



After three hours we venture into the gathering crowd. It is almost carnival like! Such a gathering: all these people home for the day. (The roads were closed, and we were instructed to stay put!) At the pool, folding chairs lined the perimeter. Standing room only~


By two thirty the warning is lifted. Dan couldn't wait to get to Anini Beach. It was a swift transition to reclaiming the beaches in an easy trusting way.
For dinner we grilled Shutome and a rib eye steak. Just trying to eat up all the leftovers before we pack it up in the morning.

Mike and Nancy are flying home today.
Yoga is wonderful with Tara. She closes with the same chant, "Om asato ma sat! Gayama."
I WAS REALLY SWEATING. It's been warmer these past few days on the island. The whales have been scarce these past few days too.
Dan brought the ginger lemonade and we drove to Anini Beach. The fish taco truck was there and we enjoyed a wonderful meal for $13.50. A great day on the beach reading and wading.



Home for a few courses of happy hour then to Bar Acuda as the sun goes down. We have pre planned a salad and pizza and two beers to keep the cost down. Dan adds the grilled chorizo with apple which still makes it a reasonable meal.


Off to the St. Regis for the music and a martini. We stay until the musicians pack it up and go. Lovely Hawaiian music and a charming woman from Las Vegas who joined the trio for a hula.


On the 10 o'clock news we hear of an 8.8 earthquake in Chile. . .a tsunami may be generated in these Hawaiian Islands. We are on high ground.

Ah, sleep did not come. . .I often feel the pain and restlessness of those I hold in my heart :-)
I knew I was too tired to kayak as 'scheduled...(just trying to fit everything in these last few days.) And guess what! It's raining...
The island rejoices.
We drive West hoping for a day in Limahuli Garden. The clouds are spitting showers. Our shoes are flip flops, so we waffle as to whether or not to climb. I decide to make my contribution a purchase. I buy black and silver pineapples a pattern historically used in quilt making. They will replace the one I lost on the cruise ship in September.
So Dan and drive back to Hanalei for tonight's sushi roll and a slice of haupia, or coconut pie. This year it comes in vanilla or chocolate.
We choose the white version, tomorrow the cocoa.
We choose a new eatery: Bouchon's. It's a good choice. The veggie wrap is warm and juicey sauteed veggies with crisp ones. Dan has the chicken pineapple sandwich.
Then we go see Rosary. We have been discussing the purchase of a third week at The Cliffs. It's a pretty easy decision. On the way back to our unit we happen upon Mary, Earl's wife. Her eyes a glitter, she says, "Yeah!!!" Welcome to another week in Paradise. (Oh, yes.)
It's a bit drizzly so we decide to walk from the Hanalei Colony Resort to St. Regis. Once we need to duck under a big banana leaf near Puu Poa to escape a serious shower. Then we find the Hotel. OMG
I take quite a few photos. I Love the Fountain and Murano Chandelier. Have I already blogged this?
We hot tub to soothe the feet and meet a couple from Tucson. Dan grills a NY steak at the gazebo and we join up; me and my snow crab sushi.
The whales have been hiding today!
We sleep well tonight to rain . . . .Mahalo

It's only fitting in this year of Facebook that I post my daily entries~

Susan Morgan Gustafson Singing Holden Vespers in Lihue. . . .with islanders sweet

Susan Morgan Gustafson "we don't want the foot to 'Taco!' " Carole

Susan Morgan Gustafson A new meaning for lei greeting ;')

Susan Morgan Gustafson Five years since I have ridden a bicycle; can't wait to go

Susan Morgan Gustafson An ahi each day keeps the Dr away

Susan Morgan Gustafson Yoga Hanalei here i come. . . Dan always meets me after class with a fresh ginger lemonade.

Susan Morgan Gustafson Ancient leathery ninja disks surf Poipu Bay

Susan Morgan Gustafson Somewhere over the rainbow ne nes fly-

Susan Morgan Gustafson Two sun kissed navel oranges beached on Hanalei Bay

Susan Morgan Gustafson The most amazing meal at Bar Acuda. marinated Olives Mesclun greens with Kanuna goat cheese and crostini Crisp Polenta with mushroom ragu Flank staek banderillas in a honey chili glaze Pasta Carbonara with a Vermentino from Sardenga

Susan Morgan Gustafson Igneous rocks tread water at Ke e Beach

Susan Morgan Gustafson Off to the Kiluea Lighthouse and Pau Hana pizza and salad

Susan Morgan Gustafson Ash Wednesday. blustery and cool in Princeville. The kind of day to head South for lunch with Jim and Trudy my former employer & Dr. at the Hyatt. Pupus in Poipu with sister Nancy.. then the ashes at Lihue Lutheran 7 pm

Susan Morgan Gustafson Beautiful produce at the Hanalei Farmer's Market with soft shower, yoga at 5:30 is Relax Deeply

Susan Morgan Gustafson A little sun burnt: sushi and roasted asparagus

Susan Morgan Gustafson Birdsong and whales sound kauai sunrise.

Rainy at last. The island is parched; even the vines clinging to the palms are wilting.
We think it is too wet to kayak so we proceed West to Limahuli Gardens. It is spitting showers off and on. I buy earrings in lieu of an entrance fee, maybe we can still make the climb. Lunch today is at Bouchon's where Sushi Blues once was. it's okay!
We drive back to the Cliffs to talk with Rosary and buy another week here for $1800.That happens once Dan talks to Nancy Burke to be SURE he is not being laid off: "All right!!!"
We then devise a plan to walk from Hanalei Bay Colony Resort to the new St. Regis Hotel. It's a 2.3 mile loop that we enjoy. The furnishings , flowers, fountain and this fixture are magnificent.


Coming home we run into Earl's wife Mary! I share our great news of buying another week. With a twinkle in her eye she throws her arms up and embraces me , "Yeah!"

Hot tubbing is the natural next step to sore feet. We enjoy visiting with a nice couple from Tucson we we later see at the gazebo while grilling Dan's last NY steak.
We've enjoyed this cool afternoon. I eat my snow crab sushi roll and we end the day celebrating our new purchase with coconut haupia for $3.00 a slice.