Nawiliwili, Kauai Cruises

Nawiliwili, Kauai Cruise Port

• Many cruise lines offer tours of the Wailua River and the Fern Grotto, formed millions of years ago. Over time, ferns have covered the grotto's ceiling and walls, creating an exotic backdrop that makes you feel you're in another world. Your tour may also include traditional Hawaiian dancing and song.
   
• Helicopter tours are extremely popular here, especially those encompassing Mt. Waialeale, Waimea Canyon, and the Na Pali Coast. There are several companies right at the port that will take to the skies and give you a view of the island that will leave you breathless.
   
• Kalapaki Beach is the very epitome of what most would expect from the islands, with long stretches of sand, blue waters, and Hawaiian music in the background. Surfing is popular here (as it is on many beaches here), and if you've been itching to learn how, there are many instructors standing by to give you lessons.
   
• For souvenirs and a bite to eat, hop from Kalapaki Beach to the nearby shopping center. A locally-made item of note is the Niihau Shell Lei, fashioned from shells found near the Niihau Island and considered the finest in Hawaii.