Did the Na Pali: Haena to Polihale, and it was so worth it! A lot of exertion and some thrill, but gorgeous payoffs. J was our guide, and he was super knowledgeable about Hawaii, kayaking, everything. He was also extremely kind. The team brought a delicious lunch for us that we ate half way, and they had the van waiting for us when we finished. Time management on a 12-hr excursion with lots of contingencies was incredible. I felt well taken care of throughout, but also like I was having the adventure of a lifetime. read more

We had a wonderful experience with Kayak Kauai from start to finish. They were extremely communicative and supportive during the booking process, answering all of our questions and making everything feel easy and stress-free. In particular, Micco was incredibly helpful and kind, making sure we felt comfortable and well taken care of. The tour itself was peaceful and absolutely beautiful. Paddling along the river was such a calm and scenic experience. We especially loved the winter paddle-only option--it was just right for me and my mom's needs and allowed us to fully enjoy the surroundings at a comfortable pace. This was a perfectly balanced, relaxing experience and one we truly appreciated. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a beautiful and well-organized kayaking experience. read more

Kayak Kauai - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Best kayak tour we have been on. Low stress beautiful peaceful wailua river with views of waterfalls with some kayaking on the ocean bay.. to the best snorkeling we have seen in 14 years here! Samuel is so kind and very informative without being over!! IYKYK. LOVED IT ! Highly recommend read more

Definitely had a wonderful and great learning experience with Kayak Kauai in December 2023! Steven was our tour guide and he did such an excellent job in teaching us how to kayak properly as well as going over all the safety rules and helping us out if we ran into trouble along the way. And he helped carry our sandwiches (which are included in the tour price) to the waterfall. We just had to do our part of carrying the drinks, cookie, and chips (also included in the tour price) in our dry bags. Steven also shared a lot of stories and cultural backgrounds about Wailua River and parts of the trail leading up to Secret Falls. We were provided with double-kayaks, and my partner and I were able to get through the somewhat rough stretch of Wailua River, though we often fell behind the others (haha!) but thankfully we did not flip over into the water! It's about 40-45 minutes in each direction and there is a designated section at the trailhead where we will leave our kayaks. Lots of other tour groups and those hiking and paddling independently! It had been a few years since kayaking a longer distance; the last time for me was Flat Island and Mokulua Islands in Kailua on Oahu in January 2017. As for the trail itself, yes it is muddy here and there and can be slippery. Therefore, it is best to use closed-toe water shoes and a hiking stick, as you will have to cross through at least 5 streams along the way and depending on the weather and other factors, the water level can get up to the knees or even waist-high and the currents can be strong too! The wet season is certainly a good time to see Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls) at its finest! My oh my was it flowing! Lots of other people came to take a dip in the water, and eat their lunch nearby. Be aware, there are lots of feral chickens in the area so you really have to keep an eye on your food, otherwise they will literally steal it if you are not paying attention! When we got back to Kayak Kauai's main offices and store, we all had some delicious pineapple, and definitely much-needed after a long excursion! Overall, this is such a great experience and I would totally recommend it! read more

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Jay and Fin did an excellent job guiding us along the Na Pali coast 06/11. Jay had a seemingly infinite amount of information about Kauai and Hawaii and I learned so much in a short time. Fin kept us safe, on pace, and fed. Thank you for an unforgettable experience. read more

June 2023 So of course, we had to go kayaking while in the area. We took the Wailua Secret Falls tour. Izzy was very personable giving a lot of cultural background and history while taking time to talk with everyone along the way. She definitely made the experience great for us along the way while ensuring everyone was safe during each part of the trip. Especially while walking across muddy areas or fast moving water on foot. We had gotten the tour just after noon. This was nice and felt pretty relaxed as far as the timing of everything. It didn't feel too rushed at different places. You get to see a lot of nature along the way. We were visited with some birds and a meandering cow along the paths on the side. The walk we got to see some usual suspects along the route and feed worms to one of the birds. The falls can be pretty crowded with the water decently cold. We had initially sat at one of the logs over the water for lunch but quickly found mosquitos were eating us alive. I'd stay near the rocks instead. Great experience though and one of the highlights of the trip for us. read more

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Superbly helpful young entrepreneur genuinely interested in assisting his customers. Michael easily mult-tasked with two client groups, instructions, and loading of kayaks. Highly recommend! We rented the premium kayak for $95. Included dry bag, life preserver. Bring plenty of your own water for the hike to Secret Falls! read more

