Holo Holo Blog

Best thing to do on Kauai Back in Holo Holo Charters’ development days—circa 1997—our up-and-coming company was looking for a niche, something to make us stand out amongst Kauai’s existing boat tour companies. Everyone was going to the Napali Coast, for obvious reasons—Napali is one of the most breathtaking and iconic coastlines in the world….

For Kauai’s local sailing community, it’s all about Thursday evenings—race night! On the east side of the island is Nawiliwili Harbor, the home of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club and our race league. Throughout the year, there are several series in which, on any given week, eight to twelve boats compete for well, bragging rights mostly….

Kauai Boat Tour Company Voted One of the Best Boat Tours in the US for the Last 3 Years: 2021, 2020, and 2019. Kauai boat tour company Holo Holo Charters was recently voted the second-best boat tour in the nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest. Coming in on the list are…

At Holo Holo Charters we feel it’s our kuleana (responsibility) to help mainstream sustainability and ecotourism in the State of Hawaii. In 2019 we created company-wide environmental and sustainable improvements and then  implemented them into our operations. Holo Holo Charters is the only certified boat charter company on Kaua’i to be a member of STAH…

Niihau- The forbidden island While on the shores of west Kaua’i, you may find yourself gazing at the mysterious Hawaiian “Forbidden Island” of Ni’ihau in the distance. With only the silhouette of the island visible, your imagination may start to wonder about this seemingly timeless and untouched place. Niihau pronounced [ nee-ee-hah-oo, nee-hou ] While…

Favorite Thanksgiving Dessert Recipe of the Holo Holo Charters ‘Ohana Food is a huge component of social life here in the islands, right down to its many mouth-watering desserts! For many locals, there is nothing better than island-style potlucks and family gatherings. Most gatherings involve food, and no Hawai’i meal is complete without dessert. The…

Tuesday, October 1st: Captain Aaron and crew on Holo Holo Charters’ Adventurer II spotted the first humpback whale of the season about a mile off Ke’e Beach. The vessel was carrying 24 passengers who all witnessed the whale leaping out of the water, which allowed the Captain to properly identify the animal as a humpback…

A historical harbor, now more commonly known as Kaua’i’s boating paradise! Located on the west side of Kaua’i at Hanapepe Bay, twenty nautical miles from Nawiliwili, Port Allen is the island’s second-largest harbor. It’s the main launching point for most of the islands deep-sea fishing and Napali Coast boat tours. The harbor has two 600-foot…

Napali Coast & Niihau – Casting Call September 1st, 2019 7:00am – 5:00pm for Niihau + Napali Coast Super Tour / 7:00am – 5:00pm for Napali Snorkel Sail Tour Holo Holo Charters is looking for active and adventurous people of all ages and ethnicities to participate in an upcoming photo and video shoot. Solo travelers, couples, and families (children ages 6-18 years) are invited to join us for a fun day on the water while we capture footage of the experience. Photos and videos will be used to educate visitors about traveling responsibly on Kauai with www.holoholopono.com and to promote our unique tours. Requirements: must be able to swim and snorkel, be physically capable of moving around a moving vessel and do not get motion sickness. Passenger policy applies, we do not allow anyone who is pregnant, has recent…

In their double-hulled canoes, ancient Polynesians would travel thousands of miles to find undiscovered islands. The Polynesians didn’t have compasses or sextants, so how did they find their way in these uncharted seas? They relied on their surroundings: the wind, stars, waves, birds, dolphins, and other sea life. Ancient Polynesians used all aspects of nature…

Story written in the Hawaiian language of ‘Olelo, which survives on Ni’ihau. Featuring a father and son Pulani & Ka’oli Kahokuloa. Hasselblad medium format film photography by Kit Furderer. “Holoholo me ta ite o na Kanaka Maoli.” Adventure with the wisdom of the Native Hawaiians. Hawaiians often greeted each other by sharing ha, or their…

To say that we are humbled would be a huge understatement; we were elated to find that we had been nominated as part of USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards, as one of the 20 Best Boat Tours in the US, but when the results came in we were floored to find out we had been voted #5 on the list! We would like to say thank you for standing behind us and for supporting us in all the ways that you do. It is wonderful to know that our Aloha Spirit Service, Kauai-built boats, our amazing staff and community outreach has a place in your heart! Since our beginning in 1997, we have been striving every day to be unconditionally accepted island wide as the best all-around boat tour company on Kauai, and that applies to all aspects of the…

With lush emerald spires and majestic 4,000-foot cliffs, it is no surprise that the Napali Coast is one of the crown jewels of Kaua’i. Polihale is the beginning of this precious jewel. With its long stretch of white sandy beach seamlessly colliding into the beautiful cliffs of the Napali Coast, plus a rich history rooted…

Interview with Mrs. Hawaii, Shannon Daliva, proud member of the Holo Holo Charters team! We are lucky to say that we’ve got some amazing individuals that make up our Holo Holo Charters team! A perfect example of this is our Human Resources Manager, Shannon Daliva, who for the past year has held the title of…

Our “Restaurant on the Water” is Certified Ocean-Friendly! Holo Holo Charters is proud to be partnered with Surfrider Foundation and join its team of passionate “Coastal Defenders” Holo Holo Charters received the Ocean Friendly Restaurant certification in 2018. Removing single-use plastics was accomplished many years ago, with a commitment to utilize reusable dishes, flatware and…

Hawaiian lifestyle & model of sustainability that cares for the entire community Native Hawaiians created land divisions called ahupua’a to expertly manage the island resources in order to provide for their island communities. The ahupua’a consisted of a slice of land, shaped like a piece of pie, that starts narrow at the top of the…

The Ni’ihau Shell Lei is the rarest and only insurable shell in the world Ni’ihau is probably most famous for the Ni’ihau shell necklaces or lei, which are handcrafted on-island. There are four species of Ni’ihau shells, or Pupu ‘O Ni’ihau. These shells are very unique, and they are found only on the island of…

Voyage with us to become part of our ‘Ohana! At Holo Holo Charters, when you voyage with us, you become part of our ‘ohana (family). An ‘ohana designates a special relationship, it is a commitment to care for, respect, and honor one another. It represents an everlasting connection between people; we are honored when you…

Nowadays, people want to come back with a story about the place they visited. They want authenticity. The island of Kaua’i not only offers incredible boating destinations, its historical wonder set it far apart from all the other Hawaiian Islands. Holo Holo Charters would like to share a true story about the first American deep-sea luxury yacht and its connection with Kaumuali’i,…