Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow - Movie Review

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow revolves around the mysterious disappearance of some of the world's most revered scientists. When an investigation is launched, Polly Perkins, reporter for the prestigious Chronicle, and Sky Captain, resident flying ace, are at the forefront of the case. Though the mission's perks include traveling around the world, the stout-hearted duo are nonetheless risking their lives with each passing moment, as the culprit is none other than the nefarious Dr. Totenkopf, and his goal, from what they can gather, is to destroying the earth in its entirety. Luckily, Sky Captain and Polly are not alone - Franky Cook, the commander of an all-female amphibious squadron, and Dex, an unparalleled technical genius, have joined them in hopes of saving the planet before it's too late.

This competes for the worst film I have ever seen. I can't believe 3 "major" Hollywood starts signed up to make this piece of junk. I have never turned off a film without watching it all the way through, but I was very close with this one. Everything that took place in this film was cheezy (the action, the dialog, the special effects). There were several scenes that seemed to be stolen directly from other movies - Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, Star Wars. So, not only was it unoriginal, but it was painful to watch and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are heavily sedated.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Red Eye - Movie Review

Lisa Reisert is a young woman with more than her share of anxieties about flying. However, when circumstances demand she go to Miami, she gathers her nerves and books a seat on a late-night flight. Sitting next to her is a handsome and charming man named Jackson, whom she already met in the airport, but once their jet is safely in the air, Lisa discovers he's not the pleasant traveling companion she imagined. Jackson is part of a terrorist cell plotting to kill the head of Homeland Security, and he's decided to draft Lisa into helping him. While Lisa has no interest in abetting Jackson's plan, he soon reveals he's holding a trump card - his compatriots are holding Lisa's father hostage, and will kill him if she doesn't cooperate.

For a "Mystery & Suspense" film, there sure wasn't much mystery or suspense. From the beginning, there didn't even seem to be an attempt to throw you off the trail of what you think is going to happen. It's all laid out before you and just follows the track all the way to the end without derailing your expectations one bit. The fact that the terrorists never even mention why they are plotting to kill the head of Homeland Security makes it even more of a shallow film. The best part of the film is the "pen in the neck" scene. Other than that, it's a forgettable movie and a waste of 90 minutes - the fact that Colby from "Survivor: Australia" is main security guard for the head of Homeland Security speaks volumes.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy, Colby Donaldson

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Loverboy - ACE Train Movie Review

If loving too much were a crime, well-meaning but overbearing mother Emily would be spending life behind bars with no hope of parole. When Emily was a child, her parents were deeply in love with one another but tragically indifferent to their affection-starved daughter. Now a grown adult with a deep-rooted desire to bear a child, Emily goes to desperate lengths to conceive before eventually giving birth to an exceptionally gifted boy whom she names Paul. Emily's devotion to Paul burns brighter than a thousand suns as she creates a wondrous world of books, music, art, and games to share with her growing child, but her ever more desperate attempts to preserve the purity of their relationship reach a frantic fever pitch as a kindhearted local man opens his life to the pair and Paul prepares for his first year of school.

This is a very slow moving and boring film. There are several big named actors whose talents are wasted in this methodical and monotonous movie. It seemed as though the entire film was one big dream sequence where everything was fuzzy and slow moving. There were also a couple of strange and questionable relationships that were never fully developed or explained (like Sandra Bullock's character and her friendship with the little girl). This movie was an adaptation of a best-selling novel, so I assume the book is better, but the film certainly is not worth watching - unless you're having trouble sleeping.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Marisa Tomei, Sandra Bullock

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Running Scared - ACE Train Movie Review

