New Friends and Family!

 Friday February 18th, 2022     2nd last move day!

View from B103

Last night we pretty much packed up everything for our second last move.  Out of H307 into beach front B103.  I must say we are getting quite proficient with the packing for the move!  I picked up the only cart with an over head bar for hanging clothes and first thing this morning another regular cart.  

We had time to go out for our walk and have coffee when we got back.  We moved everything into the hospitality suite that is equipped with a luggage room and fridges/freezers.  We then hit the beach to wait for the word that B103 was ready for us.  And again, the Pono Kai housekeeping came through with flying colours!  We were in just after 1pm!  

It seemed like unpacking and setting up took longer this time.  I think were both just a bit pooped from lying in the sun!  Anyway, we had a quiet evening chilling and a game or two of Play Nine.  (this is one of our favourite card games)

Saturday, February 19th, 2022

Another great morning, I had a bike ride, jumped in the ocean to cool down, then Munchie and I took our morning walk along the ocean path.  I know I have said this repeatedly, but it is a wonderful stroll!

We hit Sam's Oceanview to say hi to our favourite server, Candice.  She is such a genuine and caring person.  She said she enjoyed the cookies Munchie had baked for her and true to her nature shared them with her coworkers and her landlords kids!

Sunday, February 20th, 2022     Family Arrives!

Lorry and Bruce Bergman fly in tonight!  We are excited to have them come and share the Kauai experience with us!  (side note: Lorry and Brenda are 1st cousins and share a birth-date, April 1st!)  A little bit of family history for those who don't know my brides back story: Brenda's mom was number 12 of 16 children, the Chomyshen clan (8 boys 8 girls!)!   There are close to 80 first cousins just on the Chomyshen side and what has always amazed me is how close this family is, and particularly the Solnicka girls (Brenda, Beverly, Betty & Bea) and the Lucki girls (Bonnie, Lorry & Lynne (twins!) )  Bruce & Lorry's daughter, Hannah, a coed at the Vancouver Island University, arrived yesterday with her college roommate, Taylor and her parents, BJ & Yolanda, the Coffeys.  They are staying a short jaunt away at the Kauai Shores by the Coconut Market.

After our morning walk, Munchie got busy!  Josh and Alayna had mentioned how they make soup on Sunday for their lunches all week, so she made some homemade chicken noodle soup.  I was the Uber Eats service and delivered the soup.  Josh later sent a message claiming it was the best chicken noodle soup he ever had!

Soup wasn't Munchies only enterprise today, she made apple pie and we hosted the Coconut Fish Cafe crew for pie and icecream!  And since Beth doesn't eat gluten, there was a GF apple cobbler for her!

After pie, we stopped by the Kauai Shores and picked up Hannah, then off to the airport to fetch Bruce and Lorry!  They were staying at the Shores for the first 5 days so we went back and met Yolanda, BJ, and Taylor for the first time.  After a short visit and introductions Brenda and I went back to the Pono Kai and the travels turned in to sleep off the jet lag!

Friends & Family!

The Girls!

The Boys!

Monday, February 21st, 2022

Munchie and I did our walk for the morning. 

Got to see some local wildlife scampering across the path!  Munchie was worried this guy would end up squashed, so I had to help him get to the other side!

The crew from the Kauai Shores came by after they did the essential Costco run.  We spent the afternoon getting acquainted, sharing stories and adventures as well as a beverage or two!  

Yolanda & Lorry

BJ & Bruce

Our new friends are from Fort McMurray, Alberta.  Both BJ and Yolanda are east coasters from Newfoundland and have been in Alberta for over 25 years.  Yolanda is a hoot!  Full of life and sunshine!  She was playing some Johnny Cash on her bluetooth speaker and couldn't help but get caught up in the moment and set to dancing solo!  She even got her hubby, BJ, to step up and dance with her! 

Tuesday February 22nd, 2022

At the top of Sleeping Giant

Today the crew decided to tackle the Sleeping Giant.  My second time up this trip.  It was just as good as the first time!

