World Traveller 73 
Sailing the Napali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
The Napali Coastline is one of Kauai’s most difficult to get to destinations and arguably one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Thanks to it’s remote location on the North West corner of the island of Kauai, it has a challenging and rough sea approach, along with weather systems that don’t always co-operate. Fortunately, we were able to have mother nature on our side which allowed us to take in some beautiful views of this special place.
This post is one chapter on our trip on the United Island Hopper and to Oahu & Kauai, Hawaii, United States. This trip was redeemed through Alaska Mileage Plan, United Airlines Mileage Plus and Marriott Bonvoy. It was further enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.
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Read more from this trip:
- Introduction: The United Island Hopper via Honolulu & Kauai, on United Airlines and Alaska Airlines First Class
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Vancouver – Seattle
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Seattle – Honolulu
- The Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- The United Island Hopper – Flight #1: Honolulu – Majuro
- The United Island Hopper – Flight #2: Majuro – Kwajalein
- The United Island Hopper – Flight #3: Kwajalein – Pohnpei
- The United Island Hopper – Flight #4: Pohnpei – Chuuk
- The United Island Hopper – Flight #5: Chuuk – Guam
- The United Island Hopper – Top 5 Tips and Tricks
- The Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, Guam
- The Sagan Bisita VIP Lounge, Guam
- United Airlines: Guam – Honolulu
- Bill’s Sydney, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- Hawaiian Airlines The Plumeria Lounge, Honolulu, USA
- Hawaiian Airlines First Class: Honolulu – Lihue
- The Sheraton Kauai Resort, Poi’pu, Hawaii, USA
- Visiting Kauai Coffee Estate, Kauai, USA
- The Views at the Waimea Canyon State Park, Kauai, USA
- Sailing the Napali Coast, Kauai, USA
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Lihue – Seattle
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Seattle – Vancouver
Activity: Sailing the Napali Coast, Kauai, United States of America.
We had an easy wake up today at The Sheraton Kauai Resort followed by an included Marriott Bonvoy Elite breakfast consisting of an Eggs Benedict along with 4 rashers of bacon.
Planning the Napali Coast:
Based on a selection informed by Trip Advisor, we ended up with a Holo Holo Charters Napali Sunset Cruise, departing from nearby Port Allen, Kauai, Hawaii. Our cruise today was departing at 1:30 PM. We booked online via the website, but later discovered at the end of the trip that gift cards are sold at Costco Kauai for 20% off $100. If you plan on coming through, and are planning on taking this trip, perhaps stop at Costco first for some savings. The group at Holo Holo Charters were terrific and we would easily book with them again.
Setting out with Holo Holo Charters:
We headed out with plenty of time and located some parking in Port Allen. We attended the safety briefing and prepared to head to the boat. I ended up taking my big SLR camera with me but it got pretty soaked along a pleasant sea salt glow crust over everything else I wore.
We headed out past the Barking Sands Pacific Missle Range Facility. It’s supposedly the worlds largest missile testing range. There wasn’t much to see there as everything was hidden behind grassy slopes.
Instead, MrsWT73 got into the free pour alcohol right away. It was a great atmosphere on the boat.
After the Barking Sands beach, we passed by several isolated beaches. The beaches were set against the backdrop of the massive Napali Coast mountains.
As we headed up the coast line, there was frequent conversation amongst the travellers on the boat that it was challenging to get all the way up to the Napali Coast in the winter as the seas were often way too rough.
There was one couple that had been on the Napali Coast Cruise seven times and hadn’t yet made it there. Thankfully, the weather held out today with smooth seas and we were able to make it all the way.
Taking in the Napali Coast:
The scenery got more and more scenic as we moved along the coast. It was really easy to see how picturesque the coast line was.
Eventually, the fully beauty of the Napali Coast was in front of the boat. The coast line was absolutely spectacular. The pictures don’t really do it justice as the green sloping hills cascaded over rocks into the oceans below. Having seen a few coast lines in our travels, there wasn’t many that were as picturesque as these.
The Napali Coastline mountains are just spectacular to take in. I haven’t ever seen anything quite like it anywhere in the world. The moss covered slopes and shadows made for some unique lighting.
We were able to get some photographs to mark this unique occasion. We were somewhat relieved to have made it all this way, having lucked out with the weather and no forced cancellations.
After the main event, we headed back towards Port Allen in time for the sunset. We spotted a few wales on the way back.
Sunset off the Napali Coast:
We also had a beautiful sunset on the water; something that’s always special no matter where you are in the world.
We eventually made it back to Port Allen where we safely disembarked. We wandered across the street for another snack at the Kauai Brewing Company. It worked last night, why mess with success?
After dinner, we drove back to The Sheraton Kauai Resort after a full day. What a special adventure up and down the wonderful coastline.
My Thoughts on Sailing the Napali Coast:
The Holo Holo Charter was money well spent. The views were easily the highlight of our trip to Kauai. It’s also an area that would be great to explore hiking for a day. I was really happy that we made it all the way up the coastline. We didn’t have to deal with any unexpected cancellations, making this trip well worth our time.
World Traveller 73 
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