In all my travels this is the best tour my wife and I have ever taken! Our tours were also by far…read morethe best offered on the island of Kauai!! We first did the Waimea Canyon tour and we were picked up promptly on time in a 14-15 passenger van that was spotless and very comfortable. As we began our tour the tour guides shared their exceptional knowledge of all things Hawaii! As we got to know our tour guides we realized that their authentic knowledge and welcoming personalities had much to do with the fact that they come from a family that has lived on Kauai for generations and their tour business is family owned and operated. Taking a tour with a family owned and operated tour company just can't be matched by the bigger tour company's!! They also offered stops on our tour that are unique and no one else offers. We loved the Waimea Canyon tour so much that the next day we went on their tour of the Northside of the Island. This was also exceptional with lots of photo opportunities just like our previous tour. Stops in Wailua, Kilauea Point Lighthouse, Hanalei Bay, and Heana, were among our top favorites. We were able to go places that no other tour offers and we were even introduced to a number of local Kauai residents along the way! As an added treat we even enjoyed live music and dance by our tour guides!! This was a one of a kind tour experience and is the the best of the best of what is offered on Kauai!!! Our tour guides Marcus and Wallis

We had the privilege of touring the beautiful canyons and waterfalls with this company and enjoyed…read moreevery minute of our day! The guys are locals and knew not only the best locations to show us, but also all the legends and stories of the areas that you won't find on the internet! Touring with Marcus and Wallis felt like hanging out with Ohana (family). We would definitely tour with them again! Mahalo!

Na Pali Kayak led me on a 17-mile paddle from Hāʻena to Polihale that remains one of the coolest,…read moremost beautiful, and most exhilarating days of my life. I have been extraordinarily fortunate to see some remarkable places, and I can confidently put this experience near the very top. We met at the shop in Hanalei, loaded into a van, and drove toward the Hāʻena launch point just short of the main hiking entrance. Roughly 6 to 8 hours later, 7 guests and 2 guides had covered an extraordinary stretch of coast together and become a real crew along the way. Annie H. was one of our two guides and was absolutely awesome: warm, experienced, and naturally gifted at bringing a group together. She became the master of ceremonies, sharing stories about the area while keeping everyone in rhythm and making the day fun. Our other guide was a yoga teacher with quiet Laird Hamilton meets Navy SEAL energy, an expert swimmer who followed the group and projected total command of the water. The guests were an Israeli family of 4 headed next to Colorado for the 100-mile Leadville mountain bike race, two women from Switzerland, and me, traveling solo from New York City in my early 30s. Before I signed up, both the website and a call with the company made the requirements clear. They were candid about the physical demands, possible ocean intensity, and equipment needed to enjoy the experience safely, so everyone arrived prepared. This is expert ocean, even on a perfect day, and the power of the Pacific is obvious anywhere you look along this part of Kauaʻi. We were a fit and focused group, and our late July or early August day brought calm seas and full sunshine, though it was easy to envision this route getting gnarly if conditions turned or someone arrived unprepared. The defining image is teal water beneath enormous stone mountains covered in dense green vegetation, with literally zero development along the protected park coastline. If there is ever a place that teaches you to honor and respect the power of Mother Nature, this is one of them. Its power, scale, and purity are humbling, and the sacred charge of the land and nature is palpable. From a kayak, the coast feels immediate and immense; you are close enough to register every fold in the cliffs while moving entirely under your own power. Along the way, we paddled into a dramatic sea cave and continued beside towering cliffs that seemed to rise straight out of the Pacific. We stopped at Miloliʻi for sandwiches and a rest on an astonishing beach. I even caught a tiny nap in a little shelter before climbing back into the kayak for the final miles. The guides shared history and insight throughout the day while setting exactly the right pace and leading the group with knowledge and calm. Reaching Polihale delivered a real sense of accomplishment and another spectacular setting, complete with park bathrooms and a place to shower after a full day of salt and sun. On a clock face map of Kauaʻi, Polihale sits near 9 and Hanalei near 12. Since no road crosses the protected Na Pali Coast, our van had to travel counterclockwise around the island, a return of just under 70 miles that took about 2 hours. Everyone was tired, exhilarated, and genuinely bonded, and that long ride became part of the pleasure as we watched Kauaʻi pass outside the windows. Years later, I returned in March during a week of almost constant rain and took a helicopter over the Nā Pali Coast. Even after that gorgeous flight, the kayak journey remained far more dramatic and immersive because we had spent an entire day moving through the landscape at ocean level. My only regret is that I was low on funds and could not leave a larger tip; these were cool local people whose knowledge, positive energy, and love for the island shaped the entire day. This was a heady, organic, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone fit, prepared, and lucky enough to catch good conditions.

