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Kauai Tours & Activities

If you want to spend every single day of your Kauai vacation cruising the ocean blue with us and taking all the different Kauai boat tours Holo Holo Charters has to offer, we would absolutely love that! Realistically though, you’re probably trying to plan a trip with a little more variety when it comes to activities and we don’t blame you– although the island of Kauai only spans about 550 square miles, she’s got a lot to offer.

Plenty of Kauai’s classic experiences are simple and straightforward, like going to the beach or exploring the island’s many unique and charming towns. Then again, other excursions require specialty gear, knowledge, and professionals to guide the way. On this page, we’ve listed five activities besides ocean boating that are fun, adventurous, and led by responsible, experienced, and respected tour operators.

Our suggestions include hiking, surfing, off-roading, kayaking, and helicopter/airplane tours. We hope these recommendations help you build an itinerary for the Kauai vacation of your dreams!

While there are quite a few self-guided hiking opportunities on Kauai, sometimes it’s comforting to go with someone that confidently take you off the beaten path, carry the First Aid kit, tell you about local history, flora and fauna, and importantly– help you choose the optimal trail for your group’s time-frame and ability, depending on the island’s constantly changing weather conditions. Our friends at Kauai Hiking Tours are ready to customize any hiking tour (or driving tour for that matter)  and will take excellent care of you. Like Holo Holo Charters, they’re certified by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association and committed to sharing Kauai responsibly and with maximum aloha.

Surfing is an incredibly grounding and inspiring activity that, unfortunately, can also be quite intimidating. We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be with the professional and patient instructors at Kauai Surf School! Learning to surf is easy and fun with its proven curriculum, teaching methods, and modern equipment. Whether you’re looking for a single afternoon lesson for one, a multi-day, multi-person clinic, or a week-long surfing camp that includes accommodations for the entire family, Kauai Surf School in sunny Poipu is happy to help you out and will have you and your crew riding waves in no time.

The fine people at Kipu Ranch, a 3,000-acre privately-owned cattle ranch on the southeast side of Kauai, invite you to get behind the wheel of your own private utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and explore their unique and scenic property on one of their 4×4, off-road adventures. Like Holo Holo Charters and Kauai Hiking Tours, Kipu Ranch Adventures is certified by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, meaning that you can have fun, get muddy, and feel great about doing it with a company committed to environmental and cultural sustainability.

A kayak trip up the Wailua River to Secret Falls has it all—get some exercise, hike in the rainforest, wade through streams, and then refresh yourself, swimming in a pool underneath a 120’ waterfall. Kayakers of all abilities will feel safe and confident on the easy-going Wailua River, especially with a competent guide to help you launch, provide instruction, carry safety equipment, tell you stories, and make you laugh along the way. Our pals at Ali’I Kayaks will do just that on their rock-solid eco-adventures out of Kapaa.

And finally, we recommend Ali’I Air Tours and Charters for helicopter and airplane excursions. Their company has more than thirty years of experience flying in Hawaii and an excellent safety record. From a thrilling doors-off helicopter tour of Kauai (not for the faint of heart!) to an airplane jaunt over historic Pearl Harbor, Ali’I Air Tours and Charters has got you covered. Operating out of airports on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (the Big Island), Molokai, and Lanai allows Ali’I to accommodate almost any private charter you can possibly dream of.