I set out on a journey to explore the wonders of Hawaii. I had never been before and it seemed like an adventure that would be worth taking. The first night, we stopped in at a small hotel near the airport where we stayed for one last night before heading off into uncharted territory. In the morning, we boarded a plane and set off for Kauai.
The air was cold and damp, but the view from my seat on the airplane gave me a new appreciation for this place that I had only heard stories about. There were mountains in places where there shouldn’t have been any at all! The clouds began to break up as we descended into our destination city and it looked like I would be able to get a good view of the island. Kauai is the oldest and most northern of the main Hawaiian Islands and it was clear that we were in for some new experiences.
As soon as we landed, we rented a car and hit the road. The first stop on our list was Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It was a short drive from where we were and I don’t think it took much time at all to arrive there, but this place is so big that you can see different parts of it as you travel along. We walked down into its depths for about half an hour or so before heading back up again. It was definitely worth the visit and I would recommend it to anyone traveling in the area.
After Waimea Canyon, we made our way down to Poipu Beach for a swim and some relaxation. The water was so clear that you could see all of the fish swimming around your feet! We spent a few hours there before getting back in the car and making our way to the north side of the island.
The roads were winding and steep, but as we drove higher and higher into the mountains, I could see why people loved this place so much. The views were incredible! We stopped at a lookout point called Kilauea Lighthouse for a few minutes before heading back down to the ocean. It was a long day, but we were tired and ready for some rest.
The next day, we woke up early and drove to the end of the road on the north side of Kauai. From there, we began our hike along the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail. This trail takes you through some beautiful scenery and eventually leads you down to a black sand beach. We hiked for about an hour before turning around and heading back the way we came.
After our hike, we made our way to Hanalei Bay for a final swim before boarding our plane back home. It was definitely an adventure that I’ll never forget! Hawaii is such a beautiful place and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a little bit of adventure.
Carly Regnier is a freelance photographer and blogger. She loves to travel and is a foodie and with her job, she had done it a lot.