Turtles, waterfalls and amazing views : My top 6 moments in Hawaii

Hello! It's your friendly wander-luster, Lori, here. I'm back from Hawaii and thought you might like to hear my top 6 moments from the trip. (If you followed along on Instagram @adventureswithlori, you might have seen some of these already!) I'll be posting more there as I go through the images not shot on my phone. :)

6. Queen's Bath, north shore Kauai. I had no idea what we were walking into, but this was one of those places that just made me feel small. After walking over uneven volcanic rocks to get a great view, I just sat in awe of the power of nature. The waves crashed and sent water shooting into the sky. It was beautiful and mesmerizing...

Queen's Bath, Kauai

5. Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. I'm not a particularly strong swimmer and I have only snorkeled one other time in my life, but when in Hawaii... we just had to do it. Hanauma Bay made it very easy for me to see dozens of different kinds of fish without ever leaving the shallows. It really is a whole 'nuther world down there!

The dark areas you see in the water are coral reefs teeming with a variety of fish!

The dark areas you see in the water are coral reefs teeming with a variety of fish!

4. Hiking. I'm going to lump this all into one, but we did several hikes including the Sleeping Giant in the fog, the challenging Kalalau Trail, the Waimea Canyon trail and more. I think we averaged about 5 miles of walking/hiking per day of the trip. By the time we got to Diamond Head on Oahu, I didn't even feel out of breath.

Top: View from the Kalalau Trail, Bottom left: Waimea Canyon and Bottom right: Wakauwahi Cave

Top: View from the Kalalau Trail, Bottom left: Waimea Canyon and Bottom right: Wakauwahi Cave

3. Mountain Tubing on an old sugar plantation in Kauai. Think lazy river plus man made caves in a remote wilderness area. It was relaxing and fun! 

2. Getting up close and personal with sea turtles! I have loved turtles since I was young and it was so cool to see about a dozen of them chilling in their natural habitat. 

Sea Turtle nap time

Sea Turtle nap time

1. Swimming at the base of a waterfall after a 6.5 mile hike and having the place to ourselves! I can't tell you how amazing it feels to swim in freezing cold water after a long hike. It started to rain shortly after we arrived, but I didn't care. Cloud 9.

Hanakoa Waterfall, one of the more remote falls on the island.

Hanakoa Waterfall, one of the more remote falls on the island.

The whole trip was generally very smooth and enjoyable. Spending time with my husband away from chores and news was worth every penny. Starting every day with yoga and just being outside is good for the soul. We also enjoyed the aloha spirit (it really is a thing!), meeting other travelers at the AirBNB and eating lots of delicious food! 

Kauai was definitely my favorite island, though I am glad we got to experience Pearl Harbor and snorkeling on Oahu as well. So tell me, what is your favorite Hawaiian island and why?

Thanks for sharing in the adventure!
Lori

hawaii

Looking for more info about Hawaii? Check out this guide with answers to lots of common questions.

Lori Coleman

The daughter of filmmakers, Lori may have been predestined for a life in the creative world. She met her husband, John, while studying photography at RIT. When not creating heirlooms for her friends, family, and clients, she can usually be found in the woods or on a yoga mat. Either way, her dogs Molley and Mouse are never far away.