Kauai Farmers Market Schedule

Kauai's Farmers Markets are the best place to get fresh fruits and vegetables on Kauai. Many farmers markets offer fresh baked goods, fish, shrimp, jellies and jams and even live music. Save the Kauai Farmers Market Schedule as a pin so you will know where to get your fresh local veggies. And remember you are supporting local farmers, locally grown food, and the local economy by buying local. Besides, where else can you get fresh starfruit, rambutan, lychee, avocado, papaya, apple banana, coconut, and many other unique exotic fruits.

Read Across Kauai Day

The Kauai Children’s Authors Guild in partnership with the Storybook Theatre of Hawaii will be holding their annual Read Across Kauai Literacy Day event on February 27th, 2015. However, because of the large number of children that will be read to this year, the event will be extended from February 15-April 15^, to allow schools and libraries to schedule local authors to come visit their classrooms and reading groups.

To complement Read Across Kauai Day, a special storytelling event will also be held at the Storybook Theatre on Wednesday, February 25^th at 10:30 am. This event will take place in the Peace Garden Amphitheatre and will feature local authors and storytellers. The event will also be filmed as an episode of the Russell the Rooster show. This event will cater to younger toddler and preschool-age audiences that won’t be able to attend school performances.

This year’s theme for Read Across Kauai Day is environmental literacy. Many of the local authors have written books about Hawaiian wildlife and its importance to us here on Kauai. In fact, author Susan Dierker’s new book, Albatross of Kauai, the Story of Kaloakulua, teaches children about Kauai’s albatross from hatchling to fledgling. Thanks to generous donation from the Betlach Family Foundation, hundreds of children on Kauai will be receiving a copy of this book, during the Read Across Kauai Day event.

Last year, members of the Kauai Children’s Authors Guild made appearances in schools to promote the importance of literacy and read to more than 400 hundred children across the Garden Island. This year, the guild expects the numbers to double.

The Read Across Kauai Day event was modeled after the national event, Read Across America Day, but guild members recognized that Kauai is uniquely special place so they designed Read Across Kauai Day to be a little more personal, a little more “Kauai Style”. The event provides an opportunity for children to interact with local authors and establish a personal connections with the books that are read to them. The authors also share their experiences about writing and publishing books in order to inspire children to become better writers. The guild members hope to reinforce the importance of reading by encouraging creativity through writing and artistic expression.

One of the most valuable components of the project is the distribution of an information sheet that is sent home to parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children. Since Read Across Kauai Day was devoted to literacy, guild members wanted to make sure that this significant information be disseminated to the children’s parents.

For more information about Read Across Kauai Day, visit Kauaichildrensauthors.blogspot.com or

www.storybook.org /literacy-programs-events/

To participate in the Storybook Theatre event, please call for reservations (808)335-0712, office@storybook.org.

Kauai Children's Author's Book Makes Amazon Best Seller List

"I just can't believe it!" Kauai, author, Monika Mira is just stunned that this simple coloring book made it to Amazon's best seller list in just a few weeks.

"I knew I should release it in time for the holiday, but I never expected it to become a best seller!" says Mira.

According to the author and illustrator,  the book started as party game that she put together for a group of neighborhood kids a couple of years ago. The collection of sugar skull illustration began to grow, and the children looked forward to coming over for the annual Dia de los Muertos party. Each year, Mira would add new designs and new features. Last year, she added the life-size skeleton, which she buried in a mock graveyard outside. She had the kids dig through piles of leaves in the yard to find the pieces of the skeleton. Then the kids brought the pieces inside to assemble the skeleton. 

Mira decided to offer it to teachers as download on TeachersPayTeachers and it did well last season. Lucid Publishing decided to offer it on Amazon this year, and as they say, the rest is history.

