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Kapaa, HI

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Wailua Kayak Adventures

4.8 (347 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

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We had an awesome time kayaking and visiting Secret Falls with our 7 yr old! it was a moderate hike but WKA made the trip so easy for us. Thank you to Wes and Matt for being so accommodating, hooking us up with the perfect equipment and explaining all the details and making sure we got a second shot to visit the waterfall after we had to turn back the first time due to a flash flood warning. Beautiful memory we will never forget and so worth the second attempt!

10 minutes into our paddle, down pour and wind... only lasted about 10-15 minutes
Jason L.

First time visiting Kauai and we (my family) wanted to do one experience + see some waterfalls during our short stay on the island. Noticed there were a handful of companies offering kayaking experiences but Wailua Kayak Adventures had the best reviews and the most competitive pricing among the others. Also as an added bonus, there were things being offered that other companies weren't. Sure, no lunch but just pack your own snacks/lunch if you can't wait until you get back to your car. Cole was our guide; super knowledgable about island, the culture, and gave off a VERY chill vibe. It was my wife and daughter's first time in tandem kayak so they were very nervous about not being able to keep up, steer, stop, etc. While most of our group paddled ahead, Cole stayed behind to check on everyone in our group, giving tips, tricks and making everyone feel at ease. Eventually, they got a hang of it. We lucked out with the weather. We pushed out at 7am and it was a full on down pour for about 10 minutes, then the clouds pushed away and we were greeted with clouds and sunshine the rest of the morning. The paddle to the hiking trail is fairly easy. The hiking trail itself is like a 3/10 difficulty (when the weather is nice). There's maybe only one area where we had to small climb. What's nice about Wailua Kayak Adventures is that they provided walking sticks, a dry pack for your phone/towel/food/etc and we were the first group to make it to the Secret Falls, which meant we had the whole place to ourselves for about 5 minutes before people started showing up. Waterfall is beautiful, water was refreshing, its really a site to see and experience just be respectful and pick up your trash. As an added bonus, Cole brought and shared some fresh Lychees that he picked from his yard that morning. The Kayak back required a bit more effort, depending on the winds but we all survived and had a great time! If you're wondering about what to wear or bring, we went mid July and experienced NO mosquitos but still put on bug spray. Bring water shoes you can walk in, rash guard if you burn easily, sunblock (don't forget to spray the top of your thighs), a hat, water, musubis, and a good attitude. Thank you Cole for an amazing experience!

Secret Falls
Audjeff E.

This was an experience of a lifetime! Kayak the Wailua River with a local guide and hike through the rainforest to an amazing waterfall at the end. Cole was our guide and he was awesome. He was knowledgeable, informative, funny, and helpful. We did the 7am tour and we were given a kayak, life jacket, dry bag, and a hiking stick. I didn't realize until later that the hiking stick was so essential. I noticed we were the only group that had hiking sticks. I don't think the other tour companies provide them. I was so grateful for it! This tour was definitely the highlight of our trip.

Kayaking down the Wailua River
Annie L.

This is a must do item in Kauai! A guided kayak and hiking combo tour to Secret Falls! You will kayak down the peaceful and serene Wailua River for four miles and hike 2 miles round trip to Secret Falls. Cole was our tour guide! We met promptly at 7AM to begin but we started half a hour late because we were waiting for a group of 5 to show up (they were 25 mins late) because they went to the wrong location. That is not the fault of Wailua Kayak Adventures but, I do wish that we started without them because that hinders the whole group experience. I told Cole our flight leaves at 230PM in the afternoon and was hoping to be done by 12 noon. We wouldve if we didnt have to wait 30 mins for these people. SO- Hopefully they change their policy. We start without you if you are late! Cole was an amazing guide. He was funny, laid back, and told us many stories of the island. Many myths! Pointed out some landmarks and learned some history on the island. You kayak at your own pace, some groups are faster and some are slower but you generally stay around the same area as a group. After we disembarked our kayaks, we started our muddy hike. You will have 5 river crossings (deepest part was up to my knee) and your shoes will get wet! That was the uncomfortable part for me was wet sneakers but the hike was fun that goes through fields of different plants, walking on wooden planks, uneven surfaces over rocks and you will do 2 hilly climbs. Walking sticks were provided which was super helpful! Secret Falls - Once you arrive, you will feel accomplished! We saw many different tour groups there and it was very busy. You can swim in and under the falls. We decided to relax on the rocks and ate our snacks. We only spent 30 mins at the falls. For me, that was enough since I relaxed but for others who swam, it might not be enough time. Depends on what you want to do there. Excellent activity to end our trip to Kauai. Highly recommend Wailua Kayak Adventures. They are super responsive when I called and booked us a spot immediately. I also enjoyed that their adventure starts early in the morning for those with afternoon flights or other activities planned. Many companies I called have later start times and they were fully booked but Wailua had space and was very accommodating.

