{"id":71591,"date":"2023-08-13T23:15:16","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T06:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=71591"},"modified":"2023-08-14T10:35:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T17:35:47","slug":"day-9-we-are-at","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=71591","title":{"rendered":"Day 9; We are At Kauai, The Wettest Place On Earth!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scout sent us a memo!<\/p><\/div>\n

In the Hawaiian language, “ka” means the, “ua” means rain, and “i” means place.\u00a0 So, it translates to “the rainy place.” Kauai is often called the ‘Garden Island’ because it is filled with beautiful exotic plants and flowers wherever you look.<\/p>\n

Kauai has a small harbor, but we made it thanks to a little tugboat.\u00a0 We had to be downstairs in the theater at 8:20 am to catch the tour.<\/p>\n

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The ship made it into the harbor, requiring a tugboat’s assistance.<\/p><\/div>\n

Kauai is known for being one of the rainiest places on Earth.\u00a0 On Kauai, Mt. Waialeale receives an average of 450 inches of rainfall yearly.\u00a0 As a result, the river in Kauai is large and flows consistently throughout the year.<\/p>\n

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We went two miles up the lazy 19-mile-long river to the Fern Grotto.<\/p><\/div>\n

Fern Grotto is a fern-covered lava rock cave located on the south fork of the Wailua River on the eastern side of Kauai in the Hawaiian archipelago.\u00a0 Several boat companies give river tours that lead to the grotto.\u00a0 This attraction is known primarily as the most romantic spot on the island of Kauai, and the area can be rented for weddings.<\/p>\n

We are off!<\/p>\n

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Flat bottom boat!<\/p><\/div>\n

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I have the best seat in the house!<\/p><\/div>\n

The river has been in many movies.\u00a0 It is affected by the tides for the first few miles.\u00a0 Sharing Songs and Legends of the Wailua River Valley is a Family Tradition.\u00a0 In 1946, Walter Smith, Sr. and his wife, Emily, started the family business with a small rowboat and a borrowed outboard motor.\u00a0 Four generations later, they continue Grandpa’s tradition of sharing our love of Kauai and its rich cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

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The river moved along quite rapidly.<\/p><\/div>\n

The boats are pushed by the engine attached to the boat by a clever connecting device that allows the engine to guide the vessel at sharp angles.<\/p>\n

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A clever design by the originator of the boat rides many years ago.<\/p><\/div>\n

On April 24, 2006, the grotto was closed by the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources for safety reasons.\u00a0 Heavy rains in March 2006 caused several rocks and boulders to fall from the grotto ceiling onto the viewing area below.\u00a0 It was re-opened in 2007 following reinforcement of the rock walls and installation of ramps to access the grotto.\u00a0 Before the 2006 flooding, visitors were allowed to enter the cave, but today the cavern may only be viewed from the designated observation deck.<\/p>\n

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The Fern Grotto was no longer a cave.<\/p><\/div>\n

A grotto is a natural or artificial cave used by humans in both modern times and antiquity, and historically or prehistorically. Naturally occurring grottoes are often small caves near water that are usually flooded or often flooded at high tide. Sometimes, artificial grottoes are used as garden features.\u00a0 Water water everywhere!<\/p>\n