Holo Holo Blog

Can you believe that the very first movie ever filmed on Kauai was released in 1934? Nineteen thirty-four!! The one-hour-and-two-minute movie, White Heat, was directed by an influential female director Lois Weber, and examines the angst caused by mixed-race relationships on a sugar plantation. It was filmed on location in Waimea! Since White Heat (almost…

Sometime during this past decade, the Turkish beach towel arrived on the American scene. At first, it wasn’t clear if these Middle Eastern materials were just having a “moment” among trendy, wanderlust-types, or if the fad would stick. But now it’s 2022 and they’re sold at Costco; it’s safe to say the product has “made…

Great news friends! After a two-year Covid-hiatus, the Kauai Brewers Festival—arguably the hippest and certainly the hoppiest community event on the island—is back this spring! Come see and be seen at the Poipu Beach Athletic Club on Saturday, April 9, from 2-6pm. Craft breweries from Hawaii and the mainland will be pouring dozens of brews,…

Holo Holo Charters hosts several student groups annually during whale season for an incredible two-hour journey on a Keiki Marine Life Excursion. This outdoor educational experience offers students a deeper understanding and appreciation for our humpback whales and other marine life, it’s an opportunity to learn about the island and ocean ecosystems, plus it’s a…

It would be convenient if every one of our Napali Coast boat tours worked out exactly as described here on our web page, but that will never happen. We can control our staff, we can control our boats, but we’ll never be able to control Mother Nature, and the fact is that some days, the…

Part of our big-picture mission here at Holo Holo Charters is to attract healthy, happy humans that make the world a better place, and to foster a stable, fulfilling work environment that makes them stay. Our Assistant Operations Manager, Jess Rickard, really embodies that ideal, and we’d like to take this blog post to recognize…

It’s humpback whale season in Hawaii and it’s like the nature channel out on the Napali Coast. Last week, one of our Napali Coast Tours was extra-blessed to witness a humpback whale birth! It was the afternoon of Wednesday, February 2nd and the tour was on Leila, our sailing catamaran. Holo Holo crew member Cinzia…

“One bite of a Kauai Coffee Coconut Caramel Crunch Brownie & you’ll instantly be transported to paradise!” Have you ever asked yourself can food make me happy? Hmmm… I suppose combining two of our favorite things, coffee, and chocolate into a bite-size brownie could possibly do just that and put a huge smile on your…

It’s Five o’clock Somewhere Listen, we’ve heard all the Jimmy Buffett songs and we know that boat drinks can really soften the edges and enhance an ocean experience. We get it and we’re here for you with a well-rounded selection of adult beverages. Here’s what we’re offering as of October 2021: Beer brewing in Hawaii…

You know, it’s interesting because, for as many songs as there are about cars and driving, there’s really not that many about boats. There’s plenty of great music to listen to on a boat (it’s music–pretty much everything works depending on your mood), but songs that are actually boat-themed? Surprisingly not that many! Here are…

Kauai is an excellent destination for a family vacation. It’s laid back, it’s safe and there are plenty of kid-friendly activities to enjoy, on top of simply going to the beach. Here are some ideas for your family vacation on Kauai. First suggestion is that, in the spirit of being more connected and intentional about…

Kauai is a lot of things and expensive is one of them. Getting here is expensive, being here is expensive, living here is expensive… there’s just no getting around it. That’s why you might be looking for some ideas for activities that are free—so you can make the most of every moment of your trip…

Holo Holo Charters has voluntarily participated in NOAA’s Dolphin SMART program for over a decade. We feel it’s our privilege and responsibility to protect the marine life and fragile ecosystems we enjoy everyday. The Dolphin SMART program is in place to promote responsible stewardship of wild dolphins in coastal waterways. Unfortunately, not all tour operators…

Let’s take a minute to recognize and appreciate the dedicated catering team that keeps our guests well-fed on the water, Rose and Bros! Rose and Bros is run by a local southside couple, Kai and Shay, who named their company after their three kids, Akira Rose (six years old) and her two brothers, Kanoa (10…

Port Allen, Kaua’I – Baby Humpback Whale is The First Sighting in Kaua’i Waters During the 2021-2022 Humpback Whale Season! Captain Mike Lynch of Holo Holo Charters spotted the first humpback whale of the season in Kaua’i waters this past Saturday, October 2, 2021. Holo Holo Charters’ vessel Leila, was just a quarter-mile off…

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and their survival is inextricably linked to our own. In addition to providing nesting grounds and homes for thousands of species, they also help stabilize the ocean floor, prevent coastal erosion, minimize storm surge damage, contribute to the mitigation of climate change, filter…

The first thing we want to say about snorkeling on Kauai is this: please be cautious about it. Snorkeling fatalities on Kauai aren’t super common but they’re not super uncommon either and you can imagine how tragic it would be to leave Hawaii with one less person than you came with. It makes us shudder…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the entire country’s restaurant industry is struggling to gain its footing again now that we’re in the “comeback” phase of Covid-19. Here on Kauai, we live on a rock, and the situation is no different. Every day it’s getting better, but realistically– expect some challenges…

Best things to do on Kauai Best Sunrise—Are you an early riser? Grab a coffee at Java Kai in downtown Kapaa and head to Fuji Beach (also known as Baby Beach) at the end of Moanakai Rd. There’s a picnic table where you can sit and sip and watch the colors on the horizon change…

Kōkeʻe State Park: After the hustle and bustle of your wedding, you might be ready to escape to nature and if so, the “Grand Canyon of Hawaiʻi” is just the place. Whether you’re looking to burn off all that cake and champagne with a challenging 8-mile hike, enjoy a casual stroll with incredible views, or…

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…

Kaua’i Boat Tour Company Wins the Hearts of USA Today’s Readers “Find out why the owner of a New York Online Expedition Company, a Los Angeles TV Travel Host and the Black Tomato all nominated this Kaua’i Boat Tour Company for USA Today’s 2019 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards” Port Allen, Kaua’i, Hawai’i (June 27, 2019)…

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…

Kauai Visitors Pledge Online to Holo Holo (Travel) Responsibly “It’s a win-win for the responsible traveler when they take the Holo Holo Pono Pledge”   Port Allen, Kaua’i, Hawaii – March 14, 2019 Did you know that traveling responsibly can lead to more exhilarating adventures? Holo Holo Charters, a 20-year-old, locally-owned boat tour company, understands…

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…

New, Authentic, Hawaiian Cultural and Educational Tour Launches on the Oldest Island in Hawai’i – Kaua’i “Na Waiwai, native Hawaiian land & sea exploration fulfills biggest buzz word in Hawaii tourism industry.” Port Allen, Kaua’i, Hawaii – March 29, 2019 Are you looking for a purposeful activity, combined with cultural immersions, infused with the thrill of adventure? Holo Holo Charters teamed up with the National Tropical Botanical Gardens to launch Na Waiwai, an interactive guided land and sea tour rooted in Kaua’i history, for visitors of all ages. “Our goal at Holo Holo Charters is to provide memorable experiences for our valued passengers, while sharing the Hawaiian culture, history, and values. Our Kaua’i tour, Na Waiwai, gives visitors a one-of-a-kind Native Hawaiian cultural experience” says Chandra Bertsch, General Manager of Holo Holo Charters. According to Paula Simpson Takamori, owner of Travel…

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,…