Simpreet K.

Book Early if you are taking the guided tour!!! We booked a week in advance and just barely got in. This was one of the highlights of our Kauai trip. Our guide was Cole and he made the tour all the more interesting with his deep knowledge of the island. We had an early start- 7 am and there was a significant amount of rain. The hiking sticks that Cole brought along were very helpful during the muddy hike to Secret Falls. Don't think twice, book your spot!

Kayak launch
Jacqueline H.

Bucket list activity on Kauai: #1. Kayak tour on Wailua river and hike to the secret falls (called Uluwehi Falls) Who: @wailuakayakadventures Where: Wailua River Arena 3-5971 Kuhio Hwy. Approximately 4 miles of kayaking, about 1.5 miles of moderate hiking (parts of the trail can be muddy at times). Expect to cross streams and river/ Tour duration is approximately 4 hours. (Restrictions: No pregnancies, bad backs or bad knees or recent surgeries. No children under 5 years of age.) what to bring: hiking shoes with tread and/or water shoes with tread. Light snack and water. Swim suit and towel. Sunblock/bug spray History: "Said to be the bathing site of Kauai's ancient Ali'i (or "king") of the Island. You can swim, get up close and personal with the falls or just sit and gaze upon its majesty. The rocky base offers a tranquil, almost spiritual setting. The sights and sounds of the water splashing into the pool can calm and relax your mind and create a soothing therapy for the soul. (The chicken sitting next to you may or may not be equally entranced.) (Yes, there are plenty of the ubiquitous Kauai chickens here.) Perhaps an oxymoron, but Uluwehi Falls is one of the most popular hidden waterfalls of Kauai. In any event, this paddle-hike-rest journey through water and woods will give you a satisfying sense of connection to the island. Aloha!" Source: @koloalandingresort

Had the best time on this kayak adventure with Levi one of the best tour guides I've ever had if you do the secret falls ask for Levi you won't regret it

Kayaking fun!

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3 months ago

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Matt P.

Thank you Danielle! Big Aloha! Matt wka

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9 months ago

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Matt P.

Thank you Jason! matt wka

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2 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo James! WKA Ohana

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7 months ago

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5 months ago

Very kind and accommodating people! Would recommend and will definitely be back on our next trip to Kauai

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2 years ago

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Matt P.

Thank you for your review Manning! Aloha! WKA

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2 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo!!! WKA Ohana

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1 year ago

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Matt P.

Thank you Elaine! we appreciate you! Tiara and Matt WKA

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo Summer! WKA Ohana

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1 year ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo Andy! WKA

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1 year ago

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Matt P.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Excellent experience! We have been twice now, including with small kids or just the two of us. Both trips were amazing.

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Matt P.

Mahalo Guys! WKA

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4 years ago

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Matt P.

mahalo Sarah! WKA Ohana

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2 years ago

Definitely do it by yourself without a guide. Easy to get to and follow the trail. Worth the trip.

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Matt P.

Mahalo Tim!! WKA Ohana

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2 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo for your review Augie! WKA Ohana

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo Brian! ALOHA WKA Ohana

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1 year ago

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Matt P.

Thank You Scott! WKA OHANA

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo Andrew! Matt wka

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Matt P.

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Matt P.

