We arrived to some humid, wet, overcast and windy weather when we initially arrived on Kaua’i. The sun eventually appeared for a while but today we’re back to clouds and wind. Still, all is well, and we’ve have been having a simply wonderful, relaxing time on Kaua’i as well as a great time with our friends, Alan and Cheryl. Here’s a little of what we’ve been up to:
- Eating fresh papaya for breakfast every morning. Eating lots of tropical fruit, actually. I am in heaven.
- Having Puka dogs with coconut relish and lilikoi mustard along with a cup of their fresh-squeezed lemonade for lunch one day.
- Enjoying Ice cream at Lappert’s in Poipu. I had Kaua’i pie (Kona coffee ice cream with coconut, macadamia nuts, and fudge) and Brett chose Mauna Kea’s Secret (vanilla ice cream with raspberries and fudge brownies).
- Eating Lilikoi chiffon pie at Hamura’s. My goodness, that is some really, really good pie.
- Visiting Wailua Falls and Opaekaa Falls. There’s been lots of rain recently so both falls are running strong.
- Walking on the beach path. No matter the weather, it’s always beautiful. The surf was very strong and loud the day we were out – we loved it.
- Going to the Kapaa farmers’ market. Our favorite farmers are still there and they remembered us!
- Eating shave ice. Wailua Sunrise (orange and pineapple) with haupia foam for me, strawberry coconut with foam for Brett.
- Finding geckos everywhere!
- Enjoying the beautiful hibiscus in bloom all over the place
- Having dinner at Street Burger in Wailua
Tonight we’re heading up to the north shore along with Cheryl and Alan to visit the Kilauea lighthouse and then meet our friend Joy for drinks and pupus (appetizers) at a place in Princeville. Tomorrow morning we’re going down to Lihue to the Tip Top Cafe for breakfast, then over to the Saturday farmers’ market at the nearby community college, and we will hopefully be able to follow that with a walk to the Pineapple Dump. Blue skies returned for a while on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday so we did get to enjoy some sunshine!
There’s a very good chance we’re going to come back to Kaua’i when we’re done traveling. Bad weather, good weather, humidity, or whatever, it’s still felt like we’re back home the whole time, and we still love it here.
The Occasional Nomads 
Made my day! Hey, we can do the spa thing again.
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I loved our spa days!! I think the Beach Resort spa is currently for sale, but something wonderful will be there for us.
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Again, your adventures are so fun to follow, this is so great. Enjoy!!
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We are having a great time, better than we thought. We were sure it would be sort of strange to be back, but it’s been like coming home.
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Sounds like you are making your own sunshine!☀️ Maybe your girls were right after all. I want to come there just for the food, but would have to also walk 10 miles a day😂😂😂. Have fun!
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The sun has continued, thank goodness, but today we are dealing with WIND. My goodness, it’s strong today which is keeping the temperature down as well.
We have had to temper our eating here because we could go crazy – we love the food here! We walk a lot here, out of necessity.
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Sounds absolutely terrific!
With all the questioning and thoughts about where you might make your next home —hearing your girls state quite clearly their preference for Kaua’i—in my opinion means that preference is making you both more thoughtful on this visit. It seems more so than other places that might have ticked a few boxes. On the other hand you will probably do the cost benefit analysis too.
Everyone’s experience is different. It becomes more difficult to be a part of their life when our children have children and working lives—unless it seems to me you live closer by. And working parents with young children may find it more difficult to travel. That’s why as empty nesters we travel to them. It seems to me however, if you live closer by you get to engage on a more daily level which you two got to experience in Japan. And with three daughters who knows where they may wind up in their careers or personal lives. So even if you make a decision now you may change that in the future as circumstances dictate.
Reading a previous post about how you went through an acquisition phase and then culling, selling and your more recent downsizing it seems to me you two “have this.” And you will continue exploring the world for now and when you are ready you two will nest somewhere.
Life is phases, as I have finally learned what I wanted awhile back is not what I want today. And I am fairly certain there is no there -there. We are a continual work in progress. In my opinion living life as fully in the moment as often as possible is as close to “there” one can get.
I do hope wherever you land that you will keep writing your blog. I find it engaging, thoughtful and fun!
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The girls are most likely going to stay back east after they finish school and with their jobs, and we realized that Hawaii will be almost equidistant between the east coast and Japan as far as travel times, so in a sense it’s a good location for us. And what you said about no knowing what they’ll be doing or where, it would hard for us to pick a spot back east, for example, because they could easily move in a couple of years. So coming back here seems more and more like the most sensible choice. And, without having to support the girls it will be even more affordable for the two of us. We know we’re not currently ready – there is still traveling we want to do, but we can see ourselves here in a couple of years. That also gives us time to plan the move back over (because it is a process).
