Kauaʻi
The Garden Isle
Kauaʻi
The Garden Isle
WAIPĀ FOUNDATION
Walking Waipā
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself on the north shore of Kauaʻi with a heart that beats for something more meaningful than a souvenir T-shirt, do yourself a favour; head inland from Hanalei until the road gets quiet and the chickens outnumber the cars. That’s where you’ll find Waipā, an ahupuaʻa, or traditional land division, nestled between the mountains and the sea. And, if you’re really lucky, you’ll be walking that sacred land with Stacy Sproat.
Stacy is a tour guide/steward. A cultural torchbearer. The executive director of the Waipā Foundation and, by all accounts, a force of nature. When she speaks, it’s with a calm intensity that draws you in — not because she’s trying to impress, but because her words carry the weight of history.
Waipā is old Hawaiʻi, but it's still breathing. Still feeding people. Still telling stories. This 1,600-acre ahupuaʻa stretches from misty mountain streams down to Hanalei Bay, and for generations, it’s been a place where the Hawaiian relationship with land, water, and community is not only remembered but practised.
EXPLORE KAUA‘I
EXPLORE KAUA‘I
“We’re not here to entertain,” Stacy tells us as we gather beneath a giant monkeypod tree. “We’re here to restore a way of life.”
You don’t tour Waipā. You participate in it. You plant. You weed. You taste. You listen. You get mud between your toes and wisdom under your fingernails. On my visit, we helped harvest kalo (taro), the plant that isn’t just a food staple in Hawaiian culture but an ancestor. Literally. According to Hawaiian genealogy, Hāloa, the first kalo plant, was the elder brother of the first Hawaiian person. So, when Stacy says, “feed the land, and the land feeds you,” it’s not poetic metaphor. It’s daily reality.
We walk through loʻi (taro patches), learn about traditional water management systems that would make modern engineers weep with envy, and hear how Waipā is rebuilding what colonialism nearly erased. Yes, the Waipā Foundation is teaching visitors, but they’re also training the next generation of farmers, cultural practitioners, and community leaders.
Stacy explains how they’re restoring native forests, revitalising fishponds, and keeping kupuna (elders) involved in shaping the future.
We gather for lunch under a hale (house) built with traditional techniques. No plastic forks here, just fresh poi, grilled shrimp, and greens from the land we just helped tend. It’s one of the most delicious meals I’ve had in Hawaiʻi.
Expertly prepared by one of their volunteers, who used to work in some of the world’s best kitchens, you taste the story of Hawaiʻi in every bite. Including the decadent Kalo Cheesecake that would give the world-famous Junior’s in Brooklyn a run for its money.
What Waipā offers is something truly precious: a return to truth. A reminder that Hawaiʻi isn’t just beaches and sunsets. It’s community. It’s stewardship. It’s reciprocal care.
Before we eat, Stacy offers a simple chant of gratitude, and we all share one thing we learned before clapping twice so the land hears our thanks.
It’s simple, but beautiful.
After an afternoon well spent, it's so evident that the future of Hawaiʻi isn't being built in conference rooms, it's being grown, one kalo leaf at a time, in places like this.
MAKANA CHARTERS
Sea cliffs & sacred stories
The Nāpali Coast doesn’t care about your drone footage or your Instagram grid. It doesn’t pose. It commands. This isn’t scenery. It’s a revelation. But to truly experience it in a way that respects both the spectacle and the spirit, you must do it by sea, with someone who understands the waters are more than a destination — they are a living story.
That’s why I boarded a catamaran with Makana Charters, a Native Hawaiian-owned company helmed by local captains who don’t just navigate waves, they navigate history, culture, and the complicated truth of what it means to call this island home.
We depart from the west side of Kauaʻi, the “locals’ side,” where the sun sets over Niʻihau and the pace slows to something pre-digital. Captain Katie, barefoot and sun-browned, greets us with a smile that says she’s done this a thousand times but still loves every second of it. She’s part skipper, part storyteller, part cultural ambassador.
“This ain’t just a coastline,” she says as we motor into the deepening blue, “this is a library. Everything you see; those valleys, those cliffs, they hold moʻolelo. Stories. Memories. They are our ancestors.” And just like that, you’re not on a tour. You’re in a time machine.
