Really interested in Na Pali Coast Hanalei company. Can anyone provide more details? Thanks a lot.

I'm also interested in hearing about the various boat companies. My husband and I chose Kauai for our honeymoon in order to go on one of these boat tours. We had made reservations with Captain Zodiac but were cancelled out on less thana week before our trip because of the new licensing regulations. While on the island, we were cancelled on by other companies as well for mechanical problems and weather. We were extremely disappointed!

We're planning another trip out there this fall and will be on the island full days Oct 15-17 (the 14th & 18th are travel days from Maui and back to the mainland respectively). I know that weatherwise, we're going to be right on the cusp of the winter swells so it'll be iffy. Also, the majority of the companies whose web sites I've looked at start their south shore tours in lieu of NaPali at the beginning of October.

Any suggestions? We'd prefer to go out of Hanalei but undertsand that's probably not going to happen and we really don't have an interest in a south shore tour.

We took a wonderful four hour NaPali trip. I don't have my receipt with me, but I think the company was NaPali coast Hanalei. We signed up at the activities desk by cafe Luna in the Bubba Burger shopping center in Hanalei. The proprietor's name is Ralph. We got a *good* tour with a stop for snorkeling and lunch (cheese, crackers, trail mix, fruit and veg, olives and pickles, soft drinks). The crew was great with our three kids.

Went to Kauai for the second time this past June. First time we took Captain Zodiac---it was great. Heard they are no longer in business. Most Na Pali Coast cruises leave from south shore now. This year we took a catamaran which left from Waimea. It was fun and the food was good (was recommended by the Ultimate Kauai book). Only problem was that our morning trip was cancelled due to low attendance and we had to do a pm trip. Seas were rougher and snorkeling was not as good. We did see spinner dolphins and sea turtles--I loved it, but I don't know if those 10 or so people who threw up thought it was worth the agony!

My husband and I and another couple just took the NaPali Coast boat trip with Navitek. We did a champagne brunch and I think it was $84 per person. There was a pretty substantial discount for either kamaiina (sp?) or military. The food was adequate for a trip such as this and the views were wonderful. It was very windy! Also, if you tend to get motion sick, be sure to bring those wrist bands or whatever works for you. I ended up purchasing them aboard for $10 and was fine.

Lynn, Isn't the Navatek the "boat" that you're NOT supposed to get sick on? I didn't take their whale-watching cruise on Maui, tho my husband did, because the agent told me that, very occasionally, someone will even get sick on a Navatek, tho it's 90% smoother than a normal boat. Did you start to get sick and then buy the bands, or did you do it as a preventative? I have a problem with motion sickness, as you've probably gathered.

Ruth,
I would say that the Navitek boat is much better designed to take rough water than most, but the day we went was EXTREMELY windy and rough. I started to feel a little queasy and decided not to ruin the trip so I bought the bands.

Take a Liko Cruise! He's a native--great 'talk story'. It is a motorized boat up the coast, comfortable for any age or size. Despite the size of the boat he is able to maneuver into places not often seen. He leaves from the south-easy to find and we've never had a cancellation problem.

We went to the Na Pali Coast pre-Hurricane Iniki and it was by far the most wonderful of all our trips. We highly recommend the Captain Zodiac tour. We rafted over a school of Hawaiian Sea Turtles and went through caves and got a history of the Na Pali coast. It was truly magnificient. We were dropped off at Kalalau Valley and hiked out the same day 10 hours. The Captain Zodiac tour turned out to be a pleasant and wonderous surprise. The end of the trail was at Ke'e beach where we soaked our tired feet and watched the beautiful sunset (and saw the Green Flash). Be sure to visit Tahiti Nui's restaurant in Hanalei for an Old Hawaii experience and try their signature drink "Green Kauai" which we begged to get the recipe. Please feel free to email for any questions. Aloha!

we took a tour with Catamaran Kahanu. It was a blast, but the boat gets rocked around a bit, and the trip around the west side will soak you. The bathroom is a port-o-john as well.

If you want a more luxurious trip, take Capt. Andy's or Blue Dolphin. If you want to rough it a bit, go with Kahanu.

Cathy,
I think all Na Pali boat tours come out of Port Allen now. I just got back & recommend Na Pali Eco Adventures. My friend & I went out on the morning tour which they say is better than the afternoon one. The ocean was calmer in the AM. The trip back was a roller coaster ride but I prefer the rough waves myself. We saw tons of dolphins. Their website is www.napali.com They are an environmentally friendly organization in that they burn vegetable oil as they're source of fuel which pumps water through the bottom of the boat. The crew was very friendly as well as are all the Hawaiian locals we encountered. Hope his helps. Have an excellent time!