Kayak Hanalei is a great activity, and the setup is excellent. We didn't do a tour; we rented our own kayaks for the day. You park in the back lot, rent your kayaks, and they put them out on ramps leading into the river. You climb in with your gear (a dry bag is a good idea -- you can rent one from them if you don't have your own), and they launch you off. From there it's a picturesque, serene trip upriver to the wildlife sanctuary. We spotted lots of freshwater turtles lounging on branches near the shore, a few herons in the trees, and beautiful scenery the whole way up and back. Fantastic day out. We went the upriver route, but you can also head downriver to Hanalei Bay and back, which is a shorter trip and gives you the option of hanging out and swimming at Hanalei Beach. Don't forget to use ample sunblock and it's a great idea to have a long sleeved swim shirt, wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Bringing a towel to cover your legs is also a good idea. You are on top of the kayak in direct sun (or cloud cover UV rays) for 2-3 hours. read more

Kayak Hanalei - View of kayaking the river - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

We've kayaked the river a few times now and it's always a fun time. Kayak Hanalei is great! They're right on the water so it's easy to park and launch. The staff is great...super friendly and helpful. Always bring the aloha! You can paddle up river or down river from launch...or both! I love spotting the freshwater turtles. They're all over if you keep your eyes peeled. read more

Kayak Hanalei - Up river - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Fantastic trip down the river to the beach with an excellent guide. Would not have tried to go on the open ocean without someone who knew the ropes. Had a great time snorkeling at Hideways Beach. Highly recommend this adventure if you're looking for something more than just a typical snorkel outing. Trip was very well organized with all the gear needed plus lunch. Felt safe the whole time. Pro tip. Don't forget to apply your reef safe sunscreen to your shins. Who knew that's the spot that burns. read more

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Loved the kayak adventure without the guide. Went up the river and got to see a lot of turtles. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to go upstream and the return is about an hour because you are going with the flow. Very tranquil and beautiful to see nature a long the way. The staff are helpful and the equipment is clean. They have nearby changing and restrooms. You can rent waterproof dry bags to store your items while on the kayak. They have plenty of free parking and there are many eateries within walking distance. Definitely worth the hour drive from airport area. read more

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10/10 love this experience so much! We'd recommend this to anyone who is visiting the island! We saw so many sea turtles and fish! Really the highlight of our trip read more

Kayak Hanalei - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Amazing experience, everyone was very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating!! Best so far read more

Great guides, Polo and Gabe. Great island and wildlife knowledge. Friendly guys. Great Service. read more

Kayak Hanalei - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

The kayak trip was beautiful but we were super bummed to receive such bad vibe customer service at Kayak Hanalei. While we were prepared to pay more for the convenience of not having to load the kayak onto our car, we were not prepared for how rude the staff was. So much for the Aloha spirit at Kayak Hanalei! read more

It was such a fun tour! Our guides were very knowledgeable and made the trip a lot of fun! My husband and I had never snorkeled before and it was not difficult at all! Easy place to learn and a lot beautiful fish to see. Highly recommend! read more

Kayak Hanalei - View from the route - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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This kayak tour has been one of our favorite adventures in Kauai. Kolo and Gabe were experienced, and informative and very friendly. We had a great time kayaking down the Hanalei river and out into the bay. We had an opportunity to watch turtles and an octopus on our snorkeling adventure. Overall it was a wonderful morning to explore another side of Kauai. read more

There are few adventures more quietly spectacular than a slow paddle through the Hanalei River. No engine. No urgency. Just the hush of the water, the flutter of wings overhead, and the occasional splash from a startled turtle or a curious fish breaking the surface. We rented our kayaks from Kayak Hanalei, a cheerful outpost just off the road, where the sand meets the green. The process was easy. The gear? Solid. The staff? Efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable. And so we set off. I had my daughter in my kayak. My wife paddled with our son. We glided upriver beneath a cathedral of jungle greens, as egrets stood like statues on the banks and the mountains watched from a respectful distance. We passed under vines, through reeds, alongside fish that seemed as curious about us as we were about them. We stopped mid-river to float and share snacks--tropical trail mix, laughter, and the sort of quiet that settles into memory. At some point, the children--sweaty, sunscreen-slicked and sun-kissed--wanted to switch. My son wanted to ride with me. My daughter with her mom. A simple request. A poetic moment. The kind of spontaneous decision that turns a great day into a legendary one. So we turned back toward the docks. And that's when it happened. A gentle but firm reminder from the staff: no switching boats. Against the rules. Liability. Policy. The kind of modern phrase that always feels like a door closing. And so, with a sigh, we ended the trip early. Now let me be clear--Kayak Hanalei is wonderful. The equipment, the setting, the ease of it all. I'd return in a heartbeat. But I can't help but wonder how much more magical it could be without such rigid rules. When you're floating through paradise, surrounded by birdsong and laughter, the last thing you want is bureaucracy in a life vest. Still, the memory remains--a river, a family, a kayak, and a day that almost reached perfection. Almost. read more

