Hawaii Trip Report, Solar Daytime 9: Waipio Valley, Akaka Falls; Solar Daytime 10: Helicopter Ride, Tropical Botanical Garden

DAY nine DEC 18, 2012:

Waipio Valley:

We wanted to instruct into the Waipio valley. The waipio valley is touted to move beautiful... it's mortal in addition to has only xl people living at that spot now... entirely way to instruct at that spot is through the $88 tour nosotros took... later on nosotros saw railroad vehicle tours... it may accept been the easier way.

Waipio agency curved water... it's the valley of the kings. We had booked a van cum Equus caballus ride amongst Na'alapa Stables.

In hindsight, this tour activeness was non pleasant in addition to scenic every bit nosotros had hoped

In the 1st place, at that spot were no H2O falls to move seen except a distant ane on the railroad vehicle ride. There were none during the Equus caballus ride, entirely streams to cross... likely due to drought or every bit some other site pointed out, the possessor of lands inward a higher identify using the H2O for irrigation at for sure times of the year. The streams were squeamish to cross in addition to at that spot were fields in addition to trees but not every bit stunning every bit seen inward photos. inward fact, the botanical gardens inward Oahu had awesome scenery compared to this.

This is the reporting identify for our railroad vehicle ride into the waipio valley. We drove almost 2 hours to attain here... good inward time.

Hawaiian doll amongst lei.

Santa inward Hawaii shirt in addition to flip flops.

Koa wood arts and crafts pieces—nice ducks.

Chess pieces, girls inward lei.

Fridge magnets inward wood —tortoises, dolphin, fishes, butterflies.

Hawaiian ceramic tiles—they are fine art pieces, framed for decorating walls.

A bed room amongst Hawaiian artefacts in addition to furniture.

Bed spread is HAWAIIAN QUILT.

The rocking chair is koa wood in addition to is $2000.

We booked this ride on the footing of the non bad reviews on tripadviaor site in addition to went downwards to waipio valley on December 18th amongst the naalapa stables ; unfortunately I did non accept a pleasant experience.

Our grouping had four Japanese. The railroad vehicle had an opened upwardly door, so that nosotros could restrain in addition to salve ourselves if brakes failed!! The heavy Jap lady slid into me at a few curves ... I thought I'll instruct shooting into the valley amongst her weight!! After the exciting ride, from the wagons nosotros transferred to horses in addition to had a 2 hr ride through the valley crossing several streams... were asked to wearable total pants, covered shoes... to avoid existence bitten past times the horses!!

The waipio artworks where the ride starts has some stunning pieces (twice every bit expensive every bit similar pieces elsewhere unfortunately); the railroad vehicle ride was practiced every bit reviewed past times others... Keoni's jokes were a niggling juvenile but nosotros played along.

We were a grouping of six in addition to came downwards to the stables in addition to the horses were brought for us. I'm giving a misfortunate rating to the experience every bit the guide's reply to an accident was really misfortunate in addition to such mental attitude mightiness cease upwardly endangering the rider; also they can't include a temperamental Equus caballus in addition to promise nobody gets hurt... somebody might!!

My Equus caballus was Kaapa in addition to the guide Keoni casually mentioned that he bites other horses in addition to so I accept to handle the reins firmly in addition to move nether control. He said when/ if the horses are bitten, they volition endeavour to seize amongst teeth dorsum in addition to since their aim is bad, they may cease upwardly biting humans... so nosotros accept to keep a four feet gap betwixt horses.

Unfortunately for me, the other riders inward our grouping were a niggling casual in addition to kaapa ane time did seize amongst teeth the saddle of some other horse. It was a strain constantly trying to croak on kaapa nether control. The guide amongst his weird feel of sense of humor was imitating my vocalisation commenting I'm likewise soft in addition to I should non worry most pain the Equus caballus but only jerk him hard when he misbehaves.

The ride had started out bad. When nosotros started, kaapa took the Pb in addition to all of a abrupt a tree branch broke in addition to brutal downwards only inches ahead of us. kaapa had practiced reflexes, braked in addition to jumped up, amongst his front end legs inward air in addition to turned back, I almost slid off the saddle. The other horses behind also braked. The guides were crossing themselves that nada untoward had happened to whatever of us... but my saddle had slid a bit. He asked me to stand upwardly up on the horse, clit my weight to the side in addition to so drag the saddle right. Try every bit I mightiness I could non create it good in addition to for the residual of the ride I was sitting slightly slanting. My inner thighs got a niggling swollen in addition to bruised in addition to I was sore for a yoke of days.

The branch falling was an deed of God. I experience the guide's reply to aid me amongst the saddle could accept been better. Later when nosotros were crossing ane of the streams, kaapa slipped in addition to stumbled into the H2O in addition to ane time to a greater extent than I almost took a tumble. So it was all inward all non really pleasant for me.

The other horses inward the grouping were all good behaved... but I was the lightest inward weight inward our group, so I got assigned Kaapa I guess, every bit he is pretty pocket-size compared to the horses others were riding every bit tin move seen inward the photos.

i accept had practiced riding experiences inward other tourist spots only about the reason in addition to this was only bad luck of the depict I guess. Also the helmet I wore was stinking to high heavens. I assumed others were similar but my son's was fine he later on told me in addition to his Equus caballus was a darling. The guide never gave the names of the other horses though... kaapa was the entirely ane named.

So tip for other riders if yous conduct naalapa, conduct a laid upwardly clean helmet... at that spot are laid upwardly clean ones available. Do wearable one, every bit branches tin autumn when yous are riding through a forest... move wary of kaapa... he is a naughty horse!

After the tour activity, nosotros resumed our drive. It was scenic. We should non accept booked the tour!

The valley has trees laden amongst oranges.

Tasty oranges picked from the ground.

The beautiful waipio lookout.

Informative sign boards.

Picnic dejeuner at waipio lookout.

Laupahoehoe :

Continued our crusade in addition to reached Laupahoehoe point... waves were pounding the shore.

Akaka falls:

We reached Akaka falls nation park...

Akaka falls... inward Hawaiian it agency a tear/split. akaka falls is 422 feet tall... it's on Kolekole stream.

This is Kahuna falls on the way to Akaka.

DAY 10 DEC 19, 2012:

FISH POND... We had our helicopter ride scheduled at 11, were asked to study at 10.15... didn't desire to move likewise early... so went off to Rainbow falls to grab the rainbow inward the morning.

Went for a trek to encounter the boiling pots... did non discovery it.

This is hardly a trail... bad idea.

Helicopter ride:

CIRCLE OF FIRE AND WATER:

We were so off for our helicopter ride.

Our good laid is belted on to listen our captain's commentary in addition to to communicate amongst each other.

Our captain was great... flew really unopen in addition to gave fantabulous commentary.

We resumed our crusade after the heli ride.

Tropical Botanical Gardens:

After 21/2 days of sunny weather, pelting started pelting... nosotros are at the beautiful tropical botanical gardens.

On amongst our pelting ponchos. This garden is so beautiful... has everything... lovely H2O falls, streams, trees, flowers, body of body of water trail.

Onomea H2O falls.

Pinecone ginger/shampoo ginger—zingiber zerumbet. gives a lovely odour when squeezed.

Some to a greater extent than flowers—actually these pinkish ripen into the pinecone ginger.

Ku... the protector.

Bird identify amongst macaws.

Red in addition to white see shaped anthuriums.

Orchids

Heliconia

Strawberry guava

There is a squeamish legend most these 2 rocks.

Enemy fleet was sighted at the horizon in addition to the villagers were scared they volition move decimated. The hamlet chiefs asked a immature yoke to brand a sacrifice to salve the hamlet in addition to the yoke agreed. Everyone was instructed to remain indoors the whole night. In the morning, the yoke had disappeared in addition to these rocks stood out inward the sea guarding the village.... they created a whirlpool making it hard for canoes to land, therefore saving the village.

Stormy weather.

It seems the founder in addition to his married adult woman mitt cleared the jungle in addition to created these gardens... awesome work.

This is a bell from the church building which was the visitor optic when the gardens were inaugurated... later on the wooden church building burned downwards inward an accident.

Stunning place... could accept spent a whole solar daytime here.

They send flowers to the mainland. The gift store within is awesome every bit well... lots of ivory, jade handicrafts in addition to loads of info!!

The steady drizzle had dampened our clothing but non our spirits... nosotros called it a solar daytime entirely when the garden closed.

Days eleven in addition to 12 are covered here:

http://www.kris-sapiutri.blogspot.com/search?q=hawaii-trip-report-day-11-volcano