Kaua'i Day 1

I didn’t sleep at all last night because I had to finish a paper due today before I left for Kaua’i. We left campus on a bus at 4:50 am. That’s a little early. Then we had to go through all the security hassle all for a flight that lasted only 20 min or so. When we arrived, we immediately went up to Kapaa High School for the Salsa Orchestra and Brass Quartet’s first concert. The drive is beautiful. Kauai’s terrain reminds me of

the east side of Oahu, with sharp mountains and beautiful beaches. The music groups have great talent, and play a variety of fun songs. They play a lot of music from different countries. Just a side note, I was required to wear blue jeans and closed toed shoes as part of the “uniform”. I had to borrow some jeans, because I don’t have any here with me in Hawaii, and wore my Keen’s. I felt very claustrophobic, or just hot. I’m not used to it! We went from the high school to the Aloha Beach Resort near Kapaa. We were only there for a few short moments, but it looks really nice. I’m sure I’ll be comfortable tonight.

Our first tourist attraction was Kipu falls. It’s a neat little falls not far off the highway. I was thinking that Laie falls was such a long hike for such a pathetic falls, but Kipu falls was a short hike (5 min) but the falls were awesome! It looks like it could be the set for a Tarzan movie. It’s very jungle-ie and green. People were diving off the waterfall. I just climbed down a ladder into the water! This one kid was crazy, he was climbing up on a tree limb way up above the water, then swing so the branch was bending big time, almost to snap, then he used the momentum to throw himself in the air and then did a crazy backflip maneuver. Some poeope are insane. After I was dry I wanted a good view of the face of the waterfall without getting wet so I could get some photos. I ended up scaling this 20 ft vertical wall that was covered with roots and vines which were very stiff and made great holds for your hands and feet. I got a view that very few others got, that’s for sure!

After Kipu falls, we went up to a chapel in Kekaha. The groups performed for a ward who is now going to let them sleep over and such. They had a potluck dinner for us. I was really running out of energy. The music they play is really good. Sometimes it makes me want to play drums again when I hear the cool rhythms they play.