Kayak Hanalei - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

$50 for a single kayak for ALL DAY is a deal you can't find anywhere else on the island. Being able to go up the river or down to the beach offers lots to do. Gorgeous nature to see and lush jungle to enjoy. The staff were all very nice and helpful. This place is also located next to an amazing coff shop, Wishing Well, which is a must do pit stop before or after. Would 100% do this again! read more

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Great experience. The kayaking and the snorkeling were both fun and we learned various things from our tour guide, Gabe. Gabe was a great guide, very personable and just a real guy. None of that fake pretense that sometimes people in customer service have. read more

Don't expect too much Aloha spirit here. if you rent a kayak or standup paddle board, be aware that once you're on the water, you may not return to use the restroom or get water or for any other reason then go back out. premium price for the rental and zero flexibility. I'd choose one of the other rental locations. read more

We loved our experience with Kayak Hanalei! Our guild is Kolo, he is great, he very knowledgeable, kind and lot of fun. He picked papayas and avocados to pair with our lunch, and at lunch he played ukulele at the beach for us. It was so perfect! Definitely need to check this place out when you are in Kauai! read more

Kayak Hanalei - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Weather was cruddy, but Dave and Kolo were just really friendly guys! Entertaining, knowledgeable and fun! Enjoyed the history, lore and plant and fish education! Kayaking was fun even with the rain! Snorkeling was incredible! We saw so many amazing different types of fish and three sea turtles! It was an awesome day! Thank you Kolo and Dave read more

seriously the highlight of my trip to kauai. started off the morning with some sprinkles, but once we made it to the beach and started snorkeling, it was magic. saw so many turtles and fish! they provide everything, snacks, lunch, live ukulele music, and amazing vibes! learned so much about the island and the nature and so glad i did this. gabe and kolo (hope i spelled that right) were awesome! 100/10 read more

Kayak Hanalei - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Great day the river and ocean Helpful and knowledgeable . Good was great too. Safe read more

While visiting in Hanalei, my family and I took a kayak tour with Kayak Hanalei. Our tour lasted 3-4 hours and took us down the Hanalei River to Hanalei Bay. Along the way, we spotted many sea turtles floating along the river. Once in the bay, we snorkeled and eat local snacks. Our guides were incredibly friendly and informative. It made for a great afternoon and family outing! read more

Kayak Hanalei - Kayaking in Hanalei Bay - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Easy kayak and paddleboard rentals. They have tours too, but it's no problem renting and going out on your own if you have any experience. We went upriver and then back down to the bay. We didn't paddle far into the bay as we could feel the current, but beached the boats and walked around a bit. Remember to take your sunscreen, hat, drink and snacks and enjoy a day on the water. read more

Amazing trip down the river to Hanalei Bay for sea kayaking and snorkeling. A million fish and sea turtles everywhere. Our guide Gabriel was super knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, and history of the area as well as adept at managing a group of novice kayakers and snorkelers. The gorgeous back drop of beautiful Hanalei bay made the trip even more wonderful. read more

Kayak Hanalei - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Our tour guides were Gabe and Kolo. They added much value to our kayak experience through their deep knowledge of the island and Hawai'i in general. This tour requires a bit of stamina, as you do go out into the ocean to reach your snorkel spot. Keep an eye on the left mountain. It's Puff. read more

We rented a 2 person kayak and a SUP. It was very easy and because they're located right on the river it took only minutes to be on the water. The staff was very friendly. They rent their equipment by the day so you might as well get there early and take your time. We got there late morning but still had time to paddle upstream past the Hanalei bridge and then go downstream to Hanalei Bay where we pulled out of the water and had lunch from a nearby food truck. It was only mid-afternoon so we could have stayed out for several more hours but we were bushed. It's a little bit of work, but i can't think of a more scenic way to spend a beautiful day on the water. Highly recommended! read more