Kayak Kauai - Secret falls - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Hanelie Blue Lagoon Kayak and Snorkel What an amazing day! J was our guide and he is amazing. We had arranged for him to pickus up in Princeville. We then rode to Hanelei where we enjoyed kayaking up the river and then out into the Ocean to Hideaway beach where we lunched and snorkeled . J regaled us with tons of Hawaiin/Polynesian history and Island lore. It was a blast. Pro Tip: bring at least a liter of water each, plenty of sun screen and waterand be prepared to use some muscles you might not usually work! read more

Kayak Kauai - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Easy to book, communication through email was great. Izzy, our guide, was phenomenal. Super personable, knowledgeable and incredible guide on our tour today. She was all encompassing! Making sure everyone had everything they needed including making sure everyone was safe and having a great time. Highly recommend this company for its attention to detail! Thank you Izzy for making our day amazing! read more

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We had the best time with Kayak Kauai! Our guide Harrison was awesome- super fun, laid-back, and unbelievably knowledgeable about the island, history, and wildlife. We usually avoid guided tours because we like to explore on our own, but I'm so glad we did this one. There's no way we would've seen or learned as much without him. The whole experience felt adventurous but still really easy and enjoyable. Highly recommend if you want to experience Kauai in a deeper, more meaningful way! read more

This was one of the highlights from our time on Kauai! We did the Wailua River Sacred Falls Kayak/Hike adventure. It is a 2 mile kayak upstream and then a 1.5 mile hike to the falls. This is a must do!! My husband and I have kayaked before but others on our tour were slightly older and not as experienced but they were able to complete both the kayaking and hiking so I would say this is doable for a range of fitness levels. The river kayaking is very easy and laid back. The hike does require you to go through a few streams as well as some muddy and/or uneasy surfaces so just be aware. A couple members in our group used walking sticks to help navigate the sometimes slippery terrain. The waterfall at the end though is stunning!! The water is freezing cold, but you made it all that way so I definitely recommend wearing a swimsuit so you can go in to say you did! :) Our tour guide Izzy was absolutely incredible!! She was so generous and shared so much knowledge along the way about Kauai and its history. I won't spoil anything, but she definitely has a few surprises along the hike when it comes to the local flora and fauna. She was so friendly and welcoming and told stories and even shared her local recommendations (all of which were fantastic). This tour also gives you sandwiches when you get to the falls (which I did not see other tours doing) and it was nice to enjoy a little lunch while appreciating the beauty of the scenery. Izzy absolutely elevated the experience of going to the falls and we so appreciated her and would highly recommend her if you get a chance to take one of her tours!! read more

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Annie...Annie...Annie! What an awesome guide, funny, entertaining and very knowledgeable about the river and the land! Kayaking was fun and we got our cardio in for the day! The hike was equally entertaining and informative and who would have guessed that we hit the waterfall when almost no one was there. We did this adventure on Christmas day. Kayak Kauai and Annie took care of every detail to ensure we were happy. The kayaks were well maintained and easy to use. They provided dry bags for our things and snacks and water were also provided. The trail to the waterfall was easy to navigate and also very well maintained. Annie took great pictures for us, pointing out cool things, telling stories and allowing us time to just enjoy the surroundings. When a child on our tour became afraid, she rushed over to comfort him and quickly got him back to feeling safe. Annie gave us the greatest Christmas Day we could have ever asked for. She was so easy to be with, and she quickly became ohana! We had the best day! read more

My wife and I highly recommend Kayak Kauai! We were fortunate enough to have Harrison as our guide. Extremely friendly, good with kids and very knowledgeable about Hawaii and Kauai's history. I strongly recommend that you ask for Harrison as your guide, you won't be disappointed. read more

My wife and I booked this Kayak/Hiking to a waterfall excursion and we loved it. Our guide Izzy was incredibly knowledgeable of her Hawaiian culture and didn't hesitate to share her knowledge with us. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of housing in the area Izzy will be moving to another Island soon so if you're in the area book this excursion and request Izzy. read more

We had an amazing kayak/hike adventure with Harrison as our guide. He was so helpful and patient with all members of our group. He shared so many fun facts along the way and even has a little bird friend who eats from his hand that he introduced us to. The kayaking portion is not too difficult. Two people per kayak. Views are amazing. The hike was a little muddy and wet. Wear shoes with good traction. Not too difficult. I had a walking stick that Harrison found from a tree we passed and that helped a lot in the more challenging spots. I would highly recommend to young and old. The waterfall was very beautiful. read more

