What a lovely park. We only went to Ke'e beach due to slick trails. And a flash flood warning…read more Super easy to reserve a shuttle. Park visitor number ls are limited. Reservations open 30 days in advance.

If I had a chance to avoid visiting this place, I absolutely would have. Unfortunately, this park…read moreis home to the legendary Kalalau Trail, so there's really no way around it. Even if you're only hiking to the waterfall, you're still required to pay $40 per person just to enter the park. And I have a lot of questions about that. 1. We booked the earliest possible shuttle and paid for it, but we ended up leaving 15 minutes late because we were waiting for other people -- which meant we completely missed sunrise. 2. The park itself is dirty. The restrooms are in terrible condition, and there wasn't even toilet paper. You're charging $40 for entry and can't provide the absolute basics? Don't even get me started on the lack of water stations or hand sanitizer near the bathrooms. All of this is standard in California state and national parks, and they don't charge anywhere near this much. 3. On the way in, we were told about drop-off and pick-up locations along the route. In reality, the shuttles basically never stop there. We got off at one of those spots to grab coffee and then couldn't get back on -bus after bus just drove past us. After waiting for an hour, one shuttle finally stopped to drop off a passenger, but there wasn't enough space for the two of us. So yes, when leaving the park, they don't even plan to leave room to pick people up. Be prepared to walk 5 miles. Of course, the views are incredible, and even with this level of service, the park is still worth seeing. That said, I'd strongly recommend getting as close as possible to town or the beach before the park opens and then walking in on your own. Bring water, wet wipes, and refillable bottles. If you're worried about drinking the water, bring purification tablets -despite park staff insisting the water is absolutely not safe to drink. We drank it and were totally fine. Just go prepared and manage your expectations.

We were looking for the end of the road and found it at Ke'e beach. There was a lot of one lane…read morebridges and curves in the road. The distance versus time it took was interesting because it didn't look far but it took a while. We are residents of Hawaii so we didn't need reservations, but if you are visiting it is a must. The walk to the beach was about 0.3 miles of boardwalk over the lo'i or taro patches. Then through the woods on sandy/rock/soil. There are restrooms at the beach along with water fountains but no showers. The beach was pretty but it wasn't recommended that you snorkel due to the rip currents. There is a life guard stand there if something happened. We didn't spend a lot of time at the beach, just wanted to check it out. Make sure you take everything you need because there isn't much out there past hanalei.

They will tell you that you can snorkel here. But there is only sand and big waves away from the…read moreshore.

Quite a hike to a beautiful fall. Be prepared with hiking shoes. Do not go when it's raining…read morebecause it gets very slick. Only for those that are prepared to hike. Not for children or older adults who don't hike.

The park is now opened but there are many changes. 1. You…read moreneed to make reservation for parking or shuttle or walking in. For overnight camping or hiking pass Hanakapi'AI, you will need to get permit. 2. Check website gohaena.com for parking and shuttle reservation. For parking reservation, you will need to book at least 1 month in advance. You can reserve from 6:30 to 12:30 or 12:30 to 4:30 pm, and then 4:30 pm to sunset. They will not let you pass the gate if you do not have permit. 3. For walking in, you also need to make reservation in advance. $1 per person. 4. For shuttle, it is including hop on and hop off from Princeville Makai golf club to Ke'e beach and costs about $15 per person. 5. Parking reservation and shuttle reservation will include park entry. In a way, it is good that they can limit amount of cars driving in and people using the trail. We did not plan in advance so ended with shuttle. Down load the hop-on hop-off pass on cell phone. We took the shuttle from Princeville. It takes about 1 hour to get to Ke'e beach because they have to pick up people along the way (hanalei villages, Hanalei resort, Waipa park and ride). Then walked 0.3 mile from parking to Ke'e beach or entrance. The shuttle back to Princeville runs every 45 to 60 min. The shuttle from Ke'e beach to Waipa parking runs every 30 min. Last shuttle is at 4:30 pm. We ended up taking the shuttle fromKe'e beach to Waipa and walked 20 minutes (over a mile) to Hanalei village. We got some lunch but could not wait for our shuttle back to Princeville... ended taking uber. If you plan to visit, make sure check the website and make reservations in advance. The trail is slippery since it is raining every day for past weeks. - bring good traction shoes. - 1 L water per person at least. - snacks. There are no shopping until Hanalei village. - bathrooms is at Ke'e beach and outdoor shower. They are decent and have toilet papers. - it is quite strenuous hike. So, I would not recommend anyone with walking or gait problems. - kids older then 6 probably ok hiking this trail.

