Listen to the Ocean on your Princeville walk!
We’re not that close to the ocean, so when the sound of crashing waves can be heard from our bedroom window, I know they’re BIG! A walk in Princeville is definitely in order.
While not a surfer, I love the intensity and power of big waves. As they thunder to shore, with veils of spray peeling off the crest, they are nothing short of movable art. Their salty mist that remains over the Bay creates an ethereal quality, one that most certainly must provide refuge for Puff, the magic dragon.
Beginning your Princeville walk.
I grab my iPhone and head out into the early morning. My walk starts by Ka Haku and Pepelani Loop but you can start anywhere along Ka Haku and make a nice loop by walking down the steps by the St. Regis and back up through Hanalei Bay Resort. Along the way, you will find many incredible vantage points for picture taking, from panoramic ocean views to the simple beauty found in a single hibiscus flower.
Early morning Princeville.
The morning is even more of a surprise than expected. Sunrise colors and clouds, along with low sweeping shadows across the golf course, provide some breathtaking shots. Add in the mist and it is a recipe for non-stop visual delights. I take several shots of the viewpoint at the Hale Moi condos, with brightly colored clouds over the mountains as a backdrop, then continue on towards the St. Regis.
Cardio #1 on your Princeville walk.
To walk a loop, go left down the steps when you reach the gazebo at the St. Regis parking lot. Although I’ve tried numerous times to count them (I think there are 194), the number of steps always continues beyond my attention span.
If a heart-pumping cardio workout is on the list, these steps deliver! Try going up and down them several times. When you’ve had enough, continue to the right to the beach. The view is well worth it!
Morning walk cardio #2.
To continue your loop, come back the way you came, staying to the right as you approach the steps. This path goes to the Hanalei Bay Resort.
I’ve probably watched too many movies, but the canopy of intertwined tree branches and vines at the start of the trail looks like it could easily come alive and swallow you whole! There have been no reported mishaps in this area, (yet) and on a hot summer day the shade is greatly appreciated. You can walk or jog this trail, depending on your cardio desires.
Walking to Hanalei Bay Resort.
The trail winds around past the lower and upper tennis courts of the resort. Take some time to admire the view along the way.
Turn left at your first opportunity (at the top of the hill) and continue past the upper courts, through the parking lot and out onto Honoiki. If you’re lucky, as you walk through the resort you’ll see one of the many Nene, the native Hawaiian Geese, that frequent the resort. Although they are an endangered species, Kauai is lucky to have several flocks throughout the Island.
Completing your morning walk.
At the top of Honoiki, turn left onto Liholiho and proceed back to Ka Haku. Depending on where on Ka Haku you started your walk, the loop is approximately 3 miles of unparalleled beauty.
We are very lucky to “Live Kauai!” To view all the photos from this walk, please click here to go to our Seniors With Latitude Facebook page where you’ll find all of them.
Memories of Kauai.
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Kauai is such a beautiful Island, you may want to preserve your memories, with some souvenirs. Or maybe you just need your “Kauai fix.” Here are some of our suggestions. Just click on the links and enjoy:
One word of caution on these travel guides – far too many visitors come to Kauai and leave their common sense and respect at home. Some hikes / viewpoints become dangerous during certain times of the year. This is particularly true on the North Shore during the winter swells. (high surf). Please – if a path or viewpoint is locked or closed or warning signs are posted, have RESPECT for the local warnings. The life you save may be your own!
What could be better than sighing over beautiful Kauai photos while enjoying Kauai coffee!? And what good is coffee without a proper Kauai coffee mug? See below:
I love the movie, The Descendants. Why? First of all, it was filmed on Kauai, mainly on the North Shore. Second, one of my favorite leading men, George Clooney, stars in it. Third, Shailene Woodley does a wonderful job in her role as the malcontent daughter, and fourth, the movie is, at the end, all about ALOHA. If you haven’t already seen it, or even if you did, it’s a must see again and again.
As for music, Brother Iz’s rendition of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” makes my heart soar with the melody. This may well be my favorite song. What better way to “live aloha” than to listen to Iz and/or the legendary Taj Mahal. Enjoy.
In conclusion…
Now that you’ve explored Kauai, you may want to take a short trip to the Big Island of Hawaii in this post, A Visit To Volcano Village. Written before the last major Pele eruption in 2018, it describes all the fun things to do here. And now that Southwest Airlines is in the Islands, inter-island travel is better than ever. Check out our post on Southwest here.
If you travel and would like some fitness suggestions, take a look at Fitness While Traveling.
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