Hawaii · CANOES & KAYAKS

15 Kayak Trips in Hawaiʻi We Would Put on an Itinerary

27 tours  ·  from $40

Every trip here ends up one free day short. These 15 kayak trips justify the day, priced and timed so the decision takes a minute.

Kauai: Secret Falls Kayak and Hike - Paddling four miles on the Wailua River
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Kauai: Secret Falls Kayak and Hike

1.Secret Falls Kayak and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,403 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $125Our pick

Join Alii Kayaks for a roughly five-hour group trip from Kapaʻa. You’ll paddle 4 miles on the Wailua River, hike about 1.5 to 2 miles through muddy rainforest, and reach Uluwehi Falls. Guides such as Cory, Kman, Kai, Mana, and Lono add local stories, plant knowledge, and plenty of encouragement.

“We started off with a kayak experience down the river followed by a hike. Be prepared to get wet! We walked through rivers and the best part was swimming at the falls at the end of the hike! My husband 29M and I 29F packed a lot of food per the notes on what to bring, but only needed a granola bar each. Could help to lighten the pack. In short, good shoes to get wet and slip resistant are a must!”

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Kauai Adventure: Kayak & Hike to Secret Falls with Expert Guide - Secret Falls rewards the muddy miles
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Kauai Adventure: Kayak & Hike to Secret Falls with Expert Guide

2.Kauai Adventure: Kayak & Hike to Secret Falls with Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,387 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $140

Paddle about two miles up the Wailua River, then hike roughly two miles over muddy, rocky ground to 100-foot Uluwehi Falls. Guides such as Zach, Brian, and Mikayla provide paddling help, safety support, and stories about Kauai’s plants, wildlife, culture, and legends. You return by kayak after time at the falls.

“This was a great trip be prepared to ade through rivers and have shoes that will cope with that. Beautiful trip but quite physical if you are not used to kayaking/hiling. Fun guide”

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Kailua Bay, Oahu: Epic Kayak and Snorkel to Islands - Kailua Beach Park and the first paddle
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Kailua Bay, Oahu: Epic Kayak and Snorkel to Islands

3.Kailua Bay, Oahu: Epic Kayak and Snorkel to Islands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,311 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $114

Paddle from Kailua Beach to Popoia Island or the Mokulua Islands with a guide or on your own. You’ll get kayaks, snorkel gear, lockers, showers, permits, and lunch. Guides such as Mike, Evelyn, Alex, and Tupre have earned special praise for safety help, local stories, and wildlife spotting.

“Mike was a skilled and attentive guide. Provided cultural details on the areas visited and made sure everyone was safe and comfortable on the trip. Excellent experience and would definitely do this excursion again.”

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Secret Falls Kayak & Hike Guided Adventure on the Wailua River - Kamokila Village and the river’s older story
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Secret Falls Kayak & Hike Guided Adventure on the Wailua River

4.Secret Falls Kayak & Hike Guided Adventure on the Wailua River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,212 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $145

Paddle two miles up Kauai’s Wailua River, then hike through rainforest, streams, and mud to Uluwehi Falls. Guides such as Levi, Jonathan, Nathaniel, and Tyler add local history, safety help, and sometimes ukulele music. Expect wet feet, slippery trails, a chilly waterfall pool, snacks, and a six-hour outing.

“We had a great time. Levi was our tour guide and did a great job helping us navigate the whole entire process with ease. He even sang us songs with his ukelele! Super fun, so bring your family especially the kiddos!”

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Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure - The rainforest trail to Uluwehi Falls
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Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure

5.Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 790 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $145

Paddle two miles each way on Kauai’s sacred Wailua River, then hike 1.5 miles through rainforest to Secret Falls. Guides such as Thomas, Sierra, Ty, and Kiele share local plant, animal, and cultural knowledge. Expect wet shoes, mud, four river crossings, a swim, and lunch by the falls.

