I was up before the sun rose and was treated to a spectacular sunrise. Soon after we were dressed this morning, I walked out on the porch and the neighbor from across the street came over to chat. He was full of tales and good advice. Yesterday, we learned about a local farmer’s market from a food truck vendor, so by 9:30, we were off to Lihue. We bought a pineapple and some bananas.
From the market, we drove on back roads and came upon Menehune Fishpond, estimated to be built about 1000 years ago, by Polynesians. The fishpond abuts the Hule’ia Stream, with a 900’ long stone wall, diverting water into the pond, and holding fish. It was an interesting project for it’s time.
We visited more beaches, Nukili’i and Lydgate, a large Kauai County Park, with picnic tables and ramadas. Lydgate was teeming with local families hosting birthday parties for their kids. Everyone was having a great time - so nice to see after a year of quarantine. We walked around the end of Lydgate Park, reading all the plaques about Hikinaakala Heiau, an Hawaiian sacred site built in the early 1300’s at the mouth of the Wailua River, celebrating the rising sun. The site is now a jumble of rocks, but was originally built in a rectangle with 6’ tall walls, 11’’ wide. The traditional Hawaiian religion was abolished in 1819. Hikinaakala Heiau was added to the National Historic Register in 1962. So much to learn! We had lunch of fish tacos at Coconuts Fish Cafe and back to our cottage for a relaxing afternoon.
