A one-day trip on a Zodiac raft along the Na Pali coast of Kauai is an experience you will remember for years. There are many shore activities that you can do on Kauai, and the Capt. Andy's Zodiac raft trip is just one of them. If you've ever been to Hawaii, you know that the one or two days per island that a cruise gives you is NOT enough to really experience the wonders of these islands. A cruise around the Hawaiian islands is much like a cruise around the Mediterranean Sea.

You get just a "taste" of each port. It certainly helps you plan where you want to return for an extended visit!

Kauai, the oldest Hawaiian Island, has many gorgeous sites. There are beautiful beaches, valleys, and even a lighthouse. The best way to see the spectacular Na Pali coast is by boat. If you are on a cruise ship, you will probably get to sail along this coast and gaze at the cliffs above. If you want a more personal experience, you can hike or take a small boat. For our Na Pali experience, we selected Captain Zodiac (now called Capt. Andy's). There are other companies that run boat tours along the coast, but we had a great trip with this company. We met the raft and 2-man crew on a beautiful Hawaiian morning in July. We had a perfect day, with very light seas and a bright sun. The sea conditions are very important, as we found out as we started off.

A Zodiac boat ride is not for the "light of bladder" or those with severe back problems. Even on a very calm day (such as we had), it is bumpy.

Our boat captain told us we were very lucky because since it was so calm, we would be able to visit several of the sea caves along the way. For the kids among us, like my spouse, the "Tunnel of Terror" was a real hit. This cave had two entrances, but we didn't know it when we zipped into the cave. It was very dark, and the captain was going FAST. He made a sharp right turn and we all thought we were going to hit the cave wall. Suddenly we saw another entrance/exit. A waterfall poured down on us as we flew back into the sea. It was so fun that we repeated it a couple of times! Nothing like a natural ride that can compete with Disney World!

We also visited a Na Pali coast cave that had an open top allowing the sun to shine in. The water in the cave was clear and a beautiful aquamarine. We all jumped in and swam for a while. Each of us vacationers in the boat took turns snapping pictures of others swimming. I still have a shot of Ronnie and I on my desk at work.

We followed the Na Pali coast, and the 11-mile Kalalau Trail snaked along the cliffs above us. This trail was built by the ancient Hawaiians and is a very strenuous hike. At the end of the trail is a beautiful beach where you can camp. We snorkeled off this beach and saw all types of sea life, including numerous turtles. One turtle even came up and looked at us, and posed for a picture.

If you have an extra day on Kauai, the seas are calm, and you have a good bladder and a sense of adventure, I highly recommend a Zodiac boat ride/snorkeling trip along this coast. It is some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere!