Farewell tour { p a r t - I }

 

Yep, it's time to go back home. But before we leave this beautiful island, you can bet we're going to visit all of our favorite places!  

First up:  Waimea Canyon

 It's pretty breathtaking, and sometimes it makes my feet hurt to go up to the edge of the railing, but it's so beautiful, that I "nailed my courage to the sticking place..."

I didn't spot any mountain goats this time around, but the ohia lehua flowers were blooming. 

 There's a legend about how Pele the fire goddess was in love with a man named Ohia and wanted to marry him--but he had already pledged his love to Lehua. Naturally--jealous Pele was furious and as punishment she turned Ohia into a gnarled ugly tree. Lehua begged Pele to turn him back--but was refused. So Lehua begged the other gods to turn her man back--instead they turned her into a flower that would blossom on the tree. The story goes that if you pick a lehua blossom, it will rain--because they've been separated.

 

 Gorgeous Nelssie was able to come visit us for our farewell tour. I think Hawaii agrees with her. 

She could be a decedent of Pele, don't you think?

Here's Ivan doing an excellent impression of the funky sticker sign...(which probably read no posting stickers, and stay on the other side of the wall! ) One foot past this sign, is the cliff...and I couldn't see the bottom of the canyon. Yipes!