While staying in Princeville, we decided to check out Queen's Bath, and it was absolutely worth the…read moreeffort. Parking in front of the entrance is extremely limited, and the surrounding residential area doesn't allow non-permitted parking. I ended up dropping off my wife and her friend so they could start the trek while I parked at the nearby golf course, which added about a half-mile walk to the entrance. From the entrance, the hike down to Queen's Bath is about half a mile. It's not too long, but there are a few tricky spots that require some careful footing. It's definitely manageable for most people, including kids, as long as you take your time. Once you arrive, you're rewarded with a beautiful natural tide pool filled with seawater and fish. Some people were even jumping from the surrounding rocks into the water below. The spot was lively, with plenty of tourists and families making the hike down to enjoy the view and the experience. A little extra work to get there, but the payoff is huge. Queen's Bath is a must-see if you're in Princeville.

Was pretty excited about this one, but didn't adequately research it. Just saw the 4.4* rating on…read moreYelp and assumed it would be like any other beach. Plus I had chatted with a local and while she did note that there was a walk to get to QB, she also called it "no big deal." So we show up in flip flops, wanting to check out QB quickly before heading out for another excursion at 11:00 AM. Huge mistake. It had been raining and the "no big deal" walk was an epic disaster in flip flops. One of us fell multiple times, and Kauai mud stains are VERY difficult to remove. No one even wanted to scramble down the rocks to the Bath area after getting covered in mud on the way down. We just went back to the hotel room, where I nearly used up a whole bottle of Oxi Clean MaxForce trying to get mud stains out of our bathing suits and towels. This one just isn't for me, but if you know what you're up against going in, it's probably a lot more enjoyable. To my wry amusement, we saw some little kid dropping F bombs on his way up the path as we were headed down, so we clearly weren't the only ones who had bitten off more than we could chew that day, lol.

Absolutely gorgeous area, we stopped here during our roadtrip while visiting Hawaii back in 2022;…read morethis was a beautiful area, green, fresh breath of good air and peaceful. We did a full day of hiking nearby and it was a gem to see the valley.

Very pretty lookout! Not something to drive out of your way to go see, but a great few minute stop…read moreif you're passing by. Very peaceful since there usually isn't a lot of cars driving past at once

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 did this tour as a family, over Thanksgiving. The guide is the owner. She is enthusiastic,…read moreknowledgeable, and, as my wife and the other women in the group noted, glamorous for someone toiling in the fields. Basically the activity turns on her story telling. Her accounts of flash flooding are vivid. She sure is accomplished. Her anecdotes are authentic, sincere, and funny. There isn't all that much walking, and they bring chairs out for people who need to sit. One fellow fell over in the mud (the leg of the stool sank and he toppled over; he was unhurt). There are three parts. First, there is the taro farm. Second, there is the rice mill. Third, there is lunch. The taro farm is a real, multi-generation family enterprise. I don't understand how they make money. It looks as if it is all done by hand. And taro is not a luxury item. You help them gather the eggs of invasive snails. Presumably they have some other task if needed and that doesn't work. The rice mill is fascinating. It's too bad it doesn't work anymore. You look at everything that has ben restored. You also drink fresh coconut milk, extracted right from the gourd in front of you, and you eat tarot snacks they make as you watch. The lunch is excellent. We enjoyed, among us, all of the menu choices. The quantities also are vast. The food truck would be worth visiting on its own, without any of the rest of the activities.

If you are looking for a unique tour on the North Shore or you want to step back it to old…read moreHawai'iI, you have to check out the taro and rice mill tour. know a taro farm and rice mill tour may not on the top of your Kaua'i to do list but if you like its definitely worth checking out, especially if history is your thing. The tour is conducted by Lyndsey, a fifth generation farmer, who had grown up out in the taro fields. She makes the tour worth while. Yes, everything you will learn and see is educational and quite fun. And, the food and smoothies are fantastic enough that you will probably want to stop there stand for more the next time you are in Hanalei, but Lyndsey just puts it over the top. You could tell how much she loves her family, their farm, and educating others about their tradition and what they do. First, after meeting at Hanalei Taro & Juice and sampling an ono smoothie made with taro, we headed down the road a bit to go see one of their many, many taro fields. The view was nothing short of breathtaking. There we learned about taro and how its grown and some of the history of farm. She also educated us on the endangered birds the lived in and around farm, which is located on a wildlife refuge. There we did the first hands on activity. If you wanted you could help pick up and collect apple snails and their eggs. It may sound a tad gross but it wasn't at all. I don't really even know how to describe the tool you use to remove them, besides saying that it looked like a metal kitchen strainer attached to a long pole. After the fields we stopped at the rice mill. The mill is no longer in use but the history behind it is incredible. After touring the inside of the mill and looking at old family photos and artifacts we finally got to try the taro. We drank coconut water from a coconut cute open in front of us. We also got to taste taro which was cooked, mashed, and mixed with shredded coconut straight from coconut we just drank from. It was delicious. I've had poi at luaus but this was nothing like that. It was the consistency of mashed potatoes (and those not poi but and other dish) so good. My dad had five servings he loved it so much. At the end of the tour you are taken back to the family's taro and juice cart for lunch. The kalua pig was out of this world. I have tried the kalua pig at at least 20 places on Kaua'i, but their pig, along with the Koloa Fish Market's are my all time favorites. Their taro mochi is a much try! I can't even begin to describe how much I am obsessed with their mochi.

