We’ve now explored the entire island from the Waimea Canyon to the surrounding Pacific shores. At one stop there was a sign that read, “the wettest place on earth.” Red clay has stained my shoes and socks. We’ve seen some beautiful shoreline, saw the coastline from the deck of a catamaran, and walked the beach that “Puff the Magic Dragon” oversees. Our Marriott Vacation Club top-floor balcony overlooks a golf course, colorful, Jurassic Park-like vegetation, the resort pool, and beach shaded by stately palm trees and thatch-roofed huts.

We covered the North Shore of Kaua’i including Princeville, home of musician Todd Rundgren’s Tiki Iniki restaurant and surrounding, unique shops. The quirky menu featured tropical concoctions served in collectable tiki mugs and Spam burgers. I had pulled pork sliders on tarot root buns while my wife enjoyed her sticky ribs. The check was delivered in an empty Spam can. The nearby famous beach on Hanalei Bay was featured on the cover of James Michener’s original Hawaii novel.

There were only a couple of hassles on this adventure, including some seasickness aboard the catamaran, a tooth problem, water pipe break at the resort, and air conditioning disruption issues. However, this was still a first-rate family get together that was several years in the making.