Delightful sunrises await you on Kauai! Really! You'll be up before the crack of dawn with the 2 to 3 hour time change. This makes getting up early so much more fun!

You'll be drawn to walk down to the beach.  Gazing at the ocean as the sky changes from dark to purple, pink, orange and blue.  I always feel so grateful to experience these moments.

What a wonderful way to start your day on Kauai!

A very interesting creature was found at Lydgate beach recently. . .

Lydgate beach is one of our favorites on Kauai.  We've spent many sunny days there.  The beach is sandy and ringed with palm tress.  The visitor's facilities are accommodating and Kauai's finest life guards keep a watchful eye on the swimmers.  Lydgate offers two swimming lagoons, which are safely enclosed by large lava rocks, that form a barrier against the ocean waves.  The largest of the two lagoons is ideal for swimming and snorkeling, while the smaller one is especially created with toddlers in mind.  The lagoons were specifically designed to  keep the big ocean waves out, but still allow sea life and ocean water to circulate -- a natural filtering process.  Lydgate Beach is ideal for little ones and people who prefer not to swim in the open ocean. Snorkeling is fantastic. The water is so clear that you don't even need a mask to witness the colorful and abundant sea life residing in the lagoons. Just look down into the water to see beautiful fish and other critters...

...AN OCTOPUS! Isn't he adorable?! The kids and adults enjoyed watching his "expert" escape moves.  He kept trying to climb out of the bucket! I should add that he wasn't harmed .  He was returned safely where he was found shortly after I took this photo.

And, those cute sandy toes at the bottom of the photo belong to my youngest.

Lydgate beach is located about two miles south of the condo. For more information about the beach and to see the incredible playground also located at Lydgate, please check out my November 2012 post.

Aloha!

Aloha! A lot of people eat pineapple around the Holidays so, I thought now would be a good time to do a post on growing your very own pineapple plant. 

Here is one of my pineapple plants. It's 1 1/2 years old. 

This is how I grew my plant from a pineapple we bought on Kauai.  First, I cut the top leafy part from the fruit.  Then I removed the first few rows of lower leaves...

Next, I placed the spiky stem into a glass of water. Making sure that the water level is below the leaves.  I change the water every few days...

After a few weeks, your little pineapple plant should have roots. This stem is about 8 weeks old.

It's now ready to plant in soil. I use a "cactus potting mix" but, I think any good potting soil would be fine. I put this plant into a 8" clay pot and set it out in a sunny place in my backyard.  If it gets chilly where you live, it's best to bring your pineapple in for the winter.  It will be quite happy in an area of your home that gets sunshine.

I got my fingers crossed that one day my plants will produce fruit. In the meantime, my pineapple plant brings some extra aloha to my home!

As always, feel free to post a comment or question! In a few weeks I'll do a post on plumeria cuttings. Happy planting friends!

Happy New Year to you and yours from your friends at Coconut Coast Condo! 

We wish you a year of happiness, prosperity, health and peace.  Speaking of peace, here's a bit of Hawaiian New Year trivia for you...

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou - Happy New Year. The western Christmas and New Year fell during this same time of the year that the Hawaiians traditionally honored the earth for giving them plenty to eat. This period of resting and feasting was called Makahiki (mah-kah-HEE- kee). It lasted four months, and no wars or conflicts were allowed during this period, because makahiki also means "year".  The Hawaiian phrase for "Happy New Year" became "Hau'oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new)"(how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho).


Aloha to lucky number 13!