May's Adventures: Hiking, Luau, and Brotherly Fun

Graham scored an amazing deal back in November for plane tickets to Kauai! And I mean a steal he got them for $290 round trip! He brought his friend Cater along to keep him company and join in on the fun the island has to offer. Graham had a list of things he wanted to do while on the island. One of his top priorities was to play the ukelele at the beach. We did that one evening while watching the sunset. Grahm strummed some sweet tunes. The cherry on top of the night was the monk seal snoozing on the beach, looking like the epitome of relaxation. 

After the sunset, we cozied up for the evening of Avatar The Last Airbender. Gavin convinced me to give the show a try, and I have to admit, it was better than I expected. The show has some funny moments and loveable characters. We almost watched all three seasons with the boys! 

No visit with Graham would be complete without a cooking session! Since working at Costa Vida, he's mastered his taco-making skills, and we devoured some delicious ones on Cinco De Mayo. We also enjoyed stuffed shells and homemade pretzels! And of course, no visit to my house is complete without a hot sauce challenge. I convinced the boys to partake of my infamous hot sauce. Let's just say they were surprised by the level of heat! 

The boys had a blast golfing one day at the Kukuilona course one afternoon with Gavin. This course is perfect for beginners and those looking to have a relaxing time. The boys wore their new aviators they bought down in Poipu. Graham said he recognized the lady from last year when he was here. The weather was picture-perfect, and we had stunning views of the island from the course.

I couldn't let Graham leave without making him go on a hike in the mountains. So, I took him to a beautiful rope swing that overlooks an amazing valley. It was only 1.5 miles to the swing, easy right? I loved chatting with him during the hike. I couldn't resist asking Carter if he was having fun because he had been so quiet the whole time. He answered with "great", which I'm pretty sure means he had a great time! He was a calm man. It was hard to tell what he thought of the island. 

To wrap up their stay, we had a beach BBQ, where Gavin grilled some dogs and we watched the sunset. It was the perfect week with Graham - he's hilarious, smart, and dedicated to his passions. One afternoon, when I was working, Graham and Carter went on a plane ride to see the Napali coast. Graham said he was mostly excited to chat with the pilot and be on the plane... when I asked him about the plane ride he went on about how cool the pilot was. He didn't even mention the famous Napali mountains. (oh Graham!). I'm so glad I got to spend some quality time with my brother - he was the perfect house guest! Memories that will last forever. 

As we entered the final stretch of May, our days at the Sheraton were filled with the usual hustle and bustle of tourist season. But amidst the chaos, we managed to squeeze in some adventure and fun. We hiked the Kukui trail, which dropped us down 2,000 feet into the stunning Waimea Canyon. The views of the red rocks and sharp mountain ridges were breathtaking, and we even stumbled upon a beautiful river at the bottom, where we were... I mean “I” was, "attacked" by mosquitoes. I was left with a whopping 40 bites on one leg alone!

After our hike, we stopped at Salt Pond to rinse off the mud from our legs. But it wasn't until we were in the water that we realized our legs were scratched from the tall grass that rubbed against us during the hike. And, oh boy, the salt started burning all our cuts causing a fierce sting. We were itching like crazy, and it took all our strength not to scratch our itchy legs on the way home. I don’t think we will be attempting that again without bug spray. 

We're making the most of our days off because the following week we went on an adventure with the Edwards family! Kate is one of my dear young women, and they're soon leaving the island of Kauai after 17 incredible years of living here. I'm heartbroken about this - they've been so amazing! This is the kind of family to hike with they pushed hard, kept up with a fast pace, and took minimal breaks. The Napali coast trail is truly one of the most beautiful trails I've ever hiked. The waterfall was extra stunning at the end because we had blue skies above! I didn't get in the water (it was freezing cold!), but I loved watching everyone scream as they dunked themselves under the fresh falls. Poor Kate's purple lips were a giveaway that I made the right choice by skipping the swim. As everyone shivered on our way out. Gavin and little Owen became fast friends, bonding over their long blond hair and love of nature. Owen had a huge grin on his face when Gavin carried him across the river to keep his socks dry.

The month ended on a high as Gavin and I got to experience Luau Kalamaku! We started with the plantation train ride around the beautiful property, stopping to feed pigs and pet horses. It was great to see some of my coworkers outside of work – they love getting together. However, sometimes I am the oddball out in the group. They are all heavy drinkers. I have to admit that I just don't get why people enjoy drinking so much. They had so much to drink before the show they couldn’t eat the delicious Luau food. Once the show started I saw them stumbling around the dark theater, only to end up in the bathroom puking their guts out. Missing the whole show and everything else! Why do people enjoy that?

Despite all that craziness, we enjoyed the Luau! The venue holds 700 people, and the show was definitely better than some of the other luaus we've been to. All in all, it's always fun to attend a luau if it's free - you never know what kind of adventures you'll have! Speaking of free I also was able to get a FREE helicopter ride so that I could better sell them as a concierge. This job definitely has its perks!