Na Pali Explorer - Boating Expeditions on the Na Pali Coast

The Na Pali coast is considered the jewel of Kauai. It’s definitely not to be missed. Unfortunately, there's no road to get there. It’s said the Na Pali Coast is the second-fastest eroding coastline in the world, so the terrain is just too crumbly to support roads. (They tried it once, decades ago—they soon gave up)! What’s fascinating is at one time large settlements of Hawaiians lived in these narrow valleys, some backed by thousand-foot cliffs with, seemingly, no access overland and during Winter’s big surf, and no access by sea. Archaeological evidence of homes and he‘iau (sacred sites), as well as terraces for agricultural purposes, remain today along the entire coastline.

Na Pali by Water
The best way to see all of the Na Pali Coast’s cascading waterfalls, white sand beaches, sea caves and arches, and fluted cliffs is by water. With Na Pali Explorer you have numerous choices to create the perfect expedition for you. The first choice is which expedition is right for you. Click on each expedition to see details, times, and prices and use the handy comparison chart to weigh each tour’s features:

Comparison Chart

If you’re looking for…	Then choose…
Dolphins	Any morning tour, year-round
The best snorkeling on the Na Pali Coast	Any one of our Na Pali snorkeling tours
A shore landing	Any one of our Na Pali snorkeling tours
A visit to an ancient fishing village	Any one of our Na Pali snorkeling tours
Sea cave exploration	A summer expedition, Explorer I
The perfect light for photography	Any afternoon/sunset tour
The calmest water	A summer morning
Whales	A winter expedition
An up close and personal view	Any one of our tours
Views of the entire Na Pali Coast and then some	Calm conditions, usually summer

Na Pali Coast Snorkel Expedition

5 Hours: 7:30 a.m.-12: 30 p.m.
1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (in the Summer)
Adults: $135 + tax
Children: 5-12 years $95 + tax (not for children 4 and under)
Check-in: 1 hour prior to tour, Waimea office
Boat: Either the 26-foot, 16-passenger Explorer I (children over 8 years) or the 48-foot, 35-passenger Explorer II
Departure: Kikiaola Harbor in Waimea, right next door to the Na Pali Coast
Includes: continental breakfast, deli lunch and assortment of non-alcoholic beverages.
Gear: Complimentary use of snorkel gear and flotation devices.
Crew: Coast Guard licensed captain
Guides: Guided and narrated by marine naturalists and Hawaiian cultural specialists willing to share their knowledge and stories
Snorkeling: At the pristine and exclusive Nualolo Kai
Landings: Beach landing and nature walk during summer months only (Explorer I only)
Extras: Steamed, warm, face cloths for refreshing as you disembark
Note: Pregnant women and those with chronic back and heart conditions should consult a physician.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received less than 24 hours of check-in time and no shows will be charged the full 100%.
Charters: Private charters available

Na Pali Coast Whale Watch Expedition

Whales breaching, photo by Na Pali Explorer on a whalewatching tour of the Na Pali coast on Kauai, Hawaii Sometime around December, the endangered humpback whales start arriving from Alaska. In all, approximately 5,000 will visit our Hawaiian waters each year. While they’re here, they breed, birth and raise their young. It’s interesting to note that the calves are the only ones who eat while they’re in our warm waters, and they nurse, gaining over 100 pounds of weight per day. After the calves fatten up, they all start departing around April. It takes, on average, a month for the journey to and from Hawaii.

On our three-and-a-half-hour whale watching expedition, we have no destination in mind other than where the whales are. At 45 tons, give or take a ton, they pretty much go wherever they like. Scientists figure they like our warm, near-shore waters for birthing and raising their young, because it’s considerably safer from their main predator—the killer whale—which rarely visits this far south. We like to watch the whales tail slap, pec slap, fluke up dive, spy hop and, of course, breach. All great picture-taking opportunities; we’ll identify each maneuver for you.

Our on-board marine naturalists and biologists will share all kinds of interesting facts, too, like it’s only the males who sing. Did you know whales sing? We’re not sure why they sing, but we’re pretty sure it’s only the males who sing. We’ll even drop a hydrophone in the water to listen to them belting out their tune, which evolves as Winter wears on and changes from season to season. Interesting, yeah?

3½ Hours: 2:00 p.m.-5: 30 p.m.
Availability: Winter only; whale watching available January — March
Adults: $89 + tax
Children: 5-12 years $69 + tax (not for children 4 and under)
Check-in: 1 hour prior to tour, Waimea office.
Departure: Kikiaola Harbor in Waimea, right next door to the Na Pali Coast
Boat: 48-foot, 35-passenger Explorer II
Food: Includes light “pupus,” of fruit and veggie platters and an assortment of Hawaiian style chips and dips.
Gear: Hydrophones are available on-board for listening to the whales
Captain: Coast Guard licensed captain
Guides: Guided and narrated by marine naturalists and Hawaiian cultural specialists willing to share their knowledge and stories
Extras: Steamed, warm, face cloths for refreshing as you disembark
Note: Pregnant women and those with chronic back and heart conditions should consult a physician.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received less 24 hours of check-in time and no shows will be charged the full 100%.
Charters: Private charters available

