Trip Report, Part I, Mar. 27-Apr. 13

This trip was all about relaxation. I stayed at Sealodge, Unit J1, for most of the 18 days I was in Kauai. I ate most of my meals at the Condo., so there aren’t a lot of restaurant reviews. This trip was sort of my booby-prize for enduring 8 months of treatment for breast cancer, Chemo., Radiation, etc. (From January to March this year alone, I had 75 medical appointments, so you can imagine that I was quite READY for some rest and relaxation!)

PART I

Friday - Stayed overnight at the Marriott Lihue - loved my day there. Arrived at 4:00 p.m. and by 5:30 p.m. felt as though I’d been on vacation for days, the stress just melted away. Walked along the beach then stayed and watched the Keiki boogie boarding and then the sunset. I ate a protein bar for dinner, since I didn’t want to take time out for dinner; I went for a swim instead. There was a live entertainer poolside at the dining area, so I swam, watched the stars come out and listened to the lovely music. It was heavenly.

After I got out of the pool I went to where I had left my hotel pool towels next to an empty Jacuzzi. By now there were some local teens in the Jacuzzi and my two towels were nowhere to be seen, (but there were quite a few of the hotel towels among their possessions). I told them if they didn’t tell me which of the towels were mine I would get in there with them and tell them all about my colonoscopy a few weeks ago. That got laughs - and my towels back.

Saturday I woke up early and strolled around the grounds taking photos and relaxing in a hammock in the garden area with a book. Ate breakfast at a table overlooking the pool and ocean. Gorgeous day. Totally relaxing and I’d only been there less than one day!

Checked out and took the shuttle to the airport and picked up my rental car. It was too early to check into the Condo at Sealodge, so I stopped in Kilauea on the way. I had an Ahi Wrap at the Kilauea Fish Market for lunch. It was extremely good. I tried to buy fish to cook for dinner, but they were almost out and nothing particularly appealed to me. I also bought ice cream to go, from Tropical Dreams around the corner. The chocolate was fine, but the ginger cream was out of this world.

Checked into the Sealodge condo and went for a swim in the pool that evening. It was unheated and on the cool side, but I sometimes swim in the S.F. Bay, (I know, I’m crazy), and it wasn’t bad at all. The views from the condo. were fantastic. Sunrises were gorgeous most mornings that first week.

Sunday, after coffee on lanai and watching spear and net fisherman at the reef below, I packed a lunch and headed down to Sealodge Beach. It was a nice hike and a lovely setting. I saw an octopus and a three foot long coronet fish. I wanted to stay longer but it had started to rain hard. Walking back near the start of trail I was standing still and next thing I knew I had fallen three feet down the side of trail. Fortunately, it wasn’t steep there. I heard a snap when I fell, then felt a lot of pain and was afraid I’d fractured my foot. I waited and thought about calling for help then decided I would try to walk on it - there were some snapped roots under where I fell, so I hoped that was the snap I heard! I climbed verrrry slowly up and limped back to condo. Nice family driving by offered a ride, but I was almost there. Iced foot, then heated, then iced. I decided I needed to stay off it for a day or so, so I set up everything I needed by couch by window in livingroom and spent Sunday evening and all day Monday and Tues. morning there. While I elevated and rested my foot, it was as if Kauai put on a show. There were dozens of rainbows, a whale sighting, a leaping dolphin, soaring Albatross, a wedding on the beach which I watched off and on through my travel Binoc’s., and some absolutely stunning sunrises. Had I not sprained my foot, I would have been running around from place to place, (and having a great time), but I learned a lesson - that the beauty of Kauai is there for you to see, if you sit still long enough to let it come to you.

Tuesday afternoon I got stir crazy and went out for a drive. Stopped at Black Pot Beach at the pier to soak in the view. Then I drove to Kee, stopped at Haena Beach to watch surfers in that incredible turquoise water. Stopped at Foodland and Magic Dragon toy store and bought a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle to keep me occupied (and off my foot). Bought a few more groceries (I got tired of eggs and lettuce, which was all I had at the time when I hurt my foot - I hadn’t really planned to hang around the condo for all my meals).

Tuesday evening I drove to Hanalei Bay to see the sunset. It was incredible. There was almost no one there to see it. I can’t say enough how much I love Hanalei Bay; but Wednesday I fell in love with Anini Beach and the sea turtles! Swam for a few hours and ran into 5 or 6 sea turtles. It was a highlight of my trip, for sure. I discovered that swimming hardly hurt my foot and the salt water actually made it feel better. For dinner I cooked Kauai beef (New York steak - from Chevron Station in Princeville - Your Place for Beef!) I marinated it in some Huli Huli sauce and other seasonings, and ate it with sweet potato, and green salad with Sam Choy’s Creamy Oriental Dressing. Very ono.

Thursday I went back to Anini and swam underwater with my SwimP3 player playing Hawaiian music, and saw sea turtles here and there. It was awesome. I love the color of the water at Anini when the sunlight hits it.

Trip Report, Part I, Mar. 27-Apr. 13

You are the best!

TA folks. Here is a courageous lady who has gone through hell fighting evil cancer and knows how to enjoy life even when something bites her in the behind. We could all learn a lesson from your Hawaii experience and I for one say, ';you rock';. Thank you for letting us into your little Kauai world.

My prayers are with you as you continue on the journey of health and well being. I hope the calmness of Kauai helped you heal. Again thank you for the trip report.

Trip Report, Part I, Mar. 27-Apr. 13

Great writing!!! You have a keen scense of humor, can%26#39;t wait for the rest!

Aloha,

3Chihuahuas

Thanks, Jebett, 3chi%26#39;s.;

Everything looks fine after the treatments, but I needed a break from it all, and Kauai is such a healing place, my favorite being Hanalei Pavilion in the late afternoon. I could swim there for hours and never tire of it. I had my SwimP3 programed with Na Leo, Iz, the McMasters and other slack key music, and I was in heaven swimming out there for hours, just soaking in the amazing mountains and waterfalls.

Wow...I can%26#39;t wait for part 2!

What a great attitude...you%26#39;re coming off of cancer treatment, you go on vacation and sprain your foot, and not one complaint in this! Keep fighting the good fight and take care of yourself!

Thank you for your unforgettable insights. Best healing wishes to you.

Aloha Malawacky!! I was wondering when we would hear from you . . . and what a delight this was to read. Jebett said it perfectly . . . and I am with the others, can%26#39;t wait for the next installment. :)

Hawaii was my prize after my bout with breast cancer at 34. Not an easy thing to go through. Saying a ';thank you'; prayer to God on the top of a volcano at sunrise on Maui was one of the most spiritual moments of my life.

Just wanted to let you know that I%26#39;m now 43 and am heading to Kauai on July 4. There is life after breast cancer!!

livinonaprayer,

I love to hear stories like yours!

Nine years, that%26#39;s awesome.

I hope you have a great time in Kauai.

If you get a chance, buy some fireworks and take them to Hanalei Bay and set them off with everyone there on the 4th, it%26#39;s a blast, (literally)!

malawacky - Thank you for sharing your trip report. What an inspiration you are. Looking forward to reading more.

malawacky: You truly are inspirational. What a great attitude! I loved your story about the towels. lol