Joey Gazelle is a low-level "mechanic" in the Mafia who hopes to rise through the ranks by doing whatever is needed. One night, a drug deal goes very wrong when police show up and try to close down the operation; shots break out and a battle ensues, with a pair of cops meeting a particularly violent fate at bad end of a gun barrel. Joey is given the gun that killed the policemen and is told to make it disappear so it can't be used as evidence; however, before he can do that, the weapon is stolen by Oleg, a friend of Joey's young son, who takes the pistol and uses it to shoot his abusive stepfather. Now that the gun is implicated in high profile crimes, it's vitally important that Joey find it as soon as possible, but his search for the firearm is complicated by the fact that Oleg's stepdad is affiliated with a rival gang of Russian mobsters, and that Rydell, a seriously corrupt police detective, is hot on Joey's trail. Joey's search for the gun takes him through the grim criminal netherworld of the city, where he must face off against nearly every sort of crook, con artist, and deviate that has ever walked the earth.

This film is action-packed and kept me interested throughout. There are several twists and turns which keep you on your toes, but the number of sub-plots gets to be too much at times. There is even an entire sequence of events that seemed completely unnecessary and could have been removed while not affecting the film at all (the disturbing scenes with the man and woman who had a thing for filming kids). Overall, it was a good movie, but it seemed like they tried a little to hard to keep up the intensity which resulted in some over-acting. It also relied on a few too many coincidences for my taste and the final big twist made the ending way too cliche.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Chazz Palminteri

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Hard Candy - ACE Train Movie Review

Hayley is a 14-year-old teen whose emotional maturity seems to betray her tender age. Jeff is a potential child predator whose intentions toward his young chat buddy seem less than honorable. After meeting in a coffeehouse and getting to know each other briefly in person, Jeff invites Haley back to his place, and it's not long before Jeff's underage guest is pouring drinks and posing provocatively for an impromptu photo shoot. As the evening's questionable activities take a decidedly sordid slant and the raptorial Jeff appears poised to strike, a sudden turn of events finds that his apparent victim has had a plan of her own from the very beginning.

Very dark and disturbing movie that keeps you confused during much of it. There are some very sick things that happen and it raises some controversial issues that make you think about what side you are on - either side you choose can be considered creepy and disturbing. Being an independent feature, it ends without answering all of the unanswered questions which means you have to create your own conclusions. Sometimes, I think this type of ending is lazy, but it seems to work for this film and might not be as good if the ending ties up all of the loose ends. This film is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Clerks - ACE Train Movie Review

When Dante Hicks is reluctantly put in charge of the Quick Stop market on his day off, he tries, though half-heartedly, to perform his minimum-wage duties as efficiently as possible. This gets tough amidst the on-going fight with his girlfriend, Veronica, and his attempt to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Caitlyn Bree. Meanwhile, his friend and alter ego Randall is working behind the counter of the adjacent video store - at least when he feels like it. Randall's unabashed disdain of his place of employment, a long with his self-admitted hatred towards its customers is a sharp contrast to Dante's feeble attempts at the niceties of customer service. Much of the film consists of Randall and Dante's criticism of their customers, their lives, and the world in general.

This is a cult classic which was originally released in 1994. It's so amateurish and low budget that you can't help but like it. The fact that it was filmed on a $27,000 budget and began the career of writer/director Kevin Smith makes it a must see for anyone who has an appreciation for independent films. It should also be appealing to anyone who worked in retail and can relate to the quirky customers who inevitably enter the store and provide fodder for funny bar stories. In this day and age of multi-million dollar films with huge special effects, it's refreshing to watch a movie like this that relies solely on the script and actors to create the entertainment.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Best in Show - ACE Train Movie Review

A television crew is on hand to document the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, and competition is fierce among the canine devotees vying for top honors. Salesman Gerry Fleck, who is cursed with two left feet (literally), and his wife Cookie have entered their Norwich terrier "Winky" in competition. Wealthy and neurotic Meg Swan and her husband Hamilton are on hand with their Weimaraner "Beatrice," who they fear may have been traumatized by watching them have sex. Scott Donlan and his life partner Stefan Vanderhoof have brought their beloved Shih Tzu, "Miss Agnes." Trophy wife Sheri Ann Cabot and her close friend and trainer Christy Cummings are hoping for a repeat victory for Sheri's poodle, "Rhapsody In White." And Harlan Pepper, who operates a store specializing in fly-fishing gear, has decided to stack his bloodhound "Hubert" up against the competition.

