NA PALI — An opportunity to learn the history, culture, archaeology, and geography of Na Pali is coming up.
The Kauai Historical Society will be presenting its first narrated boat tour of the Na Pali Coast on Sept. 10.
“It’s basically for people to realize the importance and the benefits that the Kauai Historical Society can provide them,” said executive director Helen Wong Smith.
The nonprofit organization collects, preserves and disseminates the oral, written and pictorial history to educate about the history and culture of Kauai and Nihau.
“Although we’ve been in existence for 103 years, our focus is more on primary sources,” Wong Smith said. “We don’t interpret the information for you, we provide it and people can do their own research.”
Randy Wichman, president of Na Pali Coast ‘Ohana, will focus on historical aspects as well as the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park.
“We’re going to have five speakers, and this is probably not ever going to happen again,” Wong Smith said. “When you consider who the speakers are, you can’t get any more knowledgeable than that.”
Interpretive specialist and archaeologist for Kauai District Division of State Parks, Victoria Wichman, will speak on the history of Na Pali archaeology and the role of Hawaii State Parks.
Land manager for Knudsen Trust, Canen Ho’okano, will share his extensive land-based knowledge as a lifelong hunter and talk about numerous place names found along this coast.
Geologist Chuck Blay, Ph.D., from The Edge of Kauai Investigations, will teach about the character and origin of the island’s coastal zone. He has coauthored several editions of Kauai’s Geological History: A Simplified Overview.
“I am thrilled to say that this has finally come together,” Wong Smith added. “And Captain Andy, God bless him, he’s extremely supportive of the Na Pali ‘Ohana, which is a nonprofit group as well.”
Captain Andy is providing the boat and dinner.
The four-hour sunset dinner sail will take place aboard a 65-foot catamaran provided by Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures, who has been touring the coastline since 1980.
The cost is $145 for Kauai Historical Society members and $195 for non-members. Check-in at Port Allen takes place at 1:45 p.m. with a limit of 45 guests.
Info: 245-3373, kauaihistoricalsociety.org
