The final Day

Here is an unusual sky. . .doesn't it look like someone practicing their penmanship?
Obviously we wake up early for a 7:30 Yoga Basics class with Laura. She has broken her back twice and discovered yoga as she struggled to come back from paralysis. She is an apprentice teacher here (with a masters degree in kiniesiology). I am blessed to study here. Class is slow and easy. With two students I receive a lot of personal attention.
Then we check out of The Cliffs. Driving South we enjoy the Kauai Orchid Farm. Then we have lunch at Gaylord's, which is another estate with beautiful gardens.





We check in at the Marriot and meet our group at a bay near Poipu for the Captain Andy's Sunset Whale Watch Cruise. I get a picture of the sail. The spinner dolphins and whales are everywhere, within feet of out craft, but holding a drink, my hat and a camera is more than manageable while holding on to the rail.



It is so much fun. We return to our room and spend half an hour sitting on the beach at Nawiliwili Harbor until the table is ready. It is a somber scene for tomorrow we fly home.

Glorious sunshine

I love so much about Kauai. Waking up early and slipping out here to watch the sunrise. sipping Lion French Roast coffee as I blog. I love how alive I feel, the fresh air and great food.
I love the yoga classes and walking on the beaches, inspired drawing and relaxing.
Today began with the bikram breakfast two hours before class. I was looking forward to class today, after a day of rest. Class was fine. It is not yoga and I would not recommend it to anyone but a misguided jock. It is addictive and stressful. You need a good basis of self love and self honoring to go there, also a sense of gratitude to endure each minute, I want to go again tomorrow, but be check out of here at 10 and Dan thinks I will want to shower before heading South for our last full day on the island.



I gave Drill Saergant Janet a slimy, sweaty hug even though she grimaced. "Open your hearts (maggots)", she barked.
Dan and I planned to enjoy the feast this last day and a host of whales showed up for our entertainment, Dan took 150 photos. We has penne and pizza and salad and steak.
Rgen we romped in Hanalei Bay. We actually saw Bethany Hamilton the girl who's arm was eaten by a shark. No mistaken her. Then when the thunder clouds encroached we headed for Anini and played there. More sunbathing.
Home to shower and dress for dinner at Bar Acuda a tapas bar in Hanalei Town. We think we've done it all and we are so thankful we are leaving on a sunny note.
Dinner is the Highlight of the food week.
Bruschetta is unique. A peeled, roasted kauai tomato in a shallow dish with olive oil and balsamic with toasts is the first tapas. I order the sea scallop atop a bed of French lentils and Dan has more of an entree; blue nosed bass with an au gratin potato in a nutty succulent almond butter. Then we share an arugula salad with roasted yellow beets and dessert is Kauaian honeycomb with a green apple and parmesiano-reggiano cheese.
Wow! This new restaurant is just below the yoga studio, who knew?!
Tomorrow we move South to the Marriot and a pupus sunset cruise with Captain Andy and our Lutheran brothers and sisters.
It has been restful.

Hanalei and Anini

Is this sunshine at last?
Yesterday I told Dan I would take two classes to make up for the day the road was closed. And also I said, "Bikram every day. . .' I was so thrilled to have enjoyed the class. But sore muscles and fear returned today. I can only push myself so much.
We are going to enjoy an entire day at the North shore. At Hanalei Bay Dan tested the waters, they were muddy following all the heavy rains. He read and I drew. The sun was so delicious and deeply warming. We traveled a ways to Anini for a pre lunch fish taco and more beach time, shells for a picture frame. The surf advisory is High and the tides are bold. Dan still hasn't been able to bob in the aqua waters.
We drive east at 2 to the Mediterranean Cafe. Dan gives them a 'poor'. Seventeen dollars gets you three pieces of lettuce and a slice of gyros. My Summer Bliss Salad had four boysenberries and five slices of starfruit. They forgot the pita bread and walnuts. It was still sweet to be there with my honey. This is the vacation some only dream of.

Yoga is at five thirty, Relax Deeply. Carrie and I remember one another and greet. I am very structured, Carrie is not. This class is mentally more challenging than the Bikram. She loves to create new poses. . the salmon and the bear, the walrus. Also she uses 'Feldenkranz' little micro adjustments. She never leaves her mat to work with us (hello) and plays some loud music. ( I think it was her own recording.) She is beautiful in every way. especially her voice and when I locate her in the dark I smile at her lovingly. This is important to soften the heart. I recognize our different styles and try to embrace the lesson she is teaching me. Two key phrases:
"Reflect. Where can you soften and let go?"
"Yoga invites you to be authentic."

