RE: [Paddlewise] Trip Report-Na Pali Coast, Kauai

Answers to the questions that I have had regarding the Na Pali Coast trip I
took last week.

1.  We paddled into all the various sea caves along the Na Pali Coast.  The
deepest cave was perhaps 100 yards deep.  Dark but easily manageable without
lights.  Some were horseshoe in shape allowing you to come out at a
different point in the cliffs.  I've been in much deeper sea caves on Santa
Cruz Island near Santa Barbara, but these were great with the waterfalls
coming through them.

2.  I agree that the $130 price seemed a little steep.  You can rent your
own kayaks for the day at Kayak Kauai (I think they rented for $50 per day).
I was hesitant to rent a kayak and tackle the Na Pali Coast without seeing
it first hand with the experts.  In hindsight, because the wind and swells
are at your back the entire paddle, I would grade the paddle a 7 on a 1-10
scale for difficulty.  The 8 people that hadn't done much kayaking
previously but were obviously quite fit were exhausted at the end of the
trip, due to technique difficulties primarily.

I do not know, however, if you are allowed to take your rented kayak and
paddle the Na Pali Coast with it.  The hiking trails require permits (over 1
year waiting list with priority going to local Hawaiians first).  A quick
call to Kayak Kauai 1-800-437-3507 or contact them on the internet at
info_at_kayakkauai.com to get details on this.

3.  The "season" for kayaking the Na Pali Coast is summer months only, from
what I'm told by the staff at Kayak Kauai.  After that, all the employees go
on unemployment until next June.  The ocean gets gnarly in the winter on the
north shore.  The trade winds we paddled in were gusting from 15-30 knots
last week, and that was "relatively mild" by their standards.

I hope you all get the chance to paddle this jewel of a coastline someday.
It was one of the best kayak experiences I've had in my 8 years of paddling.

David Powdrell


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Elaine Harmon
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 3:53 PM
To: David Powdrell
Cc: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Trip Report-Na Pali Coast, Kauai


Did you paddle into any of those sea caves? How deep were they (how far
back did they go)? e

Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu


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