Hawaii Part 3

Hello, friends! I am happy to be back with you today and sharing the third and final recap of our Hawaiian adventure. In case you missed it, when Judson passed away last summer Liam and I had a hard time doing anything. We were always crying, always fussing at each other, and being at home seemed to remind us of everything we lost. We needed to get out – quickly. We were at our favorite place on earth, the US Space and Rocket Center, the Friday after we buried Jud on Tuesday. I think that’s when I really started to think about where we could go. I chose two places I’ve always wanted to see – New England in the fall and Hawaii. Judson and all his family had been to Hawaii (one of my sisters-in-law married on Kauai), so Liam and I wanted to see it too.

Hawaii is a BIG trip financially, especially with a four-year-old, and it takes a lot of time. There are also so many islands to choose from, that I wanted to do this right. That’s when I chose the Hawaiian cruise plus an extended pre-cruise land package that I put together myself. The cruise took us to the four largest, most popular islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, two days on each island. I chose the beautiful Pride of America with Norwegian Cruise Line, and I am sooooo thankful. That ship and the staff were incredible. Above and beyond kind to us.

So far I have recapped our pre-cruise stay on Oahu including our time on Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and Pearl Harbor, as well as our first two days on Maui. You can find Part One here.

I also shared our time at sea and the ports of Hilo and Kona on the Big Island (Hawaii). You can find Part Two here.

Now it’s time to see Part Three for our two days on the island of Kauai.

We started off our morning on the beaches of Kauai. Our excursion wasn’t until much later. Can you guess what it was?

It was beautiful, but the weather was changing quickly. The bottom fell out midmorning, and we had to seek shelter where we could find it.

Wanna know what Kauai looks like? Chickens. Chickens everywhere. Just like pigeons back home.

Finally, it was time for our Kauaian adventure. We rode a plantation train through the largest farm on Kauai, and it ends at a traditional Hawaiian luau!

Sugar cane fields

On board the train

Getting the party started!

So much fun! Liam loved the flame throwing best.

Our second morning started early with a couple stops before the big stop…

We started at Spouting Horn, a blowhole along the Southern coast of Kauai. When the ocean rushes under the lava rocks, it shoots straight up, often spraying as far as 50 feet in the air.

Then we saw the breathtaking Waimea Canyon!

Like my hairdo? It is crazy windy up there!

We had some time to explore in town and try fresh, local produce.

He wanted to drink FROM a coconut the whole trip, but he didn’t actually want to drink coconut.

Back on board the ship, we enjoyed one last trip to the pool.

Liam said I looked like a Hawaiin princess that night. Awee!!!

When I say that this ship was personal, they were! They knew our story and why we were there, and they went above and beyond to give my boy great memories. Our friend on the right and I are still friends. I text her even when we were on our Alaskan cruise six months later.

Once we disembarked the ship for the final time, we had several hours to kill before going to the airport. We chose to explore the Waikiki Aquarium and Honolulu Zoo on Oahu.