Wailua River Kayaking to Secret Falls: Tours, Rentals & Tips

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If you’re heading to Kauai with a sense of adventure and you want to experience the beautiful scenery along Kauai’s longest navigable river, you’ll want to kayak the Wailua River.

We loved our experience kayaking in Wailua River State Park with our guide and hiking to Secret Falls. Here, we share all the information you need to book a tour or get started with your DIY option.

Looking for the gist of Wailua River Kayaking? We’ve got you covered:
– Wailua River Kayaking and hiking to Secret Falls is a fun half-day activity (best done in the morning) that is great with a tour or DIY.
– We went on a tour with Ali’i Kayaks and had a wonderful time. Three tours a day!
– Kayak Wailua allows young children and pregnant guests.
– Wailua Kayak Adventures offers the most affordable tours.
– Duke’s Kayak Adventures gives a unique perspective with a focus on flora and fauna.

Where is the Wailua River?

Snaking its way from mountain top to coast on eastern Kauai, the Wailua River offers visitors a unique experience. At 20 miles long, this is the largest navigable river in all of Hawaii and one of the few that you can actually experience from the water. Not to mention it’s a Class 0 (calm) river, so you won’t have to fight the current too much as you go upstream.

The river’s headwaters begin at Mount Waialeale, where it divides into two forks and passes by waterfalls, mountain ridges, and lava rock caves along the way. At its end, the Wailua River spills into the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side of the island. It also runs directly through the town of Wailua. 

If you’re driving up the east coast of Kauai, headed for the North Shore, you’ll pass directly over the river on the Kuhio Highway as you approach downtown Wailua.

Most tour and solo kayakers choose to make their way up the Wailua River to Uluwehi Falls, also known as Secret Falls. This area can get fairly crowded, especially once you reach the falls, although the earlier you go, the better chance you’ll have for fewer visitors.

Find a great place to stay during your trip:
Where to Stay on Kauai: Best Hotels and Areas by Season
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How to Kayak the Wailua River

The Wailua River is the longest navigable river in Hawaii. With that in mind, one of the best ways to experience it is by getting out on the water!

There are two options for exploring the Wailua River: renting kayaks for a DIY adventure or joining a kayaking tour.

We chose to join a tour for simplicity’s sake because we wanted a guide to show us exactly where to go and what to do. The idea of being able to show up and have the kayaks waiting and ready to go was also appealing because it took the work out of coordinating it. 

Our Experience Kayaking the Wailua River

We have a full video from our Wailua River kayaking experience here:

We decided to go on the Secret Falls Kayak and Hike Tour with Ali’i Kayaks. This excursion starts with a 2-mile upstream paddle, passing by fun sites such as the Sleeping Giant, an Indiana Jones filming location, and the remnants of a Hawaiian village. 

Then pull up along the banks of the river and hike 1.5 miles to Secret Falls, also known as the Uluwehi Falls. The trail is moderate, with river crossings and some rocky and muddy sections. Swim at the base of the waterfall or admire it from afar before heading back and paddling downstream – a little easier the second time around.

This was a great experience for beginner kayakers and kiddos alike – although it’s fun even if you’re experienced! Our tour guide was awesome, providing local history and informational tidbits along the way, playing the ukulele for the perfect Hawaiian ambiance, and guiding us both along the river and trail. We loved learning more about the Wailua Valley’s ties to Hawaiian royalty along the way.

Ali’i Kayaks also has your safety in mind, as guides are trained in CPR, First Aid, and they’re Water Safety Certified. If you’re a newbie kayaker who’s a little apprehensive, they also provide instructions on how to kayak at the start of the trip.

Check out our favorite activities around the island:
35 Best Things to Do on Kauai (Must Do + See)
24 Things To Do on Kauai with Kids: from toddlers to teenagers
The 20 Best Things to Do in Poipu: Kauai’s South Shore
The 12 Best Things to Do in Hanalei: Kauai’s Rugged North Shore

4 Best Wailua River Kayak Tours

We reviewed all the Wailua River Kayak tour operators to find the best, and with slightly different offerings for your group. Pick from the list below!

Some are affiliates, so we earn a small commission at no cost to you, but not all. As I said, we selected the best, regardless of whether we are partners.

1. Ali’i Kayaks for 3 Tour Times a Day

We loved our experience with Ali’i Kayaks because the guide was great, the location was convenient, and their time slots worked well with our schedule. The smaller group size was also nice because it felt more intimate.

There are several other tour companies that also kayak the Wailua River if you want to compare your options. All of these tours run Monday through Friday and are unavailable on the weekend.

2. Kayak Wailua

Kayak Wailua offers a kayaking tour with six different time slots throughout the day. This guided tour offers local history and legends while following a route similar to Ali’i Kayaks. You’ll paddle for 45 minutes upriver before hiking another 45 minutes to Secret Falls, before paddling back downstream to end the tour. This tour provider allows pregnant women up to 6 months along, and small children of all ages are welcome.

3. Wailua Kayak Adventures

Wailua Kayak Adventures offers both tours and kayak rentals, so you can paddle up and down the river yourself or hop on a group trip. They offer two time slots and follow the same route as most tours, paddling, and hiking to Secret Falls. This is one of the least expensive options at $100 for adults and $50 for children. If you’d rather have a footloose and fancy-free experience, you can rent kayaks and SUPs to recreate the tour on your own. 

Wailua Kayak Adventures also offers multi-day rentals to explore some of Kauai’s other navigable rivers, like the Hanalei River.

4. Duke’s Kayak Adventures

Last but not least is Duke’s Kayak Adventures. You’ll follow the same route as the other tours, learning about Hawaiian flora, fauna, and history along the way. There are two time slots per day at 7:00 am and 12:45 pm.

The meeting point for this tour is just across from Sunrise Cafe, so there’s plenty of parking nearby – and you can grab a quick breakfast!

Wailua River Kayaking FAQs

Can you kayak the Wailua River on your own?

Yes, you can kayak the Wailua River on your own. While a DIY adventure might sound fun, there are a few extra things to keep in mind. 

The Wailua River can be dangerous, as flash flooding does occur. Whether you’re with a guide or going on your own, check the weather forecast ahead of time and always wear a life jacket. 

Never kayak when there is a flash flood warning issued! Most companies won’t allow rentals or tours in these conditions, but it’s always a good idea to make sure. You can double-check via the National Weather Service’s official website.  

Your rental company should brief you on safety precautions, including which shore to stay on to avoid boat traffic on the river. They should also give you a map that will help you navigate and show you where some of the fun stops along the way are located. 

Note that in the afternoon, the wind really picks up on the Wailua River. This is one reason why we chose the morning tour. If we were renting a kayak and going it alone, we would also opt for an early-morning rental.

Related reads:
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The 5 Best Snorkeling Spots on Kauai
5 of the Best Napali Coast Boat Tours

Is kayaking the Wailua River worth it?

If you’re up for an adventure and enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking, journeying along the Wailua River is a great experience! The scenery is wonderful, with mountain peaks in the distance and lush jungle framing the river. Our guide was also full of stories, which made it an even more memorable experience. 

Kayaking the Wailua River is also a fun activity for children and a great way for them to get outside and learn more about Hawaii’s rich history.

If you’re looking for a way to enjoy the scenery without kayaking and hiking, this inner tube experience was also awesome and kicks off at the Lihue Plantation. 

More activities we think you’ll enjoy:
Napali Coast Sunset and Dinner Cruise
Best Surf Lessons on Kauai (near Poipu Beach)
Kauai Farm-to-Table Dinner in a Regenerative Food Forest

How long does it take to kayak the Wailua River and hike Secret Falls?

On average, it takes about 5 hours to kayak the Wailua River, hike to secret falls, and get back. We took a pretty leisurely pace, stopping for lunch and swimming at the base of the falls. Most tour operators quote the trip length as 4 to 5 hours total.

The kayak portion of the trip is around 45 minutes each way. The hike to Secret Falls is a 4-mile, round-trip trek, but you’ll be walking on some uneven terrain, and it took us about 45 minutes both ways. This pace allows for some downtime once you reach the falls to have lunch, swim, and relax a bit.

What should you bring with you for Wailua River kayaking?

You don’t want to have too much to keep track of while you’re kayaking or hiking, but here are a few things you’ll want to have ahead of time or consider:

• Be sure your group arrives wearing swimsuits 
• Reef-safe sunscreen and/or sun protective clothing
• Comfortable shoes that are secure (we like Tevas as our footwear for excursions like this, rather than water shoes)
• Sunglasses (polarized is best, we like Goodr)
• Consider bringing dry bags for anything you don’t want to get wet
• You may consider a towel and rain gear, but we didn’t find them necessary, and they just add to the items you’ll have to lug around.

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