Dan arrives to fetch me. A pizza is waiting to be baked and the dining table it set with candles; a soothing re entry.
Bedtime is earlier than usual. Mahalo and sweet dreams.

Ash Wednesday

Grey, grey and more grey above the verdant jungle greeens. ( the French Polynesian spelling:-)
I took one look at Dan and it was a Holden Village moment.
"Do I need to get you out of here today?" I asked. There was only a slight response.
I offered to swap my hatha yoga for a Bikram yoga class so we could go South for the day, gaining two hours of sunshine, and a bit of beach time.
The light in his eyes glittered. Twelve years of marriage, I know my husband.
My offering to take a Bikram class seemed right at the time. And I like to push myself every year or two to try one.( I am like that) The first Bikram yoga I ever took was a near death experience. A hot day, apparently dehydrated, and wearing polyester . In no time at all I was ready to vomit. I sat at the wall and the teacher watched me carefully for 90 minutes. Once home, Dan was instructed to put me in a bath of epsom salts and to feed me lots of electrolyte beverages.
When I take the class here I am terrified and wiggle nervously all the way into Hanalei. In my mind I am pushing Ahimsa, non violence ( to myself.)
Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 poses done in a room heated to 105 degrees. A 'drill seargant' barks orders for ninety minutes. You are to do as commanded. It's not a kind and gentle practice. And two sit ups are practiced between asanas. (Spin and give me two!")
So I enter and meet the lovely Janet, I tell her I am terrified and will do my best. My eyes are weak but my inner practice strong.
I will draw upon Yvonne's Shanti wisdom and my home practice, including Svatyaya or self study.
To make this story short, it was pure bliss. I stayed in each moment, breathing and not going too deep. I said a prayer of thanks between each pose and didn't "Leak" energy, moving minimally. (This was key). Then it was over, I hopped up and met Dan at the car. He thoughtfully brings me a Fresh ginger lemonade from the Polynesian Cafe. It is an acquired taste, grated ginger. Dan knows it cleanses and rejuvenates me. He is a great husband.
We are off quickly to the blue skies of Waimea.



We have a pupu platter at the Brew Pub ; fresh shrimp , lumpia spring rolls and teri chicken on skewers with pineapple.

Then we settle on a beach and just enjoy the sun and surf, spotting a few of the 30, 000 whales offshore.
Dinner is at Pomodoro Italian before Ash Wednesday service at Lihue Lutheran with Pastor Paul. The placing of ashes on the forehead is a powerful reminder that weare dust and will return to dust. Talk about organic.( don't panic)
We spin home through more showers; a downpour, a gully washer a deluge and a drip.
Here are few hibiscus to meditate upon, Mahalo

Aloha Gail and rain and yoga

It's a good thing Dan and I were both born in Portland, Oregon; for we both love rain. This vacation has given me an opportunity to really study it. During our delightful banana taro waffle breakfast (Dan-o! Dan-o!)the rain 'sizzled' at the Cliffs. This morning the showers came in waves, like an oscillating sprinkler. It is 76 degrees and we are happy slogging here and there.
We bid Gail Sue a fond Aloha at 9:30in the morning. We needed to locate a room for Saturday, our 15th night on the island and toured Lihue looking at properties Dan had read about; torrential rain, light drizzle, a gentle showers all day long. We, like a stream, meandered our way home. I saw this sink at two Frogs Hugging.


We liked Scotty's for lunch with a pleasant view of the surf. Winding back to the Farmer's Market, we picked up tumeric and ginger roots, bananas, oranges and greens. Then a little swordfish at the Hanalei Dolphin and a stop for coffee and potatoes at Foodland in Princeville. We considered hot tubbing in the rain. . .



