Kauai's Hindu Monastery

Every time we visit Kauai we discover something new. Last time it was the Lawa'i Buddhist    
shrines. This November it was the Hindu Monastery. The sanctuary was founded by Gurudeva in the '70s and has since become a Hindu center and monastic order for many monks. Visitors are welcomed daily from 10:45 to noon and are allowed to wander through the grounds and gardens. It's a beautiful and peaceful place.

Guests are encouraged to dress in traditional Hindu clothing when visiting. Alternatively, modest clothing is permitted. No shorts, short dresses, t-shirts or tank tops. Dean was wearing shorts so he grabbed one of the sarongs offered at the entrance.

                   This lovely pool, with a Shiva statuette and fountain, sits near the entrance.

                                                               The pool reminded me of Bali

The Kadavul Hindu Temple  is open to all

A view across the valley

Iraivan Temple across the Wailua River

Across the Wailua River stands the Iraivan temple, a mammoth granite structure carved in India by master stone masons and shipped to Kauai block by block. Resident artisans from India are still at work fitting the last of 3000 blocks of stone in place and "erecting an edifice according to ancient agamic mystical injunctions."

Visitors are not allowed to visit this temple unless they take the two hour tour, which we didn't do, but we could see it from the grounds across the river.

After wandering around the monastery for an hour, we visited the gift shop and then headed to the nearby Opaeka'a falls.

Clean Air in Kauai

Hiking the Mahaulepu Trail

                                       Just back from Kauai where the air is clean and bright

View from the Mahaulepu trail-this is where we spotted a manta ray

                                                           And the sea and sky are blue

Kauai in Progress II

National Tropical Botanical Garden in Poipu

Water Lillies in Kiahuna gardens

Nene

Wet mattresses being dumped in Recycling Center

Swamped on Kauai-- Blog in progress

One of many emergency alerts on our  iphones 

Bai Hai obscured by clouds and rain

You can read what San Francisco nature writer Tom Stienstra wrote about the flooding. By an amazing coincidence, he was there too.

Helicopters flew to evacuate those stranded in the North- boats brought supplies

waterfalls were spectacular

Hanalei River overflowed its banks and the bridge to Hanalei and points north was closed and underwater

Activity at Recycle Center

Wet mattresses from flooded houses being dumped at recycle Center near Princeville

Ne Nes near the pool

Sisters still smiling

         

                   Our traditional brunch at the St Regis Hotel before our late afternoon flight home

Peace In the New Year

Lawai International Center, Kauai

In the hope of encouraging peace in 2018,  I'm presenting images of some of the unique Japanese shrines populating the hillside paths of the Lawai International Center on the island of Kauai

The Lawai International Center, a non-profit community project, is an archaeological and cultural treasure in a valley that has long been recognized as a healing sanctuary. In 1904 the first generation of Japanese immigrants built 88 shrines replicating an ancient pilgrimage of 88 temples in Shikoku, Japan. Today, it is the only such site existing outside of Japan and is one of the oldest Buddhist temple sites in the country. When the shrines fell into disrepair in the 1960s, the nonprofit Center was formed to restore the site. The maintenance and restoration work continues to be done today by a network of devoted volunteers.

It was fascinating to glimpse into each miniature shrine and marvel at the objects within

     We called the Center when we arrived in Kauai and made arrangements to visit the site. They are open to the public two Sundays a month, but if those days don't work, a volunteer will open the Center when it's convenient. When we arrived we were offered tea and were told the history of the valley. Then we were given walking sticks to help us clamber up and down the uneven paths and peer into each shrine to discover the unique offerings placed inside. Many are still tended by family members and offerings are replaced or repaired when necessary.

Treasures inside a shrine

Here's Dean peeking in

another interior

      I conclude with this peaceful shrine from the Lawai Center,  hoping that peace will bloom out of every nook on the planet, like the orchids of Kauai.

Avocados in Kauai

Basket of avocados at the Tuesday afternoon farmers' market in Hanalei

      Avocados are certainly having their moment. America's new favorite fruit, always beloved in guacamole, is now a trendy toast topper. Popping up in restaurants, blogs and all over the web,  Avocado Toast is the current foodie obsession. To complicate matters for toast lovers, the price of Mexican avocados is soaring just as the California season has ended. Mexican growers are withholding fruit as they negotiate higher payment from packers, so the wholesale price is now two to four times higher than usual. Feeling the price pinch myself,  I was delighted to see baskets and bins of gorgeous avocados at farmers' markets in Kauai last week.

Markets featured two varieties in November when I vacationed there, but they grow as many as 30  described here

Bananas, papayas. dragon fruit and avocados in Hanalei's Tuesday afternoon market

I hit five different farmers' markets in my eight days on the island, and picked up avocados at each one. Due to tropical weather, they ripened faster than at home, and it was hard to keep up.

My favorite snack in Kauai was a piece of whole grain toast with garlicky hummus from the Kilauea Bakery, topped with sliced cucumber and avocado from the market.

Avocado Toast from Frog Hollow Farm in the Ferry Building, San Francisco

                                       So beautiful, so simple it doesn't really need a recipe

Check out the $12 price of Frog Hollow Farm's avocado toast in San Francisco's Ferry Building. In New York the toasts can go for $16 or more! Luckily, they're so easy to assemble at home.

And while we're on the subject, don't forget to try my previously published recipe for Avocado Facial Scrub in the blog Vitamin Pills in the Compost.

Highlights of a Trip to Kaua'i

Partial view of  Hanalei Bay Resort's most beautiful pool

Another view of the pool where we swam daily

Kayaking the Hanalei River

 Headquarters of Kayak Kauai on the Hanalei River, from a previous trip

Dragon fruit at Kilauea farmers' market

Recycling Center in Princeville not far from our condo

Queen's Bath, a natural pool refreshed by the sea. Many fish make for remarkably good snorkeling.  

Dean swimming in Queen's Bath, which is calm here but treacherous in winter

Enjoying the Limahuli Gardens

Terraced hillside with taro at Limahuli Gardens

Hibiscus in Limahuli Garden

View of Bali Hai from our room at Hanalei Bay Resort

Surfer and dog at Tunnels Beach, not far north of our condo

Clouds over Bali Hai, seen from our lanai

Kauai rainbow from our parking lot

Pleasures not pictured

Macadamia Nut Tart...
homemade pastry crust, gooey caramel center, choke macadamia nuts, cinnamon ice cream— at Hukilau Restaurant in Kapaa 

Ahi and Avocado Pizza with wasabi aioli on a cracker-thin crust at Merrimans in Poipu 

Bouchon's fish and chips  lunch special in Hanalei (fish & chips, chicken fillet, drumettes, and ribs) all for $12 

Mai Tai's everywhere, and great Hawaiian beer,  i.e. Fire Rock pale ale from Kona Brewing Co. and Longboard  lager