Day 5 - North Shore (Princeville area)
So eventhough the weather wasn't too great when we woke up, we stayed with our plan to head north today, just in case we wanted a second day, we'd have plenty of time left in the week!
Besides, you can't golf in the rain...to Plan B was scratched quickly!
Two years ago when we were hear, we only had an hour at Princeville while mom and dad were at a stupid time share presentation....we were told the best snorkeling was at this Tunnels Beach but it was hard to find. So we dropped them off in Princeville and headed north to see what we could find. We had 90 minutes or so, but once we got almost there, realized we were on 1/4 tank which made us nervous as we had no clue where or how far we were going! So we found everything AROUND Tunnels Beach...but could never find the access....it's a dirt road the locals kinda hide, hoping to keep it to themselves for surfing! So we left last time feeling jipped we never found or got to snorkel at Tunnels.
So this time, we left early on Monday morning...it rained on us most of the way up so we were concerned about the water conditions, as it's already known as the ADVANCED snorkel reef.
This picture is what we saw when we pulled up........GREAT!!
So eventhough the weather wasn't too great when we woke up, we stayed with our plan to head north today, just in case we wanted a second day, we'd have plenty of time left in the week!
Besides, you can't golf in the rain...to Plan B was scratched quickly!
Two years ago when we were hear, we only had an hour at Princeville while mom and dad were at a stupid time share presentation....we were told the best snorkeling was at this Tunnels Beach but it was hard to find. So we dropped them off in Princeville and headed north to see what we could find. We had 90 minutes or so, but once we got almost there, realized we were on 1/4 tank which made us nervous as we had no clue where or how far we were going! So we found everything AROUND Tunnels Beach...but could never find the access....it's a dirt road the locals kinda hide, hoping to keep it to themselves for surfing! So we left last time feeling jipped we never found or got to snorkel at Tunnels.
So this time, we left early on Monday morning...it rained on us most of the way up so we were concerned about the water conditions, as it's already known as the ADVANCED snorkel reef.
This picture is what we saw when we pulled up........GREAT!!
We didn't let it scare us away though, we just entered very carefully. I hadn't ever snorkeled in water with a strong current before, so I was cautious!
Sean likes to pretend he's a beached whale when it's time to head to shore!
We thought we were done for a bit, pretty tired, so we were at least ready for a break, then some ladies told us they'd just seen a turtle, and mom said she'd seen it to while walking up the beach...so we hurried and headed up to the east point when they were spotted...it was quite the walk, but at least we'd be swimming with the current on our way back to the beach!Below we are about to go in, in hopes of finding the turtle!
Swimmin out.....YAY we found one!!! But he headed out to sea when I started following him, so I got as far as the dark water you can see in front of me...then I stopped when I could feel the current. Sean kept following him and got all the way out where you see the waves breaking. That turtle led him to 4 others! I was so jealous....but once I realized how hard it was swimming back, I was very grateful I listened to my gut, telling me to stop following him, it was pretty scary to realize I'm swimming as hard as I can and only moving an inch at a time, and sometimes getting pushed back 3! When Sean finally made it back, 20 minutes later, he was SO TIRED. He said he wished I could have seen the 5 turtles, but was so glad I didn't follow him out there, he couldn't have gotten us both back!
Isn't is gorgeous!! The sun finally came out, and we loved how it was reflecting off the rocks in this picture below!
Snorkeling makes us hungry for some reason, as soon as we opened the cheetos we were joined by tons of birds! It was fun feeding them!
The red heads loved the cheeto's, the others would only eat the funyons!
