Breathtaking Napali Coast Cruise on the Southern Star

For our last night in Kauai, we decided to take Captain Andy's Southern Star cruise up the amazing Napali Coast. The cruise begins from Port Allen near Hanapepe on the southern side of the island so if you're coming from the north end (Princeville or Hanalei) or from the Westin Princeville like me, leave at least one and a half hours to get down to the port area.

Kauai Scenery in Poipu and Kapa'a

After a gorgeous morning in Hanalei, the entertainment for the evening was a Hawaiian luau on Kauai's south shore on the beautiful beach of Poipu. We left Hanalei Bay/Princeville mid-afternoon and drove along Kuhio Hwy & Kaumualii Hwy down to the Poipu beach area. Enroute, we passed through the mesmerizing Tunnel of Trees made of eucalyptus trees planted over 100 years ago.

Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park

Located on the western side of the island of Kauai is the incredible 'Grand Canyon of the Pacific' as described by Mark Twain. The drive into the park was rather peaceful with very few cars in sight on the way up on this pleasant May afternoon. The drive from the Westin Princeville was fairly long (about 2 hours) so budget enough time to get there and back if you're living in the north end of the island.

St Regis Princeville & Hanalei Bay

Located on the north shore of Kauai are the towns of Princeville and Hanalei. Together, they provide a breathtaking view, one of the most formidable I've ever seen. The St Regis Princeville, a Starwood Category 7 property just down the road from the Westin Princeville, sits high up overlooking Hanalei Bay.

Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

This gorgeous Category 6 Starwood vacation property on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai was a steal as a (then) category 5 redemption at 12,000 points/night (before it moved up to a category 6 on March 5, 2013). When combined with with the 'redeem 4 nights get the 5th free', this made for one of the best aspirational value redemptions I've ever made at 'just' 48,000 SPG points.