This is one of my most favorite places EVER!
The contrast of color, texture and expansive beauty will change you forever. The Napali Coast is one of these places.
What: Iconic, mountainous shoreline on Kauai’s North Shore
Where: About 90 minutes north of Lihue
Spanning 17 miles along Kauai’s North Shore, the Napali Coast is a sacred place defined by extraordinary natural beauty. These emerald-hued cliffs with razor-sharp ridges tower above the Pacific Ocean, revealing beautiful beaches and waterfalls that plummet to the lush valley floor. The rugged terrain appears much as it did centuries ago when Hawaiian settlements flourished in these deep, narrow valleys, existing only on the food they could grow and the fish they could catch.
There are many ways to explore the Napali Coast, but the safest access and best views are found by sea or by air. Boat tours depart from Port Allen on the West Side, and during the summer months, guided kayaking trips bring you up-close to soaring cathedral cliffs. When conditions are right, raft tours are available to guide you to hidden sea caves and remote beaches.
Aerial tours, most lifting off from Lihue Airport, are perhaps the best way to grasp the magnitude of the Napali Coast. You’ll also get a front-row seat to scenic areas that are largely inaccessible by land or water, like majestic Manawaiopuna Falls, a backdrop in the film "Jurassic Park." Whichever tour you choose, the natural splendor of the Napali Coast will leave a deep impression on your soul.
I choose a doors off helicopter tour and it honestly was one of the top experiences of my life. We flew through complete circle rainbows and saw dozens of 400+ feet waterfalls. At one high climb past Waimea Canyon we reached a place where the rainfall is recorded at 500 inches per year. The texture, colors of both the mountain range, the cliffs and the water were absolutely stunning!
Waimea Canyon Kauai, Hawai'i is the "Grand Canyon" of Hawaii. There is quite a bit of fog that moves through the canyon and makes it tricky to have a CLEAR view if you drive up to the lookout points . Most days though the fog moves through.
Kauai, Hawai'i is know as the garden state and people come from all over the world to hike in the most pristine, tropical paradise that exists. It is a real jewel.
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All Photos: Darcy K. Butcher
