Is the Fern Grotto closed

[Queensland Girl]

We do not want to do air tours. We really want to Waimea Canyon, ,Wailua River & Fern Grotto shore excursion - I am worried if this tour is going or not ???????????????:) :) Is there any other company who does this tour.??????

[Suebee]

Once again, There is no news that it has reopened. However, if you really want to hear it from them, you can contact the Smith Family, who runs the tours to the grotto:

 

smthwedd@aloha.net

 

or contact the Kauai Visitors Bureau:

 

http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/contact_kauaivisitorsbureau/

[CaliforniaDreamer]

fern grotto is currently closed.

 

the norwegian wind is substituting the tropical gardens for the fern grotto portion of their excursions.

 

most likely, the ncla ships are doing the same.

 

:)

[Stepilyn]

We are booked on NCL excursion which includes Fern Grotto.

 

I read from this thread that the Grotto is closed. Can someone give me the lowdown on why it is closed.

[Bucky3]

I called the Smith Family site a couple of days ago. They said it was supposed to open this month but that they had just gotten word that it would be closed indefinitely. I had heard that closure was caused by the torrential rains there last Spring that loosened boulders and caused the path to the grotto to be too dangerous. We hope it will be open by our cruise in December.

[Suebee]

Here's a complete article that was in the newspaper on April 29, 2006. There is an explaination, interview with the smiths, and map.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Apr/29/ln/FP604290332.html

[Bucky3]

Thanks for posting this article, Suebee. Very interesting. Sounds like it is taking a long time to open again.

[DMRick]

We went on just the boart ride part on our Sept 25th sailing, and happened to be there when the POH tour was there (we rented a car and did the same tour on our own..and according to those we talked to, saw much much more at a greatly reduced price). The boat ride (a hugh barge type boat) was a waste of time and money. We could have been anywhere, since all we saw were trees, and a girl hula dancing and people playing music for one way of the trip. They must have mentioned the word "tips" a half dozen times and had the hula gal collecting them as we got off. Really, in our opinions, a waste of time, when there is so much else to do. If they hadn't had the POH people, the boat would have been just about empty.