Nawiliwili, Kauai
Bob Evans
Finally a port where
there is enough time to do everything! The big attraction is the famous
Waimea Canyon, similar to the Grand Canyon. It's a mile wide and 3600 feet
deep, and has amazing colors. It's about a 40 minute drive from the ship
to the first main lookout, with lesser lookouts before that. Regarding
weather, the rule of thumb is that if you have bad weather when you reach
the first main lookout, there is no point in driving another half hour to
see the other lookouts further down the ridge road, it will not get any
better. But if you have good weather, drive further down the canyon to the
Puu Hinahina lookout, and then the Kalalau lookout, and Puu o Kila lookout
at the end of the road.
Then you can drive back on hwy 50 past the ship to the Wailua Falls up hwy
583, and Opaekaa Falls up 580, which feed the Wailua River. Then go back
to hwy 56, turn back south on 56 for a few hundred feet, and turn right
into the Fern Grotto tours place, I forget the name. There are other
smaller vendors selling grotto tours, but the main one has a big parking
lot, restaurant, etc. Tours are $15 and last 1.5 hours. The ship price is
$45. The tour goes up the Wailua river, lots of great scenery, to a fern
grotto where the locals put on a bit of a show. Then you can drive back to
hwy 56 and