1. Kahana Adventures

1. Kahana Adventures

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Hauula, HI

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Kahana Adventures

4.8 (42 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Beautiful scenery from a private river

Visiting the Kahana River on Oahu was hands-down one of the most beautiful and grounding experiences of our trip. This land has been lovingly owned and cared for by the same family for over 125 years, and you can feel the history, pride, and respect the moment you arrive. We were welcomed to kayak down a peaceful, breathtaking river surrounded by lush greenery and mountains that looked like something out of a dream. We found a perfect little spot to hang out by the water, complete with a rope swing that added to the magic. We made sure to be respectful of the land, enjoyed some snacks, and cleaned up after ourselves--because this place deserves to be cherished. After our three-hour adventure, we returned and were greeted by the incredible Lena, who made us feel like family. She even opened the shaved ice stand just for us (which, by the way, was delicious). We ended up sitting and talking with her for so long, it honestly felt like catching up with a favorite aunt. Her warmth, stories, and hospitality completely took away the homesick feeling we didn't even realize we had. Their sweet dog kept us company the whole time while we enjoyed our treat, and it was just one more reminder of how special this place is--not just the scenery, but the people. Everyone we met was so genuine and kind. We're already planning to come back before we leave the island. This wasn't just a fun excursion--it was a soulful, unforgettable moment we'll carry with us forever. Thank you for sharing your land, your kindness, and your spirit with us.

Beautiful Kahana River
Daniela F.

This place is a hidden gem and was definitely the highlight of our vacation. We were suffering from resort fatigue after laying out by the pool for days and needed an adventure. The Kahana River and bay were just stunning and unencumbered my mass tourism. Lena, the owner, has a limited number of slots available per day to make sure it doesn't feel crowded and we only passed other groups twice. The river is very calm which enabled my 6-and 7-year old to successfully stand up and maneuver the paddle board. They also loved the rope and swing. Lena was very welcoming and warm and greeted us with a freshly cut coconut for refreshing coconut water when we got back. We had so much fun and can highly recommend Kahana Adventures.

Getting that first amazing peek at the bay
Daryl D.

We were looking to do something a little bit different and adventurous, that wasn't ATVing (although we did that too). This really worked out far better than I had expected. We've driven passed this particular river so many times on our way to other places and never really thought to stop and explore, which was definitely a mistake. The owner (his family has been on the land for many generations) is super hospitable, accommodating, and provided everything you'd possibly need. We rented the 2-person kayak, but he also made available waterproof phone cases, bug spray (although didn't seem to have a problem with them), and life vests. An hour was plenty to go up and down the river and play on the rope swings. I'm not sure how far you could actually get, but it does get a bit narrow and tough with all the overgrowth a bit after the swings. I know the family cuts it back, but I'm betting that's pretty hard to do and keep up with. BTW, I think kayaks work better here than SUP depending on your steering abilities around the overgrowth. I do think the river scenery was much nicer than the river at Haleiwa (where we did SUP), but it's probably not more than an hour going up and down. The really nice part of the morning for us was making our way to where the river empties into the bay and boy that was really, really nice. The bay was calm, very blue, warm, and pretty shallow pretty far out. For our first attempt at ocean kayaking, it was very serene. This was really prettier than the bay at Haleiwa too, just pure nature and unspoiled by tourism There was only one other couple in our time slot and so we mostly had the river and bay to ourselves. I really liked the fact they purposely keep the number of guests down. To cap off the morning, we were treated to some shave ice upon return and had a great time talking to the owner and the other couple. One word of warning though, the river is pretty murky and deep in places, so be sure not to drop anything like I did with my sunglasses. I really liked those sunglasses too, I just watched it slowly sink. In total, this was about 2 hours for us. If you're on Oahu, book this activity. It was a totally different experience than some of the other larger, touristy operations and just let you feel more connected to the island. We will definitely recommend this to our friends.

Kayaking on the Kahana River
Megan W.

Kahana River adventures is amazing! The owner, Lena, made us feel comfortable and excited to get in the kayak! We paddled down and back twice and went toward the ocean which was a beautiful view. This took us about two hours total. There was only one other party out during the later time slot which was very nice. This was the escape we needed from Waikiki. 11/10 Recommend

It's a little further down from the main ramp but it's a good spot for a bit of the main sea waters.
Evie M.