Rented 3 single kayaks for a self-guided tour of both the nature + ocean. We were nervous about them running out of kayaks because it's first come first serve, but they had plenty to spare. However, a benefit of visiting earlier is the beat the afternoon fog, which may cover up the beautiful mountains and scenery during your ride. On the nature side of the river, you see plenty of trees (including coconut and banana), birds here and there, and beautiful views of the mountains. The turnaround point is a very obvious orange pipe that you will not miss. On the ocean side, you can kayak where the river meets the ocean, dock, and snorkel for a bit. It took us about 3.5+ hours to kayak all of it, with a few min spent hanging out at the beach. Unfortunately, we did not have our snorkeling gear, but if done again, we would have brought the gear, docked our kayaks, and snorkelled a little before returning. Definitely bring snacks because you'll need to replenish energy during the ride! read more

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Kolo was the best guide. Super funny and he shared so much history and stories about the area and island. Sand who were great, better than expected. Gorgeous time in the river and then into the bay to snorkel. Super relaxing. Kolo was patient with those that were struggling a little with paddling. Highly recommend this trip. read more

We had the best time and a great guide with Gabe! Highly recommend this. Best snorkeling read more

Kayak Hanalei - Beautiful waters and experience! - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Great price. Easy parking, absolutely beautiful scenery. Easy to navigate. We paddled fir 4 hours and had an Amazing time My favorite day in hanalei! Next time we'd pack a lunch rent a dry bag and have a picnic on the beach. read more

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My family had a great kayaking trip with Kayak Hanalei! The guides were so informative about the land of Kauai. You will have such a fun time. read more

This company is right on the river and makes getting in and out of the water a breeze. read more

Kayak Hanalei - They even allowed my dog! - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

My husband and I enjoyed the excursion very much. Our tour guide was Gabe and Kolo. They were very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They talked story about the land, history, and sea life we were going to encounter. That gave us a better understanding and appreciation of the culture. We would definitely do it again when we come back. And world highly recommend to everyone. read more

It was easy to check in and out, but if you are a local make sure you bring your ID for Kamaaina discount, thought it was a local owned business but the seems very mainland style get you in pay and get you out not alot of Aloha or talking story. However they are very close to the Taro truck and other food trucks and vendors who were very personable and welcoming. read more

If there is a kayak rental, you will find me there! Beautiful easy and calm water here. We went when lot of the services were limited. They were the only ones that had kayaks available for large group. Party of 7 girls. It was beautiful! It was a garden at the beginning. It was a a really nice river. We were hoping to see the turtles that everyone was talking about, but we missed them. Customer service was great. I enjoyed my time kayaking. It was just so beautiful. read more

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Rented kayaks and headed toward the beach at the bay. We had a great time throughout our day. The staff were very helpful!!! One of the best things we did on Kauai!!! Will definitely do this again and tell others. read more

Guide Kolo was great! Knowledgable and personable. He even played ukele and sang. Fun Hawaiian adventure

Zach was amazing, his explanation of our trip was spot on. we kayaked 2 miles up to our hike and then hiked for another mile to the falls. Zach kept everyone together and explained the vegetation and history. read more

Amazing time on the river. Really friendly and easy to get in and out of the water. Two double kayaks for a family of four.

This was the perfect combo of kayaking and snorkeling from the beach. After kayaking down the river, and across a brief stretch of ocean, we beached the kayaks, and then went out for a snorkel swim. The kayaking was not much more difficult on the ocean part than the river, so if you can snorkel, you should have no problem with the kayak. Lunch on the beach while being serenaded by our guide Kolo as he played the ukulele was the chef's kiss to the adventure. I couldn't wait to retell my friends & family the stories & history that Kolo told us. read more

Kayak Hanalei - On the "ocean". - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Friendly staff and easy paddling. We decided to go up river instead of out to the bay. Be aware of the sun and make sure you've got protection. We did our excursion at around 1pm, and there was very little shade for much of the first part. read more

Loved everything about this adventure! The guides were super friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Kayaking and snorkeling were fun and views were stunning. read more

Kayak Hanalei - Great kayaking experience! - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I need to start off by saying this is completely worth it for an excursion in Hawaii. We all loved it and would have done it again in a heartbeat. Although it seems expensive, the narration and attention to detail throughout the trip makes it all worth it. Snorkeling and the meal were great bonuses to kayaking. Loved the experience and would go again. read more

Kayak Hanalei - Kayaking in the bay - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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