Kauai, Hawai'i (Day Six): Na Pali Coast
If you missed Day Five of our belated honeymoon in Hawai’i, go read about it here.
Accommodations: VRBO at Islander on the Beach Hotel
For our accommodations in Kauai, the most cost-effective option was to get an Airbnb in a more touristy area (Kapaa). Our Airbnb actually fell through when the owner was forced to do some repair work during our stay. Luckily, the owner found another private room in the same hotel that was the same price on VRBO, and we were able to book that instead. This rental had less of the personal charms of our Airbnb on the Big Island, but there was a pool, and it was in a convenient location.
Na Pali Coast Snorkel Tour
Our first full day on Kauai was one of our favorite parts of the entire trip and the one Ryan was most looking forward to: a boat tour of the Nā Pali coast. I’m slightly scared of boats and majorly scared of the open ocean, so the prospect of being on a raft flying across deep, deep water didn’t excite me, per se. However, I faced my fears, and this turned out to be one of my favorite things we did while in Hawaii.
We booked the NĀ PALI RAFT SNORKEL TOUR through Kauai Sea Tours. Originally, we booked the afternoon tour; however, it’s a good thing we left this day VERY flexible, as we were switched into the 7:15 am tour at the last minute due to high winds and dangerous conditions predicted for the afternoon. Our tour guide was named Drake, and after a few missteps (he’d left the plug out of its spot the previous night and the boat started sinking as he was giving us the opening rundown lol), we were off to the Nā Pali coast.
This coast is one of the most recognizable in Hawai’i. Native Hawaiians used to live in these difficult to access valleys, creating rope systems down to the water for trade. They even buried their dead kings in secret spots on the cliffs; the person tasked with this burial would cut the rope and plunge to their death afterwards, ensuring none knew the location of the dead king’s bones and thus their mana, or power.
Many beaches along the coast are only accessible by hike or boat; others are completely off-limits because they are considered sacred and any trespassers are subject to upwards of $10,000 in fines. You’ll recognize many filming locations, including for Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean (filmmakers paid millions in fines to be able to film on one of the beaches).
The raft did go surprisingly fast over some choppy seas, which required (if like me, you’re scared you’ll fall out into the shark-infested waters) holding onto the ropes behind you and between your legs with a death grip. Eventually we made it to the snorkeling spot, where we swam with a big sea turtle and lots of colorful fish at the reef. After snorkeling and the provided lunch, we went through a sea cave, saw a waterfall, and viewed the Honopu Arch (which is famous, in part, for a helicopter pilot “shooting” it).
Throughout the tour, Drake also took us near several pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins. These dolphins are named for their acrobatic leaps and spins. Scientists believe they use these behaviors primarily for acoustic signaling or communication. Like other large marine wildlife, you should never try to swim with these dolphins, as they can exhibit threatening behaviors or flee if disturbed.
This tour was a real adventure, and though I’m hesitant to spend a lot of money on tours, this one was worth every cent. It was the perfect combination of informative, adventurous, and tranquil.
Poipu Beach
After our raft tour, we headed to Poipu Beach to read and swim. This was by far the most crowded beach I’ve maybe ever been to. There was hardly space for us to put down chairs and towels. There is a lava rock wading pool that prevents large waves from entering the swimming area, and there is also a sand spit that leads to a small island of sorts a little further out. Apparently it’s a good spot to see Hawaiian monk seals; however, we didn’t see any while we were there.
Dinner: The Dolphin Poipu
Our dinner that night was at one of the fancier restaurants of the trip. Make reservations for this one! It markets itself as a gourmet restaurant, and there is an adjoined sushi lounge. I would rate it as better than a nice seafood restaurant in Florida or South Carolina, but Ryan wasn’t blown away by the sushi, especially for the price. Overall, it wasn’t as unique as some of the other restaurants we went to, especially on the Big Island.
Up Next: Waimea Canyon State Park