The Day of the Dead Coloring Book features ten original sugar skulls designs that can be colored in and used to string banners, decorate an alter, make masks, or for a cultural activities in the classroom. A blank skull template is provided for artists who want to create their own designs. Intricately designed sugar skulls are not all that the book has to offer. Also included is a 4’ child life-sized skeleton. The skeleton takes up about ten pages of the book and can be colored in, cut out and assembled by a child. The life-sized skeleton is perfect for Halloween decorations, party games, or even an anatomy lesson.

The Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Coloring Book is available on Amazon. More information about the book and the author's other books is available at www.lucid-hawaii.com.

Princess Ka’iulani Keiki Fest to be held October 17th - 19th in Hanapepe Town

The Storybook Theatre of Hawaii will hold the 9th annual Princess Ka’iulani Keiki Fest in Hanapepe Town this October and it promises to be the most colorful and culturally exciting event on Kauai for young people and their families this year.

The family friendly festival features local food and fun, enriching activities that are sponsored by schools and non-profit organizations. This years theme is ‘Honoring the Ali’i of Old’ and will feature children’s artwork and stories about Hawaii’s past. As always, the event is free and open to the public.

On Friday night at 7pm, October 17th, 2014, the feature film, ‘In the Footsteps of our Princess’ will be shown at the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church where there will also be live music and a small reception.

On Saturday, October 18th, 2014 the festival will run from 12-4pm. Attendees will experience cultural events such as hula, Hawaiian music, and a costumed children’s parade down main street. After the parade, the Princess will stop and read a story in the theatre before attending her party. The Princess’ commemorative birthday party will take place in Sparky’s Garden at 2pm, and children of all ages are invited to celebrate with the Princess.

On Sunday, October 19th, 2014 at 10am, the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church will hold special service dedicated to Princess Victoria Ka’iulani.

This year’s princess is Wailenalena Andrea Kaohi. Wailenalena is the daughter of Galen and Andrea Kaohi of Waimea.  In September, Wai turned nine years old. She is a fourth grade student at Eleʻele Elementary School and an active member of the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church Sunday School.  Wailenalena loves riding horses and bikes in her free time.  She also discovered a love for track and field at the Mayorʻs Annual Track meet this past Spring, where she received a medal for her role in winning the baton race with three other students/friends. She looks forward to the next meet!  Wailenalena is proud of her Hawaiian heritage and is very excited about portraying Hawaiiʻs Princess, Kaʻiulani.

More information about the festival is available at www.storybook.org .

My Kauai, A Guide for Visitors

Need more info about Kauai? Check out this new ebook by children's author Mark Huff. Available exclusively on Amazon, just follow the link.

Hurricane Preparedness

This above list is for entertainment only and not meant to be a comprehensive hurricane preparedness list.

It is recommended that families have enough drinking water for seven days, one gallon per person per day. Jugs and buckets can also be filled for washing and toilet flushing. Families should have enough food on-hand for seven days, non-parishable items in airtight containers are recommended. Don't forget the can opener.

Make sure to have a battery-powered radio and plenty of extra batteries and gather prescriptions, medications and extra eye glasses. Gather important documents like: birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, passports etc., you can keep them in Ziplock bags for dry storage.

You may also need to prepare kit with dry clothes, toiletries, and blankets if you are asked to evacuate. Tools, cash, a whistle, camping gear, and plastic storage boxes are also recommended for keeping stuff safe and dry.

The Red Cross publishes a comprehensive checklist that can be accessed from the link.

Travel Advisory: Monstrous Surf Closes North Shore Beaches on Kauai

The biggest swell of the season is supposed to hit today, BIG WEDNESDAY (January 22, 2014), with surf heights expected to rise above advisory levels. Strong winds are making the conditions especially dangerous. Surf is already in the ten foot range this morning and on the rise. Wave heights are expected to top thirty feet on the outer reefs. All beaches from Kee to Anahola are closed! This is not a day for the beach. Dangerous shore breaks make even a walk on the beach dangerous.

