Kauai a Paradise Found
Travel Excursion
Micro Light Flight Over Kauai Coastline
Photo By Patrice Raplee
By Patrice Raplee
A perfect panorama of the deepest cerulean ocean, framed
by waving palm trees and scented flora, empties everything from your
mind but the present moment. Your eyes, half-lidded, cast toward the
1000-mile vista of unbroken, calm sea. Time becomes opaque and meaningless
as the warm Hawaiian sun seeps into every muscle, dissolving worries
amidst the rhythmic sound of waves breaking the shore.
Kauai, Hawaii, is the least-developed of the Hawaiian
Islands. Although the island is seeing a rather large push of growth
in housing and chain discount department stores, the buildings are
not towering cement icons of metropolitan habitation. The beauty and
lushness of Kauai still pervade, even with the encroachment of development.
Activities/Adventures
The draw for most visitors to Kauai is endless possibilities
of adventure, or simply the pursuit of drifting off on a quiet, warm
beach. If you seek adventure and have ever wanted to soar over the
ocean like a bird, or longed to experience the feeling of your flying
dreams, Birds in Paradise will make your desire reality! This Kauai-flight
training school flies the latest and safest powered hang gliders
(trikes). With a perfect safety record, owner and senior ultralight
pilot Gerry Charlebois of BIP has operated business on Kauai since ’88.
This experienced pilot and flight instructor is also an amazing stuntman
and videographer for the movie industry, National Geographic and Extreme
Kauai sports videos.
Charlebois and his staff of expert aviators take students
on introductory flights over the coastlines, jungles and island interior.
The views from the trikes are astounding; dolphins swim in pods off
the turquoise colored northern Kauai coast; green sea turtles bask
on secluded beaches; and the majestic Na Pali cliffs with their inaccessible
cascading waterfalls that are only visible by air. Charlebois and veteran
Aussie pilot Mark Overend instruct students with no prior flight experience
everyday. Their professional demeanor, knowledge of Kauai and flying
expertise are assuring and these guys are truly nice individuals.
For additional information on BIP and videos on Extreme
Kauai, visit http://www.birdsinparadise.com http://www.extremekauai.com.
A boat charter with snorkeling or diving is number two
on amazing activities for Kauai. Many reputable charter companies
offer a variety of packages for divers, snorkelers or visitors who
just want a scenic voyage. The prices vary depending on your interest,
so shop around. Generally, you can get a better price if you contact
the business directly rather than booking through an “activities
company.” The activities companies do have their benefits, if you
want to book adventures from a variety of different businesses; these
activity companies will do all the work and scheduling and generally
offer a lower combined rate.
Napali Cave From Holo-Holo Charters Boat
Photo By Patrice Raplee
For a fantastic snorkel and sightseeing adventure combined,
contact Holo-Holo Charters. This is one of the few companies sailing
to the forbidden island of Niihau for snorkeling.
Holo-Holo offers a spectacular seven-hour Na Pali and Niihau
excursion that includes touring the Na Pali coast, snorkeling at
Niihau (gear included), a tasty continental breakfast, buffet deli
lunch and a spirits bar.
The tour starts in the morning on Kauai’s south shore at Port
Allen on a 60-foot, custom made steel catamaran. This gleaming white
dream rides the ocean’s waves more smoothly than many other tour
boats and has a cool interior providing a few seated tables, as well
as shade. As the Cat glides up the Na Pali coastline, sunrise is
just beginning to peek over the verdant cliffs. The waves breaking
along the rocky crags resemble the hue of a jade milkshake. Spinner
dolphins playfully leap in the air, riding the bow wave of the boat.
Captain Ted and crew begin their fascinating oratory of the
Nap Pali cliffs and point to where ancient Hawaiian kings were buried.
Small waterfalls appear around a precipice and guests rapidly snap
away on their digital cameras. This is indeed a magnificent vantage
point and the shear beauty of the green pinnacles rising from the
ocean is a site always remembered.
On calm surfs, Captain Ted is able to maneuver the Cat into
small caves that dot the coast. These illuminated and shimmering
caverns are the stuff of dreams with the undulating water colored
a surreal blue.
The next destination is Niihau for snorkeling. The usual spot
for snorkeling is between Niihau and Lehua Crater in a large reef
area with a drop off. The snorkeling here is outstanding with bright,
tropical fish, deep clear blue water and the rare Hawaiian Monk Seal
swimming in close, curious about the two-legged fish splashing about.
