Fireman

Hi all,
I am trying to gather info. for a possible Na Pali kayak trip from Ke'e beach to Polihale beach. We are 2 couples 60 years old, males are a little above average in outdoor skills and fitness levels. Females are about the same fitness wise. Between beginner and moderate kayak experience. We are going to be on Kauai from Sept. 9-16th. We would only go if the weather and the wind were right.
My expectations after reading about the trip in "Kauai Revealed" is that to accomplish the 16 miles in 1 day you must paddle pretty hard and not spend too much time sightseeing. We plan on renting 2 person kayaks The guys want to take 2 days to enjoy, the gals want to have a few creature comforts if we are to spend the night. Can we bring enough gear on a rented 2 person kayak to appease our gals? Exactly what items would you bring along? Any and all advice would be welcome especially the sights we should try and see and those we could forego. A 1 day and a 2 day itinerary would be fantastic from some of those who have "been there, done that.
Thanks in advance,
Fireman brian

Inakauaidavidababy

I wouldn't even consider doing a solo unguided trip. It's a suicide mission.

A guided tour would provide you with equipment, transportation and emergency contact. They will be familiar with conditions and when you should hug the coast and not get dragged out. They will know where to make safe landings. They will have you met at Polihale and transport you and the equipment back.

I only recall one poster here years ago that did the day trip with this company. She described it in detail. Loved it, but by the time she got to Polihale she was practically hallucinating from heat and exhaustion.

http://kayakkauai.com/tours/ocean-kayaking-tours/

They are a very serious outfitter with tons of experience and don't want anyone talked into thinking they can do it, with them, never mind on your own.

From their site lest you think I'm an alarmist:

WHO SHOULD GO?

Pick your ship-mates carefully! If you flip over, will you flip-out? Paddling the Na Pali coastline is not for everyone. Good upper body strength is essential.

It is a misnomer to call the body of water that surrounds Kaua'i, the Pacific. While the paddling season is from May through September, chances are you will not find the seas to be "pacific".

We believe the Na Pali coast to be one of the premier rough water paddling areas on the planet and for the ill prepared, it can be a nightmare!

Only those participants that are at home in the water, and who like white water should go. This is not a journey to talk someone into.

BEFORE YOU SIGN UP OR SIGN UP OTHERS:

With over 32 years of outfitting, we have learned a few things. We have learned most of all that paddling the Na Pali is not for everyone. It is not an activity to talk someone into. You may enjoy someone in one arena, but this may not be the arena to share.

We feel it to be the roughest and longest sea kayak trip offered on the planet. Remember not only is it a 17 mile paddle, but surf launching and landings are often the norm. You usually have surf to negotiate at our put in and at Ha'ena, the landing at Kalalau and days later at Polihale.

The wind is a double edged sword. When the winds don't cooperate it is a long ...long...and for some, a very strenuous series of days. When the winds are up you will "sail", down the coast for a cost. These same winds that help, can also agitate the ocean and when accompanied by a ground swell, can make your kayak harder to manage with consequent "flip overs" the norm, with the real possibility of getting separated from your group.

SEA SICKNESS:

We often have paddlers suffering from sea-sickness, and some have to be rescued by motor boat. Sea Sickness is our #1 malady and is a real concern. There is no refund if we pull you out for "blowing chunks". A seasick person does not paddle very well and can hamper an expedition.

For many experienced sea kayakers, they find the water off the Na Pali Coast to be generally some of the biggest waters that they have paddled. We have had many paddlers bail out because the seas were simply intimidating. So pick your shipmates well and be galvanized for long and hard days on a capricious ocean ready to test your mettle.

MOTOR BOAT RESCUE:

Motor boat rescue cost, is your responsibility for whatever reason!

Motor boat rescues run more or less $1,000 for a half day charter.

When a kayak is left abandoned on a remote beach you are charged per day for the kayak rental and the cost of personnel it takes to retrieve your abandoned kayak.

GUIDED OR UN-GUIDED:

Generally, if no one in your party has paddled the coast before, a guide will be required.

We guide in the order of importance:

Safety
Respect for the resource
Cultural interpretation
The guide requirement and whether it will be waived will be determined on a case by case basis.

Filling in and returning the Maverick Application with the experience of all members and all the services you want us to provide will help in providing a "ball park" cost quote.

