Kauai, A Spiritual Honeymoon
by Alison Lonesome Rodriguez
My husband and I went on our honeymoon to Kauai a few years ago. I kept a journal during our trip and used those entries to create this article.
Kauai ... or Aruba? Kaui ... or Maui? Kaui ... or San Francisco?
My husband and I went back and forth with different honeymoon destinations during our engagement. We wanted a place to chill out after a stressful planning period and to connect for the first time as husband and wife. Our wedding was becoming more expensive by the day so we finally decided to get some help with our honeymoon. A trip to our local travel agency helped us solidify our decision to go on a romantic honeymoon to Kauai, Hawaii.
In our discussion with the agent, we discovered that our Kauai honeymoon would not have to cost a fortune. We decided to split our stay in an affordable condo at the Poipu Plantation on the southern tip of the island and Hanalei Bay Resort on the North Shore. We also took advantage of restaurant and activity coupons we found at stores during our stay.
Simply put, Kauai is just an amazing place. This lush island is nicknamed the Garden Isle because a sprinkle of rain falls just about every day. The light shower generally lasts for a few minutes and stops just as suddenly.
Mt. Wai’ale’ale stands in the center of the island and receives about 440 inches of rain per year. As a result the majority of the islanders reside near the shores around the island.
The weather varies on each side of Kauai. If it’s raining on the North Shore, there’s a good chance you’ll find dry skies on the Western Shore. This kind of flexibility helped us make the most of our vacation.
When we stepped off the plane, we could feel the tension in our bodies melt away. The island moves at a slow and relaxed pace. The sights, sounds and smells of the island transported us to a different place and time. We refrained from making long to-do lists and simply basked in the wonder of Kauai.
The hosts at the Poipu Plantation welcomed us with open arms upon our arrival. Our Asian-designed unit was surprisingly large with hardwood floors. We settled into our one-bedroom condo with such ease that it soon became our home away from home.
My husband and I first visited Wailua Falls, featured in the opening sequence of the 80’s television series, “Fantasy Island”. Our next stop was the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, the former home of Robert Allerton of the Illinois banking family.
A trip to Waimea Canyon on the western shore of the island proved to be a turning point in our honeymoon. This massive canyon, carved in the body of this small island, reminded us of the magnificent power that exists in the world.
We then decided to take a helicopter ride to get a better view of Mt. Wai’ale’ele and the Kalalau Valley. Unfortunately, the winds picked up during the one-hour trip and left us both with an extreme case of motion sickness. Without a doubt, that was one of the longest hours our lives.
Just when I thought I couldn’t last another second, the pilot took us to the center of Mt. Wai’ale’ale. In spite of my queasiness, I felt that somehow we made it to heaven. Thick clouds hovered above us and waterfalls flowed from the sky on each side of the crater.
During our stay on the south shore we encountered a Hawaiian monk seal walking alongside a small family at Poipu Beach Park. Monk seals often come to rest on shore after a long night of hunting for food. The seal found a suitable spot and plopped on the beach for a short nap.
Once we moved to the Hanalei Bay Resort on the north shore, we really got a sense of the lush and rich beauty of the island. Every morning we awoke to the exotic sounds of chirping birds greeting each other as the sun rose over the mountains. We would then rise and enjoy macademia nut pancakes with coconut syrup on the balcony while gazing at the cascading waterfalls on the mountain.
Our most romantic night was at the Princeville Hotel. We dined on steak and salmon on the balcony of Cafe Hanalei and went inside to the Living Room for coffee and dessert afterwards. A singer/pianist performed Hawaiian love songs as we snuggled on the couch, gazing at our photos from this fabulous trip.
Kauai is a very special honeymoon destination. There are so many ways to enjoy the gifts of this island. Whether it’s horseback riding, whale watching, or hang gliding, the land will guide you on a very special journey. We were both deeply touched by Kauai and the warmth of the islanders. Aloha!
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