Kayak Wailua — Local services in Kauai

This was by far one of the most memorable experiences our family had while in Kuaui. We did not have high expectations, however, thought we would enjoy ourselves by being able to experience the island via a kayak. We almost didn’t get off to a good start due to us showing up right on time. When they say, arrive 30 minutes early, they are not kidding. They were in the process of getting ready to leave when we showed up. The good thing, for us, was we had our waivers signed and were ready to go. Had we arrived any later they would have left us, so please heed their warnings about arriving when they recommend.

Our professional, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guides were Inana and Lisa. They were patient, kind, and helpful with everyone on the trip. Not to mention they cared about everyone’s safety by consistently reminding everyone before and during the trip as to what we needed to be mindful of. Once we got onto the river it was a 2 mile kayak down the river with a a lot of other competing tour companies. Kayak Wailua focused on keeping all of us together and ensuring we stayed away from the boats and other kayakers that were going down the river. At about the 2 mile marker we came to our resting point to then hike 1 mile into what I will call the jungle. Inana went nice and slow, guiding us around trees and rocks, and educating us on the local plants, trees, and the river.

We had water shoes with tread and they held up quiete well on a relatively easy hike. I say easy because it will be subjective due to your overall fitness and ability. The trail is very uneven, slippery, and there is some light climbing that may prove to be difficult for some. Regardless, since we went nice and slow it is manageable. After about a mile we came to a waterfall where we remained for about 45 minutes to explore the area, eat our light lunch, and take some scenic photos. Then it was back the way we came, in reverse.

I can probably keep going, however, you get the picture. Great time, great memories, and great value for what we experienced. We would definitely...

Over the past half century, this was our third visit to Kauai and our first time kayaking and trekking along the Wailua River to Secret Falls. We are glad that we finally did, because we are now aged in our late seventies and may not be able to do it at an older age. The activity level of the tour is described as medium, however for people of an advanced age who may not be as physically fit as us, it might be difficult to hike such a long distance. There were no large inclines to climb, but there was an abundance of slippery shin deep mud along many portions of the trail. Nevertheless, despite any of the aforementioned difficulties, we highly recommend this adventure. Though it can be done privately, a six hour adventure such as this should really be done as a guided group tour with a reputable company. We were extremely glad to have done it with the Kayak Wailua Company and particularly with Leigh as our tour guide. From the very start, Leigh demonstrated great competence with her instructions and advice. We’re especially glad we followed her advice in selecting the free “loaner shoes” from the great varieties of sizes and styles available, to trek the mud rather than wear our own shoes. Kayaking the river for a couple miles upstream and back was made much simpler with Leigh as our guide, and we were especially glad to have her with us trekking through the mud. The Secret Falls destination makes the entire adventure well worthwhile especially if you venture under the falls to feel and hear the cascade of tons of cool water pounding your head. It was a highlight of our vacation. We were in a group with five younger couples each in tandem kayaks and Leigh was helpful to all. As seniors, we are used to condescension, but at no time while Leigh gave us a great deal of attention did it feel condescending. In fact, after the tour we now communicate with this remarkable woman as Facebook friends. Gail &...

We highly recommend Kayak Wailua for an informative, well-rounded, fun, and affordable adventure. My husband and I are outdoor enthusiasts (though, admittedly, we are better at trail running and hiking than kayaking..;) ) and really wanted to do a guided adventure on the island. We were also on a budget, so we had difficulty finding one to fit in. Kayak Wailua was able to deliver!!

The information on the website, communication and emails leading up to the event are spot on. Very helpful and professional. Also, they are very thorough about what to expect, so there is no way for you to come unprepared, unless you don't read the emails...

Check in was a breeze, and we got to hang with some pups before meeting our awesome guide, Lisa, and driver, Jason. Lisa offered a comprehensive orientation, accessible to beginners and avid kayakers alike.

It was a short drive to the marina where we put in. From here, I don't want to go into too much detail - as I don't want to spoil the adventure! All I will say is that it was exciting to be able to kayak a good distance (~2 miles each way), get in a good (sloppy muddy!!) 30-45 min hike each way, lunch by a beautiful waterfall with a fowl audience, experience some iconic movie scenes as well as historic/sacred Hawaiian sites, all while learning about the flora/fauna. We also got to watch a group of baby ducklings in their first foray into the water!

The whole team was exceptional, Lisa was an all-around stellar guide. She offered so much in depth information about the island, movies, and was able to balance all of our different hiking/kayaking abilities without any of us feeling under or overwhelmed. We absolutely recommend this group for your next...