Chickens of Kauai

Chickens are the squirrels of Kauai. Except they are way louder, way bigger, way messier, and well, I've never seen squirrel poop. I'm sure they do, and it probably really cute and smells like nuts. Anyway, they are everywhere. They strut around confidently, knowing that they have no natural predators exist on the island and neither Chic-fil-a nor KFC have franchises on the island. They do what they want and it has endeared Kauai to me. So here are some of my favorite chickens. 

See the rooster checking out the surf?

This guy asked to borrow some SPF50. 

Then I gave him an olive. 

These two just enjoyed some Moco Loco at the Bamboo Grill. 

This guy was giving me surfing pointers. "Gotta keep center of mass low till you get it under you"

Expert in camouflage 

This guy was warning everyone of the steep cliff at the top of Waimea Canyon. 

These guys were showing tourists the fruit stand. 

Mom and her babies by front of the Marriott here. 

The parking lot of the Marriott. Guess they lost their keys. 

WalMart parking lot. 

Also Walmart 

In Port Allen. Waiting to go on snorkel Boat. 

Just checking on the surf on the west side. 

In a strip mall outside a Hawaiian Ice. 

Same. 

At the car rental counter in the airport. Guess he had a business meeting. 

Our breakfast club. 

This one was eating an egg. Cannibal!  

The story behind the chickens is that in 1993 a hurricane came through and destroyed all the chicken farmer cages. Chickens got blown all over the island. There are no chicken predators here so now they run free and own the island. It's pretty funny to see them everywhere. 

Snor-Kawai-ling

We got up this morning at 5. Before the sun had risen we were in Port Allen to head out with Holo Holo Charters. We went to the Napoli Coast then over to the Forbidden Island of Niihau. We snorkeles for about an hour and a half before heading back. Unfortunately, I didn't have an underwater camera. Next time. This was a really pretty day and the iPhone doesn't really do it justice but I'm happy with the pictures I took. This is one of those places that pictures don't translate completely. The salt water slapping your face while the catamaran bounces across the ocean can't be captured on camera. There is also something about how the ocean spray crystallizes on any surface leaving behind a tasty white film. My ear lobe crusted in salt is just not something a camera can capture. The nice thing was the climate. Not too hot. Not too cold. Very relaxing. Only a little burning. 

Sun rising over Kauai and the pacific. 

This was our guide. He was really cool and could walk on the boat when it was bouncing up and down without issue. Pretty impressive. 

West coast of Kauai. 

Look at my little buddy. We hang out some times. He is a bottlenose dolphin. 

The Napoli coast. These peaks get to 4k feet. Lots of movies were filmed here. Jurassic park, Pirates of the Carribean, King Kong. I'm pretty sure Johnny Lingo too. But that may have been filmed in Utah. 

Last bit of beach at Polihale Beach 

Here's a google earth shot. 

Beautiful. Appears try this was the leper island. If so sign me ....  Never mind. 

Pirates of the Carribean and King Kong were filmed right here. 

We visited a few sea caves. The captain was pretty chill he drove right into a couple of these. 

Such a pretty sight. Oh and a waterfall in Hawaii. 

Beautiful and a sea cave. 

We headed accross the channel to snorkel at the forbidden island. On the way I drank 3-4 of these bad boys.  

Here's where we went. 

That is the forbidden Niihau. 

We weren't allowed to land on it. Just swim. 

Here is where we snorkeled. 

We saw Monk Seals, Rays, billions of fish, an eel, a baby shark, sea urchins, and lots of beautiful colorful fish. 

 Kinda far huh?

Key hole. 130 feet tall 120 feet deep. 

Headed back. Burned but had a lot of fun.