Kauai 2012 getting there

Leaving from Vancouver ... a BC First Nations Transformation Mask at the airport.

A beautiful day turns to golden reflections.

Day 1 Tropical Sunset

Marriott at Lihue: beautiful pool.

From your deck, you can watch the big ships and little sailboats.

There is a beautiful garden and water way to walk in.

A dangling coconut simplifies the weather forcast.

These areas are equally beautiful when you go for a walk  in the warm night air.

There are Oriental art pieces all over the grounds.

 Restaurants are on site and a short walk away, including tourist shops. An Excellent on is Beachrail 'Tidbits' where the sun rises on the past.

There is a model train in the courtyard of the stores.

Don't forget to take a walk along the beach or join in a volleyball game!

Kauai 2012 - flowers

I did try to be conservative in the number of flowers ... but, that is hard in Hawaii!

This delicate flower is seen everywhere, usually in borders.

You see entire hedges of this beauty.

Orchids often grow in pots in the garden ... a second income?

Bougainvillea is a vine that tumbles over roofs and climbs in trees.

They look like tissue paper flowers.

Ground cover is a riot of colour.

This little plant hangs on to existence on the beach. It has little seeds, so must have had a flower!

Hawaii is often called the 'Garden Island'. It receives the most rainfall of all the islands and it conveniently comes mostly at night.

You will see more flowers below in the Na Aina Kai gardens.

Kauai 2012, wildlife

An assortment of the critters we came across:

geckos wandered up and down buildings.

This little red cardinal was dressed to impress.

Feral cats seem to be in a stand-off with the roosters.

Strutting his stuff!

The lagoon at the hotel has many visitors

Resident parrot.

Hawaiian Goose.

Graceful swans swim above and around the many koi.

Egrets are everywhere the grubs are.

For the more exotic ...

This young monk seal takes a nap on the beach.

He only woke up when the incoming tide tickled his toes.  He squirmed  further up!

Volunteers come and watch to see that they are not disturbed.

At the Na Aina Kai Gardens ... a watchful crew ... 

Apparently albatross have their eggs on the ground in a minimal nest,  they come back to feed the chick, but  leave it on its own. 
No preditors - no worry.

The albatross patiently did their tourist duty and put up with us taking photos ... ar a respectful distance. I was using a 300 mm lens.