If you must go to the beach today, please choose a south shore beach like Poipu, and check in with the lifeguards. The weather is expected to be ugly today. If you are visiting, you might want to hit the Kauai Humane Society, the Kauai Museum or take a stroll through Hanapepe town. If you are traveling without the kids, head over to Nani Moon Mead for a special wine tasting. Whatever you do, just steer clear of those North Shore Beaches

Kauai Author Wins 2013 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award for her Latest Book about Ocean Animals

Lucid Publishing is pleased to announce that their latest title, Who Lives in the Sea? Ocean Animals of Hawaii by Kauai author Monika Mira, has been awarded the Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award for 2013. Creative Child Magazine is a national publication that provides parents with the latest information on how to nurture their children’s creativity. The annual award winners are selected after a rigorous review by a panel of parents, educators, and professionals.

This is not the first award that Lucid Publishing and Kauai author, Monika Mira has received. Mira’s books have been recognized for their educational content, creativity, and environmental awareness. Her first book, The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book has won numerous awards and is used as a supplementary textbook in classrooms across the country.

About the book:

Who lives in the sea? Ocean Animals of Hawaii is a repetitive rhyming story about ocean animals that encourages early reading skills and answers the burning questions that the inquisitive minds of young children tend to ask about the world around them. This book includes children's favorite ocean animals like whales, dolphins, sharks, and starfish, but also introduces some more unusual species like the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal, which is only seen in Hawaii. This book is written for children ages 2-6.

Who Lives in the Sea? Ocean Animals of Hawaii has also just been released in ebook format for the Amazon Kindle. Who Lives in the Sea? and the rest of Mira’s books including her Science and Nature for Young Readers series are all available on Amazon.

A full color spread from the Kindle version of Who Lives in the Sea?

About Lucid Publishing:

Lucid Publishing is a small, local publishing house dedicated to producing high-quality, artistic, and educational publications with a Hawaiian flair. Their mission is to provide creative books and products that inspire children and adults of all ages to learn more about the world in which they live. They believe that promoting awareness and inspiring creativity can lead to appreciation and appreciation can lead to making a difference. Lucid Publishing aims to provide their customers with products and resources that inspire people to take better care of the land and seas and make them more sustainable for future generations. Lucid Publishing supports local organizations that promote conservation and share these same ideals.

For more information about Lucid Publishing, visit www.lucid-hawaii.com

North Shore Travel Advisory Summer 2013

Very few fish can be seen on the algae-covered reef at Ke'e Beach

Ke'e Beach has been touted as one of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Kauai and twenty years ago, it was! It is still really beautiful, but this location is also ecologically fragile. Kauai is visited by one million people annually, and lately, it seems like all of those folks have been visiting the beach at Ke'e.

Many people come to Ke'e to snorkel. While the water is clear and the lagoon is fairly protected, the reef has been covered with algae and the fish populations have diminished. Despite the efforts of many tourism groups, visitors are not practicing reef etiquette and the lifeguards spend more time trying to save the reef than saving lives (they do a darn good job of that too). The beach here has also suffered from erosion and if you visit, you are likely to notice the exposed tree roots.

Visiting Ke'e, especially during the summer months, can also be frustrating. There is limited parking, and you may have to park about 1/4 mile away and walk in. That is, if you are lucky enough to find a parking spot at all. There are only a couple of restroom stalls, so folks that have been driving all morning may have to wait in a long line to use the restroom.

We keep hearing visitors comment that "they" should build more restrooms and put in more parking, BUT, a more likely scenario is that traffic will be limited here.

If you are traveling with your family this summer, we advise you to steer clear of Ke'e. The snorkeling is not that good, the travel distance is far, and the environment is fragile. Instead, visit Haena Beach Park just down the road and you can do some snorkeling at Tunnels where you will see way more fish.

We always advise you to check in with the lifeguards and practice reef etiquette, because all of the reef is delicate here and the sheer number of visitors is beginning to have an impact. However, you are sure to enjoy the beauty of the beach at Tunnels. Besides the amazing marine life that lies beneath, the mountain views are second to none. As always,we are sure you will enjoy your family vacation here on the Garden Isle.

