We boarded this Alaska 737-800/900 at Sea-Tac airport. It is painted to resemble Alaska aircraft from 75 years ago.

As you get close to the island, you'll hear the Captain tell the Flight Attendants to prepare the cabin for landing. That is your clue to raise the shade on the port side of the aircraft and look out to the south. The photo from my point and shoot does not do this justice, because once you spot the volcanos on the Big Island and Maui, you start to focus!

Next you see Molokai and a few minutes later, Lanai. And a few minutes after that you pass over Oahu, and 15 minutes later you land in Lihue, Kauai.

View from Room 308 at the Mokihana of Kauai, which used to be a timeshare, but is now a hotel, part of the Castle Hotel, Inc. group. No airconditioning, no TV, no king sized beds, but affordable.

Traditionally, we walk next door to the Courtyard Marriott at Coconut Beach for the best Mai Tai you can find anywhere!

Sunrise is always very special, and because of the time difference between Kauai and the mainland, you don't miss it.

We try for a walk every morning, and it's about a mile south to Wailua.

You can see the beach park at Wailua in the distance, and behind that the old Coco Palms Hotel used by Elvis in "Blue Hawaii".

This Kukui Heiau is a holy site for the native Hawaiians, and you can visist, but do not step on the rocks, nor sit on them. I didn't even take any pictures of it - but you can see one on the Wiki page (Google "Kukui Heiau").

This is the Menehune Fish Pond near Lihue, and that mountain is supposed to be Queen Victoria, but I've never seen the resemblance. My wife says she is laying on her back, and points out her nose, and her black lace flowing down from her head, but she has more imagination than I do.

This is Kauai's closest neighbor island, Niihau, to it's right, the little island of Lehua. Photo taken from Kekaha Beach.

We always drive thru the tree tunnel to Poipu and have lunch at Brennecke's Beach Bar and Grill.

Brennecke's - the only place to be.

Poipu Beach

Across from Brennecke's is Poipu Beach Park, one of the Travel Channel's Top 10 Beaches.

The trick in going to Duke's at Kalapaki Beach (attached to the Kauai Lagoons Marriott) is to do Happy Hour at the Barefoot Bar downstairs, watch the surfers and paddleboarders, and then go upstairs for dinner. We had the Opah (Moonfish) and it was delicious.

We also visited friends at Lawai Beach, a very nice resort on Lawai lagoon, which is the best snorkeling we've found in Kauai (of course we haven't been every where). The Beach House Restaurant is on the left in the distance. The origional Beach House Restaurant was wrecked by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and this one replaced it.

North of Kapaa is the Kilauea area and Banana Joe's is right across from a miniature golf course with a great nature walk. They also sell Sweet Marie's Gluten Free products, which are GREAT.

Lawai beach has gorgeous sunsets - locals gather on the sea wall with a glass of wine, etc.