Guided Hiking Adventures in Kauaʻi

- Your group’s private professional hiking guide with many years of experience on Kauaʻi
- Transportation to and from meeting location (in most cases)
- Safety gear such as hiking poles, crampons, first aid kits, extra water, satellite communication devices (this varies guide to guide)
- Commercial Day Use Permits (There is no commercial guiding permitted on the Kalalau Trail and we DO NOT have special access to permits on this trail)

Yes, you will need to provide your own lunch. If needed, we can stop on the way to the hike to pick up food for you. Or, for tours to the Waimea Canyon area, your guide can stop at the Kōkeʻe Lodge for a sit down lunch with you. You can arrange this with your guide when they call to check in with you the day before your hike. Only our multi-day backpacking and camping adventures include all meals.

Yes, please bring enough water to accommodate your needs during the hike, about half a liter for half-day hikes and one liter or more for full-day hikes. For multi-day camping trips, you’ll need to begin the hike with at least 2 liters of water. We provide water filtration devices that we will use to fill your water bottles with purified water whenever we come across springs or clean rivers.

Everyone loves different types of hiking shoes. Trails on Kauaʻi can be very rugged compared to traditional mountain trails, and the unique red clay soil can get very slippery when wet. We recommend closed-toe shoes over sandals. The Vibram five-toe shoes also work well if you’re accustomed to them.

Warm layers and rain jackets are crucial for tours to Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Parks, especially in winter, where temperatures can be up to 20 degrees cooler than they are on the coast. A full “gear list” of what to bring on your adventure will be provided once your tour is booked. Guides may have extra “lenders” if you are missing something on the list.

No, we only offer private guided tours! You will never be grouped with other hikers!

Your guide will be happy to work with you during your allotted time range to ensure you have a fun, safe adventure that doesn’t push you beyond your comfort zone. If you become uncomfortable with your hike for any reason, let your guide know so you can discuss options for completing your day in comfort and joy.

Prices include up to four hikers. Additional hikers will be charged accordingly.

Intended trail itineraries may be changed at any time at the guide’s discretion. Based on personal or environmental factors, a guide may feel the need to change the destination of your hike for your own safety and enjoyment. Due to specific trail diversity, private property, and state law, we cannot guarantee specific location(s) you may have in mind when booking directly through this website. Please call us for a quick chat if this is a concern for you.

The Hawaiian language uses two diacritical markings. The ‘okina is a glottal stop, similar to the sound between the syllables of “oh-oh.” In print, the correct mark for designating an ‘okina is the single open quote mark. The kahako is a macron, which lengthens and adds stress to the marked vowel.

Rain is the reason the garden isle is so lush, it often provides dynamic picture taking opportunities and blesses us with an ample supply of rainbows! Tours operate rain or shine, except in the most extreme cases. Keep in mind that just because it’s raining where you are, doesn’t mean it will be raining where your tour will be, and vice-versa. The good news: fun can be had regardless, there is still plenty to see and experience regardless of the islands mood! Additionally, rain showers are often localized and usually do not last long.

We encourage you to keep an open mind and a positive attitude regarding rain. Our guides are better than most at studying and predicting island weather but, alas, we are not full-on weather genies, yet. Rescheduling to another day is often a fool’s errand as the weather on this island is notoriously unpredictable. Leading up to your tour your guide will update you on the weather situation and tour possibilities. If your tour is in jeopardy of being cancelled, we will contact you as soon as possible. If we decide to cancel your tour (this is rare), you will have the option to reschedule for another day or be given a full refund.

You may cancel up until 5 days before your tour starts. No cancellations, changes or refunds can be made within 5 days of your tour, but we will attempt to reschedule you if possible. Cancellations made more than 5 days before the start of the tour may be subject to a 10% service charge.

If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email: KauaiHikingAdventures@KauaiHikingTours.com, or call us at 1-808-828-4453 (HIKE)

Yes, in most cases your guide can pick you up and drop you off anywhere on the island. Please keep in mind that tour durations begin when you meet your guide until you part ways. If you need a pick up and/or drop off this extra driving time, including traffic, should be incorporated into the duration of tour you select. If this is an issue for you, you may want to meet the guide closer to the tour area or select a tour area closer to where you are staying.

- With our guides and their unique, experience-based understanding of every twist and turn of our Kauaʻi eco system, you will never again have to debate which is the safest and most efficient way to go. They know exactly where to go!
- KHA has the most experienced guides. They have spent countless days, weeks, and even months at a time exploring the many secrets that our island has to offer while becoming familiar with her various climates and terrains.
- Our guides share a wealth of information with you about flora, fauna, and history of our beautiful island while also giving you the silence and serenity you are out there to enjoy.
- We engage with your children and teach them ways to be entertained by nature. Your kids won’t ask, “Are we there yet?” They will ask if we are hiking with KHA again tomorrow!
- Our guides give you personalized attention to help keep you safe. Whether it’s support climbing down a muddy embankment or holding your hand as you cross a stream, our goal is to make your hike safer and teach you valuable skills along the way.
- Experienced and well-trained guides find a steady pace that suits you and gets you to your desired destination and back in good time.
- We are knowledgeable and passionate about island sustainability. We will not take you on eroding trails or down paths that need rest from excessive tourist traffic. Many guide books exalt trails that are too delicate for frequent hikers. As much as we want to give you what you want, it is part of our credo to never tread on the earth in ways that make it difficult for her to recover naturally.
- For once, be in the photo with your group as our guides use your camera to include you in your group photos at magical vistas!

Meeting location will be provided upon booking the tour. Pick up from accommodations is possible but the extra drive time will be included in the duration of the tour