The worst thing a comedy can be is unfunny and that's exactly what the majority of this film is. I suppose if you're really into dogs and dog shows, you can probably find humor in the over-the-top dog breeders and trainers that are portrayed in this mockumentary. However, if you're like me and have never seen a dog show, I doubt find this movie enjoyable. The humor is very dry and the semi-improvised comedy style doesn't work most of the time. There are several recognizable actors in this film, but unfortunately they aren't utilized to their potential. This is one experimental comedy that failed.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Lucky Number Slevin - ACE Train Movie Review

Upon arriving at the empty apartment of his old friend Nick, the unassuming Slevin is troubled to hear the voice of his missing friend's next door neighbor Lindsay expressing concern as to Nick's safety and whereabouts. When Slevin ventures into Lindsay's apartment only to be greeted by the uninviting fist of a thuggish mob henchman, he quickly realizes that Nick is indeed in grave danger. Soon summoned by the big boss and accused of being the deeply indebted Nick, Slevin's attempts to prove his identity are foiled by the fact that his wallet had been stolen upon arrival in the city. With time running out and a complex plot to assassinate one of the city's most powerful crime bosses slowly coming into focus, the arrival of a notorious hit-man named Mr. Goodkat forces Slevin to step up his desperate search and reclaim his identity before he's forced to pay a debt that could cost him his life.

After the first hour of this film, I didn't think it was very good. The actions of Slevin didn't match the situations he was put in. He seemed too loose and carefree as he was being threatened with violence and death. I thought it was trying to be a funny film where it should have been scary and dramatic. However, the last 30 minutes changed everything. In that time, all of the stories, characters and mannerisms came together and I realized how genius the plot had been. Everything made sense and now I have to watch the movie again to look for clues throughout the film. Awesome!

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Lucy Liu, Bruce Willis

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Donnie Brasco - ACE Train Movie Review

Joe Pistone is an FBI agent who is given an assignment to infiltrate the Mafia; calling himself Donnie Brasco, he befriends Lefty Ruggiero, a low-level mob hit man whose personal life is in tatters. Lefty's marriage is falling apart, his son is a junkie, and his health is failing, which only adds to his growing disillusionment about having spent 30 years with the Mafia with little to show for it. But in Donnie, Lefty sees someone who can succeed where he failed; he takes the young man under his wing, and under Lefty's tutelage Donnie quickly rises through the ranks of organized crime; however, the longer he plays the role of the gangster, the more Joe Pistone finds himself becoming Donnie Brasco in his increasingly rare off hours; it drives a wedge between himself and his wife and children, and Joe realizes that a break in character among the hoodlums he's come to know could mean a death sentence for himself and his family. Just as importantly, Joe has come to regard Lefty as a close and trusted friend, and Joe realizes that when the day comes where he has to turn in his Mob associates, he'll be ending Lefty's life as surely as if he put a slug in his head himself.

This is a great film in the same vein as The Godfather. The difference is that this film is told in the perspective of an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the mob in order to bring it down. The fact that it was based on true events made it that much better and the special feature section even has an interview with the real Joe Pistone who talks about which parts of the movie were true to life and which were embellishments. The saying, "truth is stranger than fiction" definitely holds up for this film as it would have been a good film if it was fiction, but it's a great film since this stuff really happened. You have to give Joe Pistone credit for devoting several years of his life to bringing down the mob at the expense of his personal life. It's crazy to see how much he became one of "them" before the FBI finally ended the operation. This is a must see.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - ACE Train Movie Review

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen takes place in an alternate universe where the characters of several literary classics exist in reality. As if that weren't enough, they've been assembled together in 1900 by Queen Victoria as a team of evil-fighting heroes. Among them are Allan Quatermain from H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines; Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula; Tom Sawyer from several works by Mark Twain; Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray; Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; The Invisible Man from H.G. Wells book of the same name; and several others. Working together, the odd assortment of characters must combine their powers to defeat a mysterious villain and save the world from certain destruction.