“The area hasn't had rain since April (it's now mid-September) and clearly everyone on the staff knows the waterfall is not flowing--and hasn't been flowing for several weeks. We weren't made aware until after the kayak trip and well into our hike up to where the waterfall "usually" flows (at this point our guide showed us photos of it from back in April to assuage our disappointment). This seems a bit underhanded and deceitful when the booking clearly highlights this as a high point of the tour. A better choice would have been to offer a pre-arrival notice (say, 48 hrs prior) to offer a shorter, kayak-only option for half…”

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Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch - Paddling the Wailua River in a tandem kayak
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Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch

6.Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 783 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $155

Pair a gentle tandem kayak trip on Kauai’s Wailua River with a muddy, rocky rainforest hike to Sacred Falls. State-certified guides such as Annie, Harrison, Lindsey, Anya, and Jay lead the way, provide walking sticks and safety gear, and serve lunch beside the waterfall. Plan for wet shoes, uneven ground, and moderate exertion.

“A beautiful tandem kayak trip up the river so it wasn't too hard with 2 people paddling. The shoes you wear on the kayak get wet and also are your shoes for the hike. The hike took us through water half way up to your knee, over rocks, mud, and roots. The waterfalls are beautiful but not too full when we went. You could swim in the fresh water pool at the bottom of the waterfall. There were lots of rocks on the bottom so difficult to walk around. We hung by the waterfall and had lunch and got in the water. Then headed back repeating the hike and kayak…”

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Hanalei Bay Morning Kayak and Snorkel Tour - Forty-five minutes at the beach reef
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Hanalei Bay Morning Kayak and Snorkel Tour

7.Hanalei Bay Morning Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 567 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $160

Paddle from a private dock down the Hanalei River and into Hanalei Bay, where you may spot green sea turtles before snorkeling for 45 minutes. Guides such as Gabe and Kolo share Hawaiian history, reef facts, photos, and island stories. Lunch, gear, dry bags, and water are included.

“This was SO amazing! A beautiful kayak in the stunning bay and then the best snorkeling we did the entire trip, we save 4 or 5 turtles all over and an octopus! Food was delicious and the guides were super fun. Would love this adventure with the option to paddle board vs kayak just personal preference! One of the best adventures we did!”

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Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena) - Turtle Town, tropical fish, and the optional snorkel
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Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

8.Maui Clear Kayak and Snorkel Tour: Swim with turtles (Makena)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 551 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $130

Start early at Makena Landing with guides such as Kyle, Curtis, Marc, or Michael. Paddle a clear-bottom kayak over shallow reefs, then snorkel with turtles and tropical fish. The three-hour, small-group tour suits beginners and families, with snacks, water, gear, and an optional regular kayak for guests over 220 pounds.

“Kyle was an incredible guide. Knowledgeable and safety-focused, while still making sure everyone had a good time. We had a couple challenging group members, and Kyle handled them impeccably. He made sure their actions did not harm the wildlife, or ruin the other kayakers’ experience, without ever making them feel singled out. He also had tremendous recommendations for where to eat after, and it wasn’t until the end of the day that my wife and I realized that breakfast and dinner were both Kyle recommendations—thank you Kyle!”

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Kailua 2-Hour Guided Kayaking Excursion, Oahu - From 130 Kailua Road to the beach
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Kailua 2-Hour Guided Kayaking Excursion, Oahu

9.Kailua 2-Hour Guided Kayaking Excursion, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 442 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $199

Start at Kailua Beach Adventures, then haul your kayak to the beach before paddling across Kailua Bay toward Popoia, or Flat Island. Guides such as Hopoe, Brandon, Mike, and Braden share local history, wildlife facts, and safety tips. The small group, lunch, snorkel gear, bikes, and beach equipment make this more than a quick paddle.

“Our guide, Bear, was really friendly and knowledgeable and we had a great, relaxing time. They also let you rent bikes and snorkeling gear for free after your tour - definitely recommend taking advantage if you do the shorter tour. Mahalo!”

