DRAMAMINE, y'all…read more You're choosing to do the Na'Pali coast from the North Shore, which means smaller boats, and choppier waves. I took one Dramamine, the night before. Then another, an hour before our departure. AND THE BOAT RIDE WAS GREAT. I was all smiles and adventure and breathing -in the ocean air and wind! Unlike, a few folks, who were NOT doing so well. (One or two barfed over the side, but thankfully I didn't notice. Know how your body handles boats and waves. Don't do tours like this, without proper prep. It will NOT be fun if you underestimate it.) Check-In staff was super friendly, and personal. They remembered me from my original email. Sweet. Parking was easy. Shuttles team was super friendly. The strangers we rode with, all turned out to be cool. 2 boats go out (mini-catamarans, with cover from the sun). They expertly traverse the waves, and cliffs, and the caves, giving you some amazing first-hand visuals and photos. But yeah, that boat will be a rockin', during those up-close cave moments. Spoiler: You probably won't see whales, unless you're there before May. But we DID see a cute pod of Dolphins, who cozy'd up to our boat for a while. Our boat had Casey and Spencer. They were wise beyond their years, in all things Kauai. Funny and friendly. Spencer navigated the heck out of those waves, while Casey handled the nauseous passengers with MOTHERLY CARE. Spencer was 50/50 on allowing us to snorkel, based on conditions and a previous scare, a few weeks prior. But he ultimately made the call to GET IN THE WATER. He wisely kept us on a leash (not literally), whistling at swimmers when they got too close to a reef (with waves that could wash you onto the reef). It was fun and chill. Saw a HUGE, MASSIVE KING DADDY SEA TURTLE. He did not enjoy us as much as we enjoyed him and he bounced. Followed by a JR. Turtle, who stuck around a bit longer. Tons of fish. Spencer & Casey gave us good food and hike recommendations, and everyone treated us like friends / family. Highly recommend this team if you're going out. And you already know I highly recommend some Dramamine.

Had a great experience this week with Lance and Miguel. Before we even got out of the bay we had…read morean amazing dolphin encounter. The tour itself was both breathtakingly beautiful and informative, with lots of great history and a thorough knowledge of the coast's features. We were able to get in close to the cliffs and even go into a couple of sea caves. On the way back -- a very bouncy and splashy affair in the best way for those of us who were adventurous enough to sit in the bow -- we stopped at Tunnels Beach to snorkel the outer reef, which was full of tropical fish and turtles. The tour included lunch and refreshments as well. Overall a great way to spend an afternoon -- definitely a 5-star experience. A word to the wise-- the northwest corner of Kaua'i is often rainy and can get a bit cold when the wind is up, so not a bad idea to bring something extra to throw on after you finish the snorkel and are heading back to port.

This is a must do on your trip to Kauai! The coast is stunning but this is a first class experience…read morefrom start to finish. Easy to book, great communication, and a friendly staff. 5 stars for Captain Jake and RJ. They made our day amazing!

If you're looking for a memorable adventure along the Na Pali Coast, this is it! We did the…read moreafternoon tour with Captain Daniel and "Hawaiian" Bryan and these guys really did an excellent job. Keep in mind, this is an exciting, active adventure more than it is a slow, relaxing boat cruise. Because we went in the afternoon, the waters did get pretty choppy at all. But Captain Daniel and Bryan knew how to keep everyone safe and having a good time. Seeing the coastline from the water was truly unforgettable. Na Pali Experience has this excursion down to a science and is well worth your time and money.

So informative. Learned more than I ever knew about chocolate. Very interesting. And so much…read morechocolate to sample!

This was a great last minute stop! Aubrey's first tour showed that she is going to be a…read moreknowledgeable addition. She knew so much about the plants. The tour is longer and has a lot of information but it was very enjoyable!

We had such an amazing cruise along the NaPali coast. Captain Kelly, Luke and one other crew member…read moredid an awesome job. We were greeted by a pod of spinner dolphins riding the waves of our bow. They served up a delicious breakfast and lunch. We got to snorkel up against some majestic sea cliffs and sail along remote valleys and waterfalls on a beautiful turquoise ocean . This is an adventure to experience. We will be back!

The sunset cruise with Holo Holo Charters down the Nāpali Coast was an unforgettable experience. We…read morebooked it to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday, and it was perfect from start to finish. Captain Max was incredible--his sense of humor kept us laughing even as the rain and mist rolled in. The two women on the crew (I wish I could remember their names) were fantastic, making sure everyone was comfortable and answering all our questions with a smile. The playlist on board was spot on, setting the perfect vibe. I wish I could find it on Spotify! Despite the weather, the views were breathtaking, and getting a little drenched just added to the adventure. The food was delicious, especially the smoked pork, salad, and fresh fruit, and my husband loved the mai tais. Even without the sunset, the whole experience was magical. After chatting with other travelers, I'm convinced we had one of the best tours available. especially after talking to a couple at our hotel pool who had paid more than we did and only got snacks limited alcohol. I can't recommend Holo Holo Charters enough, and I'm already looking forward to trying their breakfast or snorkel cruise next time. If you're looking for an amazing adventure, this is it!

We did the 3 hour walking chocolate tour. Heidi was our tour guide. She was awesome!! She truly is…read morewhat she calls herself a "Plant Nerd". And we loved her! We will be back!!