I really expected more from a Sean Connery film. The premise seemed interesting and should have translated well into an action packed, blockbuster film. Instead, it turned out that the plot was a little cheesy and I never felt any type of emotion about what the League was trying to accomplish which meant I was indifferent and wasn't rooting for them. This made for a rather ho-hum experience. The special effects could have been way better as well, which doesn't say much for a film that relied heavily on them. The ending left it open for a sequel, but I don't think it's nearly good enough to subject anyone to another film unless they get a better director and maybe a larger budget for special effects. Not worth the time to watch it.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Sean Connery, Shane West, Stuart Townsend, Richard Roxburgh

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Friends With Money - ACE Train Movie Review

Olivia is a single woman in her mid-thirties who feels she's reached a crossroads in her life. Unhappy with her career as a teacher, Olivia quits and takes a job as a maid until she sorts out her feelings. However, Olivia feels as if she could use some support, both personal and financial, from her best friends, all of whom at very least have more in the bank than she does. But that's not to say they don't have problems of their own. Christine and her husband Patrick are screenwriters who have discovered that collaborating is more stress than they can deal with. Jane is married to Aaron; they work together as designers, but while their professional relationship is cordial, they've become numb to one another as lovers and friends. And Franny and Matt are a couple who comfortably support themselves and their children thanks to an inherited fortune; while their material needs are met, emotionally they can barely handle marriage and parenthood.

This is one of the worst films I have seen in a long time. It came across like an independent film since the transition between the stories weren't very smooth, but the stories themselves weren't interesting to begin with. The entire film had a depressing feel to it and I kept waiting for that mood to break - I'm still waiting. It's hard for me to find anything positive to say about this movie other than the fact it was relatively short, so the misery didn't last that long. Seriously, this is one to skip. Jennifer Aniston laid a big egg with this one and should stick to light and fluffy roles.

Rating: 1 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Joan Cusack, Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Sentinel - ACE Train Movie Review

Pete Garrison is a veteran Secret Service agent who has had a long and distinguished career helping protect the president of the United States. David Breckinridge is a fellow Secret Service agent who learned most of what he knows from Garrison and holds him in great respect. When intelligence data suggests that there is a mole within the Secret Service who is part of a plot to assassinate President Ballentine, Garrison launches an investigation to ferret out the rogue agent, and asks Breckinridge to go over the evidence with a fine-toothed comb. Breckinridge is shocked when the clues point to Garrison as the traitor within the Secret Service, but his sense of duty compels him to see that his former mentor is placed under arrest. Garrison eludes his captors and struggles to prove his innocence while tracking down the real conspirator and eluding the agents who were once his colleagues. As Breckinridge leads the search for Garrison, another ranking agent, Jill Marin plays devil's advocate, convinced that Garrison couldn't possibly be the rat in the house.

This film is intense and never lost my interest throughout. It was also very interesting since it deals with the Secret Service and a couple of former Secret Service agents consulted on the film to make sure it was as close to reality as possible. The "Secret Service training" really paid off as it was obvious that the actors knew what they were doing and actually could pass for the real thing. Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland were great in their roles, but Eva Longoria and Kim Basinger were obviously there more for eye candy than to add anything to the plot. All in all, I enjoyed watching it and is definitely one I'd recommend watching once.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Perfect Storm - ACE Train Movie Review

In October 1991, a dying tropical hurricane from Bermuda collided with a cold front from the Great Lakes, resulting in a "perfect storm" of previously unknown destructive impact that resulted in 100-foot waves; tragically, the crew of a fishing boat was lost in the midst of the fearsome storm. Based on the best-selling book by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm tells the story of the ship's brave and hard-working crew. Billy Tyne, captain of the Andrea Gail, hasn't had much luck finding catch on his most recent trips to sea, and with money short, he and his crew - Bob Shatford, Dale Murphy, and David Sullivan set out again when they hear that the fish are running. Billy's hunch proves correct, but when the ship's refrigeration system goes haywire, they have to return to shore as quickly as possible before the fish spoil, sending them into the middle of the worst storm in history.

