. February 2012 - We cooked up a trip to Hawai’i (Kaua’i and Maui) on rather short notice.  There was considerable difficulty putting the rentals and airlines schedules together, but eventually it got sorted out. In the early morning of Feb 27, off we went.  Our first stay was in a really nice condo in Princeville, nothern Kaua’i. (Three days only due to scheduling difficulties - after that a smaller condo nearby.)   The view from our lanai Pandanus A bunch of wild bananas A White Rumped Shama (originally from SE Asia) The ubquitous Common Myna (India) Red Crested Cardinal (Brazilian).  Nearly all lower altitude Hawaiian small birds are not native and have been introduced from various countries.  With trade vessels in the 19th century, came avian malaria mosquitos that wiped out nearly all bird life except in higher altitudes where the mosquitos can’t live.  In modern times those high altitude birds will attempt to survive severe storms at lower altitude which is a death sentence.  Quite a few have gone extinct in recent decades. A Chesnut Mannikin (Asian) Beat it, buster! This is my rock!! OK, OK - I’m going... Great Frigatebird Red Footed Booby Laysan Albatross Aukuu - Black Crowned night Heron ‘Alae ‘Ula - Hawaiian Moorhen Argiope Appensa - (Garden Spider) Non-native and common - Wandering Tattler - a common winter visitor Nene Goose - a relative of the Brants.  Endangered, but fairly common on Kauai’i.  The Mongoose was introduced many years ago to control Sugar Cane Rats (also non-native) and they quickly wiped out all ground nesting birds.  Kauai’i is the only major island free of the mongoose. Kauai’i is the Rooster Isle.  Originally imported by the Polynesion peoplle, the Red Jungle Fowl is everywhere, along the roads, yards, golf courses - and they announce their presence every morning - loud and early.  Jungle Fowl are probably extinct everywhere, but Kauai’s version is quite close to the original, having genetically mixed freely with domestic chickens. Waimea Canyon While up in Koke’e park, the rain quit occasionally, only to be replaced by thick - really thick - fog Red Ginger Old Mission Church and Meeting House in nearby Hanalei Valley. Hoped to return for another visit but weather worsened, the Valley flooded and the road was closed.   Taro field Climbing out westward from Seattle Over the central Pacific Much more moody weather to come! So sorry to be moving to another home, but that's the deal.  We get packed (even in a couple days we have acquired an armful of stuff--mostly food) and get out of our digs by 10 AM, just as the housecleaner arrives.  We wander down the paved path again to the ocean and tide pools, watching a Black-crowned Night Heron search for a meal.  Then to Hanalei NWR to watch Stilts, Coots, Moorhens, Mannikins in their wetland setting. Crops in this area have been damaged when in only three days, 38” of rain fell here--and add that to large rain amounts from two weeks before that. Our new living area is called Sea Lodge and we're in a corner unit on the second of three floors.  We can see the ocean from both windows and lanai--the sea is about a mile away. Our main focus is palm trees and other nearby foliage dancing and bending in severe winds and record rains. Storage space here is amazingly sparse; I have left most of my stuff in the suitcase.  Double bed. Kitchen is compact, has a tiny dishwasher. No extra kitchen items like tenants often leave behind. However, we ease in the best we can, and it's home. Rain, rain, go away... A major cave-in on the main road.  The highway department constructed a detour around this one but there is now another one with no detour. When there is a period with heavy rain, the palm tree 30’ away is nearly out of sight. A minor land slide - we’re on the good side of this one, and could simply turn around and take a different route. “...A record rainfall of 8.64 inches was set  at Lihue HI yesterday. This obliterates the  old record of 1.14 inches... “ Oh yeah?? So.... The Pacific hasn’t been very pacific.  Kilauea point in the background. The highway people tried, but eventually lost the battle to keep this section open. They eventually opened up a detour. It is really raining, and day by day we are nearing record floods on Kauai and Oahu. So far, it's 5 times worse than the last record setter. Rains have affected sewage plants at Kapa'a;  sewage runs into the river, and on this goes till it is all over the flooded area.  People are clearly alerted that inappropriate stuff has been flushed down toilets.  Such trash and more appears along the beaches. Sections of Kuhio Hwy. are closed, as are schools, beaches, and the Botanical Garden we could hardly wait to see again. People are warned that "if coastal waters are turbid and brown, stay out."  We drive as much as we can (yes, at @ $ 4.58 - and rising a cent daily), do a couple errands in Lihue, buy me a yellow rain poncho and a small suitcase with wheels, visit the Blow Hole and Poipue area, and wait in long lines of cars on the way back. Despite road restrictions and wet shoes, we admit to having a fun time-intrigued at being in the middle of a record breaker but hoping this does not affect our airport transfer to Maui . We wake up Tuesday with news that a landslide has closed Kalhiwai Bridge, cutting the this - Princeville area - off from the rest of the Island.  All sorts of contingencies to consider here!  We're hoping that the electricity stays on (I say this as lights are blinking tentatively)!  Even our favorite path (concrete walkway) was closed (also below)