We finally made it to Queen’s Bath today. During winter, there are few times you can actually visit the bath without eminent death or at least danger. Queen’s Bath is a natural pool formed in the lava rocks along the coast of Princeville, Kauai. After driving into the land of condos and haoles, we parked the minivan and began the 10 minute hike, descending down the muddy, red clay trail to the black lava cliffs along the waters edge. The hike is akin to a Disney theme park Ride from the Jungle Book with a perfect waterfall flowing beside the trail, that leads to a small fresh water pool; palm trees rustling, birds singing and the sound of water trickling. From here we took a moment to assess the size of the swell. Things can change quickly in the ocean and the waters can become angry in the time it takes to park the car and hike the trail. Luckily, for us, the waves were still relatively small for Hawaii in winter. We walked out along the rough rocks, passing tide pools, with one eye looking for crabs and little fish, and the other looking for that rogue wave that might wash us out to sea. We were just here 2 weeks ago and the high surf was covering these same rocks with 30ft waves. We watched too casual tourists standing at the cliffs edge, taking photos, oblivious to the fact that at any moment a huge wave could come in, making them another slash mark on the warning sign. Within a few minutes, we were standing on the rocks above the pool, bathing suits donned, GoPro in hand, jumping into the Bath. The water was calm and clear until a huge wave came crashing onto the cliffs and water cascaded over the pool’s edge creating a wave of excitement as the current pushed us around and the suddenly aerated water felt like we were sitting in a drunk man’s champagne glass or nature’s Jacuzzi without the heated water. Then the water and our heart beats became calm again and we waited for the next big wave to roll in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFDyGySYazk (click to see us in the bath)