Sept. 4, 2016   Snorkel Anini and check sunset at St. Regis:

As hot as it was in the daytime, it did cool off nicely in the evening.  We still had 2 floor fans and a ceiling fan running in our bedroom, but slept well.  So well, that we didn't get up until almost 10.  Not use to having such dark curtains!

When I did look outside, I was very happy!  It was sunny with blue skies and the ocean was a beautiful blue, too.  This is the view from our room today---

After a gourmet breakfast of Lucky Charms, we took off to Anini Beach.  According to the websites, there was still some high surf on the North shore from Hurricane Lester.  But Anini is pretty well protected.  Although by the time we got there, the clouds were coming to the North side again.  Looked like rain, too.  But we snorkeled anyway.

Ken lagging behind.

Those look like some really comfy inflatable loungers!

 We were greeted right away by this school of ring tail surgeonfish.

some coral and very young Hawaiian Dascyllus.

threadfin butterflyfish

Christmas wrasse.

there were hundreds of these yellow stripe goatfish.

 More of them and many other fish!

there were several schools of moorish idols, too.

 black tail snapper

there were probably hundreds of these saddle wrasses, too.  Many juveniles.

female spotted boxfish

blue stripe butterflyfish--endemic to Hawaii.

juvenile parrotfish, goatfish and other juvenile fish.  It's an ideal place for juveniles to grow up in.

 a white mouth moray eel

a ringed sap-sucking slug.  Use to see a lot more of them here.  I think they like the really warm water here.

 Hawaiian white spotted toby

assorted fish.  Lots of them out there.

more moorish idols.

more goatfish

another of the 3 eels we saw.

 another saddle wrasse with more green then the other one.

one of the larger coral heads here with a bunch of Hawaiian dascyllus by it.

 and other fish

there were also a bunch of very small trumpet fish by this coral head.

and a lizard fish

another little coral head near the big one.

a rather large coronet fish.  They look a lot like the trumpet fish, but they have a mouse-like tail instead of a fan tail.

 another eel and a bunch of tiny dascyllus.

 a blue goatfish

 male spotted boxfish

the endemic milletseed butterflyfish

goldring surgeonfish

I don't think these are coral, but don't know what they are.

 there were a few of these guys around---reef triggerfish

 juvenile and adult white spot toby

 After about 2 hours we decided to get out.  Love all the blooming ground cover.

LOVE Anini!

 Back at The Cliffs we decided to hit their pool.  It's behind this recreation building.  Today they were having a craft fair.  Lots of pretty nice stuff.  If I had money on me I probably would have bought a couple magnets.

the small but very nice pool and jacuzzi.

 This interesting tree trunk was between the restrooms.

About 5 we headed to Kalypso for happy hour.  Can't tell if this guy was enjoying happy hour there, too.

Dinner!!!!  I didn't eat it all, I let Ken have some.

 we drove around looking for a good place for sunset.  First went to the pier, but it was packed as before.

 The beach was much smaller then it ever was in the winters when we were there.

most of the parking lots by the beaches have turned to a bunch of potholes like this.

always gotta take this picture!

 The clouds were pretty heavy, so Ken offered to drop me off at the St. Regis so I could take the elevators to the beach.  I figured, why not!?  I can see why people like to go here.  In the 15 times we've been to Kauai this is the first time I stepped into the St. Regis.

 postcard worthy beach

impressive pool, too
Gotta include some flowers!

 Not much of a sunset, but it was still pretty.

 Wonder if the fisherman take the elevators, too?  As far as I can tell, you have to take the elevators from the lobby to level 4, then another set of elevators to the 1st floor. I tried to find how you'd get to Hideaways from there, but came to a dead end.

 The most color we got.  Love any view with Bali Hai in it.

 another shot of the pool.

 on level 4 is one of the restaurants.  this is the view from there!  no wonder the prices are so high!  you're not paying for the food, you're paying for the view.

 heading back through the lobby and enjoying the decor.

 part of the huge lobby. 

Went back to the condo from there and am calling it a day.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a Tunnels day!