Brrrr! It's been chilly friends! I'm dreaming of warm beaches on Kauai...

Anini is a beautiful beach worthy of many day dreams! It's one of our favorites. Fringed in Coconut Palms and Kamani  Trees, the long, narrow, sandy beach is protected by Hawaii's longest coral reef. There's a lot of sea life and it's a popular turtle hang-out.  Needless to say, folks love to snorkel here!

Anini is also a great beach for little ones. The water is super shallow for a long ways out and nice for wadding. Even when the rest of the north shore is getting hit by big winter waves, the water here is usually tranquil because of the reef's protection. That being said, you do need to be watchful but, I know you do that anyway.

To visit Anini beach head north on highway 56.  Turn at the SECOND Kailiwai Road (after mile marker 25). Stay LEFT onto Anini Road.  The road will curve to the left and you will be treated to a stunning view of the ocean.  Continue on Anini Road past all the huge homes and you'll come upon Anini Beach Park and the polo field. Anini Beach Park is nice, has bathrooms and showers but, if you want the beach to yourself, keep driving. We always keep going around another curve until we find a spot to ourselves.  Access couldn't be easier here. Just pull over, park and step into the sand! 

One disclaimer I have to add is that I have seen Anini very windy at times. We've never had to leave because of the wind but, I've seen some some happy kitesurfers!

Aloha!

'Absolutely LOVE these Hershey's Kisses! What makes them so good? These kisses 'got' aloha! In the center of the milk chocolate kiss is a Mauna  Loa macadamia nut piece.  Adding to their appeal, they're wrapped in pretty turquoise foil ,with an adorable "ALOHA" tissue flag.  So, cute and delicious! 

These perfect kisses are only available in Hawaii (really). One more reason to come over for a visit! We leave extra room in our suitcase to bring a few bags of these babies home--just like our other favorite, Kauai Kookies!

Coconut Diaries wishes you a happy Valentine's day filled with aloha! And hopefully. . . a few Kisses!

There is a reason why Kauai is nicknamed "the Garden Island".  Flowers are happy on Kauai! All the sunshine and perfect amount of rain makes for beautiful blooms.

One of the first things visitors notice is the abundance of tropical flowers.  From the moment you step off the plane, they're everywhere!

Right outside of the condo is a Giant Bird of Paradise, that's it's real name. It's huge, they can reach up to 30 tall. It blooms a striking bright white and midnight blue flower. 

To enjoy fresh island flowers in the condo, I recommend picking them up at the Farmer's Market held every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-12pm at the Coconut Market Place. You can get a large bunch inexpensively.  Besides their beauty, tropical flowers have another benefit in that they last a long time once cut. They'll stay pretty for 7-10 days.

If you would like to bring tropical flowers home with you, Plumeria and Flowering Ginger cuttings can be purchased at Walmart and ABC Stores. Once on the mainland, plant the cuttings. I've had really good luck with these starter cuttings. Just be sure to follow the instructions and treat them like a "houseplant" when the weather is cold.


Stay warm and Happy "Aloha" Friday!

 "...Da plane, da plane!" 

If you have ever seen the old TV show, Fantasy Island, then you probably remember the opening scenes featuring beautiful waterfalls and "Tattoo" shouting his famous, " ...da plane, da plane..," from the bell tower. 

Those double falls are actually Wailua Falls on Kauai. The falls cascade over 175 feet over a huge pool bellow.  That's 16 stories! The falls are spectacular.  If you have had the opportunity to witness them in person, then you will connect with my sentiments.  Our family make it a point to visit Wailua Falls every time that we are on Kauai...It is absolutely breath taking.  Photos alone cannot capture the Fall's true beauty. However, here are a few shots anyway.

Early in the day is the best time to view the falls. As the sun is shinning through the mist, you can often see rainbows. 

So you can get an idea just how tall the falls are and how huge the pool is...check out those two people. Can you see them? They're just south of the center of the photo.

Do not leave the island with out seeing these falls--seriously! Head south from Kapaa  on 56 (Kuhio Highway), turn right onto Maalo Road (583).  Drive a mile or two inland (mauka) and you'll reach a turn out with parking.  Take a few minutes to REALLY see the falls; it'd be a shame to just snap a photo and leave.  You'll be so happy you stayed!

As always friends, if you have any questions or replies...feel free to comment!

Aloha!