Hawks and honey: Kauai Part Three

I'm still in shock we've been home for almost a month from this epic trip. This was probably our first time in Kauai we had enough time to actually do all the things I wanted to, all the things we missed the first few times we were here, things we just didn't get to because for such a small island, it's actually kind of big.

Kauai Coffee has always been on my list, I love going to local farms and seeing where my food comes from. This time I made it a point to check out the estate.

This little lizard was there waiting to say hi to us while we sipped on affogatos on the patio before starting our self guided tour.

// here we are among the coffee plants.

Sugar cane used to be huge in Kauai but it couldn't compete with corn syrup on the mainland so eventually all the sugar cane plantations closed down, and here on the south side of the island coffee took over most of the land to produce great coffee grown among the lava rich soil.

// husband.

Interesting to read that their decaf coffee is actually shipped to Canada for the decaffeinating process, no chemicals are used but the shipping on that seems environmentally irresponsible maybe just drink the caffeine folks.

So much W I N D.

I got him to take a tourist photo with me. Friends should know the rarity of such an event.

Mocho, the cat lives here (we think, according to some locals).

After the plantation I looked up the directions to the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge, a little hard to find but a fun little walk with the girls.

Our youngest was a bit more hesitant but ended up enjoying it after she faced her fear.

After we stopped in for a snack at Midnight Bear Breads, before our sunset dinner cruise.

I opted for the avocado and brie toast. // full menu here.

Basil loved the sprouts.

I loved the minimalist decor, I really like when places make their ingredients part of the design, like why hide the ingredients when foodies want to see them!

walking back to the car, I found cacti in Kauai. It made me happy to know that even if we do leave the desert I don't have to abandon some of the comforting plants I know and love.

also who wouldn't want an old truck with asteroids flying at the earth painted on the side of it?

I love tropical buildings and plants, they hold such weathered and unique texture.

My mom sent us on a sunset dinner cruise in an effort to get the girls on the water in hopes of seeing dolphins.

Another fear faced and once she was at the front of the boat she didn't want to come back.

They took us as close as they could to the caves and shore, on our last trip here we took a rafting tour that brought us in the caves, with the kids this was the only option.