Island Hopping: Kauai, HI

We are enjoying a few days on the island of Kauai, an early "Anniversary Island Hop".  

I'm fascinated at how different each of the Hawaiian islands is from the others.  I guess it's the same as our kids, right? They come from the same set of genes, but, wow, they are (usually)nowhere close to being the same person.

Kauai is nicknamed the "Garden Isle" ~ 

so it's no surprise that it's lush and green.  

And also, it should come as no surprise that it's pretty rainy here ~ 

Like any good garden, it must be kept well-watered.   

How else would you keep everything so lush and green??

  
It has a more "rural" feel than some of the other islands.  A little more laid back, a little more true "Hawaiian".  The residents here are not as indulgent of visitors as, perhaps, say the big island of Hawaii or Oahu or even Maui.  They are basically working folk, and we just get in their way.  

Who could blame them, really??  When we are clogging their (one and only) "highway";

When we are ignorant of the courtesy rule of allowing of "5 - 7" cars to cross on the many many many single lane bridges.

When we are lost, when we are searching, when we touring,  we are just plain bogging down their everyday lives.  Who can blame them for being irritated, really?  Not me!

We find lots of cute little towns ~ 

With cute little restaurants and shops like this one ~ 

in a re-purposed elementary school.

There are lots of cute little churches of all denominations ~ 

It would have been nice to wander inside some of these.  

I wonder if they are open, or if they're all locked up (like they are on the mainland!)

I always love it when the "highway" runs out 

when it runs into the beach. 

 Kauai is also known as the "Chicken Island".  

But then, that's a story for another day.....