The Garden Isle

Kauai is known as the Garden Isle and also contains the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." In other words, we were never short of anything beautiful to look at. The North Shore, where we were staying, is lush and beautifully green. We have never been to the Grand Canyon, but this canyon was incredible. I'll list below some of the landscapes we were blessed to take in.

1. Waimea Canyon - the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"
We drove to the top of the canyon one day and must have stopped at least half a dozen times on the way up to take pictures. What was awaiting us at the very top was stunning as one side looked down to the ocean and the other side back into the canyon. One of my best friends in Korea, Nikki, became a Christian just a few years ago. One time I asked her what it was like to see beautiful places and not know Christ. She told me that it was just beauty. That's it. No more to it than that. I am struck by how much I feel God's presence and majesty in these places. To think that He created such beauty, yet He cares about me!? This canyon is one of those places that filled us with a deeper sense of God's glory.

2. Opaeka Falls and Wailua Falls
Who doesn't love waterfalls? Unfortunately we didn't get up close to either of these, but they were still beautiful. We must have seen 20+ waterfalls on our helicopter ride as well. WOW.

Wailua Falls

Opaeka Falls

 

3. Queen's Bath
This is a natural pool formed by lava rocks and the ocean. It was a steep, muddy walk down, but pretty cool. We were advised to not swim here during the winter but other people were swimming.

4. Fern Grotto
We went on a tour down the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto - it was beautiful and lush.

5. Spouting Horn
This is a blowhole that occurs from water rushing under the lava rocks on the coast. The tide was out when we were there, so it wasn't spraying as high as during high tide, but it was pretty cool. We could hear the wind whip under the rocks when the water receded.

Amos 4:13
For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,
    and declares to man what is his thought,
who makes the morning darkness,
    and treads on the heights of the earth—
    the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!