I hope we remain “works in process” until the end (and I have no plans to stop writing any time soon)!
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Yippee!!!!!
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It will be interesting to hear what our son thinks of the idea of us moving back here. His big worry is healthcare for us, but I am going to tell him about your experiences. We’ve already checked and almost every speciality is now available on the island.
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Healthcare here is excellent. Just look at Dr. Rovinsky’s credentials. Impeccable. Between Les and I, we have our share of medical problems and each has been addressed by competent and caring physicians as well as their assistants. Everyone I know who has had experiences with Wilcox has said the same thing. Also, we have a new, fantastic Urgent Care Clinic here in Princeville! Open 24 hours a day, new facility, doctor and nurses on premises. They spare no expense here.
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Continually jealous of you, but especially since you’re going to Princeville and also Tip Top. Two of my favorites. Are you having coffee at our coffee place? 🙂
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We can swap our jealousy – I am often jealous of the places you get to go. We’re really looking forward to breakfast at the Tip Top tomorrow. We don’t have any plans for Sunday other than finalizing our packing and we’ve talked about going up to Kilauea and having coffee at the bakery . . . we would definitely sit again at “our table” (it will always seem too big though without you there).
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Sounds like a tropical paradise! You’ve made me wish I ate fruit for breakfast tether than the toast I just ate.
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Kaua’i is an amazing place, very different from the other islands. It’s very laid back here, and life moves at a slower pace. Tropical fruit is available year-round (especially papayas), but several of our favorites (dragonfruit, passionfruit, mango) are out of season.
If we do move here, you and Mr. S will have to come and spend some time with us! There is loads to do, and that doesn’t even count going to the beach!
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Sounds fabulous – super jealous! We have the same coffee mug (blue, with turtles) & my husband uses it every day. The kids won it at a hotel bingo game in Hawaii, so fond memories. 🙂
I’m headed to Tokyo tomorrow, so perhaps we should switch places?!
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Alan and Cheryl have the coolest Hawaiian themed dishes – all found here at Costco!
How long will you be in Tokyo? If there is any chance of getting together there I’d love to try. We are quite close to Harajuku, which is where I think you usually stay. Let me know! We arrive Tuesday afternoon but would be ready to get together as soon as Wednesday.
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Ooooooh!! Looking forward to getting back to Kauai, just looking at your pictures I could smell the wonderful aromas of the flowers, sea, etc. Enjoy your stay!!!
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I keep looking at the pictures and pinching myself, that we really are here and get to see and eat and do all these things.
Walking on the beach path again was the best – the smell of the ocean was so invigorating!
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Your post brings back so many lovely memories of our time on Kaua’i. That was the first island I visited and it was just such a memorable trip. So glad you are having a wonderful time!
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Kaua’i really is a very special place, and so different from the other islands. It apparently got more deeply under our skin and into our hearts than we realized because we are treasuring every moment here and really do want to move back. I wish the weather was better, but also remember that I treasured these cooler days when we lived here knowing what was coming in the summer and fall.
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I’m not envious of you this time as I’m a few islands over enjoying the warm weather while a big storm heads for home. It’s been rainy somewhat, although we are not far from Hilo but had some sun time this morning. There’s been a lot of rain over here with the system that went through. Enjoy your island time.
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Well, I guess I’m glad that we’re not the only ones getting bad weather. Today the sun is out but the wind is fierce. Alan and Cheryl live on the rim of a valley (the views!) and so the noise from the wind has been very loud. Thankfully there’s very little humidity today though because of the wind.
Enjoy your island time as well!
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I once bought the largest avocado I’d ever seen at that very farmers market (we’ve stayed at what used to be Kauai Beach resort, I think originally a Westin property a few times) great island…great memories. Thanks for sharing!
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The avocados grown here are huge! Definitely not the little Hass ones you typically see on the mainland. The Kauai Beach Resort is still there – both are girls’ grad nights were held there!
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You sound truly happy.
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We are very happy here – I am so glad we came back!
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I love seeing all of these photos; it makes me miss Kauai so much! I’m so jealous of the Puka dogs and the shave ice! But we are happily settled in Waimea here on Hawai’i. Both islands are such wonderful places to call home. My fingers are crossed that my daughter will be heading to Wellesley in the fall; too bad our girls won’t overlap!
