“Life is a paradise for those who love many things with a passion.”
–Leo Buscaglia

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KOKE’E STATE PARK, KAUAI, HAWAII

It’s true. I find different paradises in different corners of Earth. Some are dry, others are mossy, and others hide behind the clouds. Such was the case this day…

Waimea Canyon was gorgeous! (Blog post here) And after soaking the views, we drove further up the road into Koke’e State Park.

But we found only clouds.

It was neither surprising nor disappointing. We knew that clouds rolled in and out at any given moment. And in the high mountains of Kauai, patience became our best mate.

We kept driving until we ran out of road.

Pu‘u O Kila Lookout

The road actually really ends here. Separating us from the other end of the road was one of the most beautiful coastlines on Earth: the Na Pali Coast.

This lookout had the best view of the Kalalau Valley! Well…

…Never judge a day by the weather. We sat among the clouds, breathing the purest of air.

It happens in waves, they said. It’ll clear up, they said.

They were right. And the unveiling was a magical show…

Worth every second I waited.

And like the biggest tease that she is, Mama Earth brought those clouds back as quickly as she’d blown them away. We hung around the Pihea Trail hoping for another break in the clouds…

Vegetation unlike any other.

Oh, hey! :)

This is probably the only photo we took together on our trip. Besides failed selfies, that is. Tripod for the win! Just know that when we’re together — truly together — the last thing on our mind is setting up the tripod :)

The clouds didn’t clear. So we headed back down the park to spend the rest of the day taking Vitamin Sea.

Poipu Beach Park

I met the cutest little fairy here. Her name was Annabel. She was the most adventureful two-year-old I had ever met. Her little spirit stirred my soul in ways no stranger has ever done. What am I even saying?

I’m scared of the water, she said to me while her Mama called from the water, telling her to give snorkeling another try. All I wanted to do was hug her tight. I chatted with her and her Mama for the rest of the day. They were from Vancouver and had been camping during their stay on the island.

She stayed with a local family yesterday, said her Mama. They offered to baby-sit while I took a tour on a helicopter, and she did great.

My kind of humans.

When we parted ways, I wanted to cry so hard. God bless her little soul for the rest of her life, I said to the sky. God bless her wild spirit, her curious ways, and her sweet, sweet heart.

I had no idea who that little fairy was, nor why we crossed paths. All I knew was that I loved her so very much. I wish I was better at taking portraits of people I meet. I looked back through my photos and videos that night and realized I captured her in one of my videos, running around like the wild child that she was.

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying sunset…errr…interrupted by stampedes of tourists harassing sea turtles + anyone who dared tell them to stop. Can you spy the turtle in the photo above?

I had never seen so many sea turtles on one beach. The Hippies of the Sea. They’re so beautiful.

But they awoke and went back into the ocean because people insisted on gathering around them, touching, picking their flippers, and flashing cameras in their face, or lying right next to them for selfies. Grown middle-aged adults.

So please, if you ever visit, stop with the harassing. If your camera nearly touches their face, you are already too close. And you are breaking the law.

I walked over and tried to dissuade people from touching the turtles and flashing their cameras. I sat for a while. The rowdy crowds disappeared, but quickly returned once I left. Le’sigh.

Until next time, dear friends. And wherever you find yourself — enjoy your paradise.

Love & Adventure,

Denise

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Stay curious, wild hearts!

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