Exploring the Napali Coast

Kaua’i’s Nāpali Coast is one of the most gorgeous natural formations I have ever seen. The steep coastline and thick foliage contrasting the turquoise waters form an unparalleled picturesque view.

The first glimpse of the coast

There are two main ways to get to the coast: hiking or by boat. However, the hike is can be strenuous and dangerous, making it inaccessible to many. While the hike would be enjoyable, it also doesn’t offer a view of the coast from afar, which is quite remarkable.

My family and I opted to take the boat option, so we could get some snorkel too. Originally, we planned to take a catamaran, but it was canceled due to high winds, so we scheduled for another day and took a raft instead. Our tour company, Kauai Sea Tours, was super helpful in navigating this dilemma and I would recommend touring with them.

The open water

We departed and spent time on the open ocean for a bit before heading to the coastline. Here, you can catch glimpses of the forbidden island, which is only open by invitation. You may also have an opportunity to see marine life, including whales, dolphins, and sea turtles.

The dolphins were in an alpha state, which meant they were asleep. Because of this, the guides suggested to avoid any tours that swim with dolphins. Since dolphins are nocturnal, swimming with tourists is the equivalent of consistently waking up in the middle of the night, leading to sleep deprivation and health issues. There is a ban on swimming with dolphin tours in Kaua’i, but other islands allow it, so please keep this in mind while booking tours.

Two dolphins

On the way to the coast are many stunning sea caves and grottos. Some can be accessed by raft, when weather and waves allow. The one pictured below has an opening on the other side that has hosted numerous weddings (all millionaires, of course). Many of the caves can be rather dangerous so make sure you are with an experienced captain.

Grotto

There are many other beautiful sights along the way as well. There are some remote beaches, many of which are restricted and sacred, so please honor these wishes. Some allow foot traffic or access by kayak, but these trips can be risky, especially if the weather denies easy exit. Our captain told us a tale of a man who kayaked out and was trapped by waves. Since no captains could access him, he was stranded for a week.

The beach pictured below, Honopu Beach, was a burial ground, making it a heavily restricted area. Kings of the indigenous groups were buried here, along with the common people. However, it was believed that the royal people had mana, or power in their bones, which could be stolen after burial. As a result, when royalty died, a person would be commissioned to climb the cliff face and hide the bones in the rocks. Once the deed was done, they would cut their rope and commit suicide to prevent anyone from knowing the location of the bones. Their family would ascend in social class, making it a privilege and honor to bury the king. This beach, even though sacred, has been in several movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Another interesting thing about this beach is the tunnel, which was used in several movie scenes. One of the most intense scenes included a man flying a helicopter through the tunnel, which is fairly narrow. The man was a former Vietnam pilot and very talented, but despite his skill, the tunnel was an extraordinarily dangerous place to fly. In exchange for risking his life, the filmmakers paid him a pretty penny to do it, not once, but three times. After realizing this daunting task was easy for him, he took his earnings, started a helicopter touring company, and said that if the customers gave him a generous tip, he would give them “the ride of a lifetime.” To those who tipped, they found themselves barely squeezing through this tunnel, afraid that they will never live to see the light of day. Apparently, after scaring tourists on a regular basis, Hawai’i removed his rights to a helicopter company, but not his license. He supposedly relocated to the Grand Canyon, where he does other death-defying tricks.

Honopu Beach

The tour will take you from the shady and rocky side of the island to the green and lush slopes, where the iconic views of the Nāpali coast lie. The hills are beautiful and jagged due to the volcanic rock and torrential ocean waves. At the most beautiful spot, the mountains dip into a nest with twelve spires. Legend has it that a god in bird form hatched twelve children, of which were intended to be nocturnal. Their mother carefully tended them and reminded them they must be in the nest by sunrise. However, one night they stayed out too late and the mother watched them turn to stone.

The twelve spires

It may be different for other tours, but ours ended in a brief snorkeling adventure. For someone who has grown up around freshwater, like me, it’s always a weird experience swimming in the ocean. Nevertheless, it was super fun and we got to see some ocean life, such as fish and coral. It was fun to get up close and personal with them!

Fish!

Overall, this was one of my favorite parts of our trip and an experience that I would recommend to anyone in the area! It was stunning, family friendly, and full of history. I would love to return someday.