~ Day Seven ~

Snorkeling in front of The Beach House
Jeff dared me to take this picture in full snorkel gear. He doubted I'd show it. He was disappointed that the surf had covered the flippers in the photo so you wouldn't get the full effect. Yes, that's my beloved restaurant in the background. This is a pretty good snorkeling spot. Last trip to Hawaii, I used an underwater camera and the photos didn't do justice to what it's like. When people tell you it's like swimming in an aquarium, that's just what it is like. Besides seeing beautiful tropical fish on this day, we also saw an eel and a very long sea slug.

Po'ipu Beach Park was another favorite snorkeling spot. There was an amazing amount of fish between the shore and that sandbar. Despite the "strong current" warning sign, this was a very easy place to snorkel because it was fairly shallow. You are very buoyant in Hawaii due to the salt content of the water and it's easy to snorkel for a long period of time without tiring.

Spouting Horn
This is a small lava shelf where water from waves is thrust through an opening, causing water and air to squirt out a blowhole. This blowhole is unique in that it has a second hole that blows only air, causing a loud moaning and gasping sound. It's like Hawaii's version of Old Faithful but it blows every 15 seconds or so.

Here it's blowing a little harder. The size and sound depends upon the tide and the size of the wave.
Naturally, there's a legend: Once the entire coastline was guarded by a giant female lizard called a mo'o. She would eat anyone who dared fish or swim in the area. One day a man named Liko went fishing and mo'o went to attack him but Liko threw a spear into her mouth. The angry lizard chased Liko into the lava tube. Liko escaped but mo'o became trapped in what is now called Spouting Horn and to this day her cries of hunger and pain can be heard.

Here's another of the ever-present wild roosters. This was at the Spouting Horn Park. Many of them are brilliantly colored. I'm surprised we didn't see more "Free Range Chicken" dishes on the Kauai menus!

We ended up going to a luau after all. As I said before, we're a little reluctant because the food is not always that great. However, our Kauai bible highly recommended Smith's Tropical Paradise Lu'au as the best on Kauai so we took a chance. Here's my suggestion: skip the buffet and drinks ($60.00) and just show up for the show ($15.00) at 7:30. You don't have to worry about all the good seats being taken because it is held in an amphitheater adjacent to where the buffet is going on. You might want to get their early though to tour the magnificent gardens. A lot of weddings are held on the beautiful grounds.

Tomorrow: I'll show you photos of our last day.

~ Recipe of the Day ~

Lu'au Kalua Pig (Oven Recipe)

Ingredients:

3 lb pork butt
1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke
2 1/4 teaspoons Hawaiian salt, sea salt or kosher salt

Method:

Preheat oven to 350. Pierce pork butt all over with carving fork.
Rub salt and liquid smoke into meat.
Place pork fat side up in a roasting pan or deep casserole dish.
Cover and roast in oven for 2 1/2-3 hours.
Remove the pork from pan and shred with two forks. Makes six servings.

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Lu'au Kalua Pig (Slow-cooker Recipe)

Ingredients:

3 lb pork butt
1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke
2 1/4 teaspoons Hawaiian salt, sea salt or kosher salt

Method:

Pierce pork butt all over with carving fork. Rub salt and liquid smoke into meat.
Cook in slow cooker on low for 16-20 hours turning once.
Remove meat, shred, and then add juices from slow cooker to shredded meat. Makes six servings.

Click here for printable recipe