High Adventure in Hawaii – Kaua’i  Style

Stand up Paddling to Heli-venturing

by Robert Painter

Sure, you’ve heard the surfing is great in Waimea Bay, but did you know you can ride a bike for ten miles down Waimea Canyon without even pedaling?  And the views are terrific.  You’ll have to pull off the road and stop to see the spectacular canyon views, but it’s hard to imagine a better way to see the canyon. 

Well, maybe not that hard to imagine.  I can think of two ways to get better views, but they’re not for everyone. Probably the best way is to actually hike in the canyon.  I didn’t have time to do it on my last trip, but I’m planning to go back to explore the canyon on foot.  There are miles and miles of trails just calling out to any avid hiker to come and enjoy.   

The other way to see the canyon – and I did do this one – is by helicopter.  That’s how I know it would be a great place to hike.  I saw lots of little canyons and rivers that were just begging me to come explore. Flying over Waimea Canyon reminded me a lot of the Southwestern U.S. You’ll see a lot of the same colors, but don’t miss it just because you think you’ve already seen something like it.  When you take your helicopter flight you’ll see much more than just the canyon.  

Island Helicopters can take you beyond the canyon and along the beautiful Napali Coast. Hopefully, you’ll have time to hike the coast trails later, but don’t miss seeing it by air. And you’ll want to do a Waterfall Landing and see the filming site for Jurassic Park. The Manawaiopuna Falls are spectacular and the only way to see the 400 foot falls is to land near the base and hike in a short distance to the pool at the bottom. How about flying into a volcano crater? Forget about IMAX – this is the real thing!

Kaua’i is a small island but it does take some time to get around it.  There are lots of one lane bridges and you’ll have to wait your turn to cross.  They have a great system that seems to work well.  After 2 or 3 cars cross, the next person waits and lets a few cars go from the other direction – then the procedure reverses. It’s all very civilized and friendly . . . and people actually wave to you. But, it also means that maybe you’ll want to stay at a couple of different places for your Kaua’i stay so you won’t spend all your time driving.

The Hanalei Colony Resort on the north side of the island is only a couple of miles from the beginning of the Napali Coast and is a perfect place to spend a few nights.  From here you can enjoy the beach, hike the Kalalau Trail down the Napali Coast, go sea kayaking or even take some surfing lessons. If you connect with Hawaiian Surfing Adventures you can test your balance skills on a stand-up paddling surf board.  It’s easier than you might think and great fun. Of course, when the waves start to roll in you may find it to be harder than you thought. Either way, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss and how can you go home and tell your friends you went to Hawaii and didn’t try surfing?

An excellent morning hike that begins not far from the Hanalei Colony Resort is the trail through the Hanakapi’ai Valley that ends up at the Hanakapi’ai Beach. The trail is a bit steep at places and a bit slippery at places, but not a difficult hike for those in moderately good condition. The reward at the end of the hike is a beautiful beach and a large cave with a big boulder in the water out front that produces some great shots for your camera as the waves crash into it and the spray fans out in all directions. This is the beginning of the Napali Coast and a preview of what lies further along the way. 

Driving south around the east side of the island there a lot of beautiful bays and beaches to explore so take your time and pull over frequently. You don’t want to miss a thing. One “typical tourist” attraction along the way is the famous Fern Grotto. Spend a couple of very relaxing hours and visit the grotto. If you take the boat from Smith’s you can sit back, watch the river and enjoy the entertainment – beautiful Hawaiian dancing girls and a small ukulele and guitar group. If you’re more ambitious you can rent a kayak for the journey and explore the river beyond the Fern Grotto. And, if you’re really proud of your stand-up paddling skills, you can try that on the river as well. You’ll find all this at the village of Wailua

If you venture on down to the south side of the island you might want to stay at the Outrigger on Po’ipu Road in Koloa. From here you’ll be close to Kukui’ula Village where you can find art galleries, shops and dining. Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill and Merriman’s are both good choices. I didn’t have time to try Bubba Burgers or Dude Dogs, but with names like that how could you go wrong? Remember, the Outrigger is a condo and you can save a few dollars by having one or two of your meals “at home.” Check out the Living Foods Market at Kukui’ula Village. If you’re at the Village on Wednesday afternoon between 4 and 6 pm don’t miss the Kaua’i Culinary Market with about 20 local growers and package food vendors. At 5 pm there is a Chef’s demonstration and it’s all accompanied by live Hawaiian music and a Wine & Beer Garden.

