THE ISLAND OF KAUAI

                                            We visited the island of Kauai today

        Kauai, also known as the "Garden Island", is geologically the oldest (6 million years old) of the main Hawaiian islands and is 33 miles by 35 miles in size.  It is fourth largest main island in the Hawaiian archipelago and is located 105 miles to the northwest of Oahu where we will be visiting on tomorrow.  The 2010 census population of Kauai was 67,000.  All the Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanoes.  Kauai is one of the wettest places on earth.  This high rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains that are over 5,000 feet high.  Waimea Canyon is one of the world's most scenic canyons and is often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific".  The mountain regions receive 50 to 500 inches of rain per year.  In 1778 Captain James Cook arrived at Waimea Bay, the first European to reach the Hawaiian islands.  Now tourism is the largest industry.  Sugar cane plantations have been replaced by ranching.  Interestingly enough, Kauai is home to thousands of wild chickens.  As we arrived at the pier this morning you could hear several roosters crowing.


        Our tour today is "Hollywood in Hawaii--Movies and Waterfalls".  The natural beauty of Kauai has been the setting for some of Hollywood's most famous movies and TV shows.  Our motor coach was also a "Theater on Wheels" because while driving along, we could actually watch some of the scenes shot here on Kauai.  The film clips played on our screen while we were at the very location where they were shot.  Here are the locations we visited:
Wailua Falls--opening credits of "Fantasy Island"
Opaeka Falls--1960 Jack Lemon movie. "Wackiest Ship in the Army"
Hanamuala Bay--parts of 1958 movie, "South Pacific".  "Voodoo Island with Boris Karloff also here.
Coco Palms Resort--"Blue Hawaii" with Elvis Presley.  The resort was destroyed by a hurricane in 1992 but we got to visit it.
Moloa Bay and Aliomanu--pilot film for "Gilligan's Island"
Hundreds of movies and TV shows have been filmed on Kauai.  Too many for me to name but our guide today rattled of a whole bunch of them.  Here are a few more:  Indiana Jones and Amazing Race 3.  Many of these movies were suppose have taken place elsewhere in the world but were actually shot here on location.
        It was after 4:00 pm before out tour returned to the ship so I will post this today and put my photos of Kauai on blog on Saturday, 29th, which is our next sea day.  I think you will enjoy them and want to take my time with captions.  Kauai is a REALLY beautiful and laid back island.  For that reason many, many Hollywood and foreign film stars own property here.  One thing for sure, you cannot see this island and enjoy all that it has to offer in just one day.  I can see us returning here in the future and spending a week or two.  I really wanted to see the Waimea Canyon but no time.  I know my son and daughter-in-law would love it here due to all the sports activities including the world's best zip lining.
        It is now 5:00 pm and we are about to depart Kauai for Oahu.  We will be docking in Honolulu around 7:00 am tomorrow.  Here are some photos I took yesterday.

                              This is what seas looked like yesterday.  Some swell of 15 feet.

                                         Ruben sandwich and french fries for my lunch

              Last night we were joined for dinner by John Robinson.  John is usually at bar with us.