The new viewpoint is well worth seeing. Highly recommend it. So much better with great parking and…read more2 overlooks. Should be better signed from the highway.

08/19/2017 Driving…read moreby one afternoon we spied this rest stop outlook and had to take a look. We were disappointed to find out the refuge is closed to the public. I was so looking forward to bird watching and sightseeing. But I suppose if they let tourists in the endangered birds might not thrive. Maybe someday they will open it up when the bird numbers increase. Looking forward to that. Established in 1972, this 917 acre refuge was created to conserve five species of endangered waterbirds; Koloa maoli (Hawaiian Duck), the Ae'o (Hawaiian Stilt), 'Alae ke'oke'o (Hawaiian Coot), the 'Alae'ula (Hawaiian Common Moorhen), and Nene (Hawaiian Goose). The refuge is not open to the public but can be seen from the outlook and the Okolehao hiking trail (listed as strenuous) runs directly above the refuge. Hanalei has been used to cultivate taro & rice for the last 1,000 years. 186 acres of the refuge is farmed for taro under a special use permit. Approximately 23 species of waterfowl and 19 species of shorebirds have been seen. White-faced Ibis, Brant, and Osprey are among this long list. 45 species of birds visit the refuge throughout the year.

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.

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!

My husband and I did the sunset dinner tour to the Na Pali coast with this company a couple weeks…read moreago on 4/1/26 at 2:45pm. Price was $250 per person and we booked a couple days before the tour date. (we went at the end of March - the weather was fantastic and not too hot, also not raining). Although it was pricey, I felt like it was worth the experience and highly recommend anyone do a tour, even if it's not with this company. We got back to shore around 7-7:30pm, so total time was 5 hours ish. Pros: - the Na Pali coast is BEAUTIFUL - the views were truly a once in a life time experience for me and I saw the fullest rainbow I've ever seen - The tour guide was super informative, we learned a lot about whales, and they also taught us a lot about certain mountains and waterfalls that we passed on the Na Pali Coast (like where Kauai kings were buried). - We stopped to watch whales multiple times and it was really cool! - The 3 staff working on board the ship were extremely helpful in answering questions, providing drinks, and instructing people from a safety perspective - Safety - I felt very well taken care of the whole time. It's a barefoot cruise but people can choose to keep their shoes on if they want. They provided bags for people feeling nauseous and gave good advice when people were feeling seasick. - Food provided - it's not fine dining or anything (chicken teriyaki, salad, etc) but it does beat having to pack your own food or go hungry around dinner time. Also unlimited alcohol or nonalcoholic drinks. - The staff helped us take photos and there's a lot of great photo opportunities at the coast - Champagne toast at sunset, which was beautiful to watch out on the water - bathrooms available on board - My husband didn't feel like eating on board due to the motion sickness so they were kind enough to pack a to-go box for us! - Parking was easy and the meet up location was easy to find - we stood outside for most of the ride since it felt better than sitting inside, so we did get a bunch of sea-spray and got super wet from the 10 ft swells, but it felt really fun! Cons: - I think they need to put a huge disclaimer with statistics or something to show people how common it is for people to get seasick and vomit. I think maybe 5 people from our whole boat got really sick and either fell or vomited during the trip (can feel a little weird enjoying the beautiful view while someone smells like vomit next to you lol). They do tell you at the beginning that you can walk away and get a full refund after hearing the captain briefing during the meet up starting spot, but I don't think they really emphasize just how many people get sick. I personally felt fine but I felt really bad for people who had to gut through the five hour round trip feeling terrible. bring Dramamine!! This was definitely a highlight of my first time in Kauai, I wouldn't necessarily do it more than once due to the price, but it was a fantastic experience for the views!

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.

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.