Great trip and guides very well organized…read morebeautiful coastline very doable for anyone in good shape

Are you visiting Kauai but don't have a car and want to see Waimea Canyon? Did you book a cruise…read moreand only have one day to see the Na Pali Coast? Maybe you did rent a car but you don't feel super comfortable driving through the canyon? Or maybe you just arrived in Kauai and you aren't familiar with the area and aren't sure where all the best places are?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Kauai Tour Guy is for you!  This was our first visit to Kauai and we really weren't familiar with all the places to see and we knew we could count on Doug to show us around. After we booked our tour, he asked us what we wanted out of the day, so that he could tailor the tour to match exactly what we wanted to see. Doug was so nice and accommodating. Since we were staying right on the way to where he was taking us for our tour, he came by and picked us up on on his way. We hopped into his SUV and we were on our way!  We made multiple stops all along the canyon and Doug took us to see the most amazing sights! If we ever wanted to make an unplanned stop, he was willing to pull over and let us take our time.  Some of the highlights include: Waimea Canyon, Koke'e State Park, a "chocolate river", Cairn Garden, and several beautiful beaches.  Since his tours are tailored to each group, every tour is different depending on what you want to see, which we really appreciated. Although our tour was several hours long, Doug entertained us all along the way. He was so welcoming, personable, and funny and really made for a great day. At one stop, we decided to walk down the trail a bit and even though this isn't a hiking tour, he was happy to let us have our fun! One thing we especially liked about this tour compared to some of the other ones available, is that its a small private tour. It was just our group and Doug. We liked that we weren't in a huge tour bus with a million other people. Because it's only a small group tour, it was easier to stop whenever we wanted and to change course, like when we got hungry for lunch for example :) Doug also took some great photos of us along the way and we didn't have ask any strangers to take our photo. We highly recommend this tour, especially if you are wanting to see the stunning views of the canyon and don't have a car or prefer not to drive, if you want a personalized tour, or if you only have one day to see the best of Kauai!

Our group of 6 loved our tour with Doug! We took the North Shore tour. He was very accommodating…read morewith our ship docking time which meant our tour had to start later than he usually does. He knew so much about the island and his love of it really shone through. If you're Canadian, be sure to mention it so you can connect with him through WhatsApp prior to your tour. He took us to the BEST lunch, we were all super happy with it (Tony's Catch food truck fyi) and the island is just spectacular. One thing we appreciated is that he didn't just take us to look at beautiful sites, he explained the history and significance of them. It was such a good experience. Our only disappointment was that we only had the one day and wish we could've done his second day tour! I guess we will have to visit again :) We highly recommend this!

Captain Trevor Cabel is the best. Our sailing tour was exciting and a highlight of our recent trip…read moreto Kaua'i

Loved the experience! Trevor is a true Hawaiian waterman and handles the Hawaiian style canoe he…read morebuilt like it's nothing. Smooth easy sailing, beautiful skies, majestic green mountains from the ocean view and complete enjoyment. I highly recommend!

MAHALO KC! We had an AMAZING excursion today in Kauai…read moreduring our brief visit while on an NCL cruise. He was early to meet us at the port pick up with our name clearly visible on a white board. The vehicle was clean inside and out, smelled nice, drove well, and you feel safe. The price per person was comparable to the other large bus tours, but the comfort of being in an SUV and freedom to stop and go as we please was much more enjoyable! KC was very knowledgeable about the history of Hawaii and the island itself as well as the vegetation, lifestyle, local spots, food, touristy things, and shopping. You will learn a lot.

Sam , who is also an author with the pen name Pineapple Sam, was a fantastic tour guide and driver…read more Though private drivers are not cheap either , comparable to the total cost on the cruise ship excursions , but for private van as opposed to 50 person bus, personalized tour, a local perspective , going to more places and special places - it is well worth it. I was a cruise passenger on Princess and only had a very short amount of time at this port. I researched and booked Sam well in advance because I was looking for a private driver when I arrived in Nawiliwi, Kauai. I saw a Yelp review that mentioned it is wheelchair friendly and is owned by a veteran. I have special needs , though not needing a wheelchair, but if a driver was understanding and compassionate to specials needs would be great that would be great. Also , I am always down to support businesses owned by veterans. Contacting Sam and working out a tour plan that worked for us both was seamless. I both texted and talked to Sam on the phone; it was immediately evident that Sam was professional, warm , friendly , knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the island where he was born and raised on. Sam offered several options , a van with wheelchair accessibility and one that didn't if I didn't need a wheelchair - which was more economical. I chose a regular van which was very comfortable and clean. I booked Sam well in advance of arriving at the port. Which was a good thing because the island does not have enough taxis for thousands of cruise passengers. Sam was also able to catch some passengers coming off my same ship to see if they were willing to share the van with me and we would split the cost per hour per person. It works out well for those not minding to share the van. But completely private ride is also available. Sam even included an electronic wheelchair just in case I needed it. He had step stool for me to get on and off easily. Well besides being very disabled friendly , Sam was a wonderful tour guide. He charges by the hour , but worked with me to see what are the importance places I wanted to visit. In 5 hours we went to Poipu Beach (Sam introduced us to Puka Dogs which was sooo yummy), Waimea Canyon , passed by Waimea River, spent some time at one of the most epic blow hole points , and a waterfall, and several other short stops in between. He promised us shaved ice as well but we hit some traffic on the way back and didn't have time for it. But he did take me to Kanapali Beach as requested, at the end where I could get a quick swim and even a bite to eat at the popular Duke's. From Duke's it is a short walk to a nearby mall where there were shuttles back to the cruise ship. However we were running out of time , so after dropping the other guests back at the ship first , Sam saw that the shuttles weren't running , so Sam came back to the beach /Duke's to look for me and give me lift back to the ship ! He said he was worried because he didn't see any shuttles and wanted to make sure I made it back to the ship! What an angel Sam is! I would be cutting it very close had it not been for Sam. It's these thoughtful kind moments that really shows someone as being trustworthy and stand up. As for the tour , Sam is a fantastic story teller. Being a local tour guide makes a huge difference. He has personal experiences, history and passion toward the island. He saw it change over 50 years. It's evident that Sam wasn't just doing this job for the job but he really loves sharing stories and the island he loves. Sam is also a published author of several books and short stories both in written and audio form. He gave me a free book with his autograph. Sam is just a lovely and wonderful person, super funny and entertaining , thoughtful and kind. He is also a great photo taker. Don't worry about all the tourists spots. He knows the perfect photo places for all your instagram needs :) Sam is like your favorite uncle who is also your best friend to have a beer with, with treasures of stories, knowledge and love to share. Whether visiting by cruise or by air, must find Sam at A1 Lifts for an unforgettable visit to Kauai. Because of the great time I had , I am most definitely coming back to Kauai. I can't wait to plan my next visit to Kauai and will definitely look for Sam again even if it's for an airport pickup ; Sam also has tours for the other sides of the island , check out their website, support the veterans and the locals!

