As we get to the airport we are a bit worried regarding whether we will be able to get to Kauai at all given the different restrictions that Hawaii has placed on travel. We completed the online checklist and uploaded all needed documentation so we hope we are fine but who knows so we arrive early just in case.
We pass through security relatively fast, we got TSA Precheck right before Covid started so we are happy to be able to use it. Inside we discover that Hawaii has a special additional line which allows us to avoid additional checking when landing there. We finish that part and then buy some food as we will be arriving quite late and then it is time to fly to Kauai – yay!
At the Kauai airport it takes a bit to get the luggage which for some reason (was it raining over the plane only?) is wet on the outside and then we walk to the car rental area. Here there is a long line with some people waiting for over two hours. As we are member of the car rental club we are on a shorter line but even that takes about one hour. And then another hour probably to get the car, probably the longest we have waited for a car. Happy that we finally made it through the gauntlet we jump in the car and make the about half our drive to our accomodation at Waimea Plantation Cottages. Here at least we are expected and soon we are in our cabin.
Due to availability we booked a two room cabin which is looking great and we can’t wait to see how it looks during the daylight from the outside. Having two rooms is also great as we learn after our first night as the wild chicken climb on the roof on one bedroom and hold a party on top making sleep very difficult.
In the morning we explore the area a bit before breakfast, our cabin is set into a quiet garden like landscape with many birds and we decide to explore the grounds more in depth after breakfast as we are famished.
While eating breakfast from our provisions we enjoy the many birds around our cabin. The white-rumped shama are quite numerous while the warbling white-eye are flitting around and can barely be seen before flying away.
After breakfast it is time to explore the grounds more thoroughly, we pass and explore the maintained area and the pool before reaching the beach which was our goal.
It is quite a scenic beach and because it is remote from any public access there is no one else using it except the resort guests. It is not suitable for swimming but walking along it is quite popular and we love the stretch in front of the resort, it has great views.
As we walk along the beach in one direction we can see Niihau, the Forbidden Isle, while in the other direction we can see the scenic Waimea Pier.
As we continue our walk we see something running around and then digging in into the sand. We wait a bit and a crab exits carefully, it is a pallid ghost crab. In fact looking more carefully the crabs are all around us and we are extra carefully going forward to not step on one by mistake. The other animal we notice near the beach are the wild roosters that kept us awake at night, looking all innocent as they walk around.
On our return walk to the cabin we find a mixed flock of birds, there are quite a few “lifers” for us including Red Avadavat and Saffron Find, cool!
