Five Sisters, Lana'i: Kayak, Skiff Tour, and Snorkel

 

Kayaking with the erosional sea stacks behind and beautiful colors of the sunrise off the coast of Lana'i Island.

    When I'm working as an expedition leader onboard expedition cruises,  I try to take our intrepid guests to places they wouldn't normally be able to go, or even know about. Our ship, the Safari Explorer, is made for this kind of travel and exploration. We carry sea kayaks, stand up paddle boards, snorkel gear, and small boats, which we use to immerse ourselves in beautiful, but off-the-beaten-path places, in incredible destinations. During the winter we run trips among the Hawaiian Islands. And I like to think that we provide a very unique experience, that no one else really knows about. Check out these photos from our day, and see if you agree.

    We spent the day exploring the rugged West coast of the little visited island of Lana'i. The west side of the island has steep lava rock cliffs that plunge down into the water below. There is one spot, about halfway up the coast, where some rock pillars remain, when everything else around them eroded away. These erosional sea stack are named Nanahoa, or Five Sisters. It is a bit reminiscent of the Giants Causeway, except there isn't another soul for miles. No buildings can be seen on the island, except a distant, tiny barge harbor. The guests all feel like they are in another world. This is a unique landscape that only an intrepid few get to explore. But, that is why we are here!

    To fully explore, we sent out a kayaking group and a coastal exploration by small boat. Then we all explored underwater by snorkel. The kayakers and boater got their hats blown off by a blow hole, weaved through narrow passes between the sea stacks, had black noddies fly right over them, and ended up going inside a sea cave. While snorkeling we found many different species of fish, a couple of turtles, and loads of beautiful coral. I sent my drone out to capture even more perspectives of this amazing place. We don't get to bring all of our Hawaii trips back here, but when we do, it never fails to take my breath away.

An incredibly timed shot of our skiff tour in front of a blowhole as a large wave explodes back out of it.

My serious face, as I drive one of our rescue boats around with our video team.

You can see our ship in the background of this amazing landscape shot at Nanahoa, or Five Sisters, off the western coast of Lana'i.

Our adventurous kayak group made it a few miles down the coast to this majestic lava rock arch.

Me at the helm. Maybe my new work profile shot.

In between activities I flew my drone and got a few cool shots of the erosional sea stacks and our boat.

Kayakers coming through a narrow gap in the rocks.

Aerial shot of our ship. It can hold 34 passengers, so you can call it a ship, a boat ,or a yacht.

When we have an entire coastline to ourselves, we have to let loose a little. Here one of our passengers tries to splash everyone with a cannonball jump.

Two of the erosional sea stacks with our ship, the Safari Explorer in the background.

Working hard kayaking down the coast. I told everyone that they deserved two desserts at lunch after this adventure.

This is shortly after the kayakers went deep into this sea cave. I followed with the small boat, and got completely inside the cave. And more importantly, safely back out again.

Exploring by kayak, what a great way to experience the more rugged parts of the Hawaiian islands.

Looking past our ship to the totally undeveloped coastline of Lana'i.

Spinner dolphins come for a surf on our bow wave.

More fun with the drone. I love getting this different perspective.

The Safari Explorer, looking good.

The kayakers, taking a much needed break after paddling for a couple miles down the rugged coast.

Here is the entire peninsula created by the 5 Sister, 5 erosional sea stacks.

Checking out just how adventurous our kayakers are. We said, "Do you want to paddle into this cave?" They said, "yes!"

More blow hole action. I told Will to get in closer, that I wanted to see someone's hat get blown off.

I wanted to get the beautiful water with the incredible landscape in this shot and it worked!

Kayaking down the coast.

View from inside the sea cave.

Everyone's excited.

Checking out a black sea cucumber for everyone to touch.

I heard somewhere that if you kiss a sea cucumber then you get seven years good luck.

After kayaking and skiff tours we explored underwater. It was beautiful. Here the coral was looking very healthy on the far reaches of the submerged lava rocks at Five Sisters.

Swimming over the deep after getting dropped off by our snorkel boat.

I was surprised to find a sea turtle out in the deep. He stuck around for a few pictures before diving back down to the depths. Pretty impressive for a reptile.

We came across a second turtle around the corner from the first sea stack. I wondered if it was eating any of the comb jellies drifting by.

I dove down below and let the turtle swim down past me, so I could get this shot looking up at the snorkelers above.

Felipe, one of our videographers, enjoying some snorkel time on the reef.

I thought this was a pretty unique shot with Felipe and his underwater camera rig with our green sea turtle friend swimming in between.

Lots of fish, all the way down to the bottom. Luckily the visibility was very good today here at Five Sisters.

A bunch of achilles tangs and surgeonfish in the shallow reef.

Felipe getting some closeups of the coral.

Snorkeling through one of the channels.

An underwater rose? Nope, it is the eggs of an unusually large nudibranch called a spanish dancer. They are big and beautiful, but are mostly seen at night.