On occasion, White Tipped Reef sharks are visible gliding down beyond
the drop off.
Holo-Holo Charters provides sensational tours with intriguing
information and legends. The captains and crew are knowledgeable,
fun and vastly competent; they go the extra distance to make sure
guests are comfortable, have fun and stay safe. For additional information
go to http://www.holoholocharters.com
Waterfall from Wailua River Kayak & Hike – Kauai
Photo
By Patrice Raplee
An ideal sport on Kauai is kayaking. Four traversable rivers
by kayak vary in length and width. On the North shore, the Hanalei
River is a perfect adventure for beginners and seasoned kayakers.
The Kayak Kaua’i Company (friendliest kayak company and generally
the best prices) is located at the mouth of the bay and river. The
company rents kayaks and provides tours for the Hanalei, as well
as various other rivers, lagoons and sea voyages. The three-and-a-half
hour trip up the Hanalei is beautiful with guava and banana trees
woven in a lush jungle forest. Golden Angle’s Trumpet flowers dot
the banks and panoramic views of the valley walls display misty waterfalls.
The Hanalei River is peaceful and with no motor boats allowed, it’s
one of the best and longest rivers to kayak.
The Wailua River on the east side of the island is the most
popular, but kayakers have to contend with occasional motor boats.
In addition, it is a bit more difficult to rent kayaks without guided
tours for this river. The journey is a safe expedition with gorgeous
views and culminates in a path (about a one-mile easy hike) that
leads to an enticing waterfall with swimming. The water is cold,
but on hot days, it is a sublime experience to wade under the cascading
sprays (Watch out for slippery rocks!). It’s a great place to rest,
take photographs and eat lunch before kayaking back. Make sure to
check when tours are scheduled to avoid large crowds.
For additional information on kayaking and the Kayak Kaua’i
Company, visit http://www.kayakkauai.com
The newest adventure activities on Kauai are mountain tubing
and zipling. Mountain tubing is a blast and is suitable for all ages.
If you’re an adult, you get to feel like a kid again. Kaua’i Backcountry
Adventures purchased an old defunct sugar plantation and converted
it into an eco-friendly, inner-tube ride. The three-hour escapade
starts out on large inner-tubes with handles that carry riders on
a picturesque journey through the water canals that fed the sugarcane
fields. Spectacular scenery, flumes and voyaging through various
short caves (the caves were hand-carved by plantation workers in
1870 for the cane fields) make for an exciting new quest. At the
end of the journey, lunch awaits and a natural mountain stream for
swimming.
If zooming through the air in a harness is more your speed,
Backcountry offers a zipline experience that is exhilarating. It
is completely safe and riders soar over a beautifully lush tropical
canopy with mountain views on a thick steel cable. With the zipline
and lunch, the adventure generally runs about three-and-a-half hours.
This adventure is best suited to individuals 12-years and older that
are in fairly fit condition.
For additional information, visit http://www.kauaibackcountry.com.
Sometimes the best activity is to experience the beauty and
serenity of a tropical garden. Two exquisite gardens in Kauai are
the Na Aina Kai and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The NTBC
is located in Koloa on Kauai’s south shore. Fragrant exotic flowers,
tropical trees, plants and shrubs meander along the ten-acre pathways
in the main garden. Bananas, papayas, macadamia and lime trees stand
in profusion near the Plantation Cottage Garden near the visitor’s
center. This section of the NTBC is small in size, but a tremendous
place to take photographs and just stroll through the tranquil grounds.
The McBryde and Allerton Gardens are incorporated into the NTBC and
are located two miles away. These grounds are extensive and visitors
can spend all day walking through the McBryde gardens. A scenic tram
ride conveys visitors through the Allerton Gardens that traverses
past the sparkling sea.
For additional information, visit http://www.ntbg.org
The Na Aina Kai Gardens are located in Kilauea on the north
shore. Half of these gardens are sculptured and offer a different
landscape but are just as lovely as the native gardens. Visitors
can stroll or ride through the 240-acre Botanical Gardens and Sculpture
Park. This oasis flows along through themed gardens with stellar
views of meadows and the ocean. It feels as if you’re far away from
humanity and in a true paradise.
For additional information, visit http://www.naainakai.com
Join us next month for more activities, dining, accommodations
and shopping on the Garden Island.
The kamaaina (native-born non-ethnic Hawaiian) residents are
doing their utmost to prevent the over-development and population
of this beautiful paradise.
HOME
|
