VOLUME 5, NUMBER 1 WINTER 2018
FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE Adventure to a place where time stands still hauans to preserve their culture, language and lifestyle. While the island remains y earliest memories are from days when off limits to the public, the I would sit on the waters surrounding Niihau beach on Kauai’s west side and nearby Lehua Crater are and gaze at the mysterious accessible by boat. I island in the distance. The boarded vessel Holo Holo, silhouette created by the which means to adventure, setting sun spurs my imagi- to travel or to go, to satisfy nation of the Hawaiian “For- my fascination of getting as bidden Island” of Niihau, a close as possible to this explace seemingly untouched traordinary location. I began by time. While only sevenmy voyage out of Port Allen teen miles from Kaua’i, the on Kaua’i’s sunny west side. isolation of Niihau has reJust minutes after leaving mained strong due to prithe harbor I witnessed the vate ownership of the island. sun rising right out of the This seclusion has created a ocean and felt its warmth kiss my face. unique glimpse into Hawaiian history, a place for NiiAfter passing many beauCindy Kauanui HOLOHOLO CHARTERS
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tiful miles of sand dunes along Polihale beach, the Napali Coast came into view. This famous coastline features 4,000 foot cliffs, breathtaking secluded beaches, hidden valleys, and majestic sea caves. After exploring this eighth wonder of the world, we began our voyage across the Kaulakahi Channel that connects Kaua’i to Niihau. Just minutes into our crossing, a group of bottlenose dolphins gathered in front of the boat and began gallantly leading the way to our next destination. In the distance I could see the island I had only dreamed of visiting and ex-
citement began swelling in my heart. Immediately, my cell phone lost reception and I began to think of what life was like before technology dominated and social media posts became the evidence of a memorable vacation. Instead of looking for a photo opportunity, I embraced living in the moment; it felt good to disconnect and allow time to stand still. We approached our destination and took a few minutes to explore the rocky, crescent-shaped islet named Lehua, which sits just north of Niihau. We traveled along the ancient volcanic crater, the vessel venturing into a cave they call the Kipuka,
seemingly a giant keyhole carved into the cliff. The sunlight came brilliantly shining through the hole and danced on the water. Hundreds of native birds seemed to greet and welcome us to their home, flying overhead and even landing on the vessel to say “Aloha!”. I put on my snorkeling gear and plunged into the crystal-clear, cobalt waters off of Niihau. It felt like a dream, as I swam through underwater cathedrals created by frozen lava formations and saw an abundance of colorful fish and unique marine life. A brilliant school of yellow tang fish danced
all around my face and the visibility was so magnificent I could actually see their little gills fluttering. A large shadow approached and my heart started racing, before quickly realizing it was just an endangered monk seal joining me for a swim. While we did not actually go on Niihau by foot, just being up close and personal more than quenched my thirst for discovery. Holo Holo Charters would like to invite you to go the distance for an once-in-a-lifetime journey. Say yes to adventure by calling us today at 808-3350815 or visit us online at holoholocharters.com.