Mahalo for your review guys! Matt wka

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2 years ago

Great place, no need to load up your kayak and drive to the river they are located a short walk from it.

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Matt P.

Mahalo Mike! WKA Ohana

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3 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo Anthony! Hope to see you guys again

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2 years ago

Favorite day of our trip! Our guide Rhonda made it great. She pointed out so many interesting things and made the tour so memorable.

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Matt P.

Thank you Stephanie for your review! ALOHA Matt and Tiara WKA

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3 years ago

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Matt P.

Mahalo Alexander!

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Matt P.

Thank you Jay! Big Aloha! Matt and Tiara WKA

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Thank you Kristin for your review! We appreciate YOU! ALOHA WKA Team

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Page 1 of 9

Ask the Community - Wailua Kayak Adventures

Aloha! Would you good people recommend just doing the equipment rental or booking a tour?

Book a tour...Cole was full of cool insights we would have missed otherwise

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Review Highlights - Wailua Kayak Adventures

“We rented a double kayak for my wife and I and our young son to paddle up the Wailua River to Secret Falls.”

Mentioned in 44 reviews

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Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures - On our way to tubing adventures

Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures

4.9(4.7k reviews)
6.0 mi

It was everything we hoped it would be…read more Living on Oahu, you hear about all of the things people go do on the other islands. And this is always the top thing mentioned when you talk about Kauai. This is the only company who does this specific activity on the island and they do it well. The guides were amazing. I was typically in the back and A-A-Ron was lovely. She was so funny and helpful. She asked everyone's names and remembered them! We did one of the first tours out that morning and I'm glad we did. It was cooler and we weren't in the hot sun the whole time. Some of the tunnels are long, and they are dark. You are given headlamps, gloves and a helmet. You're in a big group and will absolutely be separated from the people you go with at some point. 10/10 highly recommend!

We came from Texas and we are no strangers to what tubing entails and this place did not…read moredisappoint. First of all make sure when you go you request Eddy he is extremely funny, polite, professional, and will show your group a good time from the very beginning of the end. Everything was very well organized, the staff was all polite and very welcoming and helped with giving directions for everything we needed to do to get our tour started. The tubing goes quickly, but it is well worth it and all the caves and sites are a lot of fun and very enjoyable and everything is family friendly. I highly recommend this establishment and once again make sure you get Eddy because he will make your trip to this establishment even better.

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Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures - About to get on one of the zip lines.

About to get on one of the zip lines.

Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures - Wow what fun

Wow what fun

Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures - A laugh a minute!

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A laugh a minute!

Wailua Kayak & Canoe

Wailua Kayak & Canoe

3.8(139 reviews)
2.2 mi

We did the Guided Wailua River "Secret Fall" Adventure with Wailua Kayak & Canoe, and it was an…read moreabsolute blast! The scenery along the river and hike was stunning, and the whole experience felt like the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Our guide, Michael, really made the trip special. He shared so much interesting information about the river, the history of the area, the plants, and the wildlife--and kept us laughing the whole way with his endless supply of dad jokes (now upgraded with 10% more!). If you're looking for a unique way to experience the natural beauty of Kauai, this tour is it. Come for the adventure, stay for Michael's humor. Highly recommended!

We booked this experience with less than 48 hours' notice, which was super convenient. The check-in…read moreprocess was quick and smooth--just arrive at your scheduled time, get ready, and head out. You pull your kayak (on wheels) to the launch site and push off from there; it's definitely doable. We opted to go without a guide and simply followed the provided map, which was very straightforward. However, in my opinion, the activity wasn't worth the price. Paddling two miles each way was pretty strenuous, especially with kids. The hike to Secret Falls was extremely muddy, particularly after rain, and we saw lots of people slipping and falling. It's not a huge problem, but you'll definitely want to plan for a shower afterwards. They do provide a large wet bag, but ours smelled strongly of body odor from repeated use without proper cleaning--definitely unpleasant. If I could do it over again, I would have canceled and just explored the state park on foot. For the amount of effort required, I felt the experience was overpriced.