George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg were very good in this film and provided a lot of tension, drama and realism to their roles. They were the high point of this film and the rest was just OK. Obviously, the ending was no big surprise and the journey to get there took a little too long - there are only so many scenes you can have where the water is slamming the boat before it gets a little old. I also thought the attempt to show the boat crew as "family men" prior to their perilous expedition was a bit weak - they have loved ones on the shore, we get it (the fisherman hitting on the heavy lady with two kids was downright awkward). Overall, I was disappointed in the quality of the film as a whole and thought they could have done a much better job of telling the story without it being so segmented.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Something's Gotta Give - Movie Review

Harry Langer is a swinging sixtysomething entertainment executive who is surrounded by plenty of young girlfriends. His latest romance is young petite sophisticate Marin, who takes him to her mother's beach house in the Hamptons for a weekend fling. However, Marin's successful Broadway playwright mother Erica Barry is already vacationing at the house with her sister Zoe. Marin and Harry stay anyway, and Harry ends up having a heart attack. He goes to the hospital and is looked after by thirtysomething doctor Julian Mercer. Impressed by her writing, Dr. Mercer finds himself pursuing a romance with Erica. Because of his serious health condition, he orders Harry to stay near the hospital. While Marin returns to Manhattan, Erica agrees to stay on and look after Harry. Of course they are repulsed by each other at first, but they end up falling in love throughout the recovery process.

As romantic comedies go, this is a pretty good one. It was funny, dramatic, emotional and contained many twists and turns along the way. Jack Nicholson was excellent and had great chemistry with Diane Keaton, but a questionable relationship with Amanda Peet. Keanu Keeves played his typical, clueless role and wasn't right for the part. Even though most of the twists weren't very surprising, it was still enjoyable, sad and uplifting at the same time. This is a great rainy day movie and I'm sure most women (especially older ones) will absolutely love it, but there's plenty for men to enjoy as well if they give it a chance.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet, Frances McDormand, Jon Favreau

I typically watch movies on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while riding the ACE Train from Tracy to Santa Clara. The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Kauai Trip - August 27 - September 3, 2006

View more photos from the trip here and click on Slideshow to view them all with descriptions.

To view a large map of Kauai marked with many of the locations I mention in this post, click the image below

Kauai is the Hawaiian island known as the Garden Isle and it's easy to see why. Lush, tropical landscapes, cascading waterfalls and towering green mountains are what make this island the best in the Hawaiian chain. I was there in 1995, but Shawnna had never been, so we decided to make the trip so she could witness the beauty firsthand.

Day 1 - Sunday, August 27th
After a 5 hour flight from San Jose to Honolulu and a 2 hour layover, we finally landed in Lihue, Kauai at 1:40pm. We immediately picked up our rental car (silver Chevy Malibu) and headed to our condo. We stayed at the Banyan Harbor Resort which is located just a couple of miles from the airport in Lihue. A friend of a friend has a timeshare there and graciously allowed us to use it for the week. After getting settled in, we were off to explore and find something to eat. The first place we stopped was Coconut Marketplace in Wailua (East Kauai) which is a shopping center and we ate at a little outdoor fish grill where Shawnna had a tuna salad and I went with the fish & chips. Next, we kept driving up the East coast and stopped in Princeville (North Kauai) which is where I stayed last time I was here. However, I wasn't able to find the exact condo where I stayed since there was so much new construction over the last 11 years. We got back on the road and drove to Haena Beach Park which is almost where the road stops on the North side. We walked on the beach and went into the water to test it out (about 75°). After enjoying the moment, we drove back to the East side of the island and ate dinner at Bubba's Burgers in Kapa'a before heading back to the room for some much needed sleep.

