A visit to Kauai wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the iconic Napali Coast. Since 1997, Holo Holo Charters has been offering unforgettable journeys to Kauai’s renowned Napali Coast and remote locations like Lehua Crater on the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau. We had the opportunity to join Holo Holo Charters on their Napali Snorkel Sail tour recently.
Our trip started at 7:30am at Port Allen where we met our captain and were briefed on safety before heading to our comfortable catamaran Leila. Leila is a 50-foot long, 28-foot wide motorized sailing catamaran that was built right on Kauai island.
Shortly after departing the dock on Leila, we sprung out of our seats to watch spinner dolphins get their early morning jumps in and ate a quick breakfast that included the yummiest donuts. You’re likely to see ocean wildlife such as Hawaiian spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, flying fish, pelagic sea birds, and seasonally (December – April)—humpback whales that have migrated more than 3,000 miles from Alaska to Hawaii for their winter breeding and calving season. Sadly, we missed the humpback whales since we went in September (just another excuse to return to Kauai soon!).
We then passed the longest stretch of beach in Hawaii, Polihale Beach before we began to enter the heart of the sacred Napali Coast Hawaii State Wilderness Area. The 4,000-foot cliffs, waterfalls, pristine beaches, sea caves, and sea arches perfectly mold together to form one of the most magical views I’ve ever seen.
The vibrant blue water was calling our names. Thankfully, the weather conditions permitted snorkeling and swimming which was the highlight of the sailing trip. I mean, you can’t go wrong with snorkeling in Hawaii.
After working up an appetite in the water, it was time for lunch and a drink. Holo Holo Charters is the only Kauai boat tour company to be certified Ocean Friendly by the Surfrider Foundation, and all their meals are served on “real” plates with real silverware and reusable cloth napkins. We made our own sandwiches and headed back up to the front for some more sun.
Heading south, back towards Port Allen, is typically when Kauai’s trade winds are favorable for downwind sailing. The crew members hoisted Leila’s main sail and unfurled the jib sail, and the Captain turned off the motors, allowing us to travel along solely by the power of the wind. We were back at the dock around 1:30.
I think it’s important to know that our 5-hour excursion was both relaxing and action packed. This is a true sailing adventure in which you will be rocking around a lot and you will get wet. The best advice I can give you is to embrace it. Wear a swimsuit, feel the salt water splash against your skin, and enjoy the ocean breeze. It was a fabulous feeling sailing on Leila, but if you are prone to sea sickness, I recommend bringing medicine.
The Napali Snorkel Sail tour offers a little something for everyone in your group and makes life easy by including breakfast, lunch, beverages, and snorkel gear. We loved the 5 hour tour and thought it was the perfect amount of time. Getting back by 1:30 allowed for us to plan more activities in the afternoon as well.
Overall, I would highly recommend Holo Holo Charters to anyone looking to do a boat tour in Kauai. The staff was professional and friendly, and even shared authentic stories, legends, and facts about Kauai’s history and geology. It really was one of the best parts of our trip to Kauai. Thank you so much Holo Holo Charters for having us!
If you’re interested in discovering other tours by Holo Holo Charters, click here.
THE WATERS EDIT 