GUIDE SERVICE:

The competency and local knowledge of our guides not only ensures safety but enriches the experience.

We have found that our guide program also cuts down on the amount of motor boat rescues that generally take place along the Na Pali coast, especially, the roughest and loneliest segment from Ha'ena to Kalalau.

There are several segments that we offer a guiding service:

From Ha'ena (put-in) to Kalalau
We generally insist on guiding this segment
Note: Our permit only allows guiding the off shore waters of Kalalau and not landing on the beach.
At Kalalau Beach, clients will be expected to land and launch themselves unless high surf compromises safety.
From Ha'ena to Miloli'i
Any segment within Na Pali State park
Kalalau to Miloli'i
Kalalau to Polihale
Miloli'i to Polihale
Guide ratio is: 1 guide to 6 paddlers.

All guides carry:

VHF radio
Safety Flares
Emergency Position Indicating Radio beacon (EPIRB)
Bilge Pumps
Duties of the Guide(s):

The guide(s) are there to see problems on land before launching and on the water.

Specific Guide duties:

Consult in the packing of your kayak. Make sure you are not carrying more than is prudent and which may compromise the integrity and flotation of your boat.
The guide reserves the right to ask you to leave items behind for storage.
Help launch and land kayaks
At Kalalau Beach, unless high surf compromises safety you will be expected to land and launch at your own risk.
Keep group together in the water
Depending on water condition and time--sight see and tour the highlights
As needed: Emergency water response
Price: Guiding

SEA KAYAK SHAKEDOWN PROGRAM

For novices and first timers our pre Na Pali Shakedown paddle, will give you an idea of what is in store when paddling the Na Pali coast.

We try to approximate the same ocean conditions and scenarios encountered along the Na Pali. Examples: flipping over, getting back in kayak, negotiating "rock gardens", surf work, etc.

We can tailor it to your concerns.

Na Pali Shakedown Program:

$75/hour/person (2 person minimum)
E-mail Micco to set up this custom lesson: Micco

FaceInTheCrowd

Ditto inakauai's advice. I've been along the Na Pali coast in August and September on various tour boats, and can't imagine kayaking it without a guide, especially with only "beginner and moderate" skill levels. Don't risk it!

Inakauaidavidababy

Thanks for the backup Face. I read the Garden Island daily and DO NOT want to read about Fireman and his group.

This is not the type of adventure to cut corners and try to save and be frugal by doing it alone or because you have a romantic idea of doing it alone.

sf7307

I would honestly hope that the company itself would not even consider allowing these people to make that trip!

Kathie

When I read your question, I thought "these people must have no concept of the NaPali coast!" Really, it doesn't sound like any of you are prepared for this trip, even with a guide. Choose something else to do, somewhere else to kayak on Kauai.

Fireman

This person doesn't have a concept of NaPali coast and that is why he is asking. Thank you all for your comments.
Fireman Brian

Inakauaidavidababy

We just want to keep you and you group safe Fireman. And of course the first responders if something should go wrong!

FaceInTheCrowd

"My expectations after reading about the trip in 'Kauai Revealed'..."

Creating false expectations.... Yet another reason why some refer the guidebook (and others in the Revealed series) as Kauai "Reviled".

Kathie

No offense was intended by our comments. I'm afraid some guidebooks create totally unrealistic expectations.

I'm glad you came here and asked.

Fireman

So am I after reading more. That's why I use fodor's.
Thanks again,
B

Inakauaidavidababy

Well now that we've talked you out of it I searched for turn_it_on Roxy's report in case you still want to do it with guides.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-to-kauai.cfm

KAYAK TRIP UP NA PALI

Oh wow. Hold me. This was quite an adventure. A long, tough, beautiful, exhilarating day, AND there were taro chips. We went with Kayak Kauai, $185 each, booked directly through them. They take twelve people in tandem kayaks, with two guides (Doug and Melissa; Doug was young and very funny and into punk rock, he ruled; Melissa was more subdued, but an able young guide). They use rudder kayaks, which we?d never had and which my boyfriend had trouble dealing with; he found it easier just to steer with the paddle. The kayaks have little seats with backs, and a big storage hatch and several little nooks for storage, as well as one big dry bag. My one real complaint about the kayaks is that the paddles weren?t attached to the boat with a cord; they tell you that if you flip the kayak, the first thing you have to do is grab the paddles, a problem we ended up having and which is just so easily avoided.

