Ani Trone

The last part of the helicopter tour we took on our 10th wedding anniversary was over the Na’Pali Coast. We had hiked it earlier in the week, (I still have photos to edit and share), but it was an unbelievable experience to view its spectacular nature from above. The coastline is a fifteen-mile stretch of rugged coastline on the northwest shore of Kauai literally means “the Cliffs.”

Right before we flew over the Na’Pali coast line the pilot had a couple final waterfall’s to show us which I will also share, if I’m not mistake the first and second image might be a part of Manawaiopuna or better known as “Jurassic Falls”. So if the images do look familiar or have a “Jurassic” feel to them it’s because the movie was shot in Kauai.

I would encourage anyone visiting Kauai to take a helicopter tour, it will be the most mesmerizing and spectacular moments you will have on your adventure. This pretty much sums up the tour:

“See areas where no one has ever set foot. Hidden places that can only be discovered from the air. Your tour will also include many famous areas that have made the “garden island” a favorite location for Hollywood.

On this Kauai helicopter tour adventure you will see lush valleys dotted with waterfalls, colorful and intricate Waimea Canyon and the impenetrable NaPali coast known for its towering razor sharp cliffs and secluded beaches and much more.”

The last photograph is a view of Hanalei Bay which is the final stage before the end of the tour.

Enjoy Bellas!

Shot with Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Rick and I got a late start to Waimea Canyon or else we would have hiked the trails on Mount Waialeale, but that will be for next time. This time around we just stop along the way to Koke’e State Park at each of the lookouts of the Waimea Canyon. The top foremost lookout is Wai’ Ale’ Ale, One of the Wettest Spots on Earth! When we finally reach the tip of the canyon it was almost 1pm and man it was crowded. There were tons of visitors like us that got a late start, a bunch of early birds that had hiked the trails on the canyon coming back and a commercial group of photographers and camera crew, perhaps doing a news or photo shoot for travel.

The top of Wai’ Ale’ Ale is incredible, in fact the photos I have to share will not do it much justice but I will be very well prepared next  time we go back and hike the trails.

What wikipedia has to say about Wai’ Ale’ Ale: The elevation is 5,148 feet (1,569 m), is a shield volcano and the second highest point on the island of Kaua?i in the Hawaiian Islands. Averaging more than 452 inches (11,500 mm) of rain a year since 1912, with a record 683 inches (17,300 mm) in 1982, its summit is one of the rainiest spots on earth.

Enjoy Bellas!

Shot with Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Tonight I sat down and created some panoramas from our visit to Kauai in January, I didn’t use a tripod, these were created in Adobe CS5 from a bunch of snaps I took as we were standing looking over the canyon. I will try and accurately pinpoint each lookout on the image itself. I did some tonal adjustments and vignetting on a couple of the images using Color Efex Pro 3.0-Complete.

Enjoy Bellas!

Shot with Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Today’s continuation post brings us back to Waimea Canyon but further up from our last lookout at the Puu Hinahina lookout. Rick and I stopped at the Koke’e State Park lodge to enjoy our packed lunches of Ahi Poke and sushi, but just before stopping for lunch we pulled over to view our next part of the canyon, which was Kumuweia Lookout.

Another stunning view looking down into the canyon and what I believe is the Waimea River below in the center of the image. Every viewpoint provided breathtaking views of the canyon certainly different from the last.

Tweaked the tonal contrasts in Photoshop and scaled for the web.

Enjoy Bellas!

Shot with Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

I started editing some additional photos again this evening from our trip to Kauai where we visited Waimea Canyon. This was a part of the trip I was really looking forward to going and experience because of the reviews I read, the photos I saw online and well frankly I have never seen the Grand Canyon, so when I read Waimea is nicknamed the “Grand Canyon” of Hawaii it was a definite must see.

Rick and I drove along hwy 56 and made several stops along the way, we stopped briefly at Wailua Falls; featured of course in the intro to Fantasy Island, too crowded and sun too bright to get any actual quality photos. After the falls we drove into Lihu’e to Po’ipu and took a look at the Spouting Horn, was a little uneventful for me but hey at least we saw it.

After driving a few miles more on hwy 50 we reached Waimea and started our climb up hill on a windy road stopping at various lookouts for the canyon. This particular shot was taken halfway up the canyon at the Puu HinaHina Lookout, this lookout seems to be where the canyon is the widest looking straight across. The views were breathtaking and the clouds just played nicely for the afternoon sun.

I have many more views of the canyons at various lookouts but this will be the first one for tonight and the last one until I can edit more later on this weekend.

Enjoy Bellas!

Shot with Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens