Took a trip to Kauai and based on what I've heard, trying the oxtail soup and banana mac nut…read morepancakes was a must! And my goodness was it the best pancakes I've ever had. It's light, fresh, but packed with soo much flavor that exploded in my mouth! I couldnt get enough of it!!! At first my friend and I were debating whether or not to add macadamia nut inside d/t the extra cost, but boy is it worth it! The oxtail soup was really good too. Especially how easily the meat fell off the bone and the flavor that warmed the heart and soul. By far my favorite food stop in Kauai. And I'd come back to visit just for their food! Service was efficient and fast and at the end they give u a receipt to which u then go up front to pay. Ambiance is like an old school dinner that's frequently packed with locals and guests 5 stars!!

As someone who's never been to Kauai, I'll say the one spot/food that was repeatedly recommended by…read morelocals was tip top's oxtail soup. Like brah, it kept coming up whenever anyone would list their favorites. So you know your boy had to check em out. The setting is def unique hahaha. It's a lil restaurant on the first floor of a motel? Also, check their hours and days bc they're at least closed on mondays and I think close at like 130 every day. Now what you see is their half-size portion of oxtail. I think I paid $25-30 after tax and tip. Something like that. But brah, even after a sunrise hike, my big back struggled to finish allll that. The taste was definitely solid. I will say I've had better oxtail soup in Oahu, even from Liliha. BUT no complaints, I'm glad I tried out tip top's! It was obviously a local favorite as the entire place was packed with straight up locals--don't think I saw one tourist in there.

The positive reviews for the Rum Safari sucked me in, and the experience did not disappoint! The…read moreRum Guys, Bruce and Tanji, led us on a delightful journey through Kilohana Plantation with detailed info on the history, animals, and plant life there at the plantation. We especially enjoyed touring the orchard, including the banana slap experience (!!!), and learning about different types of fruits that can grow in the Kauai climate. The rum tasting also did not let us down. We sampled different flavors of Koloa Rum (the safari and the Rum Guys are unaffiliated with Koloa Rum, which had a separate tasting room and shop on site), followed by a Mai Tai and an additional fresh cocktail. Bruce and Tanji were excellent guides and comedians, delighting my whole party, which contained a range of ages and senses of humor. My uncle was really impressed with their ability to read the room and crack exactly the right jokes to make all of us laugh. They were also incredibly informative and provided local tips on where to go (and where to avoid) next. Mahalo, Rum Guys!!

The Kauai Rum Safari was hands down one of the absolute highlights of our trip and easily one of…read morethe most fun experiences we had in all of Hawaii. The real stars of the tour were the guides, aka the Rum Guys. They were fun, fantastic, and truly made the entire experience unforgettable. Incredibly knowledgeable, hilarious, and full of personality, they kept the energy high from beginning to end. They shared fascinating behind-the-scenes details about the rum-making process, told great stories, and made everyone feel completely at ease. If you are visiting Kauai, this is an absolute must. Best tour we went on, 10/10, and one of the most fun things we have ever done in Hawaii. Huge thanks to the Rum Guys for an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend.

My wife and I did a napali coast tour a few years ago on a bigger boat with a different company and…read morehuge crowd of passengers so my expectations were set at 7/10 Today blew the previous out of the water to a 10/10 via a few different factors but the team was def the best part -- had a crew of 3 with Capt Dom, RJ, Jake & these guys were great. Banter among them kept it light but they remained professional all while providing the best service and including all guests in convo. To top it off their "tour guiding" / related facts about the coast were great Aside from the team -- loved the smaller boat that could go into the caves, which also made the guest pool smaller around 15. Highly recommend this experience and if we decide to do it again wed only go with this company

This was by far the best tour experience I have ever had. Captain Manu and Rocky were amazing…read moreguides and were very hospitable. My mom had the hots for Captain Manu lol. Back to the tour. It had a bit of everything snorkeling, snacks, excitement, beautiful scenery and history about this part of the island. If you're in Kauai do yourself a favor and book a tour with Na Pali Experience but hands off Captain Manu, my mom calls dibs P.S. Hit me up Captain Manu if you want my mom's digits

If you have kids, this is a fun place to go with them in Kauai. The train ride is informative and…read morethe MC was funny. The best part is getting to feed pigs, cows, chickens, etc. they give you food to feed them. Make sure you buy your tickets ahead of time.

What a great experience. Located just west of Lihue, Kauai. It's a good idea to book your train…read moretickets in advance, but you can buy them on the day of, as well. It's $23 for an hour of fun! Just note, if you want to do a free rum tasting, which is a separate business at the building next door, they close at 5:00p and you will need to book online for the free rum tasting, and not just walk in with no reservations. You get a tour on the train of the entire gardens and see a variety of plants and trees. The highlight was the stop to feed the animals. You throw tortillas at piggies, and feed hay to the horses, cows and goats. The horses are so friendly, they eat out of my hand. Since we couldn't get a reservation for free rum tasting, we just paid $27 or $28 for the rum tasting at the restaurant on site. The rums are superb. See separate review for the restaurant.

We got here on a very rainy day. Nonetheless, the boat tour was good, the driver had interesting…read morestories, they had some live music and some native dance routines. The river cruise to the fern grotto was good and would have been great had the weather cooperated.

This is one of the places our friends recommended we check out on our trip to Kauai. We really…read moreenjoyed it! It's a perfect rainy day adventure (or when it's clear out). It was raining when we had our tour. The boat is covered and when you're in the fern grotto there are so many overhanging trees that we didn't even feel the rain. This boat tour was very relaxing and informative. The boat moved at a slow pace - even my husband who has motion sickness was able to enjoy this boat ride. On the way to the fern grotto there are stories of places you're passing as well as Hawaiian and festive (it was the holiday time) songs. It's a family run organization and many generations are involved in this tour. On the way back home there are more songs and dances and everyone gets to learn how to dance the hula. You get to disembark the boat and take a short walk to the fern grotto. What a beautiful place! So much greenery. The only way to get to this grotto is from this boat tour, so it is a peaceful and uncrowded place. We're glad we took this tour and recommend it as a fun and low stress activity on the island. It's good for all ages. There is plenty of free parking. Free cold water is available on the boat.

Super interactive and educational program. What a lovely way to spend the morning and....the…read morechocolate tasting was quite entertaining and analytical. We learned so much of the history, biology and social aspects of something I took for granted. No longer!

We had a fantastic visit. Delicious welcome fruit table. The service and knowledge about chocolate…read moremaking and the growing of cacao trees was amazing. Angie Villa is so informative and kindly answers all questions. Delicious chocolate!!! Plan your visit.

I visited the Wailua Falls in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaii [Maalo Rd; Hwy 583] on Saturday, 01/24/26,…read morearound 3:30 PM. Wailua Falls offered an incredibly close view, which made the experience feel special. I was able to truly appreciate the waterfall's beauty up close. One fun highlight was spotting a rooster sitting right near the edge, which was such a classic Kauaʻi island moment because roosters are everywhere on the island. I also noticed a touching memorial sign dedicated to Kavika Luna, "Mr. Aloha" - The Flying Hawaiian (May 1960 - September 2024). The message spoke about rainbows appearing as he chanted and the magic of Wailua Falls coming alive. It felt meaningful because I actually caught a mini rainbow during my visit, which made the moment even more breathtaking and memorable. Overall, I was very pleased with this stop. Wailua Falls is absolutely worth checking out for its natural beauty and history.

First stop when we got to Kauai as it was 10-mins away from the airport…read more First impressions, parking is difficult as the road is narrow because of the cars parked on the side allowing a car to pass at a time. Smelly as I'm sure kids at night are drinking in this area and peeing wherever they like. However, the view of the falls is worth it. I do wish they would cut down some of the weeds as it was a bit tall. Luckily, a fellow tourist that took our family photo was tall and so he was able to capture a photo of us and the fall. I do recommend visiting but just know that the parking is chaotic. Oh, and it is free.

even though we had historic rain downfall during the ride- it was awesome- had a blast driving…read morethrough pot holes and mud pudddles. the guides were awesome and lots of interesting facts along the way! It wasnt that bumpy -I have a bad back and was ok

Cannot say enough great things about this experience, from start to finish. First, really clear,…read moreeasy to sign up website. Gives lots of information about the ride options, availability, other key info. Once we were signed up, good reminders, easy to complete online paperwork. All the ease was a sign of a well run company and team. Day of, check in was easy, and staff was warm and cheery - especially at 8am. Was impressed by their pre-excursion presentation. Was clear, informative, and helped us know what to expect, how skilled the team is, and how best to enjoy ourselves. The guides for our waterfall trip were fantastic. Ryan and Cousin Giggles are careful but fun. We felt really safe no matter how crazy the ride got, we knew from minute one Ryan knew his stuff, and that let us trust him and ourselves to just have a blast. Both Ryan and Giggles shared tons of great info and personal anecdotes. It added to the adventure even more. Grateful for their sharing bits of themselves with us. The ride itself was epic. Great machines, well cared for, and the planned paths just amazing. Fun, rugged, but safe. We saw amazing sights, had so much fun zipping down some rocky, muddy trails, and covered tons of beautiful acres. Ending at the final waterfall and having a chance to jump in was so special. I cannot say enough how stunning the views were, at the same time the ride was just so much fun. From start to finish, and very minute in between, we just enjoyed ourselves, our other riders, and especially our guides Ryan and Cousin Giggles. If you're considering a trip with Kipu Ranch, consider no more. Book it now before you miss your chance. Will be a trip highlight no matter what else you do!

What an amazing experience! Really words and pictures will never do any justice. This is something…read moreyou will just have to experience in person. The staff made us all feel like family and showed us a great time. Put it on your bucket list!

