Fern Grotto and Hanalei Bay

I gotta say for being 80 years old my folks are pretty tough! I think I get tired before they do! Either that or they are really good at hiding it, which I suspect is the case! While they are tucked safely inside their beautiful vacation home, Dan is at work preparing for Papaya's Community Appreciation Day. He has been going non stop since last Saturday. First, preparing for my folks visit and then being a tour guide while preparing for the bib Papaya's event. We have been having a great time with the folks as Phil and Simone have been fantastic taking care of the dogs since we're gone most of the day. Last night we got home at 9:30 and the dogs came running out of Simone's house, her trailing behind. She said they were all snuggled up on the couch after having eaten some Burger King! Talk about being spoiled! I'm grateful and Baxter has taken them in as protector! His kingdom now includes their house as well as ours and even past the panic! Today we will head over to Papaya's, they can see where Dan works and have a little fun. We'll have lunch at the Oasis before heading to the Kapaa beach park for the Coconut Coast Festival. From the website "Are you ready to immerse yourself in all things coconut? There is something for everyone at this year's festival: entertainment, cultural displays and experiences, shopping, history, games, cooking demonstrations, contests and food...did we mention the FOOD???" Mom will be stoked, she can't get enough coconut!! Tomorrow we are going to Oahu and hopefully meeting up with our friend Linda Holloway! So, here are some fun pictures of their stay so far.

We took the dogs to the beach

Mom still has it!

Dad loves watching him swim

Chickens everywhere!

 Mom being silly on the riverboat ride to the Fern Grotto

 They sang Hawaiian songs on the way there

 We walked on a beautiful, paved path through the rainforest

to the Fern grotto. Water trickled down from on high and sparkled in the sunlight.

You can see that water better here

before hurricane Iniki in 1992, the ferns covered the entire grotto

happy mom listening to the Hawaiian wedding song

Hawaiian wedding song player

Taro leaf

mega crazy huge vines

Ginger flower, if you squeeze it a liquid comes out that you can use as a soap, smelly great!

waiting

back on the boat

mom hits land

dad

 Tutu's Soup Hale

Curry Egg Salad on house made focaccia

Cashew basil Pate

me by a big tree

us under the big tree

mom and dad in the kitchen of their vacation home

mom getting her coconut on!

St. Regis Hotel

Looking at Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Taro Fields

Coconut Shave Ice

Hanalei Town

Hanalei Bay

Mountains behind Hanalei Bay

Dad finds a coconut

20 foot faces this day!

Sunset begins

sunset over Hanalei Bay