Kayaking on Kauai, Travel the Island
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Why not Kayak around Kauai? - it is great way of exploring the island's rivers, visiting its waterfalls and seeing a large proportion of the natural undisturbed beauty.
Kauai's four rivers allow access into the island's interior and where you will find plenty of spots you can moor your kayak before embarking on a adventure hike. Guided trips are avaibale or one can always rent a kayak and paddles and embark apon a more independent trip.
Guided river trips can be great fun and the guides can be very informative but independent trips give you more freedom and flexibility to do your own exploring and make up your own adventure route. Kayaking is not restricted to the rivers, ocean excursions are also available but are often extend over a whole day and provide the perfect medium from which to experience the striking Na Pali Coast from the sea. The sea can sometimes be very unpredictable so all ocean kayaking is usually done under the supervision of an experienced guide.
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The Wailua River
Kauai's busiest river (and the most interesting we might add!) is Wailua River in the east. The river starts at Wailua just south of Kapaa and splits into two forks a few miles inland. You can hike to a waterfall called the Secret Falls - to visit these falls take the north fork. This is about a five-mile round trip - make sure you allow time for hiking to the waterfall and back. Kayakers should stick to the north side of the river to avoid the boat tours to Fern Grotto. Fern Grotto, one of the sights on this river, is a lava rock formation covered with ferns. The scenery along the Wailua is beautiful and it is worth the trip along the river just for that, even if you decide not to hike to the waterfall or stop off at Fern Grotto.
Huleia River
Huleia River goes into Huleia National Wildlife Refuge which can only be accessed by kayak. Endangered bird species can be seen here. The river mouth is located on the east side of Huleia Stream where it enters Nawiliwili Bay. Birds can be seen along the entire river though, not just in the refuge. Further along the river is Kipu Falls which you can hike to. You can visit the falls and the refuge with a guided kayak tour or independently. Hanalei River is Kauai's longest river and enters the sea in Hanalei Bay. To explore this peaceful river by kayak is a 7½ miles round trip.
Kayaks differ from canoes in that they are covered across the top which makes it easier to recover from the craft capsizing (ie if it rolls over in the water). Open-top canoes fill with water when they capsize making it difficult to roll them upright again. You can get either one person or two person kayaks - it is considered better to learn in a two-person kayak. Guided trips tend to be in two-person kayaks.
Kayak rental and guided river trips.
Kayak Kauai Outbound, with shops in Hanalei and Kapaa, hires out kayaking equipment and can give you a guide. (1 808 826 9844)
Outfitters Kauai, Poipu, offers guided kayaking trips and rents out kayaks. (1 808 742 9667)
Activity Warehouse, Kapaa, rents out kayaks for reasonable rates. (1 808 822 4000)
Island Adventures, Nawiliwili Harbor, offers trips up the Huleia to look for birds in the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge. (1 808 245 9662)
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Kauai Travel Guide
