Island Refuge

Barbs and Mors

It’s like we here yesterday. Our friend Maureen picked us up at airport and placed fresh flower lei on Barbara that she made with blue-green pedals from jade vine, a traditional aloha welcome for friend.

I’m always impressed by kindness of Barbara and her amigas, as they call each other. Why can’t we all be amigas and amigos?

Mors, or Mo, her surf nickname, has lived on island for maybe 10 years, same as our daughters, B (now Isabel) and T-Dawg. Grow up in small surf town and you get nickname. And you may move to island.

The connection with Santa Cruz is strong throughout Hawaiian chain. Kauai may have more Santa Cruz expats than waterfalls. That could be exaggeration. Many waterfalls are hidden and hard to find, one reason why helicopter tours fly into big canyons of Waimea.

Weather has been cooler than normal, hovering in high 60s, playing hide and seek behind moody clouds. Visitors arriving for short vacation with sunshine may not like.

Here are photos snapped over first week on north shore. Bonus video at bottom. Boca Bob not from Santa Cruz. He's expat, poet/upcycler from Florida. Hope you like.

Surf break at Pinetrees on Hanalei Bay during annual longboard contest. Scene look like painting. See photographer with tripod at bottom left.

Lineup of old logs decorate Pinetrees Longboard Contest.

Sign on tree trunk honors longtime local, Bugsy, who passed away recently. His white van was landmark parked next to tree.

Hanalei River mouth with sandbar. Light rain makes small circles on water.

Outrigger canoes at Hanalei Canoe Club

Remains of old Canoe Club Cafe on river bank. PHOTOS:KCS