A Day at Hanalei

A Day at Hanalei

It all started on a early morning, barely any clouds in the sky just excitement and light in the air. Waking up knowing that I had an incredible day ahead made me feel lighthearted. The night before I made sure that I packed all the essentials which to me was a towel, suntan lotion, a change of clothes, a jacket, sunglasses, and an open mind. The ride to Hanalei was always visually stimulating to me. As I looked out the window I could see the effects rain left on the beautiful greenery the night before, the rolling mountains, and miles of open land. Because I wanted to get to the beach early I skipped breakfast, so a stop to Foodland on the way down to Hanalei was necessary for some breakfast and snacks for later on in the day. Seeing Foodland was the perfect land marker for me, because it was a sign that Hanalei was quickly approaching. I left Foodland with a smoothie and a tray of sushi to hold me over till lunch. Once back on the road, I passed a couple of lookouts presenting enormous taro fields, breathtaking mountains, awesome views of the ocean, and more tantalizing greenery while driving down the last stretch of road. In the blink of an eye, I crossed over the historic Hanalei bridge and passed through town, I arrived at Hanalei.

I was expecting company that had not arrived at the beach yet. I decided to have some of my food and relax in the car. While enjoying my food, a dazzling rainbow began to appear which proved that today was going to be a stunning day. It was still early in the morning which explained why there were no crowds on the beach, which was nice, of course, and very rare to see. It felt like I was on my own private island. As time went on, people started pouring in. Families, beach goers, and many eager tourist ready to surf. I could see far out in the distance where the massive waves were. They were so big that I wasn't sure if it was safe for the average surfer, but what is nice about the bay is that it is protected by mountains and fro vicious currents, perfect for swimming, surfing, or just walking along the shore. If you are ever lucky enough to be standing on the hills above Hanalei bay, looking out from the pier, or floating free in the blue waters, Hanalei seems ageless and mesmerizing. My company had finally arrived and I was eager to jump out of the car and join them, but I was a bit nervous because there was someone in particular that I was looking forward to seeing. There were more than enough places to sit, get comfy, and enjoy the view, which is my favorite part. The only downfall was that it was getting a little windy and cold, pillows of clouds rolled in covering the mountains. I sat on the beach, buried in my jacket and watched the people I was with jump into the water and begin to surf on the smaller waves next to the pier. At this time the beach was crowded, in and out of the water which can be annoying, but good if you like people watching. I was asked if I wanted to go on a walk. It was a great way to warm myself up so I said yes! The sand at Hanalei is fine and hard making the shore line the ideal place for a stroll. We walked maybe half a mile down the beach