We took the Wailua Secret Falls tour with Harrison as our guide. He did a great job providing kayaking instruction which we needed, this was our first time. It's about 2 miles each way. The hike while mostly flat was a bit challenging with a stream crossing and some rocks along the way. A boardwalk covers some area f the trail. The hike is really beautiful with lots of trees, plants, flowers and a few birds. Harrison shared interesting information about the plants and wildlife as well as some cultural and historical highlights. The waterfall was amazing thanks to the recent rains. The sandwiches were hearty and included with the tour. And, of course, there were chickens waiting for some food. This tour is a great value, a bit strenuous but worth the effort! read more

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My teenage son and I shared an open top double kayak in a group of six people led by our guide Mike for 18 miles from Ha'ena to Polihale. It was arduous for me, a physical challenge on par with natural childbirth. I'm consistently active in daily life but not athletically conditioned like the rest of the group was. That said, fitness is not enough, and I'm glad that we both had ocean kayaking experience. Neither of us normally experiences motion sickness so I'm very thankful that we took the advice of the staff in the shop and took Dramamine the day before and the morning of the trip, and that I brought some along with me, which we both needed. A combination of clothing and aggressive use of sunscreen is a must. I wish I had consumed more calories throughout the morning, but I had stowed our snacks in an inconvenient location that made their retrieval time-consuming. Lesson learned. Because we were paddling through stronger than normal headwinds, I had to lean forward into each stroke and suffered heartburn. As I've never had heartburn except while pregnant, I was unprepared. I would have had an easier time paddling if I had brought along some Tums or Rolaids. Even more important, I wish I had brought my inhaler. I don't normally have any breathing trouble on the water or while traveling, so I did my normal morning treatments and left it at that. Three hours later I noticed significant lung constriction that made paddling much more difficult. Apparently the mold level was quite high, and we were weren't far enough offshore to escape it. I really should have had the inhaler with me. Two changes along the way made our experience better. First, I started looking up more. The Na Pali coast is a strikingly beautiful slice of Creation, and the cliffs and coastline not only lifted my spirit with their beauty but also encouraged me by marking our progress, which is difficult to see against the open water. Second, we took Mike's suggestion to hang back more. With more space for my son to experiment with working the rudder and more leeway to have a not-exactly-straight path without encroaching on anyone, we gained more ground with less paddling and less stress. The instructions Mike gave were spot-on, but there was little of it because this is not a trip for beginners. Instructions included rudder use, righting the kayak after a flip, and getting in and out without flipping. You will need to get in and out to perform Necessary Bodily Functions in the ocean water. Why did we choose the 18-mile version instead of the 10-mile version? I'm physically more suited to the shorter trek, but I wanted my son to have this experience to remember. Honestly, that's not a great reason, especially as the asthma attack I nearly had at the end is not the kind of epic memory I was aiming for. The longer trek, the traditional one, is definitely more beautiful and includes multiple sea caves that we paddled into. I'm told that the shorter trek (which I haven't done) has fewer caves and no cliffs but much more wildlife. Initially I was a bit disappointed about missing out on the dolphin encounters I could have had, until a large turtle swam up to our kayak in one of the caves. We were resting at the time, so it was his doing and not ours, and it was our joy to quietly receive his attention for a moment. The humans on the journey were consistently positive and supportive. I'm not just referring to our guide, blond Mike, but also to the rest of the staff, especially ginger Mike, and to the other visitors. Most of the time, though, we we too far apart for any conversation to be audible over the roaring of the surf, so be prepared to dig deep if you take up this challenge. There were moments when I questioned my choice, but I'm glad we did it. Thanks, Micco, for the adventure of a lifetime. read more

Kayak Kauai - The open ceiling sea cave where we met the turtle (who declined to be photographed). - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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I had the best time kayaking and hiking to Sacred Falls with Izzy who was so fun and full of interesting info. Would definitely do it again but would request her. read more

Kayak Kauai - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Best experience ever and the guy renting them is great! Very informative. Our 2nd year renting from him

Our guide Jay did a fantastic job of making us comfortable and confident during the ocean kayak tour! We made it to Hideaway beach for snorkeling and had a great time! I would do this again! read more

We had a great time kayaking along the river. It was a nice way to get a workout in while exploring Kaua'i in a way that is not as crowded. Izzy was a great guide helping those who needed assistance while giving freedom to those more experienced kayaking. She also shared great recommendations for places to tour and eat at while we stayed in the island. read more

Omg Izzy gave us the best tour I've ever experienced in my life! Kayaking was so much fun, and has absolutely stunning views. The hike was super chill and adventurous. The whole time, Izzy was sharing really cool Hawaiian stories and funny jokes. When we got to the waterfall, Izzy was very accommodating and took awesome photos of us. Oh, and the lunch was SO good. Best part? BABY BIRD! (Going to let Izzy give y'all that surprise). The pineapple at the end was such a lovely way to wrap up the day. Felt so happy and chill at the end. TYSM to the team & Izzy! read more