Came on a Tuesday, party of 2, for the 9:30am tour (they only do one 3 hour tour per day), price…read morewas $125 per person. Now I originally was aghast that a botanical garden tour was this expensive, but after doing it, I think it's actually well worth the price. This isn't one of those gardens you can just walk in and wander around - it's guided tours only with staff. Pros: - Probably the most entertaining and varied botanical garden tour I've ever done, complete with a chocolate tasting sit-down learning experience with the guides. - It's BEAUTIFUL - and doubles as a leisurely hike if you're very able-bodied. It felt like a very HAWAII experience given the lush greenery, the number of new plants I had never seen before, and fun facts about Kauai and this specific botanical garden. - There's different "stops" on the tour where you'll get to try more uncommon fruits and bites (we had longan, rambutan, apple banana, sugarcane plant, and this really delicious honey!!) and you get to try a cacao fruit (which tastes nothing like chocolate lol) - they provide organic herbal bug spray if you don't bring your own - Pretty easy to find, the staff were super communicative beforehand via email and text with directions - Our tour guide Lauren was super knowledgeable and answered all our questions kindly, even when she was visibly quite pregnant! I was impressed at her stamina - I personally liked that it was a pretty "active" tour, where you hike across a bridge, uphill a bit, etc. You should definitely wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes, because the dirt can get pretty wet if it rains. I wore hiking pants and hiking shoes and felt pretty comfortable, and I felt sorry for people who came in sandals - The chocolate tasting was really unique - we got to try their in-house chocolate that had notes of cinnamon - and they said that it was a cinnamon tree in their grove where water would pass that gave it this flavor! - They also provide walking sticks and umbrellas for people if you want them - Reservation only, online booking in advance - I think this preserves the magical vibe of this nature-y place and keeps the quality of the service high - The staff clearly love and care about what they do, which is very refreshing to see! Cons: - It can be pretty strenuous if you are elderly or have orthopedic issues.

From start to finish this company gave me the most fantastic kayaking experience that I've ever…read morehad. From the most amazing sea caves to shear cliff walls- nothing fell short of just plain jaw-droppin. My guide Mitch was solid and very well experienced. All concerns were addressed with lots of extras added in/ like everything to know about the island! Trip was well catered with food and cold drinks when needed. They went the extra mile- no doubt! I'll be back!!! July 2026 Steve ellisen

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.

Staff was great and geared the activity for our group with some less and others more experienced on…read morethe kayak and zip-line. The hikes were easy to moderate with plenty of rest opportunities. Prepare to get wet - whether on the kayak, on the hike (we had stops at 2 different water holes), or on the boat ride back as you go into the trade winds. If you are looking for a zip-line centric tour there are other tours you should pick out side the "zip line safari". Our tour included 2 zip lines, so enough to fulfill the need to fly but not hours of zip-lines back-to-back. This tour is more about the kayak up the river and the hike through some beautiful, undisturbed nature.

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!

We stopped by the Waipa self-serve fridge for a slice of lilikoi cheesecake and ended up grabbing a…read moresavory bread pudding as well. This little kiosk is super cute and there are signs for the self-serve fridge when you turn in from the main road. It's an honor system and they take cash or Venmo. Loved the lilikoi cheesecake which had a super buttery crust and the cheesecake was nice and creamy. The passionfruit jam on top added a great tart punch of flavor. The bread pudding was a great surprise! Such a yummy snack to share it had local purple sweet potato chunks, mushroom and local kale in the bread pudding and the pesto on the side was super flavorful. I'd come back just for the bread pudding and for $8, it was a big slice for sharing!

Incredible experience with fantastic guides in Emma and Jasmyn. What Waipa is doing to keep…read moreHawaiian culture alive, while helping the community without catering to tourists like us is amazing. We felt welcomed, but learned and understood the deep respect for the land they work for. Highlight of our time on Kaua'i and we will be back. Side note our teen daughter still talks about Jasmyn and remembers everything she said, real impact and n future generation.

Beautiful gardens and great selection of herbal medicine…read more The team here is incredibly knowledgeable and helped me find the right products I needed to nourish my skin. I love their culinary powders as well- makes my curry and soup taste amazing!! Thank you

KAUAI FARMACY is off the beaten path and I love it…read more They offer Tea Tasting Events and we couldn't make it to those so I figured we could drive up there to check out the store anyway. Well, the "shop" is actually a small trailer beside their lanai, which they were busy setting up for lunch for their farm workers. How cool was that? I don't think anyone is supposed to be there when there is no Tea Tasting Event, but they were gracious enough to accomodate us and even allowed us to buy tea drinks. Like they made it for us and served it! I might have ruined it for everyone else now though and they will make sure that they are closed outside of the event times. Sorry! The LOVE POTION TEA was weirdly soothing. Felt like I was wrapped in a blanket indoors looking out of a window on a rainy day. The TROPICAL HIBISCUS felt like I was in a tropical island. Oh wait... Anyway, I love how I couldn't really pinpoint the flavors, but the feelings the tea evoked is clear. Tasted, and bought, some honeys too. Interesting take on the honeys. They had spices and nuts so they were more like marmalades that honeys that you could add to your teas. The garden is beautiful. There is limited parking, but it's surrounded by beautiful greeneries, fruits and flowering plants. It was a beautiful outing for sure.

Got me the best list of things to do and companies to use highly suggest!!! Located in the best…read moreshopping better you can't miss it

A lovely little booth with all the attractions we were wishing for in one place Larraine was so…read morehelpful finding us exactly what we were looking for. We ended up booking only 2 activities as we had such little time on the island. We did the Princeville helicopter ride and horseback riding...such incredible experiences!! We especially loved the helicopter, highly recommend :)