Kaua'i Day Two-October 10

Lonely soldier stands watch at Fort Catherine.

Since Waimea Canyon is better viewed in the afternoon because of the sun orientation, we decided this morning to travel a bit south of Waimea to see coastal birds and sites.  We stopped first at the remnants of a Russian fort, Fort Catherine, which was established in 1817 by Russian traders to protect trade routes.  It was destroyed in the late 1800s by native Hawaiians. 

At the salt pans near Salt Pond Beach Park there is still salt produced by evaporating sea water.  Because much of this area has not had much rain, however, the pans were largely dried up.  We explored this area looking for a few shore birds, but alas there weren't any!  We were often struck by the lack of shore birds on any of the Hawaiian Islands.  It was also too late in the season to find the rose-ringed parakeets which are pests in the corn crops.  We also saw a very interesting cemetery dedicated to native Hawaiian veterans.  Some grave sites are mounded. 

There is a restaurant in Waimea known at Wranglers which has a lot of cowboy memorabilia.  We didn't get the story of why it was established here, but it serves a local dish called "kau kau" in a three-tier tin which workers used to carry their lunch in.   The meals have an Asian bent and the kimshee on the rice was very hot to Ann's taste.  Fortunately there wasn't much of it and it was readily pushed to the side.  

Tin used by early workers for meal on the job.

Three layers--teriyaki steak, rice with kimshee and breaded prawns and breaded sliced vegetables

 It was back to Waimea Canyon for afternoon birding, this time we went all the way to the end of the road (about 18 miles) which winds and twists A LOT, and climbs to over 4000 feet.  At the last lookout we could see across the misty mountains to Mount Wai'ale'ale at 5, 146 feet which has had the reputation as the wettest spot in the world with over 460 inches of rain a year.  It was in this area that we finally saw our first 'elepaio, an endemic bird similar to the wren.  Across the valley is the Napali Coast  and a Marine National Monument which is inaccessible and home to 7000 species of mammals, seabirds and fish, some not found anywhere else. 

Napali Coast

Since we'd had such a heavy lunch, we microwaved our dinner and were ready for bed again by 8 PM!

Tomorrow we fly to Oahu.