| The Wailua River has two forks as it flows from the base of Mount Kawaikini. The north fork is where the kids went for a strenuous hike a couple days earlier (click here to see that part). The south fork has some tourist attractions such as a boat ride to the Fern Grotto. Six of us decided to take this slow boat as it meanders up the river, past a native village, to the grotto landing. |
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| A short trail lead up to a limestone cave with lots of ferns and tropical plants growing along the path and up the walls. This is where the band played the Hawaiian wedding song for us; just like almost forty years ago when Sharon and I were here on our honeymoon . |
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Meanwhile . .
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Sandra and BJ took their kids to the Wailua Falls. It is upstream from the Fern Grotto. To get there, they had to scramble down a steep slope and across boulders downstream of the falls. Then a narrow path through deep grass led to the edge of the pool close to the double falls. In the second picture below, to the far left, you can see two heads bobbing in the water: BJ and his son.
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| Further down stream of the falls is another area to have some excitement. Here older kids were cliff diving. There are also two long rope swings. Notice the ladder to climb back up to the jumping point that is just to the left of the big tree. |
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| The kids are looking down at the river where the rest of us had done a less exciting trip. We met for some pizza and then drove back to the Hawaiian village we had seen along the river. |
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| We were greeted by this peacock in its full glory and the three little pigs. |
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| OK, that's enough clowning around. Let's get serious. Try on these newly made hats. "A bit too big, young man, grow up." |
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| It was time we went back to the condo and relax a bit. "And catch some more toads," the boys chimed in. |
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