Spending Our Anniversary In Kauai

United States

By: Leslie Stroud
Oct 01, 2018
(4) Comments

Spending Our Anniversary In Kauai

Last updated: October 27, 2026. This update clarifies current Haʻena access and trail-closure information while preserving the family’s anniversary story. Date information added October 28, 2026.

A rose and candles on a dinner table with two people holding hands in the background.

Originally published October 1, 2018, this post recounts our anniversary day in Kauaʻi. The road, trail, and dinner details are memories from that visit. For a future trip, check current park access and conditions before going.

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Arriving in Kauai for Our Anniversary

It’s day one in Kauai and it also happens to be our anniversary. Hooray!

Honestly, we are tired from traveling, but we made a great effort to celebrate. Chris and I are purists when it comes to celebrating special days and we like to go ALL OUT on the day. In fact, Chris usually doesn’t even work on either his or my birthday or our anniversary.

We didn’t think our anniversary through well when we booked this travel (over 14 months ago) so I’m glad we’re at least not traveling today. We got in late last night and spent the day trying to catch up. Chris had to hop on phone calls right after getting out of bed and I had to feed some pretty whiny, excited, and tired children. Thankfully, I did some research before we came and found a great sitter for tonight.

A Muddy Hike and Anniversary Dinner

We tried to hike the Nā Pali Coast, but road access was restricted during that visit. We saw signs for a roadblock and, after getting through, were pulled off to the side. We were told flooding in April had washed out roads and bridges, so traffic was limited to a few windows each day. Residents had to register for a special tag and travel in “convoys” to get home. Woah.

For a future visit, Hāʻena State Park currently requires a reservation or accepted Hawaiʻi resident ID, and conditions can change. Check the Hawaiʻi State Parks Hāʻena page and Go Hāʻena reservations and park conditions before you go. As of October 27, 2026, Go Hāʻena’s park-conditions update says day-use access has reopened, while overnight camping and hiking beyond the two-mile point remain closed until further notice. Check the latest notices for your dates; a permit does not override a closure.

We turned around and made the best of it. We stopped for our first shaved ice, which was amazing. It had macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom and was heavenly as it all melted together. Chris ordered some BBQ to go which was also delicious.

We then found a hike right near us. Reviews said it would be muddy, which we were okay with. However, it was more like a mudslide. It was so slippery! We also started too late and quickly realized we needed to get back down. Let’s just say it was a great adventure…. I eventually, after falling on my backside multiple times, just sat down when I got to slip and slid through the mud. I figured that is what my kids do when hiking and it might help me not to break a wrist. Chris fell many times also and, as time wore on, we were soon in pitch-black darkness. Thank goodness for a cell phone flashlight or we would not have made it back to the car!

We had many frogs join us, although with many bugs and tons and tons of mud. Eventually, we will get a video of our adventure. Sadly, we only made it to the first lookout point! I think we are both too scared to go back, but there are many hiking options close by.

We came back and showered and then had an amazing dinner at the St. Regis hotel. It was heavenly flavors, textures, and perfect portions. They were incredible with gluten-free and the service was one of the best we’ve ever had. It was a perfect ending to a fun night.

I can’t believe it has been 14 years. While I can see that we have changed, I still see Chris as the handsome, driven man I met when he was 21. I still love his energy, his love of life, and his dedication to us as a couple and now our family. My life would be so much less rewarding and wonderful without him.

Our original anniversary video: Happy 14th Anniversary: Hiking in the Mud!!

Black-and-white photo of two adults seated at a restaurant table.

Fourteen Things I Love About Being Married to Chris

In an effort to be totally mushy, here is my quick list of fourteen things I love about being married to Chris.

How he pushes me out of my box. I would be so rigid without him.
That he loves life as much as I do.
That together we make such a stronger team than either of us alone.
That he is so dedicated to providing for our family and does such a good job of that
That he loves to travel!
I love that he loves his children and is so wiling to also dedicate his life to them.
I love his deep testimony of our Savior and Heavenly Father.
I love that he calms me down when I tend to get too stressed. He is like the pressure relief valve on my stress.
I appreciate that we both stand up for what we believe in, even though sometimes this results in some strong “conversations”.
I love that he is such an optimist. Even in the darkest hour, he is still positive and hopeful. It is a good yin to my more pessimistic yang.
I love that we are both goal-oriented and want to make progress. We have accomplished so much and will keep doing so.
I love his playful side that keeps things light and funny.
I love to see him wrestle and play with our children. Nothing makes a mommy heart happier.
I am so grateful we are both trying to make it to our eternal goals and can do this journey together.