Kauai 4/7/2015

White Hibiscus

Plumeria

Last day on the island.  Plane leaves at 10 PM so we spend the morning packing and getting ready to leave.  

We check out at 11:00 PM and then head to the Gaylord Rum Factory.   We take a tour of the facility and check out their rum.  They said the spiced rum is better than Captain Morgan's (my drink of choice)...wrong!  

We then head to Koloa for lunch.   Have lunch at a pizza place, it was just ok.   We then go to the Botanical  Gardens.  We take the self guided tour, had the opportunity to see local plants and flowers.  

Grass hut made of bamboo

Tree growing out of a rock

It was awesome to see all of the orchids, plumerias (they make lei's out of this flower) and of course the state flower, Yellow Hibiscus. The island also has a white Hibiscus that is only grown on Kauai.  They also have the grass hut this awesome.  The creator made it from Bamboo.  Took over 100 volunteers to help create. The tour to us about 2 1/2 hrs.  

By this time, it's 5:30, so we head to JJ Broiler for a steak dinner.   Actually Bobby had steak, Jack and Sherrill had fish and chips and I had a chicken pasta dish.



Jack & Sherrill standing in the roots

We then headed to the airport.   Here we had to go thru 3 inspections.   First one is and agriculture inspection before you enter the airport.  We passed.   Second one was the regular inspection of our carry-on luggage.  I failed, forgot about a bottle of water.   They took it away.    The third one was another agriculture inspection just before we arrive at our gate, again I fail.  I had an apple...took it away.  Not sure why the first two didn't catch it.    

Finally boarded the plane at 10 PM.   It was a very long 7 hr flight back to Las Vegas, via  short layover in Phoenix.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip, other than the flight takes 6-7 hrs.   I would certainly go back, not sure Bobby would unless I can shorten the flight somehow!