Hawaiian Island: Kauai�s Na Pali Coast

Kauai’s spectacular Na Pali Coast, the rugged coastline on the northwest shore of Hawaii’s oldest inhabited island, is probably the most remarkable and popular feature for visitors to the Garden Isle. The Na Pali Coast extends from Ke’e Beach and runs 16 miles southwest to Polihale State Park. Much of the coast is inaccessible due to its sheer cliffs up to 4,000 feet high, which plunge directly into the Pacific Ocean below.

These pali, or cliffs, provide a rugged grandeur of deep, narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. Waterfalls and swift flowing streams continue to cut these narrow valleys while the sea carves cliffs at their mouths. Extensive stone walled terraces can still be found on the valley bottoms where the original Hawaiians once lived and cultivated taro.

There are no roads in or along the Na Pali Coast, but it is accessible by hiking, boating, kayaking or from a helicopter. Hiking and boating are the best ways to experience these majestic cliffs, vibrant blue water, sea caves, waterfalls and other natural wonders. Nā Pali Coast State Park, encompassing 6,175 acres and located in the center of the rugged coastline, was established to protect the Kalalau Valley.

Kalau Valley

This valley, surrounded by verdant cliffs more than 2000 feet high, is famous for its tropical beauty. The broad, flat valley floor is about 2 miles long and a half mile wide allowing abundant sun and rain for a profusion of topical plants and animals.

Native Hawaiians occupied the valley from prehistoric times into the 20th century, farming a large complex of terraced taro fields. Today, its designation as a state park prohibits residents, but a few long-term campers establish illegal shelters and remain in conflict with state authorities.

The Kalalau Trail

The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. Originally built in the late 1800s, portions of the trail were rebuilt in the 1930s. A similar foot trail linked earlier Hawaiian settlements along the coastline. The trail traverses 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach where it is blocked by sheer, fluted pali.

The 11-mile trail is graded but almost never level as it crosses above towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys. The trail drops to sea level at the beaches of Hanakapi’ai and Kalalau.

Hiking the Na Pali Coast

The most popular hike on Na Pali is to Hanakapi’ai where hikers will find a lush river valley. Hike 8 miles (roundtrip) to a waterfall or 4 miles (roundtrip) to Hanakapi’ai Beach (the beach is only there during summer months – be careful as ocean conditions can be dangerous and there are no lifeguards).

For most backpackers in good condition hiking the 11 miles takes a full day. It’s best to get an early start to avoid overexertion in the midday heat.

Camping in Na Pali Coast State Park

Because the Na Pali Coast is within the Hawaii State Park system, permits are required for hiking and camping. Day-use hiking permits are required when continuing beyond Hanakapi’ai Valley, even if overnight camping is not planned.

Camping permits allow camping in authorized areas along the trail. These areas are located on shaded terraces near streams. The do not have tables or drinking water. Composting toilets are available at Hanakapi’ai, Hanakoa, and Kalalau.

Find more information about obtaining permits at the Lihue State Park Office (808) 274-3444, the Honolulu State Park Office (808) 587-0300 or visit the DLNR website.

Na Pali Coast Boat & Air Tours

Boat and air tours offer the most dramatic views of this spectacular coastline and it’s 4,000-foot sheer cliffs Dolphins, turtles, flying fish and monk seals are seen year round with Humpback Whale watching from December through April. Sea caves and marine life are added attractions.

Nualolo Kai, a fringing reef that extends 600 feet offshore, is home to more than 50 species of fish where Na Pali tour boats offer wonderful snorkeling excursions.

While the water on this coast can be rough in winter months, boat tour companies also offer romantic sunset cocktail and dinner cruises along the Na Pali coast during the summer months.

Resources:

http://www.hawaiiactive.com/html/kauai.html, www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/NaPali/na_pali_permits.htm

Kenya Safari Top Five National Parks

The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in Africa containing national parks and game reserves that consistently provide great wildlife sightings and experiences coupled with high quality accommodation.

But within the country itself there are certain areas that are better than others to safari in.

