Polihale Beach State Park | Kauai Adventure Part VI

I promised myself I would finish blogging our trip to Kauai. Often editing and completing my own personal photos is more challenging than finishing my client’s photos–I always figure I’ll get around to it but never do. So before these pictures end up in the “forgotten photos” abyss on my hard drive, I’m going to share this final installment of our Kauai Hawaii adventures.

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We ignored the warnings–both the ones in the guidebook and the ones on the ominous looking-signs. If we got stuck in the sand, well, we would get stuck. We didn’t drive all the way out here to stare at an empty field next to the mountains. So we bounced and pothole-splashed our way to the last edge of civilization on Kauai’s West Shore–Polihale State Park.

By civilization, I mean a dirt road and one public restroom facility next to miles of clear sandy beach. Sand dunes stand as sentinels in a barren land while a few surfers take to the waves. We were told the current could be dangerous here–we should use caution. Today, though, the waves looks tame, the sun hot, and the water inviting. We find an empty spot of sand (not difficult as we could count the other beach-goers on one hand), and spread out our towels.

Timidly, I wade into the surf. The water and waves grow deeper and stronger as my feet sink into the soft sand. A white-crested wave rushes towards me, and I jump, laughing as it carries me towards the shore. Jay ventures out farther and discovers a large sandbar. He looks comical, almost hero-like, standing in the middle of the ocean in water only knee-high. I soon join him and we begin to play a game with the waves, bating them to knock us off our feet as we splash and jump in the salty water. This is more fun than a plane tour, more fun than a hike to a waterfall, and yes, even more fun than a horse ride. The pure simplicity of it–the delight of having nothing else to do but jump in the waves is exhilarating.

I wish that time would stand still. I want to savor every last second of this vacation.

But the sun beats down and burns hands and backs. We have a reservation for dinner and a sunset, and it’s time we head back and get cleaned up. Reluctantly, I leave my game with the waves and find my towel, drying the sticky salt-water from my face for the last time. I wonder if and when I will ever see this place again.

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We started our last day in Kauai by touring the local coffee farm, Kauai Coffee. Free samples meant we were charged up for our day at the beach.

Located next to industrial plants that dumped their waste into the water, Glass Beach gets its name from the tiny glass rocks that make up most of the beach. The waste ended up washing onto the shore, pummeled into beautiful pieces of smooth glass.

This is as far as you can walk on Kauai’s West Shore at it abuts the impassable Napali Coast.

The Russians tried to build a fort on Kauai. It only lasted about 2 years before the locals took it over.

We spent our last dinner enjoying the sunset at the aptly-named Beach House restaurant.

And in the evening I played around with trying to capture the stars and waves. In the distance you can see the light of a ship.

Portraits from our last morning in Kauai–a rare moment of tans and freckles (for me).