Na Pali Coast Scenic Sightseeing Expedition

3½ Hours: 3:00 p.m.-6: 30 p.m. (in the Summer)
2:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (in the Winter)
Adults: $89 + tax
Children: 5-12 years $69 + tax (not for children 4 and under)
Check-in: 1 hour prior to tour, Waimea office.
Departure: Kikiaola Harbor in Waimea, right next door to the Na Pali Coast
Boat: 48-foot, 35-passenger Explorer II
Food: Includes light “pupus,” of fruit and veggie platters and an assortment of Hawaiian style chips and dips
Captain: Coast Guard licensed captain
Guides: Guided and narrated by marine naturalists and Hawaiian cultural specialists willing to share their knowledge and stories
Extras: Steamed, warm, face cloths for refreshing as you disembark
Note: Pregnant women and those with chronic back and heart conditions should consult a physician
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received less 24 hours of check-in time and no shows will be charged the full 100%.
Charters: Private charters available

Boats
Your second choice is which boat is right for you: Our 26-foot, 16-passenger Explorer I; our 48-foot, 35-passenger Explorer II; or the new Ocean Adventurer departing from Hanalei. (If it’s easier, we commonly call Explorer I, “the little boat,” Explorer II, “the big boat,” and Ocean Adventurer, “the new boat”). More info is available on our Boats page.

Explorer I

A wet ride
Thrills and adventure on the high seas
A shore landing
A visit to an ancient fishing village
Comfort: The lowest incidence of seasickness; unlike bigger boats, our three rigid hull inflatable boats are closer to and move with the water, decreasing the likelihood of seasickness

Explorer II

Some thrills and more comfort
Coverage from the sun
An on-board lua (head or toilet)
Comfort: The lowest incidence of seasickness; unlike bigger boats, our three rigid hull inflatable boats are closer to and move with the water, decreasing the likelihood of seasickness

Ocean Adventurer

Some thrills and more comfort
Coverage from the sun
An on-board lua (head or toilet)
Comfort: The lowest incidence of seasickness; unlike bigger boats, our three rigid hull inflatable boats are closer to and move with the water, decreasing the likelihood of seasickness

Happy Times (Fishing Charter)

Fun exclusive, per-passenger or ridealong fishing charter
A 41 foot Concorde Sportfisher to rent while visiting on Kauai
Half, ¾ or full day tour
A guaranteed good time!

Snorkeling
Our Na Pali Snorkel Expedition departs as the sun rises over the ocean during the calmest part of the day, making your journey to the Na Pali Coast fast and smooth. Your day starts at our office in Waimea with a continental breakfast.

Sealife
Once onboard, our marine biologists and naturalists share information about the marine creatures you may see along the way, including the ever-popular Hawaiian spinner dolphins which we see every day, practically guaranteed. (Did you know the spinner dolphin can spin as many as eight rotations in the air?) There's a great possibility of seeing sea turtles and flying fish, maybe even monk seals and manta rays. During Winter when the whales migrate, you’ll learn about their journey from Alaska, where they feed, to Hawaii, where they breed. (During the peak months of February and March, they’re everywhere, and at 45 tons, you can’t miss seeing them.)

Nature
In addition to marine life, you’ll witness the majesty of the Na Pali Coast—with cliffs as high as 4,000 feet in some places—and learn historical and cultural information about life in ancient and modern Hawaii. (Did you know the land once terraced for taro was used for growing coffee in recent times? That in the 1890s, Ko‘olau the Leper and his wife Pi‘ilani successfully evaded the provisional government’s army in defiance of its decree to be exiled to the “Leper Colony” on Moloka‘i? That the movie “Six Days, Seven Nights” was filmed on the beach of Honopu which is bisected by a lava rock arch?)

Reefs
There is only one fringing reef along the entire Na Pali Coast. It extends 600 feet offshore and is home to many varieties of seaweed, limpets, sea urchins and 50 species of fish. The valley is called Nualolo Kai, and it contains the greatest number of archaeological remains of all the Na Pali Coast, protected over the years due to its extreme isolation. It is surrounded on three sides by cliffs and ocean on the fourth. It’s a highly-respected and studied setting. (Carbon dating dates civilization here as early as 600 A.D.) Na Pali Explorer is one of the few commercial boating companies awarded a special permit to land (on snorkel tours only) at Nualolo Kai for snorkeling and visiting the remains of this ancient fishing village. (Please note: Sometimes during winter, due to ocean conditions, your captain may elect to snorkel at a different location. Also, because of its smaller size, only Explorer I lands during the summer months, except during times of unusual summer swells, and rarely during other times of the year, again due to ocean conditions.)

After snorkeling, we serve a picnic lunch, either on-board or ashore, topped off with our scrumptious chocolate chip cookies. All along the way, we serve water, juices and soft drinks. On the three and a half hour scenic tours we provide light pupus as a snack on-board. We do not provide alcoholic beverages, although you may carry your own on board (non-breakable containers, please).