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When traveling with young children (8 years old and under), selecting activities that cater to the entire group can be challenging. Our experience with Kayak Kauai and its knowledgeable guide, Justice, proved to be the ideal solution for our family adventure. With a keen focus on safety and engaging our little ones in the educational aspects of the trip, we explored Kauai in a unique and unforgettable manner. For an unparalleled Kauai excursion, choose Kayak Kauai and request Justice as your guide to discover the stunning secret falls. And to Justice, Harley says thank you, Tarzan. read more

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Amazing excursion to do on Kauai. You Kayak to the trailhead. Hike about 2 miles round trip to an awesome waterfall. Then you kayak back. Parts of the trail are super muddy so wear water shoes or hiking sandals. There is a river crossing where the water is about hip deep so don't wear regular tennis shoes. Izzy was our tour guide she was awesome. We also managed to rescue two lost dogs on the trail and bring them back with us. Lunch is included a sandwich, drink, cookie, chips. All together a great workout and nice scenery. Kauai is truly a beautiful island get out and explore it. read more

We have been on similar kayak and hiking tours but this one was by far the best. Our guide, Isabelle (izzie). She told us a lot about the Flora and fauna and made it fun! The canoes were ocean grade and were easy to paddle. Although the water was pretty calm and easy to maneuver. The trail was well kept and they installed boardwalks from our last visit. I highly recommend this tour. read more

Kayak Kauai - Waterfall - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

The tour was amazing, thank you to our tour guide Izzy for taking great care of us. She never left anyone behind and she made sure we all stayed together. As it was my first time kayaking and as non swimmer I was very intimidated about the whole situation, but this was my idea and I'm the one who booked it. If you want to see the waterfall, you definitely have to put in some work. You have to be some what athletic bec those strong winds could help you or make it much harder. I also recommend good water shoes with grips. It gets pretty muddy on those rocks and have to do some water crossing. During our tour we saw an injury happen, she may have lost her footing and seemed she was unable to walk back to the kayaks. Emergency responders were called, not fun being stuck on a mountain hurt. Luckily for us our group was small compared to others. Izzy made sure we went slow and warned us during our hike on what to be carful of and how to approach every crossing. Even another lady joined our group bec she got left behind from her tour and asked if she could join us to get to the falls. When we got to the falls, we were given lunch and was told we could stay for as long as we want which was really nice. We didn't feel rushed at all. She was also so kind to take family photos for everyone. Would highly recommend especially if you have Izzy as a tour guide. She was great! Thank you Izzy! read more

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Great kayaking experience on the Hanalei river and bay that includes some historical talk about the island and area as well as snorkeling in the bay. Caring patient and friendly guides. Patrick and T. You may kayak in sandals kayaking shoes or barefoot it's not a long trip. Just the right amount of kayaking and snorkeling with a nice sandwich chips pineapple and drinks break for lunch. read more

Absolutely wonderful adventure! Our guide, Sarah, was wonderful - friendly and knowledgeable. The hike to and from the waterfall was very muddy and slippery. The river crossing wasn't too bad. If your guide offers you a walking stick, TAKE IT! That thing kept me from falling multiple times. The waterfall was gorgeous, but the water was very cold. We did visit in December, so definitely cooler than expected. Totally worth it! read more

Kayak Kauai - Waimea waterfall - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Impromptu trip with Kayak Kauai did not disappoint. Izzy, our guide was fun and knowledgeable, thank you Izzy! All the guides regardless of company really seem to appreciate each other and honor the river/falls. We had a wonderful experience! read more

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Super fun and very worth the price of admission. Definitely recommend this as it's fun. Wish there were options to choose single kayak instead of a double, but lots of fun at the waterfall read more

Enjoyed our kayak and snorkeling tour in Hanalei Valley and bay. Our guide Harrison was knowledgeable and friendly.

