Ocean kayaking is seasonal on Kauai, but river kayaking is a year round activity. Kauai has more rivers then any of the other islands and they're all very calm - there are no rapids. River kayaking on Kauai is a wonderful experience for all to enjoy. 

You can rent a single or double kayak and set off to explore on your own. Or you can take  a guided tour. All of the guided tours described here are great. The guides are experienced, fun loving, and a wealth of information. 

Ocean Kayaking

There are two companies that offer guided adventures along the Na Pali Coast. A great feature of these tours is that you don't have to paddle back. You're picked up in a van at the other end of the Na Pali, and you'll be driven back to your starting point. You'll go with the wind and the current the entire way! This is a truly fantastic way to experience the Na Pali. There are endless sea caves to explore, and you'll pass many waterfalls cascading right off the cliffs. You can paddle right under a waterfall and cool off! And it's not unusual to sight some sea turtles or to  paddle through a pod of dolphins. During the tour, you'll land on an inaccessible beach and have a picnic lunch. It's a full day, and you'll need to be in decent shape, and feel pretty comfortable on the water. This is an outbound experience. No wimps! No real experience necessary, they'll give you a lesson before you start. Everyone is in a double kayak.  This tour is offered from May 15th to Sept. 15th. 

River Kayaking

On the north shore you can enjoy a 3 hour guided paddle and snorkel tour on the Hanalei River and bay. In the winter months the tour ventures into a wildlife refuge rather than out to the bay, so there's no snorkeling. This adventure departs twice daily.

On the east shore, the largest river is the Wailua . You can do a guided paddle/hike to secret falls. The river is calm, the hike is moderate, and the falls are fantastic! A picnic lunch is provided, and the entire tour lasts about 5 hours. This trip also departs twice daily.

Another of the east shore's rivers is the Huleia . You can do a guided paddle/hike on the Huleia river to a waterfall, only the hike is shorter than the one on the Wailua, and you don't have to paddle back. They'll put you on a motorized double canoe, and tow the kayaks back down the stream!