All of you know that I love Hawai’i — all the islands — and I have visited all the ones that the public is allowed to visit. Curiously, I found some photos on my Mac of the island of Kaua’i which I don't recall taking even though I recognize the locations. Oh well, at least I recognize the departure from O’ahu with the world-famous Waikiki Beach hugging the shoreline.

Driving from Lihue (where the airport is located) one encounters the little town of Koloa on the road to Poipu (where I have stayed on a couple of trips). Sueoka Market is a historic store in that tiny town that is over 100 years old. Stop there and you'll find a wide assortment of products — Fresh Cut Tropical Flowers & Assorted Leis, Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, Fresh Meats, Seafood & Poultry, Dairy & Frozen Products, Grocery Products, Asian Grocery Products, Liquor, Beer & Wine, Beach & Picnic Supplies, an ATM, and a Snack Shop.

If you are staying at Poipu (a lovely place to stay and enjoy the ocean and more sunshine than the rest of the island receives), Sueoka is much more convenient than driving all the way to Lihue for those essentials.

Kaua’i does seem to enjoy an older, slower pace of life. Some guests can enjoy a lovely carriage ride complete with a Clydesdale horse.

One of the resorts offers an octagonal gazebo for guests to relax, probably with drinks, and enjoy the scenery and the beautiful tropical sunsets.

And if the hotel guests need to kick it up a notch, horses are available for a scenic ride.

Birds were not a surprise but trays of bird seed were. Hawai’i, in general, and Kaua’i, specifically, is home to many native Hawaiian birds — sadly, many facing extinction. Many groups and individuals are working tirelessly to preserve these species. Once extinct, they ain't coming back.

This resort has a nicely designed boat dock which, for some reason, reminds me of Venice.

I love this building. The sign says "Headquarters" but the structure looks like an old one — built with rocks and coral to withstand the tropical storms that visit Kaua’i from time to time. Remember Hurricane Iniki which hit in 1992? That was a nasty one.

A more pleasant thought involves the wonderful restaurants available in the Poipu area. Surrounded by glowing tiki torches and the beautiful Moir Gardens at Kiahuna Plantation resort, Plantation Gardens features Pacific Rim cuisine with regional Hawaiian influences. The restaurant is a beautifully restored estate that once served as a plantation manager’s home for Hawaii’s first sugar plantation, the Koloa plantation. Later, the estate was acquired by the Moir Family who built the world-famous gardens that surround the restaurant. I remember that the food was great.

Sadly, after that build-up, I have to pass on the news that OpenTable reports that the restaurant is permanently closed. 😢

Kaua’i is nicknamed "The Garden Isle" because of the lush vegetation which is the result of the abundant rain that falls on the island. If you go, I do recommend staying in the Poipu area — much more sunshine there.

Admittedly, the beautiful shades of sky, sea, and vegetation make some terrific postcard images. Does anyone still send postcards these days? Probably not — so much easier and cheaper just to send your cellphone photos via a messaging app.