SHORE EXCURSIONS

PREBOOK ONLY. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING ONBOARD. The luau is an essential part of the Hawaiian experience, and the cultural extravaganza at the historic Kilohana Plantation is a feast for all the senses. You’ll have the option to gather around the traditional fire pit and watch the roast pig emerge, a special treat to accompany the already lavish buffet of local delicacies and desserts. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you, and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song.

PREBOOK ONLY. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING ONBOARD. The luau is an essential part of the Hawaiian experience and the cultural extravaganza at the historic Kilohana Plantation is a feast for all the senses. You’ll gather around the traditional fire pit and watch the roast pig emerge, a special treat to accompany the already lavish buffet of local delicacies and desserts. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you, and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song. Enjoy the Luau Kalamaku with your premium seating, second row back from the stage.

PREBOOK ONLY. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING ONBOARD. Take a narrated tour through fruit orchards and exotic tropical flower gardens. Then feast your eyes on hulas and fire dances and dine on a lavish luau. Climb aboard one of the elegant, mahogany passenger cars of the authentic, narrow-gauge Kauai Plantation Railroad for a 30-minute journey. You’ll be entertained by fun loving conductors, and learn about Kilohana Plantation history and commercial farming on Kauai today, as you travel through fields of sugar cane, pineapple, banana, papaya, coffee, tropical flowers and hardwood trees.

The luau is an essential part of the Hawaiian experience, and the cultural extravaganza at the historic Kilohana Plantation is a feast for all the senses. . You’ll have the option to see the traditional fire pit and watch the roast pig emerge, a special treat to accompany the already lavish buffet of local delicacies and desserts. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you, and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song.

Enjoy an extended visit to Kilohana Plantation, with a ride on a train, dinner at the manor house, and a luau show of hula, fire dances and tales told in story and song. Begin your tour of Kilohana Plantation aboard one of the elegant, mahogany passenger cars of an authentic, narrow gauge railway. You’ll be entertained by fun loving conductors, and learn about plantation history and commercial farming on Kauai today, while traveling through fields of sugar cane, pineapple, banana, papaya, coffee, tropical flowers and hardwood trees.

Step back into the golden age of sugar at Kilohana’s perfectly restored manor house, 22 North. Richly crafted from fine woods with Art Deco details, it served as a family homestead and site for elaborate social gatherings. You’ll dine here on Kauai grown meats, fish and produce, including fruits and vegetables from Kilohana’s orchard and agricultural park.

After dinner, you’ll be escorted to the Kalamaku luau show. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you, and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song.

PREBOOK ONLY. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING ONBOARD. Enjoy the beauty, culture and tastes of Kauai, from sacred sites, waterfalls to the heart of the island, followed by a traditional Hawaiian Luau at the historic Kilohana Plantation. Drive along the coast and visit Hikinaakala Heiau, where ancient Hawaiians worshipped. Continue up to Opaekaa Falls, one of Kaui’s major waterfalls. YYou’ll pass through the town of Lihue and through Koloa, the birthplace of the sugar industry in Hawaii.

A highlight of your tour is a visit to Waimea Canyon, it will greet you with a spectacular array of colors created by the reds and browns of exposed volcanic rock, make sure to have your camera to capture this stunning sight.

Complete your day at a traditional luau and immerse yourself in Hawaiian culture at Luau Kalamaku. While torches blaze, graceful hulas and energetic fire dances will entertain you and the ancient sea voyages that brought the original Hawaiians to these islands from Polynesia will be brought to life in story and song.

Admire the endless beauty of Kauai by cruising through the jungle to the Fern Grotto, exploring a wildlife refuge and stopping in an idyllic bay in the shadow of lush mountains. Depart from the pier and enjoy a leisurely drive north to a marina on the Wailua River, one of the few navigable waterways in Hawaii. Starting high atop Mount Waialeale in the center of Kauai, the river tranquilly weaves through 20 miles of thick jungle. While cruising, you will stop at the geological wonder Fern Grotto, a lava-rock cave covered with tropical flora. Being a natural amphitheater, the grotto provides a wondrous setting and fine acoustics for the musicians who will serenade you with traditional Hawaiian tunes. Continuing on, you will head toward Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge to see its towering lighthouse and bird sanctuary. The refuge’s ocean cliffs and grassy slopes provide a fine habitat for some of the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawaii. Be on the lookout for red-footed boobies, Laysan albatross, and wedge-tailed shearwaters. (The lighthouse is open Wednesday through Saturday. When the lighthouse is closed, we visit the overlook area for about 20 minutes.) Then, you will stop for a quick lunch in Hanalei town at Ching Young Village. After that you will be treated to a view of beautiful, crescent-shaped Hanalei Bay and its signature pier. The landmark Waioli Huiia Church stands nearby, a reminder of the missionaries who settled here in the 1830s. Finally, you will depart the North Shore and return to Nawiliwili, but not before stopping for photos of the 150-foot Opaekaa Falls. Opaekaa means “rolling shrimp,” which were once abundant in the stream.