So, according to the trip reports received at African Safari Journals, forums, my twenty plus years of personal safari experience and the general consensus in the safari industry, these are the top five national parks to visit on your Kenya safari...

1. Masai Mara Reserve

Along with the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is without a doubt the premier game viewing destination in Africa because of the quality and quantity of wildlife sightings to be found here.

This sometimes works against it because in certain places it can be overrun with tourist in safari vehicles all jostling for the best position around a bemused lion pride or leopard in a tree.

But if predators are what you seek from a Kenya safari then this reserve will deliver them in spades in the form of lion, cheetah, hyena and even regular leopard sightings if you know the right areas.

And of course the massive wildebeest migration where up to a million of these ugly antelope trek north from the Serengeti plains across the river into the Masai Mara to find fresher grazing is an awesome spectacle.

Between July and August (reliant on seasonal rains) is the time to find the wildebeest in this area.

Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains which is a magical experience and you are spoiled with a champagne breakfast when you land.

2. Samburu NP

On a Samburu Kanya safari you will notice that the area is a lot drier and hotter than parks to the south due to the climate warming and the only thing that saves this park from being completely arid is the Ewaso Ngiro river which runs through it.

This river will provide you with lots of wildlife sightings because the animals are drawn to it to drink and the park is relatively small which concentrates the animals and makes them easy to find.

The conditions have spawned some wildlife that are particularly suited to this area like the gerenuk which looks like a cross between a giraffe and an antelope because of its long neck, gravy's zebra (stripes don't go all the way under the belly) and reticulated giraffe which have a geometric pattern on their coat unlike other giraffes.

And then there are the leopards which seem to make a habit of moving around during the day unlike other areas where they are mostly nocturnal.

3. Aberdares NP

This park is set in the Aberdares mountain range which ensures that it has thick woodland forests, waterfalls and ice cold streams filled with trout contained within its boundaries.

It is home to two well known treehouse hotels, the Ark and Treetops, which have walkways and accommodation raised above the ground beside floodlit waterholes with salt licks. You don't need to go on a drive to find wildlife on a safari here because they come to you.

All you have to do is stay close to the waterholes at the lodges and you will see elephant, lion, hyena, various antelope and rhino. There is also a viewing hide below ground level which gives you some unique views as the animals quench their thirst.

And after a strenuous days Kenya safari wildlife viewing from the platforms with a drink in your hand, you can go back to your room with the confident knowledge that if a particularly good sighting is going on at the waterhole like a leopard, lion or hyena you will be alerted by a bell (one ring for lion, two for leopard etc) which will ensure you don't miss any of the action.

If you are tempted to go on a game drive you might spot the elusive bongo antelope and some of the monkeys that make their home in the Aberdare forest.

4. Amboseli NP

Situated close to Kilimanjaro this national park will afford you some awesome views of elephant, giraffe, hippo and antelope with the majestic snow topped mountain as a backdrop.

Streams from the mountain feed swamp areas which support a rich variety of wildlife and birds such as pelicans, bee-eaters, eagles and kingfishers.

It doesn't have the regularity and consistency for predator sightings that a Kenya safari in the Mara provides but lion, leopard and cheetah are seen as well as old bull elephants with some of the biggest ivory tusks in Africa.

Rhino used to be found in this area but unfortunately they are now extinct due to poaching activity.

5. Tsavo East and West NP's

This is the largest national park in Kenya and is divided into Tsavo West which is the most developed part and East where some of the land is accessible but the rest is off limits to the public due to poaching.

If you are looking to get away from the masses of tourists and do your wildlife viewing in relative isolation and peace then a Kenya safari in Tsavo is a good place to do it.

There have been over 500 species of bird recorded in Tsavo west including the migratory species so this provides a visual feast for birders.

Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary gives you the opportunity to spot the scarce and temperamental black rhino (42 recorded) in 70 sq kilometres surrounded by electric fence for their protection.

The underwater viewing chamber at Mzima Springs will give you an insight into what hippos do underwater and you will spot a number of other species of game there all attracted by the life giving water.

You can find additional info at the following links:

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Are You Really Ready To Ask Someone To Co-sign For You?

