A great way to enjoy and casually explore Wailua River State Park is on the Smith’s two mile River Cruise to the Fern Grotto, or walk its tropical garden, kayak or paddle boat. The lengthy Wailua River is Hawaii’s only navigable river. A family tradition that began in 1946 when Walter Smith, Sr. and his wife, Emily, started a touring company on the Wailua River with a small rowboat and a borrowed outboard motor so visitors could explore the river has flourished for over 80 years. Today, four generations later, the Smith family continues the tradition of welcoming visitors to experience the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Kauai and the Wailua River Valley.