Ryan and I traveled to Hawaii in the spring of 2010 for Laura and Don’s wedding. We weren’t there for long, but we managed to squeeze in some hiking, snorkeling, sight seeing and a visit to a volcano. As soon as we departed, we wanted to return. So this fall we got our chance and traveled directly to the island of Kauai for almost 2 weeks!

After the long trip to arrive, Ryan and I set out for our first hike along the Koko Head Trail. While only 8 miles long, a hike to the Hanakap’ai Falls a difficult full day hike (walking 8 miles at a slow pace would take around 2 hours).

Two miles into the hike is a beautiful beach, part of the Na Pali Coast.

The beautiful Hanakap’ai Falls. Ryan and I took a swim in the pool, though the falls were too powerful to swim directly underneath. Amazing.

Though we were exhausted (already!?!) the next day we took a kayak tour with Wailua Kayak Adventures to the Secret Falls.

Ryan fords the river.

This waterfall we could swim right underneath. So we did!

After this amazing, exhausting hike, we decided to take it easy for a few days. A visit to Queen’s Bath.

This next photo is my favorite photo of Ryan I’ve ever taken and easily one of my favorites of the year.

Our nifty cave photo that I shared last Friday.

It rains A LOT in Kauai. We got to enjoy a lot of “rainbow weather.”

When we had recovered for a few days, we took a zipline tour with Just Live. The top of this tower was our first zipping off point.

Ryan coming across from the first tower. There was one guide to help you launch and one guide to catch you. Don’t worry, the guides are all tied into the tree too.

There were lots of cool bridges for us to cross. All of the rope bridges had a cable above on which to suppress your fall.

Here I am practicing my Superman pose.

Our favorite day was our boat/snorkel tour of the Na Pali Coast with Holo Holo Charters. Arriving at the catamaran at dawn.

The Na Pali Coastline. These mountains hold some of the wettest spots on earth with 400+ inches of rain per year.

We snorkeled next to the tiny island of Lehua. The island is made of rock and only receives 4 inches of rain per year. It is essentially a bird sanctuary.

This is the best snorkeling I’ve ever done. A Hawaiian Monk Seal swam just fifteen feet behind me!

The coolest part was right here. The catamaran stopped over this area where the water was about 20′ deep. This cliff was a vertical wall that dropped to 120′.

Hey!!!

After our boat tour ended, we drove to Waimea Canyon, which looks like the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. Just taking a photo with my iPhone.

Why did the chicken cross the road? I don’t know. Why this one is in the middle of a parking lot? No one can say but there are a ton of wild chickens on Kauai.

Some of the lookouts we visited at Waimea Canyon were in the clouds.

On our last day we rented bikes…

….and took in one more sunset.

Thank you, Ryan for making our vacation so great! And to Ashley for such helpful tips on visiting Kauai.

Here it is.

Fun with lensbaby.  I don’t think this ring will save you as your sink 150 feet into the earth.

Scuba Mike takes the first group of divers, including my family.

Underwater photos by Nicki.  This photo is super bright, but check out the divers’ silhouette below on the dive platform.

15 feet down just below the first dive platform.

As the divers got further down, sunlight was no help and everything was seen by flashlights.  Underwater LEDs–COOL!

This was the stopping point at a depth of 92 feet.  If I were there, I would have turned away.

And here is the scuba diving crew.  I know they are stoked about this photo as they are all looking their best after those dives.

What did I do during this dive?  I took a nap in the car, of course!

But really, going on this trip was really great and I am so happy to be living my life with a schedule that allows me to do so.  Scuba Mike Convery of the Pittsburgh Scuba Center (back row in the red shirt) really hopes to get me in the SCUBA class to get certified, but I think he’s out of luck.  But you readers should!

Boarding the boat at sunrise with all of our gear…..

All of the smoke on the water is actually steam from the 72F water.  This area of the gulf (Kings Bay area) is fed by warm water springs.

The manatee all hang our near a sanctuary where the warm water comes from the hot springs.  The water is very warm, but there is no food.  The manatee have to travel 3-7 miles out of their way to find food.  Like me, manatees are vegetarians.

Here they are chewing on the ropes anchoring our boat.  Manatee love ropes.  Num num num….

Nicki, mom, and Jay get in the water.  Photo by Dad.  I am hiding on the boat (but I should have gone in as soon as possible, the water was way warmer than sitting on the boat).

Finally, I got in.  Me with a manatee, though he is making a getaway.  Sneaky sea cows.

Using the rope like some dental floss.  Photo by Nicki.

After our manatee swim, we ate a much needed breakfast and geared back up for a float down Crystal River.  The lovely Rhonda, from Birds Underwater, captained our boat upstream in the river for a 1-hour float.  At the upstream portion of the trip, everyone gets out of the boat and floats back to the parking lot, basically.

