Kaua'i Exploration: Kilauea Lighthouse
O'ahu is beautiful. But Kaua'i, it is majestic. We experienced some of that majesty over Mother's Day weekend. Moms, next time you are asked what you would like for Mother's Day...let me suggest a holo holo excursion...to the Garden Isle: Kaua'i.
Although our mini vacation to Kaua'i was under the guise of a "special treat for mom"...we tried to be diplomatic and give everyone in the family two picks of things they wanted to do. My thirteen year old chose snorkeling at Anini Beach and eating pizza at Kilauea Bakery. My five year old chose exploring Waimea Canyon and eating at Porky's Food Truck. I chose sight seeing at Kilauea Lighthouse and eating Mexican food at Verde. My husband apparently gave up his choices...and was our chauffeur.
Despite a delayed flight into Lihu'e Airport, we arrived at our destination in Kapa'a in time to unpack, explore the grounds, and walk along the paved beachwalk right around sunset. And conveniently, this was the area that my restaurant choice was located. Our first meal in Kaua'i was my pick and fabulous!
www.verdehawaii.com
A weekend is short, so we woke up early to pack as much into the day as possible. First on the agenda, Kilauea Lighthouse. It was an easy drive down a two lane road, past farms, the ocean, and lush green mountains in the background. We made it to the end of the northernmost point of Kaua'i only to realize we were a little too early. The lighthouse opens at ten...we had some time to kill. We popped open our rental car trunk and tailgated---with snacks, not beer, and watched the birds soaring above and the waves crashing into the rocks of the sea cliffs next to us. Not a bad way to wait.
The gates to the lighthouse opened right at ten, and we were probably the third car to enter---we weren't the only ones eager to see the lighthouse up close.
This excursion ended up taking longer than anticipated because we signed up for the first guided tour of the day---where you get to go inside the decommissioned lighthouse---a first for all of us.
The boys, not big on museums or anything remotely resembling a museum, were very well behaved and patient. They quietly stood in the hot, cramped, round rooms of the lighthouse while taking in (or maybe they were secretly ignoring) a ton of interesting facts about historic Kaua'i and the cost, making, and restoring of Kilauea Lighthouse from our knowledgeable guide.
An hour after arriving, touring, and taking pictures, we made our way out of the lighthouse and the Wildlife Refuge...on to our next destination and my next post in my Kaua'i Exploration series. Stay tuned...
Kilauea Lighthouse, Kaua'i:
* Closed Sundays and Mondays
* $5 for adults
* Fifteen years and under are FREE
* Limited free parking inside the gate
* Gift Shop
* Free guided walking tour (excludes small children/babies; must be comfortable in small spaces; able to climb approximately 50 stairs)
* Northernmost point on Kaua'i
* Construction started in 1912
* Decommissioned in 1976
* Makes and appearance in the Disney animated film "Lilo and Stitch"
* Great for history buffs, lighthouse enthusiasts, bird watchers, and photographers
* Close to Kilauea Town where there are shops and restaurants
* www.kilaueapoint.org
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