| If you could do only one thing on Kauai, I would | | | | Napali Airplane and Helicopter Tours |
| recommend you explore the Napali Coast (or by its | | | | When I took the airplane tour (my first trip to |
| proper name, the Na Pali State Park. I've lived in | | | | Hawaii), we could see several of the waterfalls that |
| Hawaii for over 10 years and have spent months on | | | | they show in the Hawaii documentaries and Napali |
| the Garden Isle, and there's a reason you see so | | | | videos. The helicopter tours cost about twice as |
| much of the Napali Coast in Hawaii travel brochures. | | | | much as the airplane tours but the choppers actually |
| Those majestic, sculpted, green, cliffs rise in places | | | | take you back into some of these steep valleys |
| 1,000 feet above the sea, and literally hundreds of | | | | where they hover for close up views. |
| waterfalls fed by Mt. Waialeale (one of the wettest | | | | Our airplane pilot shared lots of interesting stories |
| spots on the planet) pour down the steep cliffs into | | | | with us about the geological and cultural history of |
| their valleys. At the foot of the Napali are pristine | | | | the Na Pali area before showing us the rest of Kauai |
| white sand beach coves, intriguing sea caves and | | | | island. In ancient times when an ali'i (member of the |
| beautiful sea arches. All this fronting Hawaii's | | | | ruling class) died, a volunteer would rappel down one |
| magnificent blue waters... | | | | of the steep cliffs till he found a secret cave where |
| I've seen the Na Pali three different ways: from a | | | | he would hide the bones. He would never return |
| four seater airplane (during an island tour), from a | | | | though. The rope would be cut, sending him hundreds |
| Zodiac raft and from the Kalalau Trail. Other popular | | | | of feet to his death, thus ensuring the burial cave |
| ways to see the Na Pali include kayak, sailboat, | | | | would remain forever a secret and the mana (spiritual |
| catamaran and helicopter. | | | | power) of the ruler's bones would never be stolen. |
| Kolalau Trail | | | | On a lighter note... |
| From the trail hundreds of feet above sea level, the | | | | Napali Boat Tours |
| views of the ocean, including the reefs at Ke'e are | | | | We took a Zodiac raft tour. The motorized rafts are |
| truly astounding. We hiked to the first beach and just | | | | very sturdy and rigid (the kind the Navy Seals use), |
| before it stopped at a rushing stream to play under a | | | | but they do bounce over the waves - a lot. I liked it |
| small waterfall. There were little waterfalls along the | | | | the raft though because being so close to the water |
| way and lush forest. Unlike further down the trail, the | | | | made looking up at those towering cliffs all the more |
| first two-mile stretch that I routinely hiked was easy | | | | impressive and seeing the whales all the more |
| and felt safe (I'm afraid of heights). I often saw | | | | exciting. A humpback whale the size of a bus |
| families hiking here. Depending on where you hike, | | | | breeched so close to our raft we could see the |
| you may see artifacts of the early Hawaiians here, | | | | barnacles on its head! However, if bouncing over |
| such as parts of stone walls, terraces, hale (house) | | | | waves isn't your thing, you might prefer a sailboat |
| platforms, graves, taro patches and heiau (shrines or | | | | sunset cruise or a catamaran snorkeling tour. |
| temples). The Na Pali is a sacred and mystical place. | | | | |