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Puka Dogs are amazing! When we first visited back in 2012, there were maybe a couple of people in the shop – these days the line extends down into the mall! The shave ice was fantastic, but our second choice – our favorite place (Tege Tege) had closed while we were away.
We missed seeing the Big Island while we were here before – we had tickets, reservations in the park, and then the volcano erupted so that didn’t/couldn’t happen. But we will get there – we’re anxious to see it.
I’m so happy your daughter is heading to Wellesley – WenYu has spent a wonderful (almost) four years there, and I know your daughter will experience the same. It’s a very special place – congratulations!
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I still have never had the Likikoi pie at Hamura’s. I just never get a chance to get back there. I went there on my first visit to Kauai in 2016, but didn’t know about the pie back then. Next time!
You know I love Kauai too and reading your posts makes me think I could live there, at least for a year or so, just to have that experience. I’m also happy to know that there is good medical care because that is something I’ve wondered about. I looked up the doctors affiliated with Wilcox and am very impressed! My only concern is population growth. There was so much more traffic when I was there in December than there was in 2016, and I’m sure most of that is tourists, not people who live there, but Kauai is becoming more ‘known’ and I wonder if the infrastructure can handle it. I hope it doesn’t become another Honolulu.
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The population is growing here – that’s to be expected – and the traffic remains a big issue. We saw that they are still going ahead with a huge housing development east of Kapaa – not sure how the infrastructure will be able to handle that, and why it’s being build as there is lots of housing stock already available for sale. All sorts of things were supposed to happen right after we left to mitigate the traffic problems, but haven’t been done, so getting through Kapaa can still be an effort. Brett and I have agreed that if we live here we do not want to live in Kapaa again, at least not where we have to drive past the old Coco Palms Hotel to get to the south. Doing that drive and getting stuck in traffic was just as unpleasant as it was when we lived here. But, as I’ve said, the traffic issues are something we could work around if we locate ourselves in the right place. I don’t think there’s any chance Kaua’i will become another Honolulu, but change is coming.
Make yourself a promise that on your next visit you will absolutely have a sllice of the lilikoi pie at Hamura’s – you won’t regret it! It’s amazing.
Our friend Cheryl works remotely from here. It can be done.
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I was wondering what that abandoned hotel was and didn’t know it was called Cocoa Palms so I looked it up and it’s quite a complicated issue, but I hope they do something with that site because it really looks terrible. I also didn’t know about the new housing being built. That does seem like a strange decision. I would never live in Kapaa either thanks to the traffic.
Yes, I’m already making a list of places to visit next time I go and Hamura’s is at the top!
It’s good to know your friend Cheryl is working remotely. My current job would never allow it, but I’m going to have to do some research on companies that have that option. Thanks!
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The Coco Palms has been an eyesore since 1992, when it was damaged in Hurricane Iniki! They have actually cleaned it up quite a bit since we left but it still looks awful. It really needs to just go away as it’s in a terrible location now for a resort – wrong side of the highway, beach across the street is one of the most dangerous on the island, horrible traffic that would be exacerbated by additional resort traffic, etc. We’ll see.
Cheryl had her job for a long time before they came over here, and they didn’t want to lose her so agreed to let her work remotely. I know though that there are lots of people here who work remotely, so it can be done.
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I’ve been at my current job for 15 years and they do allow some people to work remotely, but it depends on the manager. Not sure if mine would go for it, but it could be worth a try!
I remember when I was there in 2016 the Cocoa Palms site looked more overgrown than it does now. Not that it matters because it still looks bad. I read that Hyatt was thinking of taking it over and doing something with it, but that doesn’t seem to be happening now for various reasons. Someone should just demolish it and plant trees. I also read that there is a man who gives tours of the ruins. Not something I’d want to do. Just looking at the photos of the dilapidated interior of the resort makes me sad!
I didn’t know the beach across the street is dangerous. I haven’t been to that one, but I stayed at the hotel not far from it (Hilton Garden Inn) and use that beach (Lydgate Park) because they have the rocks there that keep the water from getting rough.
Anyway, have a good flight to Japan!
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Cheryl wasn’t sure she’d be able to work remotely either but it worked out – it never hurts to ask!!
Those tours at the Coco Palms were going the whole time we lived here – no thanks! Kind of a creepy nostalgia if you ask me. I think he’s still doing them but have no idea if people still show up. The whole place is open to the elements and needs to come down.
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