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Wailua Kayak & Canoe
Wailua Kayak & Canoe
Wailua Kayak & Canoe - Crossing the final stream

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Crossing the final stream

Ali'i Kayaks - Paddling!

Ali'i Kayaks

4.7(596 reviews)
2.3 mi

We had a great adventure with Ali's Kayak Rental! Booking…read moreonline was easy, and since the guided tour was full, we did the self-guided kayak and hike to the secret waterfalls. Its a more budget friendly option but you don't need to drive your kayak to the river, its just a short walk. Before launching, the owner gave us a quick and helpful presentation on where to go and how to handle the kayaks. Just note there is an additional $5 per person river fee (or a state park fee). The trip involves about two miles of kayaking and a mile-long hike each way. Because the trail has lots of rocks, muddy areas, crossing a river and roots, I wouldn't recommend it for small kids or anyone who isn't relatively fit. Overall, the equipment was excellent, the staff was great and we highly recommend it!

On May 5, 2026 my husband and I went on a Kayaking adventure with Ali'i Kayaks in Wailua, Kauai…read more This was our first kayaking experience and it did not disappoint! Our guide for the day was "K-man". He was awesome! He had a great personality, was very knowledgeable and was funny. He was also great with names; he remembered everyone's, and he made it a point to make conversation with everyone single one of us. Our adventure started off by meeting at the office/pick up location. Then we loaded up into a van and made the short drive to the slipway. There we selected kayaks and were given oars and life jackets. Once we got situated, we hit the water. The weather that day was perfect; the sun was out with some clouds, and there was a light, constant breeze. Our journey on the water was a beautiful one. The water was cool, the scenery was green. I'll admit, the kayaking distance was a bit challenging. Maybe a bit more so as my husband and I are competitive and we were nearly racing with another couple. LOL! Once we reached shore, we gathered up and made our way to the hiking path. Honestly, the hike itself is not hard, with the exception of a few spots that may require teamwork/assistance. (**READ TIPS BELOW) Once we reached the waterfall, most of us went into the water. We stayed there for about 20-30 minutes. Our guide never rushed us. He sat back and let us enjoy ourselves. It was only when we all gathered up again that we headed back, same hike in reverse back to the kayaks. Once in the kayaks it was the same way back as well. The scenery was VERY beautiful. Several pictures were taken. Overall we had a great day. We would definitely recommend to anyone who has never been to Kauai and to anyone who is interested in being surrounded by beautiful scenery. TIPS: - [ ] Wear good shoes! The terrain can be unstable due to river rocks, tree roots, mud, and uneven ground. Your feet WILL get soaked and the ground is unstable. My husband and I both opted to wear sneakers that we were ready to retire. When we were done we threw them away. Another couple wore aqua shoes and they said they were extremely uncomfortable: good for water, bad for the rough terrain. Another couple wore brand new hiking boots and they became water logged. - [ ] Wear sunscreen!! Even if it's overcast, the harsh island sun will magnify through the clouds. - [ ] Sunglasses and a hat/visor is a wise choice. **if you wear a hat or visor, it may create a blind spot. Keep your head up! One person in our group hit their head twice on the same tree branch! - [ ] Wear clothing you can get wet. You will get wet from the waist down from the kayaking and hike. - [ ] Wear swimwear underneath your clothing. When you get to the waterfall, there is a pool of water you are able to swim in. - [ ] Bring a backpack/secure bag with water and snacks! You will need it! - [ ] Bring towels and leave them in the car. At the end of the day, when stripping off your wet shoes and socks the towels come in handy. *** For reference, our groups ages ranged from 52 to approximately early 70's.

Photos
Ali'i Kayaks - Amazing rivers. Be prepared to get your feet wet on this amazing experience.

Amazing rivers. Be prepared to get your feet wet on this amazing experience.

Ali'i Kayaks - This grasshopper (coconut leaf) made it in Los Angeles. Thanks Kai for this remembrance.

This grasshopper (coconut leaf) made it in Los Angeles. Thanks Kai for this remembrance.

Ali'i Kayaks - Hike

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Hike

Wailua Kayak Adventures - rafting - Updated October 2026

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