Dan watches the Super Tuesday election coverage and I read, looking out through the veil of low rain clouds to view some happy whales slapping their fins.
Relax Deeply was outstanding, because Bhavani was teaching. My eccentric, precious teacher. Pure theta brain waves(the place between waking and sleeping). She explained the close link between physiology and psychology. We followed our eyes along the optic nerve to a deep place in the hypothalamus. Then we moved through the ears along the auditory canal to deep within the brain. Then up the nostril channels, along sinuses and we all met at the pineal gland. This may have been during savasana. I can never be sure when I leave that studio, where I was or am. . .
She read from Rumi, Hafiz and the Tao while we held poses for 5 to 11 minutes. (Oopsie) She gets lost too.
The poses were Butterfly, reclining Butterfly, Firelegs or double pigeon, Legs up the Wall (closed and falling open wide) Virasana or Hero's pose, and a Twisted Vine.
My adorable Dan was there to guide me through the downpour to the waiting car and home. Savoring the drizzle,we grilled at the gazebo and sipped a Mai Tai. Dinner was sushi and swordfish, baked potatoes with roasted garlic and a Sterling Chardonnay.
For Your Consideration is a funny film by Christopher Guest which ended the day on a silly note.
Sleeping deeply to the tropical water falling. Mahalo

yoga, yoga, All yoga, all the time.

Class with'my student' starts the day. We are working on her flat feet,'wonking'. Lots of standing poses in correct alignment and breath work. She is absolutely radiant. . .I was blessed to be her teacher for the week. Namaste Gail Sue.
Then Dan bakes a breakfast pizza with Portugese sausage on one side and Kapuna Dairy goat cheese on the other, top that with basil chiffonade. "Yummers," as Rachel Ray would say.


We drive into Hanalei where the road is now open, but the school is closed. Little narrow, wooden bridges to the west end of the island are risky for school buses transporting small children over raging flood waters. And they may not get them home.
I have yoga at 12. Carole is teaching again, she is so joyful!! We worked on Dancer Pose again, then added a version where both hands find the back foot and it is suhka. I notice my right standing side is stronger. We learn something called the 'Cloud Lock".I first thought we may be trying to stop the rains, but no, this is the bandha work; lifting the perineum, engaging the lower abdominals, softening the heart while constricting the throat with the Ujjayi breathing. That's it!

Also I learned, while in Pigeon, that there is a center of physical awareness, but there may also be an emotional center. I was clenching my teeth at the time, so that was easy to notice, it wasn't the hip.
Lunch at The Hanalei Dolphin was spectacular as always, charbroiled Ahi salad and a Keoki Gold.Gail announces the French Polynesian link. The Gustafsons while appearing to be Viking-Swedish, are actually French. Well the only sensible conclusion is that they are French Polynesian which would explain their island stylishness.
A quick shop as I need a gift for the sweetheart watering our house plants.



Then we puddle jump our way to the Kauai Orchid Farm, which was closed. Here's a picture from the Farmer's Market instead.
Every Monday at the reception we have a chance to win a free week at the Cliffs, I do win 15 minutes on the internet, and ask the Mayor' to draw again so someone else may win:-) After all, we have our Apple laptop.



Sunset is in the Living Room at the Princeville Hotel. Here is our drink presentation. It is a stunning space with views of Mt Makana or Bali Hai. Home for the evening,
we dine alfresco on sushi, steak and local salad greens.
It hasn't stopped pouring in 10 days.

My Ohana

Tale of Two Weathers

we are waking up late to a socked in Hawaii/ Kauai.
Scrambled eggs, toast and a sunny fruit platter get the day started off right. When the rains are heavy the whales offshore go deep and sleep. It's all good, we are off to church.


Gail needs to see the turtles, so we head South, stopping at Pizzacato for a slice and salad, then straight to the Point at Poipu for a visual frolic. The sun feels so great on our skin, despite the winds. There are many multiple sightings. . .little brown periscope necks, and great round disks surfing the swells!
It is Super Bowl Sunday so we promise Dan we'll get him home to view it. The weather up North is frightening. . . lightening and thunder bursting over the ocean (where the whales are lazing) and the rains will not cease. Dan tried to take me to a Rest Deeply class at Yoga Hanalei, but the roads are closed and there is a flash flood warning in effect for HERE! "Turn Around, Don't Drown." is the slogan. Twice today the weather people reported three inches of rainfall in one hour.



I draw a hibiscus we photographed on the way to church and Gail is planning her last day on the island. That would be tomorrow.(Your wish is our 'command',)
We will have Onolicious Chicken Satay on a papaya salad with a hoisin balsamic vinagarette. They picked up some light Hagan Das ice cream for the pie that will follow the healthy entree.
We settle on the lanai to watch the light show and sonorous sky, before grilling the sesame chicken kebobs.
What happens when lightening penetrates the ocean? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Gail thinks the salt diffuses the charge.
Mahalo, Susan