Kauai - Surfing & Kayaking Day

Today is all about Kyle. He asked a couple days ago if he could go surfing. He found a company in Hanalei that could give him a private lesson. I looked it up and for $20 more, a second person could join him. I was hoping Mike or Stephen wanted to accompany him but no dice. Looks like I will be surfing! Kyle has told us multiple times over the last couple of days that he plans to move to this island and become a surf instructor. Sounds good to me! I guess he better learn to surf. We went out to the beach and had a private lesson with an 18-year-old instructor who had been surfing since he was three. He was a great teacher. We were on the beach practicing how to stand up on the board for about 10 minutes then we went into the water. Catching the first wave for both Kyle and I was a disaster but we both rode in the second wave and most of them after that. Riding the waves in wasn’t too hard for me. Stepping off the board when I was at the beach was an absolute disaster. It was humiliating being cheered on by the families on the beach as I surfed in, only to biff it EVERY time when I jumped off the board. I rolled in the shallow water so many times. 

Knowing how to snowboard definitely helps with surfing. Kyle was a natural and he loved it! After riding in a few waves, I was spent. It sucks to be out of shape. My arms are so sore from the swim across the current at the waterfall yesterday. I used the excuse that I needed to take some photos of Kyle so I could take a break. Mike and Stephen decided to go kayaking while we were surfing so I had no photographer. I got a few videos of Kyle and some photos. He was so good. His dream of moving to this island to become a surf instructor is not a pipe dream after seeing him today. Kyle wanted to keep surfing after our lesson was over so our instructor told us we could keep the boards and return them to the surf rack whenever we felt like it later in the day. Everyone is so trusting around here. Cars are left unlocked and people leave their bags unattended on the beach without worrying about anyone messing with them. 

 
After a couple hours, Mike and Stephen joined us. They told us how quiet and peaceful their kayaking trip up and down the river was. Stephen said it was pretty to look at the mountains and all the trees around them. He said it was also fun to be with his dad. They traveled down the river and stopped under the one-lane bridge we drive over every day. They stopped for a break and Stephen went swimming. He said it was pretty but it smelled like rotten eggs. After kayaking for about four miles round trip they were exhausted. 

 
When they joined us Stephen wasn’t too tired to try surfing. I gave him a quick lesson (I’m a crappy teacher) and off he went. He enjoyed trying to get up but he was never successful. After he and Kyle both got knocked upside the head by the surfboards they were done. They then went boogie boarding for hours. Kyle only stopped when he said his nipples were chafed. He continued playing in the water for awhile then asked us to leave because apparently his manly parts were also chafed. Maybe he needs to get some callous on those parts!?! Is that a thing? 😊 

 
We headed home and all relaxed. Well that was after I got all the sand out of every orifice of my body. Apparently all my wipeouts in the shallow water filled my bathing suit up with sand and I didn't realize it until I got home. I swam around forever and it never came out. I sat on the toilet and it filled up with sand. There is so much I want to say right now but it’s TMI. Use your imagination…actually don’t. Let’s move on. A shower was in order then the relaxation could begin.

Mike and I watched Sweet Home Alabama on the TV while the boys both watched YouTube videos while laying in their beds. We are so tired today. The boys can’t sit still for long so they went outside and swung from the vine ropes for awhile. They then headed to the beach…this is their first time down the trail through the forest unaccompanied. If we lived here they would be little Huckleberry Finns. 

Have I said yet today how much I love this place? I wish living here was a real possibility for us. People here seem to be living their best life and they’re all so happy all the time. 

The best thing about today: Stephen – “kayaking with dad”, Kyle – “catching waves for the first time”, Mike – “kayaking with Stephen”, Amber – “learning to surf”