The sunset cruise with Holo Holo Charters down the Nāpali Coast was an unforgettable experience. We…read morebooked it to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday, and it was perfect from start to finish. Captain Max was incredible--his sense of humor kept us laughing even as the rain and mist rolled in. The two women on the crew (I wish I could remember their names) were fantastic, making sure everyone was comfortable and answering all our questions with a smile. The playlist on board was spot on, setting the perfect vibe. I wish I could find it on Spotify! Despite the weather, the views were breathtaking, and getting a little drenched just added to the adventure. The food was delicious, especially the smoked pork, salad, and fresh fruit, and my husband loved the mai tais. Even without the sunset, the whole experience was magical. After chatting with other travelers, I'm convinced we had one of the best tours available. especially after talking to a couple at our hotel pool who had paid more than we did and only got snacks limited alcohol. I can't recommend Holo Holo Charters enough, and I'm already looking forward to trying their breakfast or snorkel cruise next time. If you're looking for an amazing adventure, this is it!

Spring for the deluxe tour. At the end instead of having to decide what you want you get a great…read morevariety. Our tour guide Sherry was amazing, great energy. Expected to have my husband pass me his dark chocolate as normally it's not his thing but he tried it and I'm sad to say he kept eating all the chocolate. If you're looking for a good intro to fine chocolate and eco tourism this is it.

a must-stop three hour tour for chocoholics if visiting the island of Kauai…read more Like coffee, the cacao plant grows in the tropical belt with Hawaii being the only state in the Union that can grow it. Thus, taking a chocolate tour (and sampling chocolate) became something my wife wanted to do during our visit to Kauai. I booked it on the first day on the island, with cost being $140 per person via Viator, and was able to reserve spots for the following day at 11:00. It's well set-up with clear signs pointing you to the farm (need to pass by other houses through a small residential area). Guides will tell you where to park your car...we intentionally came only 10 minutes before the start and were some of the last ones to arrive. Our tour was fully filled with a maximum of 25 guests. The property is hilly, and the tour does involve a bit of walking, with 3 separate sitting areas where we sampled different foods. In our initial gathering spot, we met Mason (our primary guide). He later told us that he was going into civics. His charismatic personality and willingness to help others, really serves his guests well during the tour and his future (in politics, I'm assuming). We learned a lot about the farm, and had access to bathrooms, natural bug spray (mosquitos definitely bite here) with a place to wash hands, and distribution of umbrellas (for the occasional shower and protection from the sun). Got to sample an apple banana and cocoa tea while learning about the history of the farm. There was so much information, I had to take notes on my smartphone...apologies if I looked like I was not paying attention. In addition to the 3968 cacao trees on the farm (46 acres), other products are grown and raised to supplement the viability of the main crop: apple bananas whose leaves are used the cacao fermentation process; honey from the 50 hives to pollinate the cacao (the parasitic destructor mites that have devastated honey bee hives across the world have not yet made it to Kauai...makes me appreciate the Hawaiian agricultural controls); the vanilla plant vines that are hand pollinated to produce such rare extract that the public can't buy it. We walked to the second spot, passing by various plants and crops. There we sampled unusual tropical fruit (rambutan, soursop, and white pineapple), chocolate covered macadamia nuts (grown in Hawaii), and different honeys. Made me love mac nuts again. The final spot was to taste the chocolate bars. We sampled 5 of theirs (70% dark, 70% with sea salt, 75% with rum, 78% reserve, 50% milk with coffee/nibs), 3 Valrhona, and 1 Hershey. Mason gave a demonstration by hand of how cocoa liquor is made from the fermented seeds (this part is done by machine at a plant in Oahu...their plan is to do future expansion in Kauai so they can emphatically state that it is a completely Kauai product). The 70% dark 1/8 lb bars are $18, and I ended up buying quite a few to give as gifts (Mason didn't buy this explanation). We tried one bar when we got home, and can confirm how creamy and sweet they are (no bitterness). Other tidbits: -- chocolate is a fruit, not a bean or vegetable. -- Only Hawaii can grow it in U.S. -- Grafting is common for consistency -- Chocolate is purple. Black means there were moldy shells. No mold here, so discarded shells can be made into tea -- Most macadamia nuts sold in Hawaii are grown in Australia, and only packaged in Hawaii. -- White chocolate is real chocolate, just using cocoa butter only. -- AI will tell you dark chocolate is bitter cause raw cocoa is earthy (i.e. bitter). Instead, Mason proposed that it was because mass production causes uneven, incomplete fermentation. Smaller batches = careful watching = less bitterness. This was a revelation to me. -- the owner is a fifth generation farmer in Kauai, with him recently changing the name of his farm to his family name. -- At the 2023 Cacao of Excellence Awards held in Europe, Lydgate won the top prize (gold medal) for the Asia & Pacific region, along with six others in the same region, including 2 others from Hawaii. They had previously been named Top 50 in the world multiple times. -- Because they are such a popular tour, there are multiple time slots and days available. The most important thing to note about the quality of the chocolate: cacao plants bear fruit all year round, with Lydgate farms picking and fermenting by hand when it is the right time (as opposed to bigger operations where they combine ripe and unripe fruit all together for the sake of efficiency). Even for a layman like me, it was a convincing argument on why their dark chocolate is premium, costly, and has no bitterness (even at 70%). The major awards that they have received is just confirmation of this fact. And the tour being 3 hours long in such a small area...the time went by really fast.