Kauai in Depth - One Day on the Island

Nawiliwili is central but not close to anything notable. You're really landing in Lihue which has the airportand is the administrative/market hub of the island. I once stayed there for a week and nothing about :ihue has stuck in memory. You'll want the Na Pali/Kona reserve & park areas, including Waimea Canyon--lots of rainforest habitat. Things may be a bit of a shambles after the current storm depending on how long the rains lasts and what happens with the wind. It may be easier/cheaperto simply do a tour if they go to this area--othersise you'll need a taxi, package tour, or rental car.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40035417_10214627342695570_8384152765999349760_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=e805b048cd25acb1e275ba3f586abd3b&oe=5C013579

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40035417_10214627342695570_8384152765999349760_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=e805b048cd25acb1e275ba3f586abd3b&oe=5C013579

I have spent a few weeks on Kauai over the years. A friend was on the board of directors for these gardens and got us a tour. Certainly one of the highlights of this island.

Are you sure you've posted the relevant pic there, pacificgroove?

Thanks as well buckguy ... will check out Na Pali / Kona and Waimea Canyon. Personally I'd take a launch trip to see the cliffs on the north and west coast, however my partner is easily prone to motion sickness.

Oh my, they don't take you to Kauai's National Tropical Botanical Gardens.
Bad cut and paste on my part. Sorry.
The gardens are a treasure and easily overlooked by visitors.
https://ntbg.org/

Thanks both ... I've just rented a car for the day at Nawiliwili Harbour. Now I need to decide whether to travel counter-clockwise around to the tropical gardens, or clockwise around to Waimea Canyon.

Looks a bit far to do both ... any thoughts?

You might make both with seven hours. Traffic can crawl sometimes though. Driving up Waimea Canyon is mostly just a drive with two or three lookouts including the topmost looking down on the Na Pili coast.
See what the deal is with a tour time for the gardens. For that you want to take a leisurely stroll through the tropical rainforest. Unfortunately, with a cruise there is stress about returning on time.
You are looking down into a fairly steep canyon and the view from the top into the canyon to the north, Na Pili, is even more spectacular. Not the Grand Canyon but lush.
You said you like gardens...I think the Botanical is one of the best I've seen.
In truth seven hours on the Garden Island is tragic.

In truth seven hours on the Garden Island is tragic.

It is the bitter-sweetness of all cruising PG ... I have been to Ephesus in Turkey for seven hours, Alhambra in Spain for seven, beautiful Tallinn in Estonia for seven, Aruba for six, Halong Bay Vietnam for eight ... not a lot of time, but I am very pleased I have had the opportunity to see these wonderful places (and dozens more) for a short time - rather than never.

Besides ... at 6:00 pm you're fine dining, at 8:00 pm you're watching a Vegas-standard show, and at 10:00 pm you're having fun in the casino, or dancing to a rock-band - or up on the pool deck having a chirpy night-cap in beautiful warm weather. It's not bad, overall!

Take a helicopter tour (2 hr. for check-in, flight, to/from), and then a snorkeling boat tour (4 hr). Pick a small restaurant, have a MaiTai. Taxi back to ship.