[Kapa’a, Kauai, Hawaii, Feb 17, 2024]

Hard to believe that I was above the Arctic Circle a month ago, and now I find myself in 75F/24C on the island of Kauai! This is my 5th trip to Hawaii but my first to this island, and I am excited to get out of the cold and gloomy weather in Portland!

Kauia is the oldest and northernmost Hawaiian island, and it’s also the smallest of the 4 major islands. Its laid back vibe and small size make it a more relaxing island, although Waimea Canyon – the grand canyon of Hawaii – the wild Napali coast, snorkeling and river rafting can keep adventurous types plenty busy. I promised myself I’d do my best to strike a good balance between exploring and relaxation.

We landed in Kauai just past noon, and were greeted with balmy temps and a light breeze immediately off the plane. I love that Hawaiian airports are so open air and you can soak in the sunshine right away!

We are staying in Kapa’a, on the east side of the island just 10 minutes north of the airport. We checked in and immediately went for a walk on the beach right outside our resort. It was a mix of coarse sand and some rocks, which provided shelter for several crabs we saw scurrying around.

A little further down, a giant tree branch on the water edge drew us in. As we approached, we realized a beached seal was taking a nap! The tree branch made for great photos, but we could tell the tide was coming in.

We checked out the grounds of our resort. We have a pool, a poolside bar, multiple outdoor areas with BBQs and some with fire pits, and quite a few hammocks to lounge around in.

We went to another resort’s on-site restaurants for dinner and enjoyed some light refreshments just past sunset.

This is my first time not staying at an AirBnB in Hawaii, and I think I am going to like it! We have a 2-bedroom condo with a full kitchen and two balconies with ocean views, so my explorer side will definitely have a hard time gearing up for adventures with so many amenities!