Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [130]
Rick Haviland, who gained fame after he was mentioned in Paul Theroux’s book The Happy Isles of Oceania, is the owner of Outfitters Kauai , 2827A Poipu Rd. (at Poipu Plaza, a small five-shop mall before the road forks to Poipu/Spouting Horn), Poipu ( 88 8/742-9887 or 80 8/742-9667; www.outfitterskauai.com), which offers several kayaking tours. A full-day trip along the entire Na Pali Coast (summer only) costs $225 per person and includes a guide, lunch, drinks, and equipment. Another kayak tour takes you up a jungle stream and involves a short hike to waterfalls and a swimming hole; it’s $110 (children ages 5–14, $98) including lunch, snacks, and drinks. Outfitters Kauai also rents river kayaks by the day ($40).
In the winter, mid-September to mid-May, Outfitters Kauai has launched a new South Shore Sea Kayak Tour. This 8-mile tour, from Poipu to Port Allen, lets you explore secluded bays and beaches that you can only get to by the sea. Along the way, the guided tour stops for coffee and snacks and later for lunch. This fabulous tour is not for everyone; if you get seasick, you might want to reconsider. Also, the paddling is moderately strenuous and not appropriate for kids under 12. But those adventurous souls, who are somewhat fit and love exploring, will be talking about this tour for a long time. Cost is $148 for adults and $118 for kids ages 12 to 14. Check for new adventures on their website!
You can also rent from Pedal ’n Paddle, Ching Young Village Shopping Center, Hanalei ( 80 8/826-9069;www.pedalnpaddle.com).
PADDLING INTO HULEIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Ride the Huleia River through Kauai’s 240-acre Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, the last stand of Kauai’s endangered birds, with True Blue, Nawiliwili Harbor ( 88 8/245-1707 or 80 8/246-6333; www.kauaifun.com). You paddle up the picturesque Huleia (which appeared in Raiders of the Lost Ark and the remake of King Kong) under sheer pinnacles that open into valleys full of lush tropical plants, bright flowers, and hanging vines. Look for great blue herons and Hawaiian gallinules taking wing. The 41⁄2-hour voyage, which starts at Nawiliwili Harbor, is a great trip for all—but especially for movie buffs, birders, and great adventurers under 12. It’s even safe for nonswimmers. Wear a swimsuit, T-shirt, and boat shoes. The cost is $89 for adults, $36 for children 8 to 12. The prices include a picnic snack, juice, kayak, life vest, and guide services.
SCUBA DIVING
Diving on Kauai is dictated by the weather. In winter, when heavy swells and high winds hit the island, diving is generally limited to the more protected south shore. Probably the best-known site along the south shore is Caverns, located off the Poipu Beach Resort area. This site consists of a series of lava tubes interconnected by a chain of archways. A constant parade of fish streams by (even shy lionfish are spotted lurking in crevices), brightly hued Hawaiian lobsters hide in the lava’s tiny holes, and turtles swim past.
In summer, when the north Pacific storms subside, the magnificent North Shore opens up. You can take a boat dive locally known as the Oceanarium, northwest of Hanalei Bay, where you’ll find a kaleidoscopic marine world in a horseshoe-shaped cove. From the rare (long-handed spiny lobsters) to the more common (taape, conger eels, and nudibranchs), the resident population is one of the more diverse on the island. The topography, which features pinnacles, ridges, and archways, is covered with cup corals, black-coral trees, and nooks and crannies enough for a dozen dives.
Because the best dives on Kauai are offshore, we recommend booking a two-tank dive off a dive boat. Bubbles Below Scuba Charters, 6251