It looks like you may have reached a turning point in the road. Whether it's for an auto loan, a personal loan, or department storecredit, you may not be able to qualify by your own merits. This is when the cosigner comes into play. The best place to look for a consigner is within the family, or either among friends. You'll want to trust them just as much as they will want to trust you.

If this individual is backing your loan, they will be privy to the same credit checks as you would be if this were your loan all by itself. Their creditworthiness is based on income, homeownership, credit history, and job security. If you default on any payments, the consigner will have to pick up the tag. That's why it's good to make sure that you have all of your ducks lined up in a row before you put the consigner's financial credit rating on the line.

Say what you mean and mean what you say!

To the cosigner, you are saying that you plan to honor the credit contract to the letter they have consigned for. Don't try to take on too much new credit at first. Take the time to really look at your spending habits. If you have had trouble in the recent past keeping up with your finances, this may not be the best time to put someone else in the cross hairs.

Building and managing credit is a huge responsibility. Just ask any one of the thousands of people that have low credit rating scores. These people started out in good faith. They had every intent of making sure their payments would be complete and on time. However, things often happen beyond anyone's control and those things that happen are events that can often send a good credit rating south for much longer than just the winter.

Put aside a little money each month to cover the loan repayment and make it a priority. Protect the person who consigned as if he or she were you. Remember that the reason you needed them in the first place was because you couldn't qualify on you own merits. That doesn't make you a bad person in the least. It just means that it may take a while before the system deems you credit worthy and until that happens, make sure you have the consigner's best interest at heart.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
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Hawaii - Top Ten Things To Do!

When you think of warm water, lots of sun and seemingly endless beaches, what comes to mind? For many, it's Hawaii. But there is more to do in Hawaii than sunbathe. Learn about the countless Hawaii adventures that you can have on your next visit to this beautiful paradise destination.



You can explore Hawaii on land, air or sea and take advantage of all the state has to offer.



For hikers, there are fabulous nature trails on every Hawaiian island, including treks for beginners and experts. On Maui, Haleakala is revered as one of the state's best hiking spots. A favorite hike on Oahu is the 45-minute climb to the top of Diamond Head, where visitors are rewarded with sweeping views of Waikiki, Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean. On the Big Island, head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and take on the Kilauea Iki Trail, a five-mile adventure that begins at the Thurston Lava Tube.



If hiking is not your thing, and you prefer to cycle your way around, fear not, there is plenty for you to do as well. Haleakala has a wonderful down hill route made for biking and Lanai has a place called the Garden of the Gods. This is a place that looks like the surface of the moon and has very colorful rocks and craters in the landscape.



Another popular way to see this island is horseback riding. One of the United States largest ranches, a sprawling 175,000 acres, Parker Ranch is on the Big Island where you can pretend you are a cowboy for the afternoon.



Skiing? In Hawaii? Yes, indeed. The summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island is usually blanketed with snow from late November through April. Only advanced skiers should attempt to brave these slopes, however.



The ocean provides many exciting recreational opportunities. Take a surfing lesson at Waikiki Beach, where gentle waves and shallow waters are perfect for novices. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay or go SCUBA diving at Cathedrals, located just off Lanai's south shore. Hook a marlin or tuna on the deep waters off Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Or head to Kauai and enjoy a kayaking trip along the breathtaking Napali Coast.



If you want to see the island from the sky, almost every one of the Hawaiian islands offer hang gliding lessons or helicopter rides. If you are a little more adventurous, you can go skydiving on Oahu. Here, a licensed instructor will jump out of the plane in tandem at 13,000 feet.



But that's still not all. You can also enjoy camping, windsurfing, whale watching and more. This list just goes on and on. So when you are planning your next Hawaiian vacation, plan on doing something, rather than nothing.





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Hawaii has so much to do. Take a look at the top ten things to do on the Hawiian Islands. Check out the many Hawaiian Island vacation activities or you might want to see how beautiful Hawaii can be. Check out these Hawaii tropical island pictures

Plumbers and Plumbing Repairs

When I began reading an article titled "Only My Plumber Drives a Mercedes," in a magazine, I expected to read some outrageous tales about how a plumber had taken advantage of the poor writer. But the article never once mentioned a plumber or a specific plumbing complaint.

The writer beefed about his vet bills, having his video recorder fixed, his car repaired, and his condo repainted, but not one word about a plumber in the entire article. The writer apparently felt it wasn't necessary to explain, because everyone would understand the implications without having them spelled out.

In the years of teaching Plumbing Repair Clinics, I heard hundreds of complaints about plumbing in general and plumbers in particular; some of them were valid, but many were truly unfair. Certainly, it was unfair of that writer to sweep plumbers into his basket of complaints without explaining.

There are few things in the average home that give as much service and are as durable as the plumbing fixtures and the plumbing system. When the plumbing system in a house is installed and enclosed within the walls, it's meant to last for decades, and it usually does. And given reasonable care, most of the fixtures attached to the system also give years of service.

There are exceptions, but most major home appliances that cost a good bit more than a faucet or toilet have a life expectancy of less than 15 years. For some reason, many people accept the fact that their appliances and other home equipment are going to wear out and need fixing or replacing, yet they resist and resent the idea that it may be necessary or desirable to repair or replace parts of their plumbing system.

A comment made by a man in one of my Plumbing Clinics reveals how some people expect more from their plumbing fixtures than from other furnishings in their home.

Early in the clinic he said he was "always" replacing washers in his kitchen faucet, and he made it sound as if he meant every few weeks. As I demonstrated how to repair a faucet and how a damaged seat can cause a washer to wear out rapidly, I asked him to be more specific about how often he changed the washers. He said, "Every three years or so!" Imagine ... complaining because it is necessary to replace a 25-cent part every three years on a fixture that gets as much use as a kitchen faucet.

I was often asked how to fix a cracked toilet tank, toilet bowl or lavatory, and in almost every case they were very old fixtures. Why is it we will repaint, repaper, redo our kitchens and baths, but feel we should never have to replace plumbing fixtures?

Undoubtedly there are plumbers who are too quick to condemn fixtures, and I'm not trying to defend the practice of routinely replacing fixtures that really only need a few minor parts replaced. However, all plumber's don't practice their craft in this manner, and some actively try to help homeowners help themselves.

For example, one of the plumbers in my region is a master plumber, former secretary of the Washington Suburban Master Plumbers Association and president of his own plumbing company. He taught a Plumbing Repair course for homeowners through a local Community College Services program.

He told me that his company policy is to advise a customer to replace a faucet if it appears likely the faucet is going to require additional repairs within the year, or when the faucet is over 15 years old. He says, "You can have a new faucet installed that will usually last seven to 10 years without repairs for the cost of two repair calls on an old faucet."

Another example of a professional plumbing firm actively trying to help homeowners help themselves came from a former student of my plumbing clinics, who called to share with me her experience with a local plumbing company. After learning it was going to cost $150 to replace a tub and shower valve, she went to a neighborhood plumbing company where they showed her how to fix it herself, ordered special parts and loaned her the tools to fix it herself.

The opening paragraph in a report on Washington, DC area plumbing firms by The Washington Consumers' Checkbook says, " ... It's not easy to pick a plumbing firm that does bad work. Our raters found that you are much more likely to have a job done well than not."

Surf about the World Wide Web and you'll find dozens of professional plumbers who are willing to answer consumer's plumbing questions. On the Toiletology 101 "HELP" page there are quite a number of addresses for plumbing sites that offer to help solve plumbing problems.

At http://terrylove.com/wwwboard/ is a bulletin board for "Free Advice on Plumbing & Remodel" run by Terry Love. Terry is a professional plumber in Washington state. There are dozens and dozens of questions posted with answers on his board.

As in every industry, there are no doubt plumbers ready to take advantage of a homeowner. But there are far more who are respectible business people, doing their jobs in a professional way. For the writer of, "Only My Plumber Drives a Mercedes," to title his article in such a way was grossly unfair.

From Kay Keating's Fixitips at www.toiletology.com