The beautiful Fern Grotto.
Not so long ago it was one of Kauai’s most famous attractions. A boat trip up the Wailua River on east Kauai carried visitors through an environment alive with historical significance and legendary splendor. A lovely stroll on a jungle trail opened onto a beautiful sight. Its entrance fringed by enormous hanging ferns, a secluded open cave provided an incomparable setting for weddings or simply contemplation. Prior to 1935, a huge waterfall had dropped into the area. In 1935 the local sugar company diverted the water for their crops, cutting off the waterfall’s flow and creating the Grotto.
Sadly, Hurricane Iwa in 1982 and then Hurricane Iniki ten years later caused some serious damage to the whole area. The fatal blow came three years ago when more than 40 days of rain caused landslides that did irreparable damage to the ferns.
If the Fern Grotto remains on your list of things to see on your Hawaii vacation or perhaps a potential site for your wedding, cross it off.
But wait. A boat trip on the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto area remains a really nice way to spend about 90 minutes when you visit Kauai.
Your tour boat captain will narrate the ride along the river, indicating points of interest, describing the flora and fauna along the river’s banks and relating tales of the significance of the river and surrounding areas (such as Mount Kapu) to early Hawaiians. The trip features live Hawaiian music and hula dancers.
Today you can walk through tropical flora to a new viewing platform with railings that will allow you good views of the grotto. The ferns are starting to grow back. A small group of entertainers performs the Hawaiian Wedding Song, a tradition in the Grotto, where almost 20,000 weddings took place.
The trip costs about $20. If you’re interested, pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Website or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll work it into your plans for you.
But don’t plan for a Fern Grotto wedding. We can help you find a comparable site. These islands are full of them!
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Related blog posts:
River Rats Visiting Hawaii Can Take Heart
See Kauai From Above on Your Hawaii Vacation
South Pacific is Being Revived on Kauai
The Many Faces of Poipu Beach
Related Podcast:
Enjoying Kauai
Kahili Ridge Hike on Kauai
Related Video:
ResortQuest Makaiwa – Video Review
More links:
Follow us on twitter
See our latest videos
Book your Hawaii vacation here
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 22nd, 2009
Just about everybody who has visited several of the Hawaiian islands has a favorite. Oahu is the most cosmopolitan and has the most attractions. The Big Island has its expanse, the volcanoes and the sunny Kona Coast. Maui has Haleakala and a variety of splendid resorts. Most will agree that Kauai offers the most spectacular natural wonders.
There are good reasons on all the islands to consider hiring a helicopter and seeing things from the air, but that option is particularly appropriate on the Garden Isle of Kauai. The island’s west side offers Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, which are both must-sees.
Waimea Canyon is more than 3,000 feet deep and gives you stunning panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags, and deep valley gorges. The vistas go on for miles. The canyon measures 10 miles long and a mile wide. It was carved thousands of years ago by rivers and floods that flowed from Mount Waialeale’s summit. The lines in the canyon walls depict different volcanic eruptions and lava flows that have occurred over the centuries. Even though it’s smaller than the Grand Canyon of Arizona, Waimea Canyon’s beauty is comparable. If you’re exploring by car, the main road, Waimea Canyon Drive, will lead you to several lookout points that provide awesome views of Kauai’s dramatic interior. The road continues into the mountains and ends at Kokee State Park. There are numerous trails to traverse for beginners and seasoned hikers. You can pick up trail maps at the Ranger’s Station, which is located at the Kokee Museum.
The Na Pali Coast, on the other hand, is inaccessible to automobiles and can be best seen by hiking, boating (especially in kayaks) or from a helicopter. The Nā Pali Coast State Park encompasses 6,175 acres of land and is located in the center of the rugged sixteen miles along the northwest side of the island. The pali, or "cliffs", rise to 4,000 feet above the ocean. Since it’s inaccessible to automobiles, this coast can be enjoyed only by hiking, boating (often in kayaks) or from a helicopter. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access, traversing eleven miles and crossing five major valleys (and countless smaller ones) before reaching Kalalau Beach at the base of Kalalau Valley.
