No charge for the tour, but there is an opportunity to donate. Parking is very limited. They ask that you either reserve parking well in advance or take a taxi/Uber/Lyft.

I just looked up hotels located close to the Hindu Monastery and the nearest hotel listed is Hilton Garden Inn in Wailua Bay which is 3.9 miles away. Other than that, all hotels located in Kapaa, Kauai are 4.4 miles away, and those are the closest. We stayed in Kapaa. So, I guess any hotel in Kapaa would be a good location.

Yes, there is several places to grab a sarong, but they were in such high demand when I was there we had to wait until someone was finished with their visit.

It won't take real long walk... moderate walk to get to temple..and in-between you get benches to rest if needed.

Namiste fellow travelers. The monastery is quite worth the time and effort. There are no tours in December so you may just be able to slide in on the last tour of the year! There is the link for cruise ship passengers provided by the monastery; himalayanacademy com/visit/cruise-passengers. I am not sure you will be able to make the 9am start tour start time. The drive is very pleasant from the port along the water and you will need advance reservations to park (free) so call the monastery and get your slot after you have reserved your rental car. Enjoy your visit, follow their clothing suggestions and bring bug spray! The mosquitoes are right at the entrance where you wait for the monk who will be giving the tour and there is no escaping them!

The Siva Lingam is truly noteworthy and the attending priest is from Malaysia and speak good Tamil.

The monastery is open for day visits to the public only. You can go for the morning puja, about 2 hours and then tour the grounds, beautiful gardens and temples and visit the gift shop. There are guided yours certain days of the week. Look at their website for details.

Hi Patricia, The following text is from the Monastery's site: If you are coming to Kauai on a cruise ship and would like to visit the monastery and temple, the following information will be helpful. It will be best to email us in advance to help facilitate your visit. DAILY TIMING There are two temples at our monastery, the small Siva Nataraja temple called Kadavul Temple and the new, all stone Iraivan Temple which is still under construction. Kadavul Siva Temple is open daily between 9am and 12 noon for puja worship, and after 10:30am for exploring. During its construction, Iraivan temple is open to visitors who have made reservations for a guided tour, which starts sharp at 9am. See our Public Tour page for details. The monastery is closed after noon and all afternoon to tourist visitors. So make sure you plan to visit us first! Do your shopping and local sight-seeing after you come the temple. Remember: 9am to 12pm each morning. TRAVEL AND VISIT TIME GUIDELINE You should plan for at least 1/2 hour travel to the monastery and 1/2 to get back to the boat if you are going by taxi. If you are renting a car, you will need to add time for pick up and return. It will be best to have at least 1 hour here. Therefore you should allow at least 2 1/2 hours if the temple is your only stop. If the boat departs late in the afternoon, come to the temple first and do your sight-seeing second. TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS Car Rental: Car rentals are done near the airport, which is a 10-minute drive from the dock. This is your least expensive option. The car rental companies have shuttles that you can take from the dock to pick up your car. Taxi: You may hire a taxi bring you to the monastery and then call a taxi, or arrange for one to return and take you back to the boat at a pre-arranged time. This can be a good option if you plan to be here all morning (arriving at 9 am and staying until 12 noon) Taxis charge about $40.00 each way. Hire a driver: Most cab companies offer a rates for longer periods, e.g. 4-8 hours at about $60.00 an hour. If you can afford this, it is a convenient way to first come to the temple, have the driver wait, then have him take you sight-seeing and shopping. The drivers are very familiar with the area. Kauai Bus Services: Kauai's bus service does not come to the temple. But it may be an inexpensive option for visiting other places on the public bus route. Enjoy your trip! I hope to hear about your experience at the Monastery. Respectfully, Sandra