Caves

Just when you think there are few things to do that are "new" on this island, a twist on the already checked list happens. Sunday, we got to go on a zodiac adventure thanks to Captain Shawn who owns the boat, a beautiful tricked out 26 foot Zodiac with twin engines and all the bells and whistles you need to get there fast and safe, and back again. The only catch was that I had to bring lunch for everyone, but I do that anyway . . . what's 7 more sandwiches?

At 8am we set out from Port Allen on the west side, going North past Pacific Missile Range to the NaPali.

These guys escorted us all the way there.  At this time of the early morning  the dolphins are sleeping. They turn half of their brain off and are conscious just enough to come up for air and follow the herd, and stay out of the way of the boat props while they sleep-swim along with it. 

The sea turtles are an endangered species. Because of that, they have no fear of humans, and don't hesitate to swim close to check out the snorkeling humans.

Captain Shawn took us into every cave along the NePali we have ever ogled from the vulnerability of our own fiberglass boat. This one goes into a cave that's ceiling has fallen, thus it's name "Open Ceiling Cave". If you've ever seen the movie, "A Perfect Getaway", a major scene was shot here. For $20,000 dollars you can hire a boat to bring you in here to get married on a rock in the middle of the cave and have a helicopter fly over and drop flowers on your heads. Turquoise blue water, huge black walls and a sun roof make this cave one of a kind! 

Going into the blackness of the Waiahuakua Sea Cave was the most fun of all. It is second on the list of the world's longes sea caves. It is 1,155 long dark and spooky feet which ends with a waterfall gushing through a hole in the ceiling. Like the Pirates of the Caribbean only "real" and better!

We came out of this cave to find snorkelers without a dive flag, very dangerous!

My family with an arch in the background big enough for helicopters to fly through. 

The pictures distort the true size of the cliffs which are amongst the tallest in the world 

at over 3,000 feet.

Reef fish everywhere.And everywhere. 

They liked Doritos but not Lays' potato chips my son concluded.

Meanwhile back on the boat. 

The days always seem short out here, even in the middle of summer.