A helicopter ride of about an hour will offer you wonderful views of not only Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast, but also the Bali Hai Cliffs (Remember "South Pacific?"), Hanalei Bay and the Princeville Resort area. If weather permits, you’ll fly into the center of the crater of Mt. Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth.
The trip will cost slightly upwards of $200 per person, and it will be worth every penny. Pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Website or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll see to it that you get the most from your Kauai visit at the best possible price.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Related blog posts:
South Pacific Being Revived on Kauai
Enjoying Kauai
Your most Important Hawaii Vacation Decision
Related Video:
Kahili Ridge Hike on Kauai
Planning a Multi Island Vacation
Links:
Follow us on twitter
See our latest videos
Book your Hawaii vacation here
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 8th, 2009
Narrowing down your Hawaii vacation destination is even more difficult than it may seem to be at first. Most people try to decide which island – or islands – they think would appeal to them most.
The problem is that, except for little Molokai and Lanai, each of the islands actually has three or more distinctly different areas within their beaches.
On Oahu, Waikiki – on the south shore – is where the action is, and it’s close to most of the island’s other attractions. On the north shore, Turtle Bay is a full-blown resort near “Old Hawaii,” those humongous winter waves and the quaint little town of Haleiwa. Ko Olina is a newer, sprawling, self-contained resort area well west of Honolulu in leeward Oahu.
On the north shore of Kauai, the beautiful Hanalei and Princeville area is quiet and scenic with nice resorts. The south shore has Poipu and a whole bunch of ritzy resorts with all kinds of things to do. On the east shore, the town of Lihue is the island’s business and population center, with good accommodations that are convenient to most of Kauai’s spectacular attractions.
Maui is said to be two islands. West Maui has Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua and those spectacular resorts. The island’s larger portion contains the rustic Upcountry, the mammoth Haleakala crater and the Waimea resort area. Way to the east, the fantastic Hana area is an isolated destination unto itself.
The Big Island is generally divided into the Hilo side – the east – and the Kona side – the west. But it’s far more than that. On the Kona side, the coast is lined with one spectacular resort after another, and farther inland is ranch country in the rural areas of Waimea and Kamuela, the majestic Mauna Kea and the world’s most powerful telescopes. The Hilo side is far less touristy, but that’s where you’ll find Volcanoes National Park and the amazing lava flows.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider beyond a choice of islands. The best thing to do is pick an agent from our website and begin a relationship (No obligation, of course). Our agents all are experts in Hawaii – have lived here and can guide you with passion and professionalism. Or, if you prefer, call 1-800-843-8771.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
November 26th, 2008
We blogged a few weeks ago about a Indianapolis-based Republic Airways was planning to form a partnership with Kailua-Kona-based Mokulele Airlines in order to provide more passenger seats for Hawaii’s interisland travelers and to create competition for Hawaiian Airlines in the market.
Well, they’ve done it, spurring hopes for lower fares and more options. Starting November 19th, Mokulele will begin flying 14 flights a day between Honolulu and Lihue, Kauai, and between Honolulu and Kailua, Kona, using 70-seat Embraer E170 jets operated by Republic. Service to Maui and Hilo is to start in January.
Republic Airways also will provide $150 million in financing, which will include a line of credit and spare engine parts for the new service.
It’s expected that some 200 of the employees who were laid off when Aloha Airlines folded will now be hired by Mokulele.
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, this could be good news for you, too. Maybe prices will be more favorable for interisland travel, and we now have more options for booking convenient travel arrangements for you.
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
November 18th, 2008
To have seen the original 1949 Broadway production of James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning “South Pacific,” you’d be a septuagenarian now, and you’re in your 60s if you saw the movie in a theater. The show is considered one of the greatest ever. It was nominated for ten Tony awards and won all of them, and it remains the only show to land all four acting awards. Set during World War II, the story still holds up and you won’t be disappointed if you rent the video.