Day 2 - Monday, August 28th
We attended an island orientation presentation at the resort which consisted of a bunch of spokespeople for various activities available around the island giving their sales pitch. The best part was that we won the door prize of a 2 for 1 coupon for the Kilihana Luau (we booked it for Thursday). After that, we drove South along the highway (there's one major highway on the island) and stopped in Poipu. We ate lunch at Brennecke Beach Broiler which is across the street from Poipu Beach. After enjoying our BBQ Kalua Pork Sandwiches, we kept driving West on the highway, stopping at the Kauai Kookie Kompany and finally ended up at the end of the road which was the Kalalau Lookout. This lookout provided great views of Waimea Canyon which is nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It is 10 miles long, 1 mile wide and 3,500 feet deep which was carved over thousands years by the rivers and floods that flowed from Mount Wai'ale'ale (the world's wettest spot with annual rainfall averaging 460 inches). After taking pictures and marveling at the beauty, we headed back and stopped at the Kauai Coffee Company to sample some island brew on the way. For dinner, we drove back to Kapa'a to eat at Coconuts Island Style Grill where Shawnna had the Mahi Mahi and I feasted on Teriyaki Salmon. For dessert, we shared a piece of Banana Cream Pie - the food was so good here, highly recommended.

Day 3 - Tuesday, August 29th
Today we took a 7 hour catamaran trip to the Na Pali Coast and Niihau with Holo Holo Charters. We left from Port Allen which is in Hanapepe Bay on the South side of the island. The catamaran was a 65 foot power catamaran and took about 35 people on the trip. After leaving the harbor, we headed for the Na Pali Coast on Western Kauai and saw a ton of flying fish on the way as well as some playful spinner dolphins that hung around the boat and even a couple of sea turtles. The Na Pali Coast was awesome to see from the boat with its sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls, white sand beaches and many sea caves - the catamaran sailed into one of the caves and we were able to look up through the skylight at the top of the cave. Next, we sailed 17 miles across the channel to Niihau (The Forbidden Island where you must be full blooded Hawaiian to live) and snorkeled off the coast next to a small island called Lehua. While snorkeling, we saw a monk seal, manta ray and a bunch of other tropical fish. After snorkeling, we ate lunch, sailed down the coast of Niihau and headed back to the harbor. On the way back, we saw more dolphins and a school of tuna feeding with a shark taking his share as well. We went back to the room and ate dinner there - Shawnna had leftovers from Coconuts and I got a bacon cheeseburger from JJ's Broiler. We finished the day with chocolate truffles from the Kauai Chocolate Company.

Day 4 - Wednesday, August 30th
We started the day with breakfast at Eggbert's in Kapa'a where I enjoyed the banana pancakes and Shawnna had a veggie omelet. Next, we drove up North to the end of the road at Ke'e Beach which is where the Kalalau Trail starts. This trail winds along the lush, green cliffs of the Na Pali Coast and ends 11 miles later at Kalalau Beach. However, we only hiked 2 miles on the trail and ended up at Hanakapi'ai Beach with only a few other people. The hike is very difficult since it is steep, rocky, slippery and muddy, but since it's the only land access to this part of the coast, it's worth the effort to see the amazing views of the towering sea cliffs and lush valleys (we even saw a couple centipedes). After hiking 2 miles back, we were hungry for lunch, so we drove to Hanalei and ate at the Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant (Shawnna had the opah fish salad and I had fish & chips). We sat at a table right next to the Hanalei River and had a great view of several waterfalls in the mountains. Next, we went to the Kilauea Lighthouse which was built in 1913 and is the northernmost point on the island with great views of the coast and the Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge where we saw a couple of monk seals resting on the shore. After that, we stopped at the Guava Kai Plantation and headed back to Lihue for Dinner at Duke's. The restaurant is located on Kalapaki Beach and we had a great ocean view while Shawnna enjoyed her ono fish and I dined on mahi mahi. We finished it off with hula pie which is macadamia nut ice cream with oreo crust, hot fudge and whip cream on top - yum!

