Anini Beach 19 July 2017 : Caspar Institute

Typical summertime north shore weather: showers in the morning. The cacophony of the birds -- roosters have taken over the island, and here on Anini they use their particular abbreviated version of the traditional rooster call: "Doodle-Doo!"

Chad and Zoe took an early morning between-the-showers walk, but the rest of the crew stayed in and watched the weather go by.

Before its recreational opportunities were recognized, Anini was a swamp and seasonal sugar cane plantation. Now relatively uncared for, sugar cane has taken over the lowlands. Up top, the remnants of Princeville Ranch.

our front yard during a shower

Out the front of the house, same story: a summer shower dulls the colors. Ten minutes later, a patch of sun reveals everything fresh-washed and unspeakably green.

Second generation invasives (counting the "canoe plants" that the Polynesians brought as the zeroth) are here to give that special tropical glow the haoles like so much. There's a "water feature" that Mynahs and some kind of black moor hen-like bird just loves to walk wound on and bath in the gaps. The addition of feral chickens as insect control makes a lot of sense, except for the morning's incessant "Doodle Do!" that makes it hard to hear the incessant cooing of the doves that used to awaken us.

9:08 : early risers, the roosters are now quietly at their day job exterminating bugs. The sky is still promising more quick showers. The computer is still working properly. Plans for today's water expedition are being laid.

Beach #1: Anini West

We started our beach day by driving the mile-plus down to the bumpy end of Anini Road, where there's a perfect beach for keikis and (we hoped) better fish while snorkeling?

Well, maybe. Either we saw the same Humuhumu-nukunuku-apua'a several times, or there were several of these showy fish. And I saw a baby flounder, with his eyes already migrated around to the top side even though he was only two inches long.

In the background, a serious squall swept slowly past down the Ni'ihau Channel, but we made our escape just as the next squall dowsed the beach.

While Mia takes to snorkeling like a fish to water, Zoe masters the boogie board on Anini's quiet waters. She's barely long enough to control an adult boogie board, but she's persistent, and soon she's well out into the quiet lagoon.

The gang at Kalihiwai Beach

Beach #2: Kalihiwai

After lunch and a nap for most everyone, we headed east to the beach at Kalihiwai, where the surf is often just the right size for keikis. Today, maybe a little large, although Mia braved it, and got thoroughly tumbled ... recovered her dignity playing on the beach, and then "got right back on the horse that threw her." Her second inning with the waves was completely successful.

I caught several waves, and Rochelle got in right up to her neck. Afterwards, she remarked on how healthy you feel after getting massaged by waves your own size.

Zoe, who had been begging for some wave action, found the surf at Kalihiwai a little too rambunctious for her, but contented herself playing in the sand.

After an active day at two beaches, we went up to Princeville for a shave ice (at 6pm!) and then home for shrimp scampi, quinoa, and salad, with chocolate pudding for dessert. A very full and satisfying day.