Kauai

The Garden Island Of Kauai

We Stayed at The Coco Palms Hotel -From The Elvis Movie Blue Hawaii

A Must See By Chopper - Waimea Canyon The Little Grand Canyon Of Hawaii

Kauai's diverse terrain is inaccessible making the helicopter the best way to see the spectacular waterfalls, canyons, mountains, valleys, rain forests and secluded beaches. Helicopter tours can be booked from the Lihue Airport, flying over the Nawiliwili Harbor, Menehune Fish Pond, and the Kipu Kai Ranch. You continue heading west flying into Hanapepe Valley, which is home to Manawaiopuna Falls, featured in Jurassic Park. You'll fly over Olokele Canyon, through the Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Alakai Swamp, Waialae Falls and Kokee State Park. Next you will see the famous "Na Pali Coast" featuring majestic mountains, pristine cathedral cliffs, secluded beaches, and cascading waterfalls. Continuing on with the tour, you will see Hanalei Valley, a lush tropical rain forest and Mt. Waialeale Crater known as "the wettest spot on earth" along with Wailua Falls, featured in the opening scenes from Fantasy Island. These are but a few of the many incredible scenic sights you will view.

The rugged Na Pali cliffs on the north-western side of Kauai made it impossible to build a road around the entire island. Here is a boat tour's view of the almost vertical cliffs that rise up to 4,000 feet above the valley floor. The hiking trails above these imposing cliffs lead to the tough Na Pali wilderness. The hikes are tough and dangerous and a permit is required. The first two valleys, Kalalau and Hanakapiai, can be reached by hiking but it is advisable to gear up and purchase a trail guidebook first. In these valleys and some of the others, there is evidence of habitation, in the form to fruit groves and terraces for the cultivation of taro.

The best way to view the Na Pali may be by helicopter, but the best way to experience it is by boat. Whether you boat in by inflatable, kayak, or yacht, the sights are impossible to describe. For the true nature lover, there are a number of hidden coves and beaches reachable only by boat.

Fern Grotto Kauai's Fern Grotto is Worth the Visit

The Fern Grotto, part of the Wailua Marina State Park, is one of the more populated attractions on Kauai's east side; however, its history, lush setting and the entertaining cruise that ferries visitors there make the visit worthwhile--especially for first-time guests. A few miles south of the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, tour boats leaving the Wailua Marina provide the only access to the grotto.

Only Navigable River

Our boat wound its way along the Wailua River, Hawaii's only navigable river, whose headwaters begin atop Mt. Waialeale, one of the rainiest spots in the world.On the way to the grotto, we saw the partial remains of heiaus--rock platforms that served as temples in earlier times--which gave us some sense of the spiritual significance of the area. In addition, a guide told us that many of Kauai's first chiefs were born on the banks of the river.

In addition to the legends recounted during the hour-and -a-half trip, the crew provides visitors with a tongue-in-cheek program to and from the grotto. An on-board hula lesson, during which we were asked to imagine that we were "scraping the inside of a barrel with our hips," was one of the more entertaining aspects of the ride. The crew was liberal with light-hearted, all-in-fun critiques, and passengers were rewarded for their efforts with a genuine hula presentation by a group of professional dancers.

At the jungle-like grotto, the caverns form a natural amphitheater, where we viewed a performance of The Hawaiian Wedding Song. On the way back, the crew offered a mock version--The Hawaiian War Chant," dedicated to couples married 25 years or more." The crew is fun and does a good job of making visitors feel welcome. For example, after a show of hands revealed that most passengers had tasted poi, one crew member quipped, "We don't eat poi, we just serve it at luaus. It won't kill you, but you'll wish you were dead."

Smith's Motor Boat Service operates excursions to the grotto daily, and no reservations are necessary.

A casual cruise up the Wailua River to the verdant Fern Grotto aboard a motorized riverboat is one of Kauai's most popular and affordable attractions. River cruises depart about every half hour throughout the day from the south side of the Wailua River. Because the river is Hawaii's longest, and most navigable, the ride is an unique experience both for visitors and residents of the islands.

The river rides began sometime ago when the Wai'ale'ale family of Wailua began taking interested passengers up river in a simple small boat. Wai'ale'ale Motorboat Service is now well known throughout Hawaii and operates a small fleet of long flat bottom riverboats. Their extended ohana of family and employees still share with passengers the legends of Wailua, which is considered one of the most sacred areas of Kauai, and entertain guests with song and hula. Wai'ale'ale Boats cruises upriver from a dock at the Wailua River Marina, on the south shore of the river.

Every seat aboard the riverboats offers a great view during the 40 minute trip to the Fern Grotto. Tropical grasslands line the river and cloud-capped Mount Wai'ale'ale looms in the background, adding an element of mystique to the trip. Friendly boat drivers narrate the ride, pointing out points famous in Hawaiian mythology and other items of interest. You many recognize the scenery from location shots in films like Elvis' "Blue Hawaii" and George C. Scott's "Islands in the Stream."

Upon arrival at the Fern Grotto you disembark and take a short walk to a platform within the fern-draped cave mouth. There Hawaiian musicians serenade you with "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" and other traditional local songs. The acoustics within the grotto are remarkable and greatly enhance the singing and guitar playing.

You may recognize these falls in the opening scenes of TV series Fantasy Island. These spectacular waterfalls drop to a crystal clear pool below. One can get a terrific photo from the lookout point. These falls are definitly worth seeing.