This was a wonderful day and well worth the time and money. Who wouldn't want a tour of the island…read moreby a private driver and seeing the sites by someone who lives and breaths Hawaii? We learned things we never knew even after 20 years of visiting the island. Saw some amazing homes and the history of who lives there, saw beach's that we had no idea were there, and just had an amazing day talking about the history of Kuaui. Steve who was our driver for the day was very informative and we enjoyed the day with him immensely. We couldn't have asked for a better day! Would definitely do it again!

Our family, party of 5, all adults, took this tour on 6/14/23. Bart was our "tour" guide. He was…read moreanything but a tour guide. Very nice man, but this was not a tour. It was a car service. Bart did not share any history about the island. He only shared movie/tv knowledge. He did not share any cultural or historical knowledge. Don't waste your money or time! If you have a rental car, you can see everything for yourself. We paid for the "Ultimate Kaiya Private Tour, " which cost our family $1600.00 (with tip). The ONLY reason we tipped is because we feel it's important to support the local economy, and as I shared Bart was a nice guy. We did contact the business about our concerns, and they gave us a canned response telling us that they will tell Bart to do better. Hence the reason I am taking it to this review so that others can be warned. We feel we were dupped and that this business has unethical practices.

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.

Great trip all went as expected and guides were excellent. We had calm seas but were prepared for…read morethe more typical energetic waters.

My husband and I had an amazing trip. The guides (Mitch and Rory) were so knowledgeable and so…read morehelpful. We went on the tour group 2nd trip of the season, and the seas were pretty rough, but the views were incredible, and the guides made sure we were well taken care of. We didn't get motion sick, but someone on the trip did, even though they took dramamine. The last 3-4 miles, we had a crazy headwind, so the last stretch took a while (it was such a slog), and it was 7pm by the time we got to Polihale. Mitch ended up getting us all dinner on the way back, to make sure all of us were able to eat dinner before all the restaurants closed. It was a long trip and quite the slog at the end, but the whole experience was incredible. Would highly recommend IF you're ready to handle potentially rough seas, winds, falling in, and a lot of paddling. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Absolutely loved our Na Pali Coast tour with North Shore Charters. Spencer and Matt were very…read moreknowledgeable and helped us spot spinner dolphins, turtles, and all the epic spots on the coast. Snorkeling spot was legit as well on the way back near Tunnels. Would recommend as the Anini Beach departure is ideal for folks on the North Shore! Janelle was also very communicative via email to help organize too.

Amazing aloha and core memories made multiple times throughout our trip. We loved it all - amazing…read moreviews, great 4x4 trails, and the waterfall at the end was the icing on the cake.

Capt. Mike and crew were absolutely amazing!! The father/son crew were very friendly and outgoing…read more Incredible service from start to finish. We booked this trip during our Hawaii cruise and super glad we did. The boat handled the waters beautifully, with minimal water coming over the bow, and the seas were very choppy the day we went out. Saw a bunch of amazing sites, caves, beaches, and waterfalls! Highly, highly recommend this charter.

Super-highly recommended. Our crew was A'a and Liliana, both terrifically competent and let…read moreeveryone take turns sitting near the bow, where the view is best. We were also blessed with terrific weather and smooth morning water which makes a huge difference. Reportedly the water can become choppy in the afternoon.

Holoholo charters was my 8 year olds, and mines, most memorable and adventurous activity on…read moreKawaii!!! The boat, the crew and the Captain, took us on one hell of an adventure! If you're looking for some of the best snorkeling on Kawaii and a great trip, I highly recommend, Holoholo charters all day adventure!!!

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!

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.

We had an amazing time on our visit to Princeville Botanical Gardens. The vast beauty of the…read moregardens were surreal. Our guide was wonderful and knowledgeable. She answered questions and explain many details of the tour. Along the way we tasted many fruits grown in the garden. The chocolate tasting was more than just a tasting. We learned so much and enjoyed many varieties of chocolate. It is truly an interactive tour. We had several younger people and it was wonderful seeing them ask questions and engage with the group.

My husband and I did the Deluxe Nā Pali Snorkel & Sunset Tour on 06/14/26 at 1:00 p.m., and we had…read moresuch a great time! The catamaran was big, clean, and really nice. We passed by a Captain Andy's catamaran during the tour, and ours honestly looked better. Ours even had a second deck, while theirs didn't, which gave everyone more space to spread out and take pictures without feeling crowded. The four crew members were all helpful and friendly. The food was also surprisingly delicious and honestly, it was even better than the food we had at the luau we went to! Overall, it was an awesome experience, and we'd definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kauai.

For most recreational sailors, 20-knot winds with 5-foot seas would be considered moderately rough…read moreto challenging, depending on the boat and the crew. Here's a practical classification: * Wind: 20 knots (23 mph) * Fresh breeze (Beaufort Force 5) * Whitecaps are common. * Reefing the sails is often recommended. * Experienced sailors generally enjoy these conditions. * Beginners may find them intimidating. * Seas: 5 feet * Moderate waves with regular swells. * Boats will pitch and roll noticeably. * Spray over the bow is common. * Can become uncomfortable, especially for smaller boats. Overall rating * For a 20- to 30-foot sailboat: Challenging. Suitable only for experienced sailors. * For a 35- to 45-foot cruising sailboat: Moderate to moderately rough. Manageable with proper sail handling. * For beginners or passengers: Rough and potentially uncomfortable. If you're asking about a sailing excursion in Kauaʻi I'd classify 20 knots and 5-foot seas as: * Marginal to poor for a leisurely sightseeing sail. * Acceptable for experienced crews on larger, well-equipped catamarans. * Not ideal if your goal is a smooth, relaxing cruise or if you have balance issues or are prone to seasickness. Given what I know about your mobility and balance, I would recommend waiting for conditions closer to: * Wind: 10-15 knots or less * Seas: 2-4 feet Those conditions are generally much more comfortable and enjoyable for most passengers. This a money making joke. I tried to get a refund because I walk with a cain. There response tuff luck I should not have booked.