SANTANYI MAGAZINE 06

Santanyí magazine ···70 that many of these animals have escaped and reproduced over the years. Any way, today there are thousands of wild roosters and hens in Kaua’i roaming freely on the island without hardly any predators. The cocks disturb the evening calm at the worst possible moment with their crowing. The island of Kauaii appears in numerous Hollywood films and films for the small screen: • The movie to the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein “South Pacific” with Mitzy Gaynor. • The Disneyfilm “Lilo & Stich” of 2002 und the related TV series take place in Kaua’i. • The shooting of the film “Jurassic Park” in 1993 was carried out in the Waimea Canyon. • The Elvis Presley movie “Blue Hawaii” was filmed here. • Parts of the island were used for some scenes in the film “Indiana Jones”. My impressions: The entire Hawaiian archipelago is one of the United States of America. I must stress that the people who live there are completely different in their nature from the rest of the country. In this part of the world people are hospitable, friendly, courteous, cheerful and trusting. I’ve seen some strange things, like the typical police car with its flashing lights and two surf boards on the roof rack. Kauai appealed to me especially because of the contrasts that characterize the island: The Waimea Canyon with its nearly 1,100 meters is the deepest gorge worldwide to be found on an island. A wide range of cliffs featuring sharp points like a saw, carved by the rain gives shape to the coast of Na Pali (Pali means cliff in Polynesian). One of its peaks is crowned by the omnipresent cloud that provides the numerous waterfalls with water. With an annual rainfall of about 11,000 litres per squaremeter, this place is considered the wettest spot on earth. It’s surprising that there are so many river streams and creeks, of which some are navigable, on a small island like this. The surrounding sea is a migration area for whales, which can easily be spotted from the banks, as well as dolphins. The south of the island is arid and rather plain with extended beaches contrasting with the green and rainy north and its abrupt coast. In the southwest of the island is the small island of Niihau, where about 250 indigenous people are at home, whose living conditions are similar to those of the ancient Polynesians, that means, there is no running water or electricity. Visitors do not have access to this small island. You may only overfly it with the helicopter. Conclusion: Of all the trips I’ve ever made, I liked this one best. Juan Sitges Bonet