The March 2008 revival of the show, still a hot ticket on Broadway, was nominated for 11 Tonys and won seven. (The part of Bloody Mary is performed by Hawaii entertainer Loretta Ables Sayre, who earned one of the nominations.)
Director Josh Logan chose Kauai as the principal location for the 1958 film version. The publicity for its release provided a huge boost for Hawaii tourism, and put Kauai on the map as a major film location for Hollywood productions.
The movie starred Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi, a prominent Italian actor who appeared in some U.S.-produced films (Interlude, The Barefoot Contessa, Three Coins in the Fountain).
Now there’s a local revival of the Broadway production at the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort, a well-produced dinner show in the resort’s main ballroom with local talent. The show begins at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday evenings and is followed by a cocktail and buffet dinner. The performance allows you to re-experience the classic score — "Some Enchanted Evening," "Bali Hai," “Happy Talk,” “I’m in Love with A Wonderful Guy,” and it’s enjoying good reviews.
If your vacation plans include Kauai, you might consider taking the show in. Book well ahead. Hawaii-Aloha.com can help you with that. Pick an agent from our Web site home page (hawaii-aloha.com) or call 1-800-843-8771.
Your Blogger’s Sidebar:
Back in 1982, I produced a mini movie for a local developer to promote his high-end residences that were to be built on the promontory above where the Hanalei River’s mouth meets Hanalei Bay. Since the homes were to be exorbitantly priced, the marketing strategy was to produce a film that would highlight the beauty of the Hanalei area and relate it to the South Pacific movie. In lieu of advertising and brochures, the plan was to identify the few people in the world who could qualify for the purchase and deliver a copy of our film to every one of them.
We brought Rossano Brazzi to Hanalei from Italy. His beloved wife Lydia had died just the year before, and he was more than willing to return and rekindle the memories he and Lydia had shared while Rossano was shooting the South Pacific picture. We hired Michael Gleason, who had created the “Remington Steele” TV series but was unable to work in Hollywood because of a writer’s strike, to write our script. Rossano was accompanied by his brother Oscar Brazzi, a famous Italian director and producer, to provide creative input. Oscar spoke no English whatsoever, but he and I discovered we could communicate by sketching little storyboards that expressed our thoughts and ideas. It allowed us to amuse ourselves and feel important, but Michael Gleason closeted himself in his hotel room for two weeks and generated the entire script without any help from Oscar or me.
Michael had brought along his beautiful young wife (He has since remarried), who was left on her own while he worked. An aspiring actress and full of ambition and moxie, she spent her time attempting to get close to anyone who might help her career along. She realized early on that I was a mere local advertising guy and not of much use, and our director, Mique Quenzer, had made it clear from the outset that he wanted nothing to do with her. She turned her attention to Rossano and followed him everywhere. Rossano was a gentleman and tolerant, but he said to me every day when he got me alone, “That woman! She-sa driving me crazy!”
Our film – Rossano providing a tour of the area and recalling all the things he loved about making the movie and Hanalei – did its job to everyone’s satisfaction.
Unfortunately, the homes were indeed overpriced and the entire development was scrapped before ground was broken, before copies of our film were delivered to prospects, and before any homes were pre-sold. The master copy of the film is in storage somewhere, I suppose, and I don’t know of anyone who has a copy. Too bad. It was pretty good.
Jim Winpenny
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
November 7th, 2008
If you’re a river rat – a lover of river activities such as sailing, speed boating, fishing, water skiing, canoeing and tubing – you won’t find a whole lot of rivers in Hawaii on which to indulge your pleasure. We have no rapids to shoot here; no white water for rafting.
These islands are loaded with waterfalls (about 100 of them have names). Many of them are magnificent and several are accessible, but they’re fed by streams and springs from rain rather than by a “conventional” source such as the Great lakes-Niagara River feeding of Niagara Falls.
The Kaukonahua River on the island of Oahu is Hawaii’s longest at 33 miles, but it offers little in the way of activities other than hiking near its banks.