Enter to win Kauai Children's Book

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Who Lives in the Sea? Ocean Animals of Hawaii

by Monika Mira

Giveaway ends March 14, 2013.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

An Angry Birds Birthday Party in Hawaii

On a recent visit to Lydgate, my son became rather enchanted with the sheer amount of driftwood available on the beach. While we were there, we built a fort, played guns and then I got an idea…. I said to my son, “Hey, we could make Angry Birds slingshots for your birthday with all this driftwood.” The next thought was, “Did I just say that out loud?”  Definitely a good idea in my little four year old’s mind. Luckily, his birthday was over two months away.

We collected for an hour and returned home with a booty of wood in the trunk and a theme for his birthday party. The birthday party was hit with all the kids. Here’s how it did it.

How to make Angry Birds Slingshots:

 

I employed dad to cut the excess lengths of the wood and make a simple and fairly even “Y” shaped branch. Meanwhile, I cut a piece of suede for the sling and punched a hole in either end. I looped fat rubber bands through each hole and then tied a second rubber band on the first to hold it to the wood. Mind you, these are for children, so they are not perfect, but they will sling the birds.

How to make Angry Birds Beanbags:

We would have to shoot some sort of Angry Bird from the slingshot, some sort of beanbag. Felt would be our best bet. The birds are round and triangular, and these shapes are pretty easy. I traced circles onto the felt with chalk using a water glass. Then I sewed them together using a ¼” hem leaving about an inch to fill up the beanbag with rice. After filling with rice, I sewed them shut. I used fabric glue to glue the simple bird faces on….

Lesson one: fabric glue doesn’t work too well on felt, it is too porous. I spent some time searching for “how to glue felt” on the internet. Most solutions involved ordering glue from the mainland, and I was running out of time. I mentioned it to a friend of mine who used to work in a costume shop. She recommended hot glue and it worked like a charm!

How to make the Angry Birds Piñata:

No child’s birthday party is complete without a piñata. Again, I spent some time looking for piñata instructions and came across this post: Kai’s Angry Bird Piñata. I wanted a rounder bird so I used a blow-up beach ball instead of a balloon. I then spent night after night shredding newspaper and gluing the paper mache. I used one part flour to five parts water for the glue and ended up using eight layers as suggested. Luckily, for the first four layers, my son wanted to help and it was a good project to let him get his hands…and feet…and legs, and everything dirty. We sat on a plastic tablecloth on the floor, so it was easy to clean up the mess. The only problem is that paper mache doesn’t always dry over night in a humid climate.

Once the last layer was dry, I put duck tape on either side of the piñata where I would put zip ties to hang it. Then I used Gesso to cover the newsprint before I began painting the bird. I left the eyes white and used two coats of red for the body. I painted card stock orange for the beak and attached with glue and tape. I filled it with candy, Angry Bird Stickers , Angry Birds Tattoos , and Angry Birds Rings (that I bought on Amazon) and put it in a trash bag to keep the critters out.

How to make Angry Birds Cupcakes:

This was a real challenge in Hawaii. First and foremost, it is hot here and the problem is that frosting melts. I decided to frost the cupcakes the night before and refrigerate, but the faces began to melt off the birds before I could even get them in the fridge.

Lesson Two: When making cupcakes in Hawaii, clean out your fridge first. Refrigerate your frosting after adding the dye. Then use refrigerated frosting to frost the cupcakes. This gives you a little more time. While it goes without saying, always frost cool cupcakes.

Before I began, I knew I would have to move fast, so I prepped the licorice eyebrows by cutting it into small pieces and slicing it down the center with kitchen scissors. I cut mini marshmallows in half for the eyes and pressed candy corn into the cake for the beak. Do you have any idea how hard it was to find candy corn in Hawaii in June?

With cupcakes in the fridge, candy in the piñata, and slingshots and beanbags done, it was time to Party!

