This was a day that took our breath away. At least twice.
We arrived in Nawiliwili on Kauai shortly before 8:00AM. This is the view from our stateroom balcony looking aft:
Today's excursion was the Na Pali Cruise & Snorkel. After we got off the ship our tour group boarded a convoy of vans and rode half an hour to Waemea on the south coast. Like most of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai has a wet side (the east side) where more rain falls than on the dry side (the west side). The eastern side of the island sees on average 120 inches of rain annually; the west side, about 30 inches. Quite a difference.
On arrival at Waimea (which is on the dry side), we signed the obligatory waiver forms, sat through a safety briefing, then boarded a zodiac (an inflatable boat). This model was rated for 48 passengers; with 38 of us we had some extra room.
We headed off to Kampani - back a couple miles in the direction we came from - and did our snorkeling. Since Dona and I earned our Open Water Diver certificates last June, snorkeling was far easier than on our Caribbean cruise in February 2012. The sights below water were spectacular. Reefs of coral, angelfish, sergeant-majors, parrot fish and many others. And the crackling sound we heard below the surface - the sound of life. I saw hundreds of tiny invertebrates, little transparent organisms no bigger than your fingernail. Is was an awesome sight. I wanted to strap a tank on my back and stay down there all day and just hang out with the fish. We have a scuba diving trip to Bonaire planned for June 2014 with some dear friends - we can hardly wait to experience that.
After snorkeling was done. We headed west along the coast. We were thrilled to see a pod of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins. We saw just a couple at first, then once they saw us they grabbed their friends and swam with us: 
We headed further west, then northwest along Kauai's coastline. Our destination was the Na Pali coastline On the wet coast. 
The Na Pali coast stretches for 15 miles, and has absolutely no development along it, not even a single road. The last people to live in this area were the original Hawaiian people, in the time before the missionaries arrived in the early 1800s. This coast has majestic coastal cliffs that rise dramatically 1000 feet or more up from the water's edge. 
Cascading waterfalls and sea caves are at various points along the Na Pali coast. 
You cannot help but gaze in awe at the sheer majesty of this magnificent coastline. It took our breath away.
In fact, several movies were shot along the Na Pali coast including Jurassic Park and Star Wars.
We returned to our boat's base at Waimea, while admiring this beautiful coastline. Back in the van for our return trip to Nawiliwili. After a few minutes of shopping, we boarded the Grand Princess. Being our last day in the Hawaiian Islands, we took in the sail away party on Deck 15: 
Our ship thrust away from the pier, glided through the harbour, and headed out on the high seas. 
We'll spend the next four days at sea, then arrive in Ensenada, Mexico Saturday night.
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