Wow wow and more wow ! If you want to do kayaking here is the spot. It's a great location , family owned business that welcome you as family and amazing vibes ! We were able to get a late reservation and enjoyed the canals and went towards the beaches a bit ... there is a parking area for you , it's safe and they have a clean restroom. They provide you with a water pouch for your phone and a water Fanny pack if needed at no additional fee. Better to call them direct and payment in cash. You can do online but it's a tad more. They have wifi there but don't forget on that side of the island there is little to none reception, so it's a true zen way to "unplug". They are so kind we even got amazing coconuts to drink from ! Overall A+ spot if you want to get away from all the resorts and crowds . Can't wait to come back again !

My husband and I came here after realizing we needed to plan ahead for a kayak adventure to china hat island. We are SO happy we stumbled upon this local, family owned business. We walked in and rented a tandem kayak. Gorgeous scenery in the river with a swing and ropes for a quick fun pit stop. We kayaked back down river to a beautiful bay. 10/10 recommend!

Ka Bao Y.

I want to start off by saying Lena was such a great host. She greeted us with a big hug. After kayaking she opened some fresh coconuts for my group and I. The coconuts were cold and refreshing. The kayak was a great experience. The only thing we have to blame was the weather. It was really windy so we couldn't kayak too far into the bay like planned. Even so, we still had a good time kayaking through the river streams. While going through the river there were rope swings, too bad we didn't dress appropriately to swim. Thank you to Lena for your hospitality!

Jackie S.

The most incredible views paddle boarding along the very beautiful and peaceful Kahana river that leads you into a breathtaking view of the Kahana bay. We were greeted by the loveliest and friendliest host and family upon arrival at this locally owned business. Lina provided us with amazing services: free locker space, hot shower, clean bathroom, and the travel necessities needed when paddle boarding on the water. We were simply in awe by the whole experience and couldn't ask for a better host to paddle board at this beautiful location! If I could, I would rate this place more than 5 stars, highly recommend this place so much! Mahalo Lina, your hospitality truly made us feel like 'Ohana! We'll definitely come back next time we're in Oahu

Emma T.

We had such a great time kayaking on the Kahana river thanks to our great experience with Kahana Adventures! It was easy to reserve our kayak online the morning we went and they had it ready for us within minutes when we arrived a bit early. We kayaked up the river for a bit, then turned around and stopped at a fun spot with a couple swings. The surroundings were beautiful the whole time and we ended our adventure by heading out to the bay, parking our kayak on a little bit of beach, and swimming in the perfect water. Three hours was plenty (we were out for more like two hours) and we got fresh coconuts to rehydrate us when we returned! Kahana Adventures is a great local business and a super convenient way to have some fun on the water! We will definitely recommend to family and friends.

Nathan D.

Great guys running the operation who put first you having the experience of a lifetime. This is an incredible slice of Hawai'i that you'd be remiss not to add to your travel plans!

Came here with a friend who was visiting the island and it was her favorite thing she did during her trip! We were greeted by the cutest dogs and kindest hosts, who provided us with mosquito repellent and waterproof phone bags for free. The river was picturesque and quaint - we took the 9am slot and had it all to ourselves. It was so peaceful and we loved stopping for pictures at the swing. We kayaked to the beach and spent an hour there before returning. Would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for something incredibly relaxing and fun!

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19 days ago

Amazing experience, much more than I expected. Not sure what is above friendly service but it's here. River was a trip into paradise.

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9 months ago

Very good service, relaxing and BEST activity we did on Oahu. We spent hours paddling the river until it turned into the ocean.

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2 years ago

Was so beautiful and relaxing. I'm so glad we found this place. Took my Girl Scout troop here and they had a blast

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4 years ago

Great experience! Paddle from a peaceful river to the sea, beginner friendly. Hot water shower is provided. Pay with Venmo.

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Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Kahana Adventures

Review Highlights - Kahana Adventures

Calm beautiful river views and very easy paddle out to the bay and was able to enjoy the beach and mauka views!

Mentioned in 19 reviews

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Captain Bruce

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We had a fantastic time exploring and playing. We had so much fun doing water activities and…read moreviewing underwater creatures. Captain and the crew were very attentive and ensured safety. They ensured everyone got to see turtles and in fact they headed a participant back just when we were being called back to the boat after discovering he didn't get to see turtles. There was plenty of snacks and drinks. Gears were complete - eye gear (with or without prescription which was helpful to those who wear glasses), and mouth pieces. The attention to detail was superb and attention to safety and ensuring everyone had fun was commendable!

