Over the years I have received quite a few emails asking about the Fern Grotto on Kauai since many readers have heard that it is not what it used to be. I have to admit that until my recent trip to Kauai, I had not visited the Fern Grotto in almost fifteen years.
In fact, the Fern Grotto is not what it used to be. Hurricane Iwa in 1982 and Hurricane Iniki in 1992 both caused some damage to the grotto area, but the most serious damage was caused by the 42 days of rain that drenched Kauai in early 2006 and which caused landslides and damage to the ferns in the grotto.
That being said, however, a trip down the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto on a Smith's Fern Grotto Wailua River Cruise is still a worthwhile experience and a lovely well-spent hour and a half on your visit to Kauai.
Find out more details in our Review of Smith's Fern Grotto Wailua River Cruise and our Gallery of 24 Photos of Smith's Fern Grotto Wailua River Cruise.
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No food on planes to Hawaii-
Yes, I was also surprised when I flew to Hawaii that the food I selected, Kosher, never made it to my seat.
I was offered snack crap boxes of potted meat, nuts, stale crackers with processed cheese and some crappy cookie or chocolate. Where is my Kosher meal that I selected???
Why haven’t the airlines changed this selection on their sites?
Starving Kona Flyer
On come on. Anybody with half a brain will bring food with them on the plane these days. Welcome to no frills travel.As to the fern grotto beeen to kauai twice and have never done it. While it supports local through the tourist industry I am not sure it is worth the price. But this is coming from a guy who had sclogged down the muddy trails in KoKee park in the rain and thought that was fun. My wife almost divorced me, I am sure whe would have preferred the fern grotto.
I took a kayak trip the day before yesterday up the Wailua and stopped at the Fern Grotto. Was last there in 1996 and the difference was stark. The rains of 2006 definitely took a toll on it.
No thanks on the Smith’s motor cruise. You’ll see a lot more by kayak.
Went on the Smith’s cruise to Fern Grotto. Last time I was there was in 1983 and I suggested to friends that it was a fun “Hawaiian” thing to do and that the fern grotto was so beautiful. While we did enjoy the river cruise, I was sorry to see that you no longer go into the grotto and that the ferns have struggled to regain their glory since Hurricane Iniki and then the rains in 2006. They have built a viewing platform but it is unshaded and was VERY VERY hot (we visited on Sept 23). Still it is a fun kitschy Hawaiian thing to do but don’t expect the beauty of the fern grotto if you have been there in its hayday.