Kauai author seeks support in MeeGenius! national author challenge

Meegenius! is a wonderfully unique and educational app that helps children learn to read by enjoying their favorite stories on your computer, tablet or other portable reading device. The app is designed to enhance children’s stories by reading them aloud while simultaneously highlighting the words that are being read. Recently, Meegenius! has initiated a national author’s challenge.

Local Kauai author, Monika Mira has risen to the challenge with her story, Hector the Hermit. Hawaii children’s authors tend to garner plenty of local support but tend to struggle when trying to acquire national attention. With only a few days left to vote, Mira is launching a campaign to increase her rank in the contest. In order to be successful in the challenge, authors must get their audience to vote for their stories by liking them on Facebook.

Hector the Hermit is the story of one hermit crab’s adventure to find a new shell and how he learns a valuable lesson about recycling along the way. The story is told in classic nursery rhyme style and can be read on the Meegenius! author’s challenge website. You can help this Kauai author by voting for or sharing the story of Hector the Hermit. Feedback is also welcome.

Mira is the award-winning author of The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book. Mira holds a Marine Science degree from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, so it is no wonder that her books tend to carry marine life and conservation themes. This is her first attempt to publish a title available for ereaders. You can learn more about Mira’s other works at Lucid Publishing website.

Kauai County Parks are great for re-energizing the kids

If you have been touring the island, it is possible that your little might get a little fussy from being stuck in his car seat all day. A trip to one of the many county parks on Kauai can re-energize just about any child, or at least wear them out. The nice thing is that the county parks are located just about everywhere. Parents might even feel energized after running through the grass, having a pcinic or sitting under a tree to get some air.

On the North Shore in Princeville the park is located just behind the Princeville library. This park has playground equipment for both the littlest of toddlers and the bigger kids who want to try scaling rock walls. There are numerous slides and a vast open field with an amazing view. There is even a workout course for the adults situated around an open field.

In Kapaa, I would suggest Lydgate Park, which is actually a community built playground with just about every apparatus imaginable. A 40 ft enclosed volcano slide, tire swing, balance beams, swings, suspension bridge, a hidden “jail”, conveyor belt bouncing bridge, music maker and much more can keep the kids busy while you relax on one of the many benches or tables provided in the shade. Since the playground is located next to Lydgate Beach, your family can take a dip after playing at this wonderful park.

On the South Shore, Poipu Beach Parks sports a playground on the beach. There are no swings here, but who needs swings when you also have the ocean. There is also another park just a mile away, right at the entrance to the tree tunnel.

In Kalaheo, Kalawai Park is little hidden, but if you turn mauka (that means towards the mountains) at the red dirt shirt store, make your first right and follow the road about ½ mile, you will see the sign for Kalawai. This park is a gem because it is quite big and there is rarely anyone there. If you are quiet, you might even hear the song of the Shama Thrush.

On the west side, Hanapepe Park is located right next to the Hanapepe Fire Station on the main highway and is also home to the Thursday afternoon farmers market. This park has a basketball court, a large field with an enormous Monkey Pod shade tree, swings, and a few other bonuses. You may even want to visit Hanapepe town for a snack or a walk across the suspension bridge.

These are just a few of the many playgrounds at your disposal for the enjoyment of the kids. Take advantage of them, the kids will thank you, and they may even fall asleep on the way home.

10 ways to protect coral reefs, they could be extinct if we do not act!

As of 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Services is considering whether to list eighty-two species of coral as threatened or endangered. Seventy-five of these species are found in the Pacific and nine are found in Hawaiian waters. Scientific research shows that coral reefs could be facing extinction due to overfishing, pollution, global warming and ocean acidification. Scientists fear that if we do not work to protect coral reefs they could be lost within decades. The loss of coral reefs could have devastating effects for the planet as a whole. Coral reefs provide food and economic benefits to populations around the globe.

I urge you to take a minute to consider Kauai’s resources and read the tips below. These tips can help you protect coral reefs, both here in Hawaii and world-wide. Many of these tips can be practiced while you are visiting Kauai, but they are also applicable when you return home, even if you live far from the ocean.

