Searching_Adventurer
Dec 2022
BOTTOM LINE: Outstanding tour and staff and my top experience during my 10 days in Kauai.
A BIT MORE DETAIL: First of all, I want to start with the staff. The captain was entertaining, highly experienced, and emphasized SAFETY FIRST. Second, the support staff was OUTSTANDING. They were very friendly, knowledgeable, and provided help and service with tremendous alacrity. I call out two particular folks, Zoe and Kalama (apologies for mangling the spelling). Zoe in particular would get an A+++++…
I arrived at Port Allen at ~6AM and was informed that the tour had to be modified because of unfavorably high swells. The Ni’ihau leg was going to be cancelled. We were given the choice to reschedule or refund. I am so glad that I decided to proceed with the excursion. Here's the 50-thousand-foot overview of the tour. We started with an early morning snorkeling at the Hanaka’ape Turtle Sanctuary. The water was warm, and I floated with many, many turtles literally a couple of feet away and numerous starkly colored fish; One couldn't help but feel a connection with nature that can only be described as ethereal. We then proceeded to skirt the Na Pali coast, contemplating all the world-class and unmatched views of cliffs, waterfalls, sharply sculptured mountains, and beaches along the way. The captain went out of his way to slow down whenever we saw whales and dolphins. We went almost half-way around the island, stopping just short of Princeville. In previous days, I had hiked part of the Kalalea trail and was enthralled to trace my footsteps from the ocean. The trip back to Port Allen was very slow and relaxed, and we all had plenty of opportunity to take videos and pictures. The food served for breakfast and lunch was very good. The whole tour took a bit over 7 hours, but it went by fast and seemed more like 1 or 2 hours. There was never a dull moment.
The catamaran was clean, well-equipped and was electrifying during the occasions when the captain hit over 30 knots…a richer ride than any amusement park could ever provide. A detail that is often overlooked but very important are the lavatories. These were exceedingly clean and easily accessible.
In closing, tour modifications are a reality in Kauai, one of the rainiest places in the world. Nevertheless, the captain’s experience and arsenal of information made allowed him to synthesize a customized, truly world-class excursion.