Be sure to find the Spouting Horn. It’s a pretty good walk from the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Resort Condominium so you may prefer to drive.  Waves force the air through a lava tube and some interesting sounds result while ocean spray is forced out of another nearby opening.                                                                                                

If you move a bit further west along the southern coast of Kaua’i you can check into the Waimea Plantation Cottages.  From here you can arrange the Canyon to Coast Downhill Bike Ride with Outfitters Kauai.  You’ll leave early in the morning, but you won’t miss breakfast. A continental breakfast is part of the tour. Bike helmets are provided and each bike is tested before the downhill run begins. 

This is also a good place to plan a sea tour of the Napali Coast.  I didn’t have time on this trip but  Holo-holo Charters offers a 3 ½ hour evening cruise that includes appetizers, Mai Tais, beer, wine and soft drinks and a champagne toast at sunset. Or take the 5 hour morning sail that includes breakfast, lunch and snorkeling – they even provide the gear.  Bring your swimwear and a towel. And, don’t forget your camera – in season, you’ll even spot whales.

Also, close by Waimea is the lively little town of Hanapepe.  At least it’s lively on Friday nights from 5 till 9 pm. Hanapepe Art Night finds all the shops and galleries open with additional vendors along the street.  The one vendor you don’t want to miss is The Right Slice: Kaua’i Fresh Pies. A small sampling from the pie menu includes Mango Lilikoi, Chocolate Coconut, Pina Colada, Haupia Purple Sweet Potato, Island Lime, Tropical Banana . . . and more!

It’s a terrific evening and you may meet some very interesting and engaging characters. One of my favorite shops had some absolutely beautiful furniture made from a local wood. Polished to perfection, smooth as glass and outstanding craftsmanship. When you find the shop you will recognize it instantly.  

There is a lot more to Kaua’i that I didn’t have time to see or do.  If you’re a movie fan you may remember scenes from South Pacific, Jurassic Park, Blue Hawaii, Tropic Thunder, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Donovan’s Reef, Fantasy Island and even Gilligan’s Island. Tour the sites by mini-bus or 4 x 4, open or air conditioned. 

There are whale-watching cruises, kayaking, fishing (both fresh and salt water), diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, kite surfing, tubing and swimming. And horse riding, of course. If you’re really adventurous you may want to take an ultra-light flight over Waimea Canyon. It looked like great fun . . . and what a view!  

The last thing you might expect to find on the Island of Discovery is a railroad. The Kauai Plantation Railway offers a 40 minute tour of the 105 acre Historic Kilohana Sugar Plantation. After your ride you may want to stop in at Gaylord’s Restaurant for lunch or a late breakfast. And, for a special treat visit the onsite Koloa Rum Distillery for a tasting.  

One last note – for all of you who have fallen under the spell of zip lining be assured that there are plenty of them on the Garden Isle of Kaua’i.

Keep on Traveling!

When You Go:

www.KauaiDiscovery.com. Ask for a copy of the Kaua’i Travel Planner from the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau.

www.islandhelicopters.com. Check out this site for all the different flights around the island.

www.HCR.com. Information and reservations for Hanalei Colony Resort.

www.outriggerkiahunaplantationcondo.com. Information and reservations.

www.waimeaplantationcottages.com. Information and reservations.

Story and Photos by Robert Painter, Adventure Travel Editor             Photo #1040421

Rpainter2006@comcast.net