Bf and I did the kayak + secret falls tour with Izzy & we both agreed that this excursion was the highlight of our week in Kauai. We absolutely loved it. Our group consisted of about 8 other people so it felt like a relatively small group- compared to other groups we passed along the way- the waterfall was beautiful to see and so refreshing. We look forward to coming back to Kauai & booking another tour with Kayak Kauai (& hopefully Izzy, who was knowledgeable, helpful & down to earth) read more

We had to hit the Kayak's on our visit to Kauai. It just wouldn't have been complete without it. We rented a kayak... unguided of course so we could stroke at our own pace... well and partly because all guided Kayak outings were booked up everywhere. But it all worked out and it was well worth it. The staff was super helpful and made the process mega easy. A little nervous at first but after talking to the staff, we had it in the bag. They provided us everything we needed. We paddled our way to the secret waterfalls. Don't tell anyone but the waterfalls are not very secret. The experience was super fun and it was a great activity. I only wish I had video recorded our silliness along our wet and wild way. Well more so wet and slightly wild. read more

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We recently took the Wailua River Sacred Falls Tour with our 12 and 14 year-old boys. The whole family loved the trip! Our guide was Tyler, who was amazing! He knew so much about the flora, fauna, history and culture of the island - he taught us a lot. He was very professional and kept us safe! The weather was not great that day and he made sure everyone knew the safety protocols in case things got crazy. He was a great kayaking teacher so our kids, who had never kayaked before, had no problems. The trip itself is very doable for beginners - make sure you have proper shoes (we all wore old hiking shoes that we didn't care if they got wet/muddy) for the hike, and bring bug spray for the area around the falls. We had a great meal at the falls, and they were able to cater to our vegan meals request. The total size of the group was 12 plus the guide, so six boats. It was just the right size group for us. The customer service is fantastic! We had an issue with our payment and they called us back immediately to help us resolve the issue. We would recommend this tour to everyone and we'd book again with Kayak Kauai next time were on the island. Mahalo, Kayak Kauai! read more

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Great experience. Well organized trip with a solid lunch. Izzy was a great tour guide and gave lots of recommendations for other stops on the island. Beautiful scenery. read more

There were some other companies with better reviews and I had some concerns after reading the bad ones, but ended up going with Kayak Kauai for the food and drink options. Our guide was awesome and stayed with us even though we were quite a bit slower than the rest of the group. Lots of good information throughout the tour and beautiful views on the river and at the waterfall. Kayaking up the river can be difficult if both people in the kayak don't have much experience. There's only so much they can do for you if you aren't getting it, but our guide helped how he could and was patient. As long as you're making progress, they aren't going to ask you to turn around. read more

This was an amazing tour. Our family group of 12 had the best time. Izzy was the absolute best tour guide. She was excellent in every way, friendly, very knowledgeable, gave us a lot of great historical information, and was patient and helpful with the children in the group. Izzy gave us plenty of time to take pictures and relax and enjoy the sacred falls. I'm sure all the guides are terrific but can't imagine that any are better than Izzy. I highly recommend the kayak tour and hike to the sacred falls. If you are lucky enough to get Izzy as your tour guide it will be a day to remember. read more

Kayak Kauai - Family time at the Sacred Falls - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

This Kayak/Hike adventure was awesome! Kayaking 2 miles to 1.5 mile trail to secret falls and back. Round trip was 7 miles. Our guide Izzy was the best. Very informative and a very loving and caring beautiful person all around. The trip to the falls and hearing the history was well worth it. Would definitely recommend the adventure. read more

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Had an AMAZING experience last week with our guide Izzy on the secret falls kayak tour! The equipment was decent. She gave each couple a dry bag for our belongings and gave brief instructions and safety protocol before heading out. We had a small fairly active/experienced group so that made things easier. Izzy is a ROCKSTAR... she dug up worms so we could feed a bird, found native Hawaiian Awapuhi for us to try on our skin, and went into great detail about the Hawaiian culture and history. The secret waterfall was stunning! My husband lost some belongings unfortunately but Izzy was kind enough to help us look for them and ask around. Highly recommend this tour and company! read more

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The Secret Hanalei Blue Lagoon paddle and snorkel. If you have some kayaking experience and love an adventure that involves a river with an incredible view, the ocean with some potential challenges, and snorkeling with giant Sea turtles in the aptly named Blue Lagoon... this is the excursion for you! Jay was our guide, and oh my gosh, his knowledge and explanation of everything in Kauai made the whole trip that much better. From the trees to the ocean, he could answer any question and provide a rich history. I'm over 50, and this was my first time in Hawaii. When envisioning a trek and beach, THIS was it. The lunch was excellent and included fresh pineapple and passion fruit, with more than enough chips and drinks. The snorkeling was fabulous, and I'm now a huge fan of the Sea Turtles. The breakers were up to 8 feet that day and presented a challenge, but oh man, was it fun!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat, and Jay was right there to guide us and keep everyone safe and having fun. Part of being a good guide is reading the group and conditions, and I know they have other options if the challenge is too great. I highly recommend this tour group and will absolutely be back for more! read more

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