1.) Reduce your carbon footprint. Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming and ocean acidification, both of which can have devastating effects on coral reef ecosystems.

2.) Reduce your plastic consumption. Avoid plastic grocery bags (now illegal on Kauai), cut six-pack rings and recycle. Marine debris is a threat to sea birds and marine life by both ingestion and entanglement. Chemical leaching from plastics may provide an additional threat. Did you know there is an island of floating plastic the size of Texas somewhere out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and it is wreaking havoc on sea bird and other marine life populations?

3.) Take steps to decrease overfishing and support sustainable fishing practices. One way you can do this is to choose vegetarian and sustainable menu options when visiting local restaurants.

4.) Get educated. Learn more about oceans and reefs so that you can help others understand their value.

5.) Prevent marine water pollution in the following two ways: a.) Avoid the use of potential pollutants and chemicals by choosing eco friendly products and b.) Minimize your own runoff by decreasing impervious surfaces at home.

6.) Support green and reef-friendly businesses and/or encourage businesses to participate in reef protection and education activities.

7.) Support sustainable development, especially the reduction of impervious surfaces. Unsustainable coastal development in particular can present a huge threat to reefs and marine resources.

8.) Support local conservation programs and organizations such as Save our Seas and Surf Rider Foundation.

9.) If you are a boater, never anchor directly onto a reef. Instead, anchor in sandy areas or on moorings and only support tour companies that follow this rule.

10.) If you have a salt water aquarium, be an “informed aquarist”; choose cultured species and avoid purchasing gathered species.

Please feel free to comment below if you have additional tips!

Celebrate the Health and Happiness of Children at the Princess Ka’iulani Keiki Fest in Hanapepe Town

This year, the Princess Ka’iulani Keiki Fest will be held in Hanapepe town on Saturday, October 15th from 9:30am-4pm. Entertainment and activities stations will be dispersed throughout the event grounds from Hanapepe Park to Storybook Theatre and across the road to the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church.

Festivities will include: entertainment, celebrity story readers, hula performances, a keiki talent contest, coloring and essay contests, a main street parade, food and vendor booths and a visit from the Princess. Curriculum projects from local schools will also be on display.

The Peace Garden at Storybook Theatre will be the Princess’ headquarters. Here children will be delighted by the Princess’ birthday party and special performances on the stage including a presentation of the Magic Paint Box by artist and puppeteer, Margie Rex. Kimo Palama will be offering free pony rides in the park to remember the Princess’ favorite childhood gift: her own pony, Fairy.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Storybook Theatre at 335-0712 or visit their website www.storybook.org.

Driving Under the Rainbow, Magical Afternoons on Kauai

No matter where you are in the world, the late afternoon is a special time to enjoy the outdoors. Temperatures cool, the sun sets, the sky lights up, and the world quiets down, except of course for the banter of the birds. This time of day seems to be especially magical on the island of Kauai. When the trade winds blow and the sun heads for the ocean, the temperatures start to drop a few degrees and a brief afternoon shower is cued. The combination of afternoon showers and sunrays that are low on the horizon is what creates these magnificent rainbows.

The neat thing is that afternoon rainbows can be enjoyed in many different settings, each with its own unique magic. On an afternoon walk in the hills, rainbows can be viewed between valleys, with one leg touching the ocean. In the ocean, they can be seen from the water cascading across the sky against the dramatic peaks of Kauai’s cliffs. While sipping an afternoon cocktail on the lanai, an afternoon rainbow may sneak up behind you, because no doubt you are looking toward the setting sun. One of my favorite ways to view afternoon rainbows is in the car. It seems as if you will never catch them as they keep moving forward and then all of a sudden, YES!, you get to drive under the rainbow as it vanishes behind you.

I like to watch them change as the misting rain becomes heavier and the sunrays more intense. The rainbow will brighten and reflect itself into yet another rainbow right on top of the first. It seems as the day gets later the rainbows take on more red hues and just as the rainbow vanishes, the sun sinks for its final descent only to light up the sky with afterglow. Oh, it is a magical time of day. If you are visiting with kids, you may want to play a game betting on how many rainbows you can count during your stay.

