Trip of the Decade: Part III

 Everywhere you look on this island, you see immaculate beauty.  Impossible to capture with the camera, too difficult to describe with words.  It is the most beautiful place I have ever been.

 

 We headed to the other side of the island to witness the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," Waimea Canyon, on Day 3.

 The colors, sights, and vegetation were all so beautiful.  This side of the island was so much different than the East shore.  We couldn't get over how huge it was...it's just an itty bitty island, right?

 We ate at "The Westerner" which was right up our alley.  The food was GREAT!  And every time we ate anything I kept thinking how nice it was to sit down and eat an entire meal - while it was still warm - without having to clean up spills, refill plates and drinks, and break up fights. Not that my kids WWF at the table, but you  know what I mean.

 After Waimea Canyon, it was off to our whale watching tour.  We took a catamaran out on a sunset dinner cruise.  We saw whales right away.  It was so exciting!  So exciting, in fact, that I was too busy watching to get any good shots.  The video I shot is all of the ships sails and ropes because I was trying to watch and use my still camera and my video camera all at the same time.

 After the helicopter incident, I was worried I would get sea sick.  But I loved being out on the water.  It was thrilling as we we splashing over the waves and the salt water was spraying us in the face.  It was relaxing as we sailed slowly through the ocean watching the sunset. 

And I realized why some people come here and never go home.