Do you have $10? Do you like archaeology? Are you going to be here on Kauai on Thursday, March 21st, from 9am to 11:30am? Well, if you answered yes to these questions, then I have an event for you!

The Makauwahi Reserve is a fascinating place where explorers can visit and hear all about the past and future of Kauai. Both past and future? Why yes! Let me explain. This reserve has the largest limestone cave on Hawaii, which is pretty cool in and of itself. But add to that an open-air sink hole containing what scientists say is perfectly preserved fossils ranging from 10,000 years ago or more and you have amazing.

To quote the Makauwahi Cave Reserve’s website (which can be found here): “The rich fossil-bearing sediments of Makauwahi Cave, over 10 m (33 feet) thick in some areas, have an unusual chemistry that preserves almost everything that fell in there over the last 10,000 years or more – animal fossils such as shells and bones, as well as plant fossils including seeds, leaves, and wood. Microscopic fossils, including pollen, spores, algae, even DNA fragments, occur by the billions.

So what does this mean? Well, by using the information from fossils found in the cave, scientists have been able to research the past and do some pretty awesome things in the present, like saving species on the brink of extinction. Plus, the place looks really neat. So if you want to come and visit, why not stop by.

As part of the Prince Kuhio Day events, there will be a Makauwahi Reserve Tour starting at 9am on Thursday morning. The tour will give the history of the area, a presentation of the fossils found, and information about how uncovered scientific data is able to preserve the present and future as well as the past. The price for this tour is only $10! So it will be well worth the price. Plus, how cool is ancient history!?

If you’d like to sign up for the tour, simply call 480-225-5604 for more information. And if you go, remember to wear grippy walking shoes and to bring a water bottle. The preserve is 17-acres, and walking in and out will work up a thirst.

As part of the Prince Kuhio Day celebration, there will be a mini rodeo at CJM Stables at 2pm today! So if you want to enjoy some great horseback riding and be a part of a wonderful Kauai tradition, then come and join us.

Rodeos have a long history on our island. They started around the plantation era, where farming families would learn to ride and compete with others from around the island. And ever since then, we have held our horseback-riding heritage in our hearts. That’s why there are rodeo events and horseback riding options all year round on Kauai, especially in Poipu.

Now today, there will be barrel racing. This event will be divided up into three separate divisions: open, senior, and youth. So no matter your age or riding style, you could join us. And, if you don’t want to race, you can certainly watch the fun. After all, admission to this event is FREE!! So you can come, watch a day of horsing around, and enjoy yourselves for no cost.

And if you have kids, there will also be pony rides available. So everyone wins!

For more information on this event, you can visit CJM Stables online or call 808-639-6695. And if you don’t like horses, don’t worry. There will be many more events this month as we move toward Prince Kuhio Day.

Did you watch Finding Nemo and say to yourself: Man, I wish I could talk to a sea turtle. Well, here’s your chance, though I’m pretty sure they won’t be talking back. Here on Kauai, there is a place where you can snorkel with sea turtles, getting up close and personal with these fun and fascinating animals. And you can easily sign up for a private tour for just you and your family if you want, allowing you to stick together and learn together. Let me tell you more.

One of the best tour companies on the island is Kauai Vacation Tours. They specialize in helping visitors have a great time by offering tours on helicopters, boats, horseback, paddle boards, feet, and more. If you want to take a specific tour, they are probably the company to choose. (And yes, I’m talking them up a bit. But no, they didn’t ask me to do so.

They have one specific tour to see the sea turtles that I would recommend for families with school-aged children and older. It’s a private tour that charges per person, though they often offer specials and coupons for families. Plus, unless many turtle tours that involve learning to scuba (which is not easy or safe for young children), this tour uses snorkeling equipment instead. So you can see the turtles without having to deal with oxygen tanks and heavy equipment.

On this private snorkeling adventure, you can get up close and personal with the turtles, swimming with them and playing with them. You can also see several varieties of fish and other sea life, experiencing Kauai’s unique underwater world. If you have never been scuba diving or snorkeling, I highly recommend it. The world under the sea is an amazing place of wonder and exquisite landmarks. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. So choose this tour if you want an aquatic adventure while you’re here. But keep in mind that it is best to only take strong swimmers on this tour, as it happens in the ocean with few resting places. It’s also a good idea to practice some snorkeling in calm and shallow waters before taking a tour out to sea.

Okay, so I just wrote about plantation days and the fun involved. However, I wanted to take an extra few minutes and expound upon one of my favorite parts of Plantation Days: the rodeo!

I know that I’m not the only one who pictures the rodeo when I talk about Plantation Days. In fact, many of my friends, when asked if they were going for a day or two this year, told me that they wouldn’t miss the rodeo for the world. Yeah, it’s that popular, which is funny since it is only the 13th year that the rodeo has been a part of the Plantation Days festival.

Anyway, if you like going to the rodeo (or if you have never been before and enjoy watching grown men in tight jeans ride horses), then this is your opportunity to have some fun. This year, the rodeo is from Friday, July 20, to Sunday, July 22. Each day’s activities will start at 11am at the CJM Stables Rodeo Arena, but the entrance fee and closing times for each day differ. Here’s why:

Friday (July 20) is the longest day of the rodeo, with closing time being around 9pm. So the entrance fee will be a bit higher. Plus, there will be a BBQ for anyone purchasing a ticket. So the fee will be $5 a person, with the BBQ starting at 4pm. Then, on Saturday, closing time will be 5pm instead of 9pm. On this day, there will be the slack roping and riding events. There is no fee to enter, so if you live on the island and want to participate (or if you are visiting and want to show off your skills), you can enter the contest.

Sunday will be the last and shortest day of the rodeo, so the entrance fee is only $2 for adults. (Children will be free.) From 11am until 3:30pm, the rodeo will continue on and the champions will impress us with their skill. The Kauai All Girls Rodeo Drill team will also be demonstrating their skill, with ceremonies wrapping up the event.

Of course, you can find more information about the rodeo on the website I mentioned in my last blog. But I wanted to entice you a bit to attend if you can. This rodeo is sure to be fun. And, after the day’s rodeo festivities, you can spend your time investigating the towns of Poipu and Koloa, viewing a much-appreciated aspect of our cultural heritage and our lives.

The South Shore is not typically a center of excitement and adventure, unlike the North Shore. However, it is a place of rich cultural heritage, hard-working individuals, and glorious representations of the best nature on Kauai has to offer. And in this area of cultural heritage and natural wonder, you will find the towns of Koloa and Poipu.

I have mentioned these towns before, as cultural festivals happen there and I’m a big fan of reporting on events tourists and residents alike would enjoy. And this blog entry is no different. So if you are going to be on the island from July 20-29 (or anywhere in-between those dates), come and join us for the annual Koloa Plantation Days cultural festival!

This festival will have stations, events, and family-oriented fun all over the Koloa and Poipu areas in celebrations of the plantation heritage in these areas. As you know, plantations are large farms, and here on Kauai they have provided the backbone of our existence and exorts. We owe much to these plantation towns and this celebration will be a small part of a big thank you to them.

Now, during this festival, there will be a lot to do. Seriously, this is 10 days of something to do, with new experiences to be had by all. So if you feel like visiting food booths, shopping at craft booths, participating in workshops and classes, witnessing cultural displays, practicing Hawaiian dance, learning about our culture, competing in sporting events and games, going on rides, listening to live music, learning to hula, or hanging out at a rodeo with your friends and family, then come hang out with us in Koloa.

For more information on the schedule of events, you can visit their website.