Magical! This beach is otherworldly. Breathtaking and serene. One of my favorite beaches on Kaua'i…read more Aloha!

We enjoyed checking out this side of the island this time. It was kind of tricky to find parking…read morebut just be patient and you'll find some. We ended up finding a spot on the street and walked down an alley to the beach. Didn't need an umbrella here as there are plenty of shade trees right on the beach. So beautiful and relaxing. It is very popular and busy, but you only really notice that in the water because of everyone wanting to snorkel. The snorkeling was really cool here! Some of the best I've seen! I spent a lot of time in the water, but tried not to go too far out as the tide can be a little tricky here in some parts as well. A must-see when on Kauai!

Best tour on Kauai! Booked the 7 am tour a few months prior to the trip and was very excited for…read moreit. Highly reccomend wearing shorts & water shoes as you will walk through river crossings and mud, actual mud, so don't ruin your hiking shoes. The guide also offered sticks for walking so definitely grab one as it will help you walk steadily, water bags for your stuff, waters, chips, and lunch once you are at the waterfall. The views after the kayaking and hiking part were absolutely breathtaking! Definitely a must do. We had Keke guide us and she was amazing!!! Very helpful but also funny and motivated us all. She is a great guide and I hope her manager sees this review.

Tour guide was full of knowledge and local info. The group was 11 (12 max) Did not know thIs. Yes,…read moreriver is crowed with kayaking and the falls are not a secret. However, she picked a pace that allowed us to be last group at falls. Truly, had it to ourselves. Ocean Kayaks are like tugboats, so some effort is requIred to keep moving. Overall, great trip.

Bubba told me I had to!…read more Zipping was amazing! Harlen and Bubba were fabulous guides! The history, the stories and the humor will keep us coming back here and the island!

Halen is a rock star! She was so professional, engaging and an amazing part of "Dream Team!"…read more Halen thank you so much for making our son's experience and everyone's experience amazing!

We had a wonderful experience with Kayak Kauai from start to finish. They were extremely…read morecommunicative 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.

Best kayak tour we have been on. Low stress beautiful peaceful wailua river with views of…read morewaterfalls 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

We had the best time!! Even during "winter" but please keep in mind these guys cannot control the…read moreweather! It is not their fault if the ocean is rough that day. And yours need to cancel, turn back, or etc. And even on a nice day, it's the ocean and the water/wind is unpredictable. Even those not prone to seasickness need to come prepared! There is plenty of ways to prep in advance and ensure your not in the middle/back looking at the deck or a bag the whole time. We saw so many humpback whales! And even a mama and her baby! As well as Hawaiian spinner dolphins! And of course the Na Pali coast line! Even on the way back blasting thru the ocean I was able to spot humpbacks in the distance. So it's also what you make of it and my husband and I really had the best time. I also want to say this but all of us are just guests on Hawaii and yes we are paying for a tour but they are stewards to showing us some of the most important parts of Hawaiian history and landscape. That is a PRIVILEGE and I think too many of us forget that. I really would like to thank Shawn, Elijah, and Jay for closing out our trip with such a memorable experience. You guys are all stars! Mahalo!!!

