Na Waiwai

The Ultimate Kaua‘i Adventure

Famous playwright Henry Miller once wrote that, “One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” This wise statement rings true in the heart of every modern traveler.

These days, consciousness is a key factor when choosing our next epic adventure, as not only do we want to explore the world and all of its unique destinations, but also we want to delve deeper into the fascinating and rich cultures that these gorgeous locales are rooted within. Lucky for us, Hawaiÿi, and specifically the island of Kauaÿi, offers near endless opportunities to dive in to discover the abundant diversity of this small slice of paradise’s people, traditions, and effervescent aloha spirit.

Also working in our favor, Holo Holo Charters also understands our desires to uncover the true essence of the Hawaiian Islands, from the ÿäina (land) to the kai (sea). To fulfill our desires, while also tapping into our thirst for adventure and excitement, Holo Holo has developed several curated cultural immersion tour offerings, infused with educational information that highlights the most fascinating facts about Kauaÿi, while also whisking you away on various treks that’ll really tickle your fancies.

A recent addition to the Holo Holo repertoire is the fruition of a fantastic collaboration with the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Joining forces, this dynamic duo presents Na Waiwai: An Authentic Hawaiian “Land & Sea” Exploration, a curated adventure tour that allows visitors to witness the island’s natural ahupua‘a (land division), while exploring (via land and sea, of course) the most gorgeous gems of the Garden Isle.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as the real story here is the history behind this epic adventure tour. After all, it’s the intricately woven tales and tropical-inspired native flora and fauna, which whisks you back in time to ancient Polynesia. This makes the excursion through numerous Hawaiian haunts and traditions such an unforgettable and truly unique experience.

Once upon a time (yes, this is a true fairytale), in a land faraway, with golden shores and crystal waters, where wildlife roamed freely on the lands and in the seas and mountains towered majestically, ancient Hawaiians lived in harmony with the earth. The islanders greatly revered the water within their valley streams and ocean waves, viewing it as the essence of life. They also respected and loved the land, setting up an ahupua‘a, which was a sustainable system that parceled out land from sea to mountain and responsibilities to all, acting as a sacred and non-verbal trust agreement, where inhabitants—neighbors and ‘ohana (family)—pledged to one another (and the earth itself) to kökua (cooperate together) in order to nurture, protect, and sustain their beautiful world and peaceful way of life.

Native Hawaiians were not forced into this cooperative way of life, but instead joyfully adopted it, as they each saw their stewardship as being their sacred kuleana (responsibility). Infusing this joyful spirit into every thread of their community tapestry, Hawaiians fiercely protected their natural resources, which they knew were vital to everything from their physical sustenance to their shelter, and especially the thriving of their souls.

Enter Na Waiwai: An Authentic Hawaiian “Land & Sea” Exploration, which was inspired by the cultural and historical significance, and is a celebration of this collaborative mindset, as well as all of the resources that the Native Hawaiians relied upon, and still do to this day. The guided tour, which generously donates 50 percent of all proceeds to the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s nonprofit, begins at the top of a majestic Kaua‘i mountain, winds its way down through a lush emerald-green valley that hosts more than 15,000 native Hawaiian plants, then pauses at a wondrous waterfall, where visitors will witness the beauty of a private hula show.

After you’ve marveled at the graceful swaying hips of the hula dancers, your guide will lead you through a canoe garden, while regaling you with fascinating facts about how the first Polynesian voyagers used the stars to navigate their ships to shore. After this naval education, it is only fitting that your tour would end with an idyllic sunset dinner sail, complete with traditional Hawaiian music and an island-inspired buffet on board.

By the time your tour is complete, you will deeply understand why the tour was named Na Waiwai (which literally translates as “treasured values”). As you return to your hotel, gratitude, increased awareness, and a carefully curated sense of renewed consciousness will be yours, delivered with much aloha and fast on the heels of one epic adventure.

To experience a more meaningful adventure and discover the true beauty of Kauaÿi, take the Na Waiwai tour to appreciate the rich history, culture and traditions that make Hawaiÿi a unique destination. For reservation or more info, call (808) 335-0815 or visit holoholocharters.com.

myhawaiitraveler.com

WORDS ANDY BETH MILLER

IMAGES KIT FURDERER