We went back and forth on how much we wanted to see today. The Waimea Canyon was on and off the list multiple times for fear that it would be too much for us with the cruise being 4 hours. So we left the house to grab breakfast at a local place close by called the Nourish Cafe. There was an unusual selection of foods, but everyone seemed to enjoy their breakfast. Bowman ordered an açaí bowl which had taro sorbet at the bottom of it, which was surprising. I’d highly recommend this not only because of the food, but the beautiful view of the mountain.

This is not Hanalei Valley lookout, but it’s very similar to the view. This view is from the Nourish Café.

Our next step was Wailuia Falls. It was so close to the Opaek’a Falls we saw the day before, but it wasn’t easily to get to because of the river between the two. This waterfall is easily accessible from the road and it is 173 feet high. So we chose to do this the second day we were here. The drive was lovely as we went up the hill and the streets were narrow, and the landscape was so beautifully green.

After the falls, we were in search of coffee. We found a small place where John and Bowman could get something. It wasn’t great, but it’s sufficed. Our next stop was the tree tunnel and then spouting horn. The tree tunnel is just a canopy of trees that you drive through. Bowman remembers it a little differently 35 years ago with older and more dense trees so you couldn’t see the sunlight above it. The tunnel was 3 miles long banked by eucalyptus trees.

On our way to Spouting horn, we drove into Poi’pu, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Kauai has over 50 miles of white sand beaches. Just a little further north is the spectacular Spouting Horn blowhole, one of the most photographed spots on Kauai. The Poi’pū surf channels into a natural lava tube here and releases a huge spout of water that can reach as high as 50 feet into the air. You’ll also hear a hiss and a roar that is the basis of a Hawaiian legend.

One legend says that this coastline was once guarded by a giant mo’o (lizard) named Kaikapu. Everyone was afraid of the moʻo because it would eat anyone who tried to fish or swim in the area. One day, a young boy named Liko entered the ocean to outwit the lizard. Kaikapu attacked him, but Liko thrust a sharp stick into her mouth, swam under the lava shelf, and escaped through a small hole to the surface. The moʻo followed Liko and got stuck in the lava tube. To this day, you can hear the lizard’s roar and see her breath spraying from the blowhole.

We ended up skipping the Kauai coffee plantation primarily because we decided to head to Waimea Canyon next. The Waimea Canyon is a geological masterpiece with flowing streams through lava rocks, waterfalls, and lookout destinations. It’s the Grand Canyon of the Pacific is 10 miles long and 3000 feet deep carved for generations by the Waimea River. This natural wonder encompasses the Waimea State Park and the Koke’e park. It was drier than most places we’ve been on the island so far. We passed red dirt fields to drive up the winding canyon roads.

Our tour on the Na Pali coast at sunset was through Captain Andy‘s 65 foot catamaran and started at 3 PM but we needed to check in at 2:15 to check in and get a briefing and walk to the boat. There was a barge where they normally park the boat, so we had to go through a huge building and then climb onto our boat the Northern Star. The tour was 30 miles each way, which took us four hours. There are three legs of the trip:

• Before the Na Pali Coast
• Right turn into the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park
• Turning around and returning home to see the sunset and the two other islands next to Kauai

During the first part, we saw a sugarcane factory. John thought they were pretty interesting because they only recently closed in 2009 owned by Gay and Robinson. We all thought they must’ve closed a long time ago.

The captain shared with us that on the right was a naval base called Pacific Missile Range Facility, and it tests missiles.

Polihale State Park consisted of 17 miles of beautiful isolated beaches. Some required hiking others required all-terrain vehicles because the sand was very deep.

Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales, they arrive in the winter. Dany and Patrick saw dolphins.

Our last site before turning the corner was the Koke’e Park Geophysical Observatory which is a NASA facility located on a remote ridge within the park. The observatory collects crucial geodetic data that helps measure and understand earths shape, orientation in space and gravity.

When we made the right turn into the northern winds, the swells got larger and they warned us that everyone had the chance of getting wet during this part of the cruise. They weren’t kidding. While technically they were only 3 to 4 foot swells, it felt like a lot more than that. Everyone was drenched unless you were underneath in the cabin. No one fell overboard, but a few people got sick and I was not feeling well. I couldn’t find the right place to sit where I wasn’t feeling nauseous – inside with no air and heat or outside with the swells and a breeze. Dany and Patrick, the young whippersnappers of the group, stayed at the bow. Bowman stayed on the starboard side of the boat during these rough seas and described like riding a bucking bronco during a rodeo. It was very difficult taking photos during this time. I was sure I was gonna drop my phone in the water.

Spanning 17 miles along Kauaʻi’s North Shore, the Na Pali Coast is a sacred place defined by extraordinary natural beauty. The emerald cliffs with razor-sharp ridges tower above the Pacific Ocean, 4000 feet, revealing beautiful beaches and waterfalls that plummet to the lush valley floor. The rugged terrain appears much as it did centuries ago when Hawaiian settlements flourished in these deep, narrow valleys, existing only on the food they could grow and the fish they could catch.

Many of the valleys of Na Pali are known as “hanging valleys” because the floor of the valley is raised several hundred feet, versus being at sea level. This is caused by rainfall runoff that has eroded the edges of the land. The towering fluted sea cliffs resembled the buttresses of the grand cathedral are generally referred to as the cathedrals. See the top three photos below.

We learned about some of the legends along the way, and here are a few:

• According to legend, Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, tried to create a home in the Nāpali area but eventually moved on to other islands.The caves along the coast are said to be remnants of her attempt to find fire at the Earth’s core.
• The caves are actually ancient, collapsed, lava tubes, now existing as impressive sea caves. They were formed by past lava flows and sculpted by ocean waves, are best explored by boat, with smaller rafts capable of navigating into some caves. Years ago, Bowman explored them in zodiac.

We made the turn to come home. John decided to go outside to take in the view when he got hit with a big wave and was drenched. He was able to avoid it earlier, but not this time.

The turn signaled that it was dinner time. Dinner included a delicious shrimp appetizer, salad, a choice of filet or mahi-mahi veggies and cheesecake for dessert. There was an open bar, which was quite nice and also fulfilled. Many people’s needs. The crew was very helpful, kind, and humorous.

The third leg included, a gorgeous sunset, calmer waters, and beautiful views and of course some singing. There are two islands visible during our Na Pali coastline tour that are off to the west of Kauai called Niihau, and the smaller island is Lehua. Niihau is a small, privately owned island off the coast of Kauai that is known for its strict access restrictions and preservation of traditional Hawaiian culture, earning it the nickname “The Forbidden Island.” Those who live there cannot leave, and if they choose to leave, they lose their ability to come back again.

We’re happy to get off the boat, start to head home, which is gonna take us an hour and 15 minutes. Bowman took a shot of the boat as we were getting ready to leave and it looks so pretty.