Kauai June 2019

Sidney and I had the opportunity to go to Kauai to film for the Book of Mormon Video Library.  I had applied last year but they really needed more people so Sidney applied too. We were to film three days and and then we would spend two days exploring the island. We would get paid for the filming days but we were to work as locals which means we needed to get there and find lodging all on our own. So I booked a hotel (actually a hostel) and rented a car. A couple of weeks before going Caryn called me because they created a ride/housing share board and she asked if we wanted so stay in the hotel with her. We took her up on her offer and it was a great decision because we made two awesome friends and we got to hang out together, etc. We flew in on Wednesday night at 9pm and we had to be on set at 5:30am. 

This are our roommates. Caryn (in yellow) and Ariana (in the stripes shirt). They are both from Utah. Caryn from St. George and Ariana going to school in Provo but from Highland. We got along great! This is the only picture I can post because we are not allowed to post any pictures of us on the property. This was a before picture. I will have to post an after picture after the films are released. But needless to say they made us look like Book of Mormon people from the hair, clothing, and skin color. Also, they were filming the King Benjamin sermon and we were the audience. 

This was after filming. We went to eat at Chicken in a Barrel BBQ. Well recommended by everyone. We also had another friend (Joshua) with us. He got a ride with us so we all went to dinner. Come to find out later that he was going to walk all the way to set because he got in late and had no place to spend the night so he walked all night but then realized that he wouldn't make it in time. It was so amazing that he was willing to sacrifice so much because he committed to be on set! Just one more awesome person like the many that you meet while filming. 

The beautiful view from our room at dusk

Even the parking lot of our hotel was beautiful

We filmed Thursday and Friday but then at the end of the day on Friday they asked us if possible that they would not need us on Saturday because they were trying to mix up people. So we got an extra day of exploring the island with our friends. We drove north on the coast toward Princeville. A nice thing about Kauai is that you can't really get lost! There is only one highway that goes around most of the Island so you can always find your way.

I loved that Sidney and I got to spend this time together! Not only was filming great but it's just fun to bond one on one. Opportunities like these rarely happen and that's why when this came along, we couldn't pass it up! As you can tell from our hair, humidity was at it's finest there.

This is Arianna. She wanted a picture with the chickens and so she got some food and all of the sudden chickens came out running from all over the place!

Kilauea Lighthouse

Queen's Bath. We didn't get in because we couldn't find parking and Caryn was waiting for us so that we could at least see it.

Caryn finally found parking and came to find us but we were already on our way back but we got a cute picture together :)

In the afternoon we went to the beach

hahaha!

At night, they had a luau for all the cast and crew. This is proof that it was a real pig!

It was so fun! They had real fire dancers and all.

On Sunday we went to church. Caryn's flight got moved up so she had to leave to the airport around 11. I'm so grateful to have met her. We had some awesome conversations together! I hope that we can stay in touch! She told us that points had covered the hotel room so we didn't have to pay her anything for the hotel. How nice is that? Tender mercy!

The outside of the church building

We went to see the famous Waimea Canyon. We drove up some windy roads and it was raining. Luckily I was driving so I didn't get car sick.

Once we got to the top this is what we saw... :( It was so foggy!

This is what it should look like!!! 

We drove around trying to find things to see in the rain on Sunday. Sidney was our designated tour guide and she found Hanapepe swinging bridge. It wasn't raining at the moment so we walked around the town.

I had to put a flower in my hair so I could fit in :)  We were told the meaning of wearing a Hawaiian flower behind the ear... If you wear a flower behind your left ear, it means you are married, taken, have a significant other, or maybe you just don't want anyone bothering you! If you wear a flower behind your right ear, it means you are single, available, and approachable.

Spouting Horn Park. Shoots up water every few minutes. Another spot that Sidney found for us to see.

Across the road from Spouting Horn Park was this beautiful botanical gardens! We called it the "Garden of Eden" because it was just beautiful and perfect!

When you hang out with beautiful young single adult girls, they always want to take cute pictures and then they made me do it too! 

Next stop... Menehune fish pond overlook. Got attacked by mosquitoes here so it was a quick stop!

Before taking Ariana to the airport we went to a beach and just walked around for a little while and enjoyed the beautiful scenery!

Monday, it was just Sidney and I. We had seen most of the sights so we just had some more exploring and shopping left to do.

We started our day by seeing Wauilua Falls! Beautiful!

We went on a hike along the beach called Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail. Beautiful but really hot!

Nice warning sign!

So adorable!

We walked around Old Koloa Town

And I found myself an old Hawaiian friend :)

We went to see some other waterfalls called Opaeka'a Falls

Then we went back to Kapa'a. The place where our first hotel was because there were lots of cute shops and good food there. We also had to enjoy some snow cones!

After shopping we took another little walk along the beach :) Our flight didn't leave till 10pm so we had plenty of time to hang loose!

Fish tacos!!!

And coconut water. The last few things on my list to eat.

Aloha Kauai Chickens!
There are chickens everywhere, they say, because the hurricanes of 1982 (Iwa) and 1992 (Iniki) destroyed domestic coops, releasing the chickens into the jungles. These domesticated birds then mated with the wild red junglefowl (brought to the islands by the Polynesian) resulting in the feral chickens that are everywhere in Kauai.

So as you can see we had an amazing trip! Whether we are seen in the films or not we had a wonderful experience together! I never had much of a desire to visit Hawaii but now I have a desire to go back soon! ALOHA!