Woohoo!!! Today we got to adventure around the Nā Pali Coast State Park by sea! A few days back we did an Airventure around the entire island and this coastal area was by far the highlight of our trip…we’ve been itching to get back.
We left the hotel early and planned to go the cute little town of Hanapepe on the south shore again. The art stores, cafés, and just overall vibe are amazing. We even found out that the film Lilo and Stitch was based in Hanapepe (“Kokaua Town”) and has a little mural to honor it. While in town, we also stopped at Midnight Bear Company to have a light lunch before our boat tour. We got a pesto grilled cheese and macadamia nut cinnamon roll to share…both were wonderful and just enough before our big adventure!
There are many different Nā Pali Coast boat tours available, and it’s all about what you’re looking for. Most of the smaller vessels leave out of the Waimea small boating area, and the larger catamarans (with 40+ capacity) leave out of the Port Allen area. The larger boats are more stable over larger waves, but we chose to have a more private experience on a boat with a capacity of 6. We’re really glad we chose the Nā Pali Experience and would recommend them, and our guide Jordan. With his navigation and historical expertise, we were able to explore a few different caves AND learn about the cultural significance of this amazing place. We chose the 2pm-7pm tour, and the views were so picturesque. The afternoon sun kissed the coast in such a way that left us, the dolphins, and the turtles speechless…check it out!
After a long afternoon on the water, it was time for us to head back to the hotel and have some dinner with the ohana. We decided to pick up dinner from Saimin Dojo for some really good Hawaiian ramen and dojo fried chicken…perfect ending to our boat day.
Tomorrow’s our last full day in Kauai, and we’re planning to end with an official surf lesson and more waterfall views, so make sure to stay posted!