Lorry & Bruce

The Bergmans!

The Coffey's

Yo-Landa!

BJ & Yolanda

Hannah & Taylor in the caves!

After the hike we went for Taco Tuesday at Paco's Tacos.  The food was great!  After the lunch the girls needed to take a stroll to check  out the local shops along the main drag in Kapaa and the boys walked down to Big Wave Dave's to take a load off and enjoy some "quiet" time.  It wasn't long before the girls found us and brightened our day by joining us for a cocktail!

Later on we spent the evening on our lanai enjoying another awesome evening.  Our neighbours, Angelica and Danny joined us.  They are an awesome couple from just north of San Francisco.  As it happens Danny and Bruce share a fondness for tequila and Danny had a bottle that Bruce had never tried before.  Not only did they share a shot or two, but Danny also taught Bruce and Lorry a Mexicana style toast!  "Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa'dentro" (up, down, center, down)!

Wednesday, February 23th, 2022

Today we made a trek to the north side of the island.  We went up to Tunnel Beach and spent a couple of hours on the beach taking in the sun and watching the surf!  And of course, we had to check out the tunnel cave again.  Brenda picked up some fresh banana bread and some apple bananas from a food truck there in the parking lot.  (the banana bread was fresh and very tasty!)

On the way back we stopped up at the scenic look out to have a look at the taro fields.

Taro fields at Hanalei

I think the highlight of this day's trip for Munchie was the stop for a Dole Whip treat in Hanalei!  She said experiencing a Dole Whip would change your life forever!  

Everyone tried it and  gave it the thumbs up!

We hit Jimmy's Bar and Grill for a cocktail and dinner.  Even got a group pic with the owner Jimmy!

the Crew, with Jimmy!

Enjoying Jimmy's!

Thursday, February 24th, 2022

Today Bruce, Lorry, BJ and Yolanda hopped on the complimentary bikes from the Kauai Shores and did a bike ride along the ocean path.  They loved it!

Wailua River

We had reserved kayaks for today at noon and paddled up the river then hiked in to Secret Falls.  The crew  thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  It was a bit of work out, both the paddle and the hike! 

Secret Falls

We went to Paniolo's for supper.  This is the place that has live music and its a BYOB.  So we got a large cooler from the concierge and filled it up with ice and libations and settled in front and centre to the stage for an evening enjoying the music and the company!  The evening was a blast and our Yo-Yo got her groove on.  She ended up winning the air-guitar contest (she was the only contestant!) 

Friday, February 25th, 2022         Last Move Day!

We have gotten into a groove for the room moves!  We were all packed and ready the night before and the transfer was seamless!  Again, housekeeping had us in just after 1pm.  

BJ had to return the Turo rental today and the girls wanted a photo op with the jeep on the beach before it went back!

The return was at the owner's place in the back country.  There were some pretty awesome places back up there!  Google ended up taking us to the neighbours place, and as it turns out, the neighbour, Richard, had on his grumpy pants this day!  He was not helpful at all, and basically told us to take a hike!  

When we got back to the Pono Kai this ended up being a "decompress" day!  We had pulled pork and just spent the afternoon/evening chilling and yakking the day away!  It was awesome!

Saturday, February 26th, 2022                  The Coffey's last day!

Today we had to say goodbye to Hannah and the Coffey family.  Taylor and Hannah have school on Monday, and BJ and Yolanda have to be back at work.

We grilled up some dogs and smokies and had a bit of feast undercover at the pool (got chased under by a brief rain shower).  After the eats we had a mini corn hole competition.  Big Bruce Bergman was the undisputed champion, knocking off the defending champ, BJ the King Coffey!

Goodbyes are always a bit melancholy, but the knowledge that we have made some new wonderful friends takes a bit of blue out of the Aloha!

BJ and Yolanda, you are awesome people and we will see you sometime at your cabin at Skeleton Lake!