The beauty of the Na Pali Coast is magnified tenfold by its glorious sea caves. Caves are culturally important to Kauai and a subject of awe for tourists who come to visit them. One such culturally important cave is the Open Ceiling Cave (aka Pukalani).
Pukalani is one of the most popular caves in Kauai and a favorite attraction among visitors. Pukalani is a Hawaiian word which can be loosely translated as “hole into the heavens”.
Early Hawaiians used to believe this cave was the home of a shark god. These days, however, the cave welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
An Untamed Treasure
BBC Travel called the Open Ceiling Cave as “one of the untamed treasures Kauai’s Na Pali Coast.”
The moment you enter this cave, you feel as if you’re in a gladiator arena. The open ceiling cave was once a closed hollow lava tube. Overtime, due to erosion by the powerful sea waves, the ceiling collapsed and created the marvel that we see today. From an aerial view, you get to see the donut-shaped look this cave is left with.
The fallen portion of the ceiling can be found at the center of the pool and be intimately observed. The cave opening is much smaller when compared to its magnitude. The open roof allows an abundance of sunlight to fall on the pool, forming a visually appealing color palette.
Boaters can enter these beautiful sea caves but is dependent on the ocean conditions each day.
Like most sea caves in the Na Pali Coast, the Open Ceiling Cave can only be accessed by boating. We at Makana Charters has all of our catamarans that are ideal if you plan on getting more intimate with the NaPali sea caves. Our power Catamarans, are very comfortable, has smooth riding, and plush seating all across the board. Perfect for most ages and looking for an intimate ride we can bet you’ll be very satisfied! All of our catamarans are equipped with fresh water shower, On-board restroom, plush seating, lunch, snorkel gear and much more!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 26 March 2019. It’s been regularly updated since then for relevance and freshness.
