Na Pali coast is probably one of the most filmed location in Kauai for Hollywood movies. The majestic cliffs, with caves and coves of secluded beaches, made the coast ideal for movies like Jurassic Park series, King Kong(1976), and Windtalkers, which required background with little or no touch of civilization.
HOW AND WHEN TO GOThere are no roads for automobiles to take you there, except a narrow, difficult trail fit for the physically fittest. Unlike a helicopter tour, which gives you only glimpses, taking a boat gives you enough time to admire the natural wonder at a closer range. However, the time you can visit via water is limited to mostly the warmer months when weather is more clement. When my wife and I first visited Kauai in November of 1997, no boat went out to Na Pali due to wind and rough waves. In our second visit in August 2002, we had almost a perfect weather, perhaps too perfect for our sailboat because our captain had to power it all along the coast instead of using its sail.
ONLY ONE BOAT FROM THE NORTHMost boats disembarked from Port Allen or Poipu in the south except Captain Sundown, which sailed out of Hanalei Bay in the north. (Please see my journal on "Captain Sundown" to see why it is the only one and what advantages you have by sailing from the north). We sailed west for less than a half-hour when we turned southwest around the bend marked by Bali Hai. The coast I read so much about appeared before us like a brand new scene in a movie.
SCENIC BEAUTIES TO SEEWe could see the cliffs with many peaks towering over us. A small beach below was crowded with people, but there would be fewer and fewer people as we sailed down the coast. At one point my sister-in-law dropped her jaw as she looked toward a small beach. I looked and noticed some people sunbathing au naturale. In various places small waterfalls appeared, cascading into the ocean as in a fantasyland. Then the caves, carved out by powerful waves that pound the shoreline in the winter months. Some kayakers ventured into the waters of the caves, perhaps to encounter a pirate ship full of treasures. As we went further south, clouds hung over peaks and sunlight shone through their edges as if gods were descending. The ocean breeze, often spraying mist of water on our faces, transported us to a higher state of exhilaration.
SEEING IS NOT ENOUGHThe perfect beauty of Na Pali shoreline called us like Sirens; yet, like Odysseus, we were bound to the boat, unable to swim ashore. We were only allowed to snorkel in a rocky beach where we were able to witness a sea turtle among other exotic, colorful ocean creatures. Overall, the short six-hour trip left me with more desire to return to Na Pali. Only, next time, I would return via trails to experience the fantasyland instead of just seeing it.