Nicki and Ryan soaking up the sun through their black wetsuits.  Note the sexy wetsuit caps.

The river is super clear while moving 4-5 mph.  The river dips down to 20′ deep at some points and other times is only 4′ deep.  It was super cool!

Nicki, my camera shy sister.

Me, I snorkel with Ryan and Jay.  Nicki, Mom and Dad stay underwater with their scuba gear.  Obviously, I’m asking Nicki for the camera using the international symbol for camera.

Sisters. Nicki is the easiest to spot with her pink snorkel and fins.

Self portrait

Nicki was taking of photos of me from below.  I was playing around with some deep dives.  Not surprisingly, I swallowed a lot of water.

Nicki and Dad doing handstands.

Nicki in the grass.  Photo by Dad (Rich D).

Here is a fish passing by the warm water springs.  You can see them bubbling up from below, looking like a simmering pot.  The water is not boiling or anything, that is just how it arrives.  Photo by Nicki in her scuba gear.

Nicki taking a breather.  I like this photo.

At the 20′ deep areas, the scuba divers were having a great time exploring.  Good for them, but seriously blocking my view of the springs.

Again, this is what I saw. A lot.

Nicki diving down.  I really like the framing in this photo.  Again, all underwater pics taken on the Canon G11.

And after the swim, we are tired, and waterlogged, but still awesome.

And this photo because we spent so much time moving gear, unpacking the car, drying wet suits, drying towels, and repacking the car.  So worth it for new life experiences.

One more dive left on the trip–divers only.  Time out for snorkelers at “Paradise Springs.”

Here is an engineering drawing of the sinkhole that makes up Devil’s Den.

Looking down to the dive platform from the top of the sinkhole.   Cool, huh?

The average air temperature in Florida at this time of year is 74F.  On this day, it was barely 50F.  Thankfully, the water temperature in Florida is around 72F and the sinkhole is mostly covered with rocks so it was pretty warm in this hole. 

View from the top of the stairs.  You can see the opening to the sky at the top of the photograph.  The orange/red colors are from the lights installed around the cave.

Cave walls.

Cave wall taken with my new Canon G11 point and shoot camera.

Nicki and Jay.

Ryan and I.  Photo by mom.

Nicki getting ready to Scuba.

Nicki getting into the water.

Dad ready to go.  Taken on the G11 inside of the waterproof housing.  Photo by Nicki.

Dad getting ready.

Nicki in the foreground (notice the highly visible pink fins) and mom in the background.

Underwater photo by Nicki.  So cool!

Photo of Mom getting ready for her dive.

Dad taking a photo.  Mom and Nicki in the background.

This is the photo dad was taking.  Cool even though there were water spots on the housing.

My family is so awesome!!!

Even better!  I love them!

Beautiful sister

Work it, Nicki.  I finally got in the water (with a snorkel) and took some photos of Nicki.

Family.  Ryan (top left), Nicki (top right), Mom (bottom left), Randi and Nicki (bottom right).

Photo by Ryan, who was swimming upside down.   I’m (in pink) using Nicki’s breather.

Photo by Ryan.  Dembski family photo.  Dad, Mom, Randi, and Nicki.

This is how I felt after that family photo.  Not flattering, but true.

Ryan and I.  Photo by Nicki.

We are having such a great time!

Due to recent pool problems and class cancelations, my parents’ dream of being certified by the time they head to Hawaii was in jeopardy!  Thankfully, Dad’s cousin Jim was nice enough to allow my parents and Mike to his beautiful SALTWATER pool for a class.  When I heard of this news, I hopped in the car and headed over there for some photos.  It was so worth it!  Here’s a recap of that class…..

Gearing up!  We were watching the weather closely because there were scattered storms tonight and diving isn’t allowed during lightening.

Mom getting ready with that mask.

Rich, Mike, and Denise in the pool and ready to start the lesson.

This is how you are supposed to get into the water from the back of a boat.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

There was some more playing with the mask

Getting regulated….

And then THIS was all that I saw for 45 minutes!

Jim lit a fire in their awesome natural gas fire pit.

The gas burns below this shiny blue glass, SO COOL!

I did get to see them swim around a little, but mostly they were at the bottom of the pool practicing emergency situations.  When you are deep underwater, that oxygen tank is your lifeline.

Mom taking a break.  “Breathing is hard work” she says.

After the dive, everyone was having a great time.  This is Dad’s face when he is really having fun and enjoying himself.  Makes me smile to see this!

Rich, Denise, and Instructor Mike

Then this party crasher (its ok, he lives here) jumped into things.  I think Mike was doing some recruiting for future divers.

I love that left foot in this photo.

Finally, some heavy and wet gear.

It was really fun to watch my parents do this.  Luckily, I was also taken to dinner for my photographic efforts.  Have fun in Hawaii, Mom and Dad!