Just when you thought there wasn’t enough to do on a small Island…

The majestic Na Pali Coast is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Pacific. Isolated from civilization, this 6,175-acre state park is inaccessible to vehicular traffic. Hiking and camping are permitted, but the easiest way to get a look is to travel by helicopter or boat. A cruise along this 15-mile stretch of rugged coastline on Kauai’s northwest shore will provide an awesome view of the 4,000 foot cliffs (or pali) that rise abruptly out of the Pacific breaking occasionally to reveal wide stretches of golden sand, deep, jungle valleys and mysterious sea caves.During the winter (from December through April) humpback whales frequent Kauai waters. Expect to see these playful dirigibles of the deep putting on a show along with dolphins, sea turtles and other sea creatures. These 40-foot, 85,000-pound creatures—the fifth largest of the world’s great whales—winter in Hawaii and are protected by federal law. As a result, the population is rising. So if you book a ride on any of Kauai’s many boat or rafting tours during humpback season, don’t be surprised if you’re guaranteed sightings.Hanakapiai and Kalalau are well-known Na Pali Coast State Park destinations. National Geographic Traveler has called Kalalau Beach one of America’s Top 40 beaches. Honopu, with its famous arch, Nualolo and Milolii with their fringing reefs are also well storied.The Hanging Valley, its floor 150 feet above the twin beaches of Honopu, is the subject of a modern legend concerning the Valley of the Lost Tribe. In 1922, visiting archaeologists found several skulls thought to be primitive, pre-Hawaiian people. Later studies of the valley and its artifacts have determined all of its residents were clearly Hawaiian, but the legend, so much more interesting than the truth, endures.In the early days, seafaring Hawaiians used canoes to travel around Kauai and Ni’ihau. Regular traffic in trade was common between the people of Ni’ihau and the many who made their homes in the Na Pali valleys. In the early 1900s, when the last Hawaiian settlers to reside in the Na Pali departed, local trade fell off giving rise in the mid 1900s to the tourist trade and the commercial cruise boats that now navigate the scenic coast.Your choice of tours will depend on your itinerary and how adventurous you feel. Most boat companies launch from westside harbors, though several small companies are permitted to depart from Hanalei. Some cruise to Ni’ihau, most stop for snorkeling and/or scuba diving.A boat cruise along the Na Pali Coast is an ocean trek that never grows old. Even locals, who have cruised the coast many times, come home pumped up and ready to go again.