Hawaii Day 2 - Waimea and the great orgeat syrup snipe hunt

Thanks to jet lag/not quite being on the right time yet, we were able to get an early start on the day. This was good because we had some ticky-tacky errands to run and we wanted to spend a good amount of time hiking in Waimea. But first, Wal-mart.

I hate carrying liquids in my luggage and sunscreen is no exception. However, I burn easily and I ride a desk most of the time, so sunscreen is really a must. I also hate almost all hotel shampoos and 3 oz of shampoo isn't going to cut it for me for a week. So step one of our vacation is picking up sundries. Fortunately, the Lihue Wal-mart is close to the hotel. So we surgical strike the HABA section and are quickly on our way to Waimea with nary a skin cancer concern.

Waimea was on our list the last time we came to Kauai, but for a variety of reasons, we just weren't able to make it work. I'm so glad we prioritized it on this trip! On the way in, we were treated to views like this one:

View of the Waimea Canyon - Before the rains

Looking to shake off the jet lag and all the sitting from the day before, we head to the Canyon trailhead that will take us to a set of falls and promises some active hiking. However as we start our way down the path, several people we pass pretty much laugh at us and ask when we're turning around. The terrain was steep, but didn't seem too bad...until it started to rain. Kris and I quickly agreed that with all of the red clay along this steep path things could quickly and easily turn pear shaped. So we bravely listened to our gut and turned back. By the time we worked our way back to the top of the trail, the rain was coming down in earnest and rivulets of water were coursing down the trail. We stopped by the two scenic outlooks at the trailhead and saw...clouds. So we decided to work our way back to Lihue.

Even with the rain, the drive back was breathtaking. I only wish I was driving something sportier than the Kia Sorento behemoth I had rented which really didn't do justice to the twists and turns. We decided to stop into the Kauai Coffee Company on the way back. I reaffirmed that I only like snobby, hipster coffee preparations: 'all' they had were 20 different versions of drip, none of which really struck my fancy.

We decided to pick up some provisions for our stay before heading up to Hanalei. Browsing the liquor shelves at Costo (I know! Why is Ohio so dumb about their liquor laws!) we decided that mai tais made perfect sense. But of course, we couldn't settle for pre-mixed mai tais! That's too easy... Thus began the great hunt for orgeat (pronounced 'or-zhay') syrup. Never heard of orgeat? Don't worry. Neither had I, but it turns out that it is essential for a traditional mai tai. Originally made from a blend of barley (and taking it's name from the French word for the grain,) it's now a sweetened combination of almonds and rose or orange water. Simple, right? Not so fast! Costco had rum and tequila. We went to the local run distillery - Premix, but no syrup. Times Supermarket, rum, Rose's, no orgeat. Finally, dispirited, we walk into Safeway determined to have daiquiris at the least and find...Mr. and Mrs. T's orgeat, which is all corn syrup and artificial flavors and the same pre-mix that we first saw at the distillery. Gah! We finally compromise on the pre-mix *and* daiquiris because, vacation. After several trips around Safeway for other cocktail culture necessities including a manual juicer, we find ourselves back at the liquor shelf where another couple is apparently at the end of the same journey and is having the same quibble we did over the T's syrup. Ultimately, they left w/the premix as well. Net, I sense a business opportunity in lurking outside of Costco and Times, covertly selling orgeat to hipster/finicky drinkers like ourselves. Maybe on the next trip...

After a long day of striking out at hiking and shopping, we headed to the north shore and the resort where Kris' parents stay. They had already checked in, so we picked up keys at the front desk. We ferry all of our stuff to the room the desk indicated, and Kris, hands full, kicks on the door several times to announce our arrival. After a long pause, a woman who is NOT Kris' mom poked her head around the door, still security chained shut. 'We thought we had another day! We're checking out tomorrow! We promise!' the startled woman proclaims. With many apologies and reassurances that we've screwed up, we realize that the desk gave us the wrong room numbers. Turns out we're two stories above the startled couple. Kris heads up the stairs and knocks gingerly on the door we believe to be his parents, and sure enough finds them. We gather our supplies and luggage and head up the stairs to begin vacationing in earnest.