Day 5 - Thursday, August 31st
Ready for another adventure, we headed to Ali'i Kayaks for a kayak & hike trip. We started at the mouth of the Wailua River and paddled 2 miles up the North Fork where we beached our kayaks and began a 1 mile hike through a tropical rainforest to the Secret Falls. This area was once reserved for Hawaiian royalty and the guide told us the history and legends of the area throughout the trip. After eating lunch at the falls, we took a quick dip (it was cold!) and hiked and paddled back to the marina. In the evening, we attended the Kilohana Luau at the Kilohana Plantation (a sugar plantation where the biggest house ever built on Kauai is located) where we received a wagon ride pulled by Clydesdale horses around the property prior to the start of the festivities. The luau was the typical Hawaiian luau with hula dancers, fire dancers, live music and of course, the feast. The buffet included kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, fresh fruit, mahi mahi, teriyaki beef, stir fry, fried rice, taro rolls, rice pudding, carrot cake and passion fruit cheesecake among other things. Needless to say, we were stuffed when it was over as we waddled back to our car and drove back to the room.

Day 6 - Friday, September 1st
This was the day I was waiting for and Shawnna was fearing - the helicopter ride around the island with Will Squyres Helicopter Tours. We lifted off from Lihue airport at 7:30am on what turned out to be the clearest day that we could have possibly asked for. We went clockwise around the island and were able to see all of the major attractions from the air including Waimea Canyon, Mount Waialeale, Wailua Falls (the falls shown in the opening credits of Fantasy Island) and the Na Pali Coast. Since it was so clear, we actually flew inside of a volcanic crater (not active) to see all of the waterfalls cascading down the sides. This whole ride was a truly amazing experience and allowed us to see things that you aren't able to see any other way. By the end, Shawnna wanted to go "five more times." After that, we drove to Wailua Falls lookout to see the "Fantasy Island" falls from ground level. We ate lunch at Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo and our next destination was Barking Sands Beach at the far Southeast end of the island. The paved road ends 4 miles before you get to the beach and then you are forced to drive on a dirt road that is extremely bumpy and car rental companies tell you not to go. After driving on the dirt road for a couple of miles, we decided to turn back since the car was vibrating so much (and so were we) that we felt there were other beaches we could visit that were much easier to get to. On the way back, we stopped at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens and the Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation. For dinner, we ate at the Bull Shed which is a steakhouse located right on the water in Kapa'a. Shawnna had the filet mignon with cracked pepper and I had the teriyaki top sirloin - my steak was good and the view of the ocean was even better.

Day 7 - Saturday, September 2nd
We rented some snorkel gear and drove to the end of the road on the North side to do some snorkeling at Ke'e Beach. We got there early to avoid the crowds, picked our spot on the beach and jumped in the water. The reef off the shore was teeming with various types of fish and the water was a perfect 75°. After a couple hours of snorkeling and sunbathing, it was time for lunch, so we drove to Lighthouse Bistro which was down the street from the Kilauea Lighthouse. I had a cheeseburger and Shawnna had the fish tacos (food was good, service was bad). Next, we drove back down the coast and went to the Opaeka'a Falls lookout in Wailua. After putzing around for a while, we went to dinner at Wahoo Seafood Grill & Bar in Kapa'a. Apparently, we saved the best for last as the entrees we ordered (Kona fish and Seabass) looked like art on the plate and tasted even better. For dessert, we shared the bananas and cream with caramel topping that was delicious. Couple great food with a tropical setting next to the coconut palm grove and you have a winning recipe for a very enjoyable dinner - highly recommended. That was a great way to spend our last night in Kauai.

Day 8 - Sunday, September 3rd
All good things have to come to an end and today was the day. At 10:20am, we flew out of Kauai and travelled back to reality.

View more photos from the trip here and click on Slideshow to view them all with descriptions.