To commemorate our very lucky 13^th journey to Hawaii I'm going to depart from the usual narrative style of Jan's Journeys and, instead, present a photo-reverie...just relax and let John's paradisian pictures carry you away to the tradewind-refreshed bliss of Maui and Kauai!  If you'd like to read about some of our past experiences, as well as our quite joyfully-researched suggestions and tips, our previous Hawaii-related articles are linked at the end of this gallery of images.  

Maui

So many idyllic spots for contemplative strolls, sea frolics, feeling humbled by the surging surf, or simply dreaming.....

Haleakala...Pelé's imposing sentinel, dormant but vibrantly alive...

Lahaina Town...127^th birthday of the widely-sheltering Banyan tree; Hula the pig, all grown up since last year!

...the beauty of tropical flowers awaiting discovery...

...and always that extraordinary time as the tradewinds calm, soft sounds drift in from heralding conch shells, birds begin chirping their night melodies, and the sun ends its journey for the day....

Goodnight, Maui!

Kauai

From sunrise to sunset...days filled with rainbows and waterfalls, sparkling streams and the commanding ocean...nights filled with spice-scented breezes, sea sounds and luminous stars.

The sun peeks over the Kilauea Lighthouse, begins its shimmering ascent, then gloriously illuminates a new day.

New adventures are just waiting to be discovered on every visit to Kauai.  On this trip we found Kauai ATV, Kauai's first guided All Terrain Vehicle tour...and what a "find" it was!  Our intrepid guide, Mayra (pictured on the left), took us and another couple on the back, BACK roads; over mud and water, up and down, sideways at times; into a hidden tunnel; past a movie set for a new Spielberg film that is being shot on Kauai; and through some incredible countryside.  

This is Jan plowing through the mud...with John safely (and wisely) out of the splash zone!

You may follow the link to learn more about Kauai ATV Tours.  Mahalo, Mayra for a fantastic tour; Aloha, Peter and Susan...we enjoyed meeting you and sharing our ATV journey!  

Water is everywhere around and upon Kauai...dazzling in every form.....each sighting is magical.

The land itself is charmed, from enchanting Hanalei...

...to the incredible wonder of the Kalalau Valley, which moves visitors to hushed awe (when it isn't swathed in mysterious fog)...

...to the subtle colorations of Waimea Canyon --- see the mountain goat and her baby, clinging to the rocks?

...to mystical Limahuli.

The sky is forever blessed with rainbows.

Then at the end of the day, people gather to celebrate the sunset; strangers share stories and become friends; aging surfers trade tales about riding the "big one"; a sailboat becomes silhouetted in the fading light; the sky turns shades of lavender; sometimes a spouting whale can be seen in the darkening water...

And when conditions are just right, there is the special treat of the fabled "green flash"...which had eluded us on our previous 12 journeys; but we were graced with two appearances of this illusive phenomenon to usher in the 21st century!!

We have all of these fond memories upon which our dreams can set sail...we hope our photo-reverie will help you do a bit of daydreaming of your own!

We'd like to share our previous journeys to Hawaii with you in the following articles...each full of experiences and tips and suggestions and recommendations, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed "researching"!!!
Hawaii '99 - Maui and Kauai
Hawaii '98 - Oahu, Kauai and Maui
An Oahu Odyssey
Kauai by Land, Sea and Air
Maui: Up-Close and Personal
Captivating Kauai
Marvelous Maui

Copyright © 2000 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- May 24, 2000
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:38:30 GMT