You can see rainbows on any side of the island at any time of day, but remember the sun sets in the west, so you should be looking to the east for rainbows. That means if you are watching the sunset, look behind you. The best beaches for watching the sunset include, Poipu, Salt Pond, Kekaha and Polihale, but you can catch afternoon rainbows anywhere, as long as you keep your eyes and your mind open.

Beachcombing on Kauai

Beachcombing is a popular past-time for visitors and locals alike. Wind, waves, and nearby environments can cause different kinds of trash and treasures to end up on Kauai’s beaches. Popular finds include shells, fishing floats, beach glass, driftwood and stones. Different beaches bring different finds, but regardless of what you pick up, a relaxing walk on the beach is always worthwhile.

The east side of Kauai is constantly exposed to strong trade winds. These winds can blow an abundance of interesting debris onto the shorelines. You may find old fishing floats, fishing nets, driftwood, bottles and bits of plastic. Upon further inspection of the debris, you may discover its origin in distant lands such as Japan. However, most of this debris is from fishing vessels. The stretch of beach that begins at the south end of Lydgate Park and continues past the Wailua Golf Course is the best place for beachcombing if you are looking for fishing debris.

Driftwood is also a popular find for beachcombers but sometimes a nuisance to beachgoers when it is present in large quantities after a storm. Driftwood can be found at any beach with a river, which includes most of the beaches on Kauai. As may be expected, bigger rivers bring bigger quantities of wood. As a result, you may expect to find some great pieces of driftwood at the mouth of the Wailua River (see my Travel Advisory post about Lydgate Beach Park).

If you are looking for shells, the North Shore beaches like Tunnels and Anini offer hours of entertainment. West side Beachcombers find bits of pottery, beach glass and rolled metal at Glass Beach near Port Allen. Glass beach defines the phrase, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Once a dumping site, it is now beachcomber’s paradise.

Don’t forget that the tide and surf can influence your finds. If the tide is low after a very high tide couples with strong surf, all the shells or glass may have been removed. The same beach may yield different treasures on different days.
Avid beachcombers know that treasure hunting takes persistence. Most finds however are often incidental. So instead of focusing on beachcombing, make a day at the beach with your family, enjoy the ocean and occasional look down. The more days you spend, the more fun you have, and the more likely you are to find a treasure.

What fish you will see when snorkeling on Kauai

You’ve got the whole family suited up with snorkel gear, floaties and fins and you’re ready to hit the reef. Perhaps you just got out of the water and are feeling that sense of awe that accompanies your first family snorkel trip. Your seven year old asks, “Daddy, what was that black one with the yellow stripes? Did you see that fluorescent pink one with the blue fins?” You will want to know what you saw or what to expect. There are a number of fish that are impossible to miss if you snorkel in Hawaii. Several of these species are described below.

Most likely the first fish you will encounter while snorkeling is the Saddle Wrasse. The Saddle Wrasse is endemic to Hawaii, meaning that you won’t find it anywhere else in the world. Wrasses are a diverse group of colorful fish and are usually the dominant family on the coral reef. The Saddle Wrasse can be identified by the orange band or “saddle” that is present behind its blue-green head. This fish sports an elongated purplish-green body and males may display a white band behind the orange saddle.

It is nearly impossible to snorkel in Hawaii and not run across the Manini or Convict Surgeonfish. The body of the Convict Surgeonfish is ovate with a greenish or silvery cast and displays six vertical black stripes like the prison inmate uniforms seen in the old movies, thus the name. This fish has a small puckering mouth that it uses to feed on algae and a pair of sharp weapons near the tail.

Moorish Idols are very common on the reef. They are often found in pairs or groups and are very easy to spot. Called “Angelfish” by many newcomers for the long filament that trails from the dorsal fin, they are actually more closely related to Surgeonfish than true Angelfish. Moorish Idols display two wide black bars on the body and one the tail. The center of the body is a sunny yellow color and the face is black with a yellow drop that adorns the top of a pointed snout.