The boat slips past jagged emerald cliffs that look like they’ve been clawed out of the earth by a deity. Waterfalls drop from dizzying heights into narrow, hidden beaches that no road will ever touch. But it’s what you don’t see that matters most.
Katie points out a narrow valley, Kalalau, and tells us how this coast once teemed with Hawaiian communities, sophisticated systems of agriculture, aquaculture, and ceremony. She tells us how missionaries and laws pushed them out, how access was cut, how the culture was almost lost. Almost.
Makana Charters is here to restore context and show you the view. Every sea cave we duck into, every lava tube we explore, is another layer of a living story.
And yes, this is a boat tour. There’s snorkelling in secret coves with turtles and butterflyfish. There’s fresh pineapple and locally made snacks. There’s laughter as we bounce over the waves and sunbathe on the bow. But at every turn, there’s also reverence.
Before we pass Nualolo Kai, an ancient fishing village accessible only by sea, the crew offers a chant. It’s not for show. It’s a request. A recognition that we’re entering a sacred space.
Makana’s captains are all from Kauaʻi. Their families go back generations. They aren’t reciting lines from a script; they’re speaking from the gut. And that authenticity is what transforms this from a trip into an education.
We stop to swim, and I float on my back, staring up at cliffs that rise like gods from the sea. It’s humbling in a way that no resort lūʻau can replicate. The land, the water, the stories, they’re not background. They’re the main event. We’re just visitors. And Makana makes sure we remember that.
As we head back toward port, a pod of spinner dolphins joins us, dancing through the boat’s wake like blessings. Then, a whale breaches the ocean, a rare sight this late in the year. Captain Katie turns to us and says,
“Wow, just when I thought I’ve seen it all, this place is something else,” and I believe her. We all do.
Makana Charters reintroduces you to the idea that travel can be sacred. That a coastline isn’t just a place for selfies, but a chapter in a much longer story. One worth hearing. One worth honouring.
Go ahead, book the boat ride. Chase the sun. Swim in the bluest water you’ve ever seen. But do it with people who live here, who love here, who remember. Because when the boat is local, the ride becomes a ritual. And the ocean, if you’re listening, starts to speak.
Explore Kauaʻi
NATURE
Allerton Garden
Allerton Garden is what happens when nature gets a designer, think sculpted rainforest meets secret fountains and towering trees straight out of a Hollywood fever dream.
Tucked away on Kaua‘i’s south shore, this once-private paradise is now open to curious wanderers and plant nerds alike. It’s lush, it’s layered, and it’s got more drama than a soap opera set in a jungle. Our suggestion? Come for the figs and stay for the unexpected magic.
CULTURE
Kauaʻi Museum
Step into the Kaua‘i Museum and journey through the rich tapestry of the island's history.
From ancient Hawaiian artifacts to tales of plantation life, each exhibit in the museum offers a glimpse into the diverse cultures that have shaped Kauaʻi. Housed in the historic Albert Spencer Wilcox Building in Līhuʻe, the Kauaʻi Museum invites you into a rich world of island stories where culture, community, and history come alive with heart and purpose.
ADVENTURE
Kipu Ranch Adventures
Kipu Ranch Adventures offers thrilling off-road ATV tours through Kauaʻi's lush 3,000-acre Kipu Ranch, a historic cattle ranch established in 1872.
Since 1999, they've been sharing the island's rich history, vibrant ecology, and legendary tales with travellers. You'll traverse movie-famous landscapes (think Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones) while learning about Hawaiian culture from passionate guides. It’s adventure, with a side of storytelling.
CULTURE
Kaua’i Museum
Step into the Kaua‘i Museum and journey through the rich tapestry of the island's history.
From ancient Hawaiian artifacts to tales of plantation life, each exhibit in the museum offers a glimpse into the diverse cultures that have shaped Kaua‘i. Housed in the historic Albert Spencer Wilcox Building in Līhuʻe, the Kaua‘i Museum invites you into a rich world of island stories where culture, community, and history come alive with heart and purpose.
ADVENTURE
Kipu Ranch Adventures
Kipu Ranch Adventures offers thrilling off-road ATV tours through Kauaʻi's lush 3,000-acre Kipu Ranch