We got to their Hanalei shop at 6am and were off to the launch site at Haena Beach Park at around 6:45. We did orientation on the beach and were off around 8:00, paddling toward Ke?e and into a misty rainbow (which lasted so long that as we continued paddling toward it, we actually saw it flatten and SET?whoa). First of all, the color of the water out there is unreal. It is the color of turquoise Kool Aid, lusciously vivid, and has this bizarre quality of being clear enough to see to the bottom near the shore while at the same time having this thick, almost jello-like quality, like it looked like if you stuck your hand in it that it might be thick. Hard to explain, but we both agreed on this quality.

The sights up Na Pali are just stunning. The vivid green spires surrounding lush mist-shrouded valleys fronted by long golden beaches and waterfalls that plunge right into the sea are forever etched in my memory. We would occasionally see turtles but unfortunately never saw one dolphin (our guide even did dolphin calls!). We stopped mid-ocean fairly frequently to rest, snack, drink water, and listen to the guides tell us a little about the places we were seeing. We went into three sea caves. One we entered through a waterfall that soaked me but was blown by the wind just in time to keep my boyfriend dry! It was kind of like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. The cave was massive and dark, echoing with our chatter. Even more awesome was the open ceiling cave, circular with a single entrance and totally open to the blue sky above, punctuated by a large center boulder. The water seemed even more vivid here, if that?s possible.

We paddled the bulk of the trip (six hours) and landed for lunch at Miloli?i Beach. The beach is backed by an enormous cliff face, carved with slender ledges occupied by freakin? mountain goats. Which ruled. They packed a good lunch (Kayak Kauai, not the goats): sandwiches on purple taro bread, cold drinks and water, luscious pineapples sliced on the spot, and our first taste of delicious taro chips. We spent about 1.5 hours there. There is a hike to a small falls/pool, which most people went to and which I had to give up a ways up the ?trail? for frustration with the fact that it was totally overgrown with tall spiky dry grass, and very rough n tumbly in spots. It looked pretty in the picture my boyfriend took, a nice, small falls to cool off in. I ended up just laying in the shade on the beach, in direct line of sight of a monk seal napping at the shore!

The last two hours to Polihale Beach. So close, yet sooo far. We could basically see the beach almost the whole time but distances are deceiving out on the ocean. It was very hot at around 3pm, and our exhaustion from heat and hard paddling coupled with the deceptive siren?s call of Polihale had me beginning to hallucinate. Really. The last half hour I was seeing flashes of people overboard, people sitting in my kayak, and other strange strange images out on the open ocean. We were delighted to finally land, around 4:30. The van was waiting for us with backpacks full of dry clean clothes, and we showered and changed and began the long drive home (I passed out immediately upon strapping in, and slept all the way home in an uncomfortable van with no neck support and over those bumpy Polihale cane roads), stopping first at a market in Waimea, which was nice.

A note about conditions on the water. I spoke to Gerry, the trike pilot, about the trip. I told him how HUGE the water was beginning about midmorning. I mean, scary big, almost-tip-us-over big, pick-us-up-and-slap-us-down-three-strokes-back big, swells so big they?d block out the horizon and the kayaks ahead of us?yes, it was windy. But the same wind that makes the water nightmarish would also give us a big push, sometimes so quick we couldn?t paddle fast enough to keep up. Herein lies the rub: Gerry said that he?s seen people paddling all day over an ocean like glass, which finally spits them out, exhausted, at Polihale at 7:00 PM--we got in at 4:30 PM! If there?s no wind, which on Na Pali is almost always at your back, there?s nothing helping push you down the coast. Glassy seas might be inviting, but not when it?s just you and your Popeye arm muscles pushing that little boat and finally arriving half-dead on the beach at 7pm. The moral is: even if it?s a beautiful day, ie, not stormy or anything, you might hit VERY high seas; it was, frankly, pretty scary at times, especially with the thought that if we flipped, we?d have to grab our quickly-moving paddles, right the kayak, and hoist ourselves back in, all in ENORMOUS waves! (And I was doubly scared because I discovered that I had great difficulty getting back in the kayak for lack of upper body strength--another consideration, albeit a lame one.) It?s a fantastic trip, an exciting way to see Na Pali, but you have to judge for yourself if you can deal with the big waters.