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3.5 Hour Kailua-Kona Ocean Kayak and Snorkel Tour - Paddling toward sea caves and lava features
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3.5 Hour Kailua-Kona Ocean Kayak and Snorkel Tour

10.3.5 Hour Kailua-Kona Ocean Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 384 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $99

Start around 7 a.m. at Keauhou Bay with guides such as Ryan or Miles. Paddle stable kayaks along Kona’s coast, search for spinner dolphins, visit sea caves and lava features, then snorkel over coral and colorful fish. Small groups of four to eight keep the pace personal, though choppy water makes this a real workout.

“My grandson and I had a fun time going kayaking and snorkeling together. The water was clear all the way to the bottom and there was lots of fish to see.”

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Kailua Twin Islands Guided Kayak Tour, Oahu - Starting in Kailua, with Waikiki pickup available
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Kailua Twin Islands Guided Kayak Tour, Oahu

11.Kailua Twin Islands Guided Kayak Tour, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 379 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $275

Spend about five hours kayaking from Kailua to the Mokulua Islands with a naturalist guide such as Tommy, Austin, Will, or Isaac. Expect a solid paddle, a tide-pool walk to Queen’s Bath, snorkeling, lunch on the beach, and possible monk seal and turtle sightings. No kayak experience is required, but you must swim and handle a kayak cart.

“Liam and James were so great! One of the best things we’ve done on our trip and definitely a challenge!”

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Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour - The 1.5-mile paddle across Makena Bay
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Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

12.Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Paddle about 1.5 miles across Makena Bay with a small group of no more than 10 people, then snorkel around Turtle Town with guides such as Tyler, Jake, John, and Rabbit. Gear, instruction, snacks, drinks, and a dry bag are provided. The 7:15 AM trip usually offers calmer water.

“The activity was amazing. We really feel the island and we got the chance to see turtles, fishes and marine life. At the end the guide told us to come at 7 am and it was definitely worth it. He was kind and he told us a lot about the island. It was like kayaking with a friend. Definitely recommend!”

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Turtle Reef Kayak Tour of Makena, Maui - Launching at Makena Landing
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Turtle Reef Kayak Tour of Makena, Maui

13.Turtle Reef Kayak Tour of Makena, Maui

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 328 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $121

Launch from historic Makena Landing, paddle calm coastal water, and snorkel above Turtle Town with a guide such as Tyler, Jake, or Jeremiah. The 7:15am trip welcomes ages 5 and up and usually offers the best visibility and reef activity. Single and double kayaks, snorkel gear, refreshments, and safety support are included.

“Tyler was a great guide.we saw a lot of turtles and fish. Thanks for the opportunity to kayak and snorkeling.”

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Private Stand Up Paddle Boarding Tour in Turtle Town, Maui - A 7:15 a.m. start at Makena Road
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Private Stand Up Paddle Boarding Tour in Turtle Town, Maui

14.Private Stand Up Paddle Boarding Tour in Turtle Town, Maui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 293 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $169

Paddle Maui’s Turtle Town coastline on a private two-hour tour with guides such as Aqua or Sky. Learn SUP technique, spot sea turtles, coral, fish, and possibly monk seals, then receive digital photos. Equipment, instruction, life jackets, storage, showers, and changing rooms are included.

“Aqua made our paddle boarding experience so special, fun and memorable! From reaching out with clear and helpful instructions prior to arriving to ensuring our paddle boarding experience was safe, adventurous, engaging, educational, beautiful and so fun. My daughter and I LOVED our paddle boarding experience and sea turtles making their appearances throughout our time in the water. Thank you, Aqua!”

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Self-Guided Kayaking Discovery in Kailua, Oahu - Stop two: the Mokulua Islands
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Self-Guided Kayaking Discovery in Kailua, Oahu

15.Self-Guided Kayaking Discovery in Kailua, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 249 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $110

Start at Kailua Beach Adventures on Kailua Road, collect a single or double kayak, snorkel gear, life jacket, dry bag, and beach equipment, then paddle toward Lanikai Beach and the Mokulua Islands. This self-guided outing suits confident beginners and experienced paddlers, but wind, waves, and the walk to the launch point matter.

“Nice staff, very helpful. We had a great time and fun adventure. We had plenty of time to see the islands and snorkel from the beach. Would definitely do this again.”

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New in Canoes & Kayaks

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