Now that you recognize some of these fish, you might be interested in identifying more. Pick up one of those cheap Hawaii Fish ID cards that can be found at all the snorkel rental locations for use at the beach. Then get yourself a field guide like John Randall’s Shore Fishes of Hawaii or John Hoover’s Hawaii’s Fishes. For the kids, pick up a copy of The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book, which includes over 80 species of fish that the kids can color in while also learning about their coloration, body shapes, feeding habits and the importance of conservation.

Don’t forget that the reef is a delicate place. Avoid touching the reef and apply your ecofriendly sunscreen 15 minutes before entering the water. For more information about how to protect Hawaii’s coral reefs, please visit Kauai based conservation organization, Save our Seas.

Pictures courtesy of John Coney, UHH MOP

East Side Bike Ride

If you live on Kauai, you have no doubt heard the catchy jingle, “Take the Leap” by local artist Michael Ruff. The jingle encourages folks to get out, get active and stay healthy and I just can’t get it out of my head. “East Side, take a little bike ride, West Side drop a little fishin’ line, so many things that you can do underneath the rainbow.” So true! What a great theme for Kauai!

So today I packed up the car with my son’s bike and headed over to the East Side to take a little bike ride. But first, I had to stop in over at the Kapaa Beach Shop next to Otsukas to rent a bike for myself. Mike and Janie are friendly and helpful, their shop sits nearly right on the bike path, and the bike rental rates are reasonable. They also rent boogie boards, beach gear and dive equipment, which is convenient.

Check out the photos above. I think you might agree with me when I say, the Kauai Path has got to be one of the most beautiful bike paths in the world! We like to go slow and make frequent stops to check out the beaches, enjoy the vistas, have a little snack in the shade pavilions, and maybe even hunt for driftwood. I love to see that both visitors and locals are making good use of it, running, walking and of course, biking. I enjoy it every time I go. And with that song constantly playing on the radio, I now have the motivation.

Ke'e Beach no longer a secluded paradise

On a recent trip to Kee Beach, I was literally shocked to see the number of people visiting the area. I expect to see large numbers of visitors at Poipu Beach, Kalapaki or even Hanalei. At these locations there are resorts fronting the beach, large parking lots, beachside restaurants and shopping centers. This is not what I expect at the end of the road at Kee Beach. I have had the good fortune in my life to repeatedly visit this area and even get paid to survey the streams here on the Na Pali Coast, but this time was truly different.

The parking situation actually brought my son to tears as we had to pass up the dry cave at Haena Beach Park because there was nowhere to park. At the end of the road, cars swarmed the area parking anywhere, even if they blocked someone in. I waited patiently in a lot down the road and was able to score a spot after about 15 minutes, but if I hadn’t put my foot down, another tourist would have taken it from me.

Arriving at the beach, I could see erosion had really taken its toll. A whole section of the beach was missing, which left a very interesting configuration of tree roots exposed. After driving so far and waiting for parking, I had to use the restroom and was intrigued by the constructed wetland that was in place to take care of the waste as I remember the bathrooms being closed some years back. However, when I went inside the bathroom, it was clear that something wasn’t working. Literally ten pounds of toilet paper was over-flowing from the toilets. It was totally disgusting!

The reason I came to Kee, was that I was looking for a place to take my son snorkeling that would be somewhat protected. We have our regular spots, but Lydgate is having some water quality issues, and I thought that we would go on an adventure. An adventure it was. The snorkeling was poor to mediocre and the reef is definitely feeling the impact from the sheer number of people making physical contact with it. I am sure that all the chemical sunscreen isn’t helping either.

Haena is still a beautiful place, but the delicate environment just can’t handle the sheer number of visitors. Overall, I was disappointed with the trip. Maybe a better description of how I felt was disheartened. I hope that Kee can withstand the environmental pressures placed on it so that our children, my son included, can enjoy this place.