Hello Friends and Family,

1975 Kaua‘i, HI, Part 2

Link to this year's index by clicking here.

When I travel, I love to explore — to see things that are new to me — different than I see at home. Not far from where I was staying, is Kauai's famous Spouting Horn blowhole. We do not see these in Arizona!

For those who do not know what a blowhole is, here is a description. As lava flows to the ocean, it begins to form channels that may become capped producing an insulated tube that facilitates the flow of lava to the sea. Once the volcanic eruption concludes, the lava will empty from the tube. In some cases, the lava tube will be at sea level and open to waves coming from certain directions. If such a lava tube has or develops a hole in its top, a blowhole has been formed. Waves entering the lava tube will compress the air ahead of the water then explode out of the hole in the tube.

Spouting Horn is one of the most accessible blow holes in Hawai`i. Ancient Hawaiian legends tell of a giant lizard named Kaikapu that would eat anyone who tried to fish in this area. A young boy by the name of Liko lured Kaikapu into the lava tube but escaped through the blowhole — leaving the lizard stuck in the lava tube. The noise that the Spouting Horn makes is supposedly the lizard's roar and the spray is her breath.

You might find it interesting to compare this Kodachrome 64 slide image of Spouting Horn to the one I took years later with my Nikon D800 and have posted for sale on my website. Click here.


Standing next to Spouting Horn but far enough away from Kaikapu's breath, I captured a beautiful coastline to the east.


Then turning to the west, another beautiful coastline demanded to be photographed.


Back in the car, I drove until I stopped at an overlook which impressed me greatly. In the foreground, you can see sugar cane backed by Cook's Pine Trees (similar to Norfolk Island Pine). Further down the hill, there appeared to be pineapple fields and more sugar cane. This is actually a historic photograph since both pineapple and sugar cane are no longer grown commercially in Hawai‘i (except for a small plantation on Maui which raises Maui Gold pineapple).


Turning in the other direction, I could see more sugar cane, a wind barrier, coffee trees, and more cane. Agriculture was still big business on Kaua‘i back in the 1970s.


Just like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Waimea Canyon on Kaua`i has been carved by flowing water. In both cases, it has resulted in incredible views of rock strata that remind us of the geological forces that built the original landmass then exposed the strata by erosion. As a result, Waimea Canyon is often referred to as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific".


And I have to confess, in my opinion, the photos of both canyons do not do them justice. You have to see them in person! Do plan a trip to Kaua‘i at some time in your lifetime and, on that trip, do visit Waimea Canyon. Another tip, call the Kokee Lodge to check the weather before your drive — morning generally has fewer clouds.


Some people like to hike these canyons. I'll pass. The sides are too steep (probably slippery too) — and how in the world could the rescuers ever get to you? Nope. I'll just look and take my photos.


I also have a photo of Wailea Canyon for sale on my website. Just click here to compare Kodachrome to digital.


Wailua Falls is one of the most famous landmarks on Kaua`i. The roadway lies very close to the falls which makes it a popular destination even for the less adventurous. Posted signs warn tourists to stay on the paved area at the top of the falls. However, on a later visit, I wanted something more than the typical tourist photo taken from the railing, so I climbed down to the river level (fortunately someone had installed ropes to facilitate the effort) and took a photo from below which is posted on my website. Click here to see if the climb down and back up was worth it.


The water from the Wailua Falls spills into the Wailua River. One does not usually think of rivers in Hawai‘i but here is proof that those thoughts need to be revisited. Swimming isn't advised because of strong currents and the murky water that empties into the ocean near here. Also note that even though shark attacks are rare, sharks do tend to prefer murky waters.


To be continued...

Life is good.

Aloha,
B. David

P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com