On this introduction to the “Garden Isle,” you’ll explore two of Kauai’s most dramatic natural attractions - the 3,000-foot deep Waimea Canyon and the lush landscapes lining the Wailua River, including the famed Fern Grotto.

From a lookout point high above, you’ll have a panoramic view of Waimea Canyon and its array of rainbow colors, created by the reds and browns of exposed volcanic rock mingled with the blues and greens of lush tropical vegetation. This magnificent gorge is 10 miles long, one mile wide and 3,000 feet deep. You’ll want to bring a camera to capture the spectacular beauty of this natural work of art.

Board a riverboat for a cruise up the tranquil Wailua River as it floats past jungle landscapes on the way to Fern Grotto. This beautiful lava cavern, dripping with ferns, forms a natural amphitheater with excellent acoustics. At the grotto, keeping with island custom, a chorus will serenade you with the traditional Hawaiian Wedding Song.

Discover Waimea Canyon, the breathtaking gorge in the heart of Kauai that is one of the island’s most dramatic natural attractions. You’ll begin your scenic drive by passing through a tunnel of trees, and traveling along Kauai’s south coast, on its one main highway.

From a lookout point high above, you’ll have a panoramic view of Waimea Canyon and its array of rainbow colors, created by the reds and browns of exposed volcanic rock mingled with the blues and greens of lush tropical vegetation. This magnificent gorge is 10 miles long, one mile wide and 3,000 feet deep. You’ll want to bring a camera to capture the spectacular beauty of this natural work of art.

Board a flat-bottom motor launch for your journey up the tranquil Wailua River as it floats past lush jungle landscapes on the way to Fern Grotto. This beautiful lava cavern, dripping with ferns, forms a natural amphitheater with excellent acoustics. At the grotto, keeping with island custom, a chorus will serenade you with the traditional Hawaiian Wedding Song.

Travel by moto coach into the valley of the Sleeping Giant, where you'll find Opaekaa Falls, cascading down the hillside into a hidden pool.

OVERVIEW

Visit the movie locations for some of Hollywood’s most celebrated films and then snap your own pictures at gorgeous Opaeka’a Falls. As you approach the various film locations, you will watch videos of scenes that were shot there and then stand exactly in those spots. You will see the pier at Ahukini Landing from the John Wayne classic “Donavan’s Reef,” the park that played a significant role in Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawaii” and Kilauea Lighthouse Overlook, where parts of “Jurassic Park” were shot. Other highlights include pausing for photos at picture-perfect locations for films such “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Honeymoon in Vegas” and “The Descendants” with George Clooney. As you will see, the Hanalei pier is so photogenic that it has been in numerous film classics, including “South Pacific.” As a parting shot, you will stop at Opaeka’a Falls, a setting that just begs to be captured on film.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stand exactly where movie stars shot famous scenes from classic films.
• Visit locations for films such as “Jurassic Park,” “Blue Hawaii” and “South Pacific.”
• Spend free time in Hanalei, where you may enjoy lunch on your own.
• Capture the beauty of Oscar-worthy Opaeka’a Falls.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Soar amidst towering trees and enjoy breathtaking mountain vistas. Experience the wonder of Kauai’s tropical paradise on a series of suspension bridges and six ziplines, covering well over a mile in the air. Four of the six lines are side-by-side, which gives you the opportunity to share a shriek with a buddy. The 1,800 feet tandem lines provide the ultimate adrenaline rush. Catch your breath, then take a short hike through a swaying bamboo forest for a snack beside a forest pool. To cool off, grab the zipline that runs across pool and splash down.

Hike in the rainforest, paddle a kayak and learn how ancient Hawaiians lived in harmony with nature. This river kayak adventure takes you into the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, home to many of Hawaii’s native wetland birds and plants, and not open to the general public. You’ll paddle a comfortable, stable, sit-on-top double kayak. Listen to the legend of the Menehune Fishpond as you float past it. This ingenious pond was built to catch fish nearly 1,000 years ago.

Take a one-mile guided walk through the rainforest and learn about the unique plant and animal life of the area, and how the ancient Hawaiians lived in harmony with nature. See film locations from Raiders of the Lost Ark. And with Indiana Jones in mind, take a leap off a rope swing for a refreshing dip in a cool mountain pool. Stop for snacks and cold drinks at a fern-shrouded waterfall and make the return trip aboard a super cool, twin-hulled, powered Hawaiian canoe.