If you're on the fence about whether this tour is worth it -it absolutely is. We honestly had zero…read moreexpectatons and booked a morning tour in January, and it turned out to be the best decision. The water was calm enough for snorkeling, and we got incredibly lucky - we saw hundreds of dolphins, whales, albatrosses, turtles, and so much more. And that's not even mentioning the unreal beauty of the Na Pali Coast. Huge shoutout to the captain, who made it feel like a full-on adventure - taking us through sea caves, near waterfalls, and still making sure everyone felt completely safe the entire time. A few tips if you're not very experienced with boats: - Definitely bring towels and warm clothes -- it can get very windy. - Sunscreen is a must. No explanation needed. - Take Dramamine about an hour before boarding if you're worried about motion sickness. Everyone in our group took it and felt great, unlike a couple of other tourists who were clearly struggling. The worst part is when the boat stops and rocks on the waves. Another awesome bonus was the unlimited drinks, plus really tasty sanwiches and snacks throughout the tour. Highly recommend - this ended up being the best experience we had in Hawaii!

If you want biology and cultural lessons with your surf class, look no further. Ethan is a…read morewonderfully natural & patient teacher. He is a walking (err, surfing) encyclopedia with decades of surf & ocean rescue experience. He never makes you feel like there's a dumb question. He's so interesting you want to invite him over for dinner! My son loved his weekly classes.

My eight year old niece was interested in surf lessons so we were excited to discover this place…read morethat does surf lessons for kids. We set up a group lesson for 3 adults and one kid. Now mind you, I am not a coordinated person by nature. As such, I've never considered taking surf lessons, but when in Rome, er, Kauai, take a risk. I reassured myself that anyone used to teaching kids could handle my awkward adult learning curve. Kauai Outrigger Adventures exceeded my expectations. Ethan is an outstanding instructor. He's extremely patient and positive, but also very clear and confident with an amazing ease with the waves. After showing us the basics on land for the first fifteen minutes, we made for a relatively shallow area with mild waves, perfect for learning. He surfs with the kids in the beginning and depending on how it goes, has the kids try out doing it on their own. My niece wasn't at the level where she could surf on her own, but she had an absolute blast surfing with Ethan. The grin on her face as she stood up with him and caught a wave was fantastic. As for this awkward adult, I even managed to stand up several times (and promptly fall), but I also had a terrific time. Honestly, the hardest part is learning how to maneuver the board out, but I started to get the hang of that one too. The two hour time period was just the right amount to start getting the hang of it before we tired out...and itching to try it again. Thanks Ethan for making this a high point of our trip.

We actually walked around quite a bit before ending up here. Checked a few spots, compared prices,…read moretalked to people -- the usual process. And honestly, I'm really glad we landed on this place. They offered us the best deal we found: $30 per paddleboard, no pressure, no weird upselling. Everything was explained clearly, calmly, and with patience. The boards were in good condition, nothing sketchy. They helped us load everything onto the car and made sure it was secured properly, which sounds small, but after a long day -- that matters. The whole experience felt easy. No rush, no attitude, no "tourist trap" vibe. Just people who know what they're doing and treat you with respect. After that, we had an amazing time out on the river. Peaceful water, beautiful views -- exactly what we came for. Four hours flew by without even noticing. If I'm back on the island, I won't even think twice. I'll come straight here. $30 for 4 hours, solid boards, good people, zero stress. That's all I need. Highly recommend.

Best place in Hanalei to rent a paddle board or a surfboard. We checked several other spots first,…read moreand everywhere else either had much higher prices or a bunch of restrictions and hidden fees (like charging $100 just to put a board on your car roof). None of that here. They have very reasonable prices, good-quality boards, and the staff helps you choose the right size board and paddle. We paid only $30 per person for a half-day SUP rental and $25 for a full day surfboard rental, which is a great deal for this area. One thing I'd recommend though - double-check that the staff actually secures the rope when they strap the boards to your car. The employee didn't want our help, but a few minutes into the drive the boards started coming loose. Luckily, we had a Jeep Wrangler with an open roof, so we were able to hold them. Turned out the ropes weren't even properly tied, just kinda thrown on. Hopefully this was just a one-off, especially since they do keep your card on file in case anything happens to the boards. Overall though best prices and conditions in town. Definately recommend!