We booked this Kaneohe Sandbar snorkeling tour after seeing many reviews describe it as…read morebeginner-friendly. As first-time snorkelers traveling with a child, our experience did not align with those expectations. Equipment distribution was poorly handled. Masks were handed out with little to no instruction, and basic questions were met with a rude and dismissive attitude. Overall communication and service were lacking. Once in the water, guidance was minimal and inconsistent. The experience felt rushed and disorganized, with limited support for guests who were new to snorkeling. The tone and treatment we received also made us uncomfortable as Asian guests. After sharing feedback, the company clarified in writing that they do NOT advertise or position this as a beginner-friendly snorkeling tour. Based on both that clarification and our experience, I would strongly recommend that beginners or families looking for clear instruction and attentive guidance consider other operators. Sharing this to help future guests set accurate expectations before booking.

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Hawaii Beach Time

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Hands down would use them again. Especially if you can take advantage of the weekly rate. We only…read moreneeded them for 4 days but it was much cheaper to get the weekly rate versus renting on and off for single days. All of the equipment was good to great quality. We had 5 chairs and they were true Tommy Bahama chairs. Great quality. Cooler was good, not their fault but note you'll definitely need more than 1 bag of ice. Boogie board was solid and the umbrellas were good. Umbrellas came with a spike and screw mechanism to really get them deep in the sand. A most for any beach activity.

HORRIBLE communication. I've rented from them 2-3 times before and had a great experience so I…read moreunderstand the good reviews here but I'm incredibly offended by their lack of communication this time. I wanted so badly to support a small business during COVID but wow this was a level of unprofessionalism I have never experienced. My boyfriend and I have been trying to rent one board since Sunday and today it is Friday and we have STILL been unable to confirm our rental. I called Sunday and received a text in response to my call. They told me to text at this number for questions and reservations. I have been trying to set up my reservation ever since via text but the responses have been little to none. On Wednesday my boyfriend even e-mailed them, but it's been two days and still no response. Their main phone number just goes to voicemail, so then we tried to call the phone number we had been texting but someone answered saying "you have the wrong person", even though hours later they would respond to my text with the same number. We were really excited to stand up paddle board this week but now we won't be doing it anymore. I'm very disappointed. The communication was seriously the most unprofessional I've ever experienced. All I wanted was to rent one board. I don't know why they're not interested in doing so, or it's fine if they are not able to but they should have communicated that to me instead of leaving me on read on and off for the last 5 days.

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I've never been one to splurge on lessons for ocean recreational activities until I started SUP…read more Most places in Hawaii are too busy trying to handle multiple clients at the same time, meanwhile I'm floating away into the ocean. I took a SUP lesson with The Surf Professor in Kaneohe and was able to see Chinamans Hat for the first time in a very special way. Ian was calming and his instruction was clear. He taught me about reading the ocean and being able to identify areas I should avoid based on how the ocean behaved on the surface. As we paddled out further he gave me a brief Hawaiian Landscape Mythology talk of what we could see. I was even able to ride a small rolling surf which I'd never thought I'd like. Hands down best SUP lesson I've ever had. I'm planning on taking a surf lesson with The Surf Professor soon. If you want a more personalized experience away from the usual tourist mayhem, this is the guy to go to. Long session to be able to really learn. Personalized lesson based on what you want to get out of the lesson and affordable price.

From the owner: Discover and learn about the life long endeavor of surfing. Our lessons, workshops, and retreats…read moreexpand on the basics of ocean recreation with physical training, weather and surf forecasting tips, how to be safe in the ocean, surf instruction and advanced mentorship. Learn about historical and Hawaiian cultural aspects of surfing including wood board shaping. Take it to the next level with one-on-one mentoring that leads to a lifelong holistic relationship with the ocean. We focus on the fundamentals of surfing, SUP, and equipment design/function by blending the traditions of Polynesian culture and history with modern surfboard dynamics to show the continuum that exists through the surfboard shapers. Each student will learn hands on skills with modern science and technology to properly read the coastlines and surf. We are open to all of Hawaii Nei and beyond! HI Surf Retreats perfect for: ~ Big & Small Groups ~ Corporate Team Building ~ Birthdays & Family Gatherings ~ Holiday Getaways ~ Professional Development Workshops ~ Surfing Clubs & Teams ~ Family Strengthening Activities ~ School is Out! Friendship Bonding Retreat ~ Adventure Surfari! ~ Hawaiian Culture and Nature Explorations

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Single Fin Surfing at Off the Wall!
Single Fin Surfing at Off the Wall!
Come surf with me!
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Kahana Adventures - rafting - Updated July 2026

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