There are five ways that you can see the Nā Pali Coast of Kauaʻi.
You can hike on the Kalalau Trail, but the hike is extremely difficult and in many places dangerous.
You can fly over it as part of a helicopter tour. The views are amazing, but last only a few minutes.
You can sail the coast relaxing on a catamaran which allows for great views.
More athletic individuals can choose to kayak along part of the coast.
The only way that you're guaranteed to see the whole coast, explore several sea caves and land at a secluded beach where Hawaiians once lived is to take a zodiac excursion.
Detailed Briefing Before Departure
When our group arrived at the headquarters of Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions at the Port Allen Marina Center in Eleʻele on Kauaʻi's southern shore we quickly learned that we were not in for a leisurely day on the water.Before we got anywhere near their 24-foot rigid-hull inflatable zodiac we listened to a detailed briefing about what we would face should we choose to go through with the trip. To say that the guides do not sugar coat the briefing is putting in mildly. The briefing was fully intended to weed out any potential participants who were not prepared for a strenuous, often scary and very wet six to seven hour experience.
Captain "T" of the Discovery 2
Photo by John FischerWe were told that while each zodiac has three seats in the rear, each of us could expect to spend most of the day sitting on the side of the raft grasping onto one of several ropes as the zodiac reached speeds in excess of 60 mph.
Each of us would have to take turns sitting in the most difficult areas of the craft and that any refusal to cooperate would end the excursion for all of us. We were told we would get wet, not just splashed but soaked many times during the trip.
None of our party or for that matter anyone else scheduled for the tour backed down; so it was with a certain degree of trepidation that we headed down to the dock to board our zodiac, the Discovery 2.
We were assigned seating locations by Captain "T" (for Tadashi) and his assistant Jonathan. They suggested that we sit on the raft's side facing forward with our left left folded underneath and our right leg inside the raft braced by a rope. Gloves were passed out so that we wouldn't get blisters on our hands from holding onto the ropes.
It seemed like overkill until we remembered the briefing.
Three members of our group of six travel writers had opted to take the catamaran sail with Captain Zodiac's sister company, Captain Andy's Nā Pali Sailing Expeditions. The other three of us, Lindsey, Monica and myself and one of our hosts, Emele, had selected the zodiac. I soon realized that, at 51, I was the oldest person on board by far.
Departure
As the Discovery 2 pulled out of the harbor and Captain "T" revved up the dual outboard motors I had an immediate sense of fear and immediately wondered what I had gotten myself into. That element of fear never fully disappeared as long as the zodiac was moving which was for about four to five hours of the trip.I realized that if I failed to hold on for dear life I could easily fall overboard. The thought of hitting the water at 60 mph ensured that I would hold as tightly as possible.
A Different Type of Fun
At about this point you're probably asking why you should ever consider doing this yourself. Is it actually fun? The answer is that it is fun, but a different type of fun than you might expect. It's probably the same type of fun that people experience skydiving or, in my case, scuba diving for the first time. It's a thrill seekers type of fun.
Na Pali Coast of Kauai
Photo by John FischerOutbound Trip to the Na Pali Coast
The trip from Port Allen to the Na Pali Coast is long which is why the zodiac has to proceed so fast to get there and still have time to see the coast, explore sea caves, and anchor for snorkeling, lunch and exploration of an old Hawaiian fishing village named Nualolo Kai. The trip to the Na Pali Coast passes by areas once dominated by sugar cane fields, the Pacific Missile Range Facility - Barking Sands, and the long and beautiful Polihale Beach, the longest in Hawaii at 17 miles.Eventually the zodiac does reach the Nā Pali Coast and you realize that the trip has truly been worth the struggle to get there. The coastal views are stunning.
The massive Nā Pali sea cliffs were formed eons ago when about five miles of Kauai's western coast collapsed into the ocean. Captain "T" advised us that the original shoreline still lies submerged about five miles to the west.
Next Page > Sea Caves, Nualolo Kai and Zodiac Tips