Zack was our guide and he was super nice and had great jokes. He was constantly checking in with…read moreeveryone and I felt safe with him. The kayak portion was great; the hike wasn't as bad as what was warned- yes, it was muddy and there were streams to cross, but it was fairly flat and the walking stick was helpful. Your feet will be fully submerged and we wore hiking boots and sneakers, so our socks were squishing. You need to bring your own water and food as they do not provide any.

We had a great experience here! We did the Wednesday morning kayak adventure so we got to the…read moremarina at 7am. It was just my family - the 5 of us - and our guide, Mikayla. Since there were an odd number of us, she gave us her single kayak so I was able to use that on the way out and then switched with my brother on the way back. It was really nice to basically have that private tour! Unfortunately because of the rain and rising waters, we weren't able to do the hike & waterfall portion of the trip but the kayaking along the river was really nice and enjoyable. Mikayla did take us out of the kayaks and show us some of the surrounding area and shared with us information about the different plants. It was fun! We only got a downpour on the way back for the marina for about 10min but that was part of the experience! We didn't eat breakfast before and do actually the length of time worked well for us. We left around 7:30am ish and made it back around 9;30am. The company refunded us 50% since weather made the hike portion impossible. Totally recommend bringing food though if you do the full thing:) and bring shoes good for hiking. Mikayla was friendly and helped get my two siblings (who hadn't kayaked before) adjusted and paddling in a straight line rather than zigzagging across. She was a great guide and would definitely recommend her! We learned a lot. And she gave us more recommendations around the island for the rest of our trip.

I booked my Kauai activities thru Hawaii Vacation Activities and I will be recommending their…read moreconcierge services to all my family and friends for their next trip to any of the Hawaiian islands. It was so easy to book!!! I did my activity booking with a phone call and a few emails. My concierge Sonja and all of their staff are local born and raised in Hawaii. Sonja was great at giving me ideas of activities that I could do with my disability. I didn't have to wait in any lines and my excursions were memorable because I received so much oral history about the island it made my vacation so much more pleasurable. I truly enjoyed my Na Pali snorkeling trip. I've never seen such amazing variety of tropical fish much better snorkeling experience than I had in Egypt years before. I thought snorkeling in the Red Sea would be hard to beat, but Na Pali and my concierge. Sonja lived beyond my vacation expectations. I also took a helicopter ride around the island that was breathtaking! I plan to take another trip but to The Big Island this time. I will definitely be booking my activities with them on the big island too! Great activity choices for families, couples, and singles too! It was such a great relaxing vacation...and much of that was due to the concierge services I received by local and experience tour guides!

We used Sonja to book a luau for a rehearsal dinner with a significant number of guests. Last…read moreminute, we needed to add additional folks in the midst of Covid restrictions. We were initially told by the luau that they couldn't accommodate additional folks. I contacted Sonja and she worked her magic and got us the additional seats. She saved the day! The luau was spectacular and all guests raved. Her local knowledge and contacts are a great asset and if you plan to be on Kauai, I highly recommend her services.

I liked the smaller group size and that this is a family owned business…read more The crew is knowledgeable and funny.

DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY. They cancel at the last minute if they don't have a full boat. You…read moreare risking not getting to do this catamaran experience. The owner Debbie doesn't care if you booked it months in advance and its the highlight of your family vacation if she's not making enough profit.