Kee Beach was a first for us, sometimes known as "The end of the road" it was further west of Tunnels Beach...the current was wicked scary since it was pulling hard core west which was around some rocks, and you are done...out to sea!!! They wouldn't let us snorkel on the big reef, we had to stay on the beach side of it....kind of a bummer...but I took the lifeguards concerns seriously after just leaving Tunnels and feeling how strong the current was.....at least at Tunnels, if it swept us away....we'd end up at Kee Beach....we didn't have that safety guard at Kee...there was nothin but ocean! The water was beautiful though, I took tons of pictures of Sean out between the two reefs...he saw his biggest fish of the week out there...but I didn't feel comfortable going that far out....I could definitely feel where the current was and when I should stop or turn around! In one area it was fun as the current was pushing us toward the beach, so we'd plant our feet on these huge rocks and hold on trying to see these big fish below before the current would sweep us away!Before heading to Hanea to find Kee Beach, we decided to head back to Hanalei for lunch at Bubba's Burgers. They tasted good, we were just disappointed in the size....when you order a burger at a place called Bubba's, you think you are getting a HUGE piece of meat...not the case, but by adding the pineapple they were yummy! Kinda reminded me of In & Out as far as taste.
The guys insisted on stopping for a diet coke WITH ICE, so I found this cute fruit stand and indulged in a frozen banana, and bought this yummy Papaya Bread for breakfast tomorrow! The middle was literally SOAKED in juice ... .... .... VERY VERY GOOD!!
OK, on to our 2nd beach to snorkel some more!!
First picture below is Sean carrying all of our snorkel gear, heading to Kee Beach, Haena, (not great parking right up close)
I think my dad read 4 books this week!
That's Sean and I headed to the right...the current was so strong heading out west, we walked quite a ways east so it would be easy just letting the current take us west til we ended up at the big reef again!
Finally got mom out in the water again! First time wasn't so great...so we stayed RIGHT BY HER this time! It was funny,.....Sean and I had been out for quite some time...and all the sudden I must have felt my dad staring me down....so I looked up and took off my mask to see him standing up, staring in the water....I quickly found mom.....it was like he was saying.....KEEP HER CLOSE! haha When I told mom about it on the way home, he said, "Those that can't take care of themselves don't belong in the water" lol lol
Sean just HAD to go back out and try to find these BIG BIG fish...he was right inbetween both reefs (further then they wanted us to be) I loved the waves crashing down on the reef right in front of him,......took too many pictures!
The drive out of Kee Beach
This is the wet cave.....they used to allow swimming back in there... no thanks!
So pretty....you just come across these beautiful spots of nature everywhere you drive!
Our 3rd beach of the day ..... Anini Beach ..... we stopped here 2 years ago, but it was a horrible reef, only ankle deep for 1/4 mile til you get out to the deeper water....and we gave up after about 30 minutes of fighting it with our fingernails, and came out with bloody knees! We were determined to find the better snorkeling spot at this popular beach.....but I still don't think we did. It was raining when we got there, so I didn't take any pictures, stole the two below off the web....it was pretty, but hardly any fish at all....I was about to get out and call it a day, then Sean found a better reef. All I found was a very cool pink round reef, the size of a lazyboy chair... so I followed him a ways out and we saw a baby eel which was fun to watch for awhile! So dad came out (his first time in the water) and us three had fun out there another 30 minutes or so...mom stayed in the car outta the rain! When finding these pictures below, the site says how GREAT this 3 mile reef is....I'm like...WHAT? So I think next time we might have to try this one again... we obviously still haven't found THE REEF yet!!
Sean has been eating everything in site since the day we stepped off the plane...and since we have been eating late lunches, we haven't been all that hungry at dinner time. Well, Sean has been dying to go to the Bull Shed...this awesome steak place we found 2 years ago...but it's huge portions and price haven't made sense when we haven't been too hungry. So we all made a deal with him......you stop eating by 2:00 pm, and we'll go to the Bull Shed tonight! I know, I know, you think I'm so mean....but keep in mind, he ate a TRIPLE cheese burger at Bubba's Burgers at 1:30, along with fries AND almost an entire bag of chips....so don't feel bad for him! So when we finished snorkeling at Anini, it was dark...and of course we were all getting hungry and had a 3o minute drive back....then shower, etc...so it would be over an hour...he had an apple left in the car, but felt he should ask permission before eating it.....no chance of spoiling his Fred Flinstone size prime rib he wanted tonight! Of course you can eat your stupid apple!!!
So here is a picture of this enourmous steak...he ate probably 3/4 of it, after the salad bar and bread.....took the bone home for a midnight snack!
another AWESOME DAY!!
another AWESOME DAY!!
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