But there’s hope for you on the island of Kauai. The Wailua River offers the only fresh-water skiing in the state. It is, in fact, the only navigable river in all of Hawaii. Several forks in the river lead to waterfalls and can be easily explored by kayak. About a quarter of a mile wide near its mouth, it’s also a very good setting for power-boat sports. Usually smooth and warm, the Wailua attracts pros from around the world to train, play or compete on skis, wakeboards, scurfers and kneeboards.
Beginners and intermediates can have good fun here, too. Tows are moderately priced, and passengers who don’t ski ride free. The ski boat companies supply all the equipment.
And the tubing can be a special experience, even for tubing veterans. A company based in Hanama’ulu offers tube rides down the Lihue Plantation irrigation ditch and tunnel system, which runs through some of the most beautiful land on the island with spectacular views of the ocean, coastline and valleys. Beginning near the top of Mount Waialeale (the wettest spot on earth), the waterway and ditch system winds through open canals, rushing flumes and mysterious tunnels.
The most popular river trip is to the sacred Fern Grotto. A flat-bottom cruise boat will carry you 40 minutes up the river to that natural wonder.
So Hawaii is far from being “The Land of Rivers,” but river rats can find a place to play … and have a great time.
If you’d like to know more, pick an agent from our Web site home page, or call 1-800-843-8771. We can help you squeeze some river fun into your Hawaii vacation. And, of course, we can help you do everything you’d like – at the best possible rates.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
October 30th, 2008
You’re looking ahead, planning your next vacation (or is it your first?) You’re considering where to go: The U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Far East, South America, Africa, the South Pacific? Maybe you’re considering taking a cruise. You’re debating whether to take the whole family. You’re studying your finances.
Decisions, decisions, decisions. Okay, you finally decide on Hawaii. But where? Oahu and Waikiki, the Big Island and the volcanoes, Kauai and its splendor, Maui and Haeakala and the super resorts, or one of the smaller islands with their isolation? You should even consider visiting more than one island.
Once you’ve decided on Hawaii, what kind of accommodations are best for you? Imagine, to begin with, traveling by yourself. Do you simply determine where you’re going to be and book a hotel room? The decision — especially if there will be more than one of you — takes more thought than that.
Do you want and appreciate the creature comforts of a nice hotel where the staff become familiar with you and anticipate your needs and all you have to do is pick up the phone and they “bring it”? Do you like being surrounded by an array of activities and attractions and upscale restaurants with imaginative menus? In Hawaii we have grand resorts and fine hotels at all prices ranges in great locations on all the islands with eager, professional staffs.
Or do you anticipate a laid-back, quiet, away-from-it-all vacation? You can keep to yourself, do what you want when you want, do most of your own cooking, have space among several rooms, bask in the ideal weather and recharge? There now is a huge inventory of condominium apartment vacation rentals where the accommodations are lovely, the included rooms are furnished according to the taste of the owners, the conveniences are at hand, but you pretty-much fend for yourself.
And there are compromises between those extremes. If you like the idea of sharing your vacation with some hospitable local people who gladly will offer advice and friendship as they put you up, consider a bed and breakfast. If you want to combine luxury hotel service with upscale apartment living, we have condo-hotel properties that offer both … at a price, of course.
That’s what we do at Hawaii Aloha. We help you with those decisions. We make suggestions, track rates and facilities for you, determine what you would enjoy seeing and doing, and put together a package for you that exploits all the deals, special offers, discounts and hidden bargains available. Then we book everything for you, keep in touch with you, and solve any problems you might encounter on your trip and while you’re in our islands. (Be sure there will be problems wherever you go in the world. Trying to get satisfaction yourself directly from an airline, hotel or car-rental company can be a time-consuming, frustrating adventure.)
So as you’re doing your vacation planning, pick an agent from our Web site home page (hawaii-aloha.com), or call 1-800-843-8771. You’ll have found a loyal friend with clout to be there for you every step of the way.
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
October 21st, 2008
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