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  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. Hawaii, February and March, 2009

Kauai 1

January 25, 26, and 27, 2009. Please join us for sunset at a spectacular canyon and for an unforgettable helicopter ride providing the best view imaginable!
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anotherchoppermountain

  • Our shadow on some nifty forest trees.
  • Aahh! The spectacular Na Pali Coast! Waimea Canyon, from where you saw the sunset photos earlier (and which you will see more of later), is just over this range of mountains. These cliffs plunge from over 4,000 feet down to sea level. The highest point in this photo would be at 4,284 feet.
  • Look closely. Do you see the other helicopter in the photo?
  • Can you still see the other helicopter? It is still there.
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  • The little white spot along the cliff just above and to the right of center is still another helicopter.
  • We are now north of the Na Pali Coast, near the mountain some call Bali High. The locals frown when tourists call it that, saying that they want to preserve the native language by using the native name for landmarks. But then when you hear them talking about it, you hear them call it Bali High. Oh well. Tom, the hike you mentioned, if it's the one I think you meant, starts at the base of these cliffs and goes over some of the Nepali Coast terrain you have just been viewing. I understand that there are a couple of miles of teaser, followed by 9 of gruel.
  • Haena, or very near there.
  • Looking straight down on a beach with people.
  • Looking east, toward Hanalei, "legendary" home of Puff (although Peter Yarrow and Leonard Lipton, who co-wrote the song, deny that it is the "Honalee" {original spelling in the original script for the song} of the infamous song).
  • I can't remember the name of this fall, and can't seem to find it anyplace on my map or on the net, but I THINK this is the one which our pilot said plunges for a 3000 foot drop.
  • Busy air space up here!
  • We are now near highest point on the island, at 5,148 feet. This is also supposedly infamous for being "the wettest spot on Earth," with 451 inches of rain per year. Actually, it seems to me that any lake would be wetter, but I'm sure that a hiker passing through here without proper gear would indeed find this place to be quite wet!
  • Mountains and cliffs give way to these delightfully decorated foothills as we head back southward, toward Lihue.
  • Wailua Falls. In a later album, you will see photos taken from that very parking area you see to the left of the falls. You won't see the other waterfalls from this album at ground level, though, because I'm too much of a wimp to hike several days through the wettest spot on Earth....
  • After a safe landing, our pilot and very knowledgeable guide lifts off again to take the chopper to wherever choppers sleep. By the way, if you are headed to Kauai, I strongly recommend a Blue Hawaiian tour! These EcoStar helicopters really ROCK (in a good way)!<br /> <br /> For the next album in this series, click the following link: <a href="http://optimimagery.com/Travel/Hawaii-February-and-March-2009/Kauai-2/7759805_wqnrd/1/501894933_ErwSB">http://optimimagery.com/Travel/Hawaii-February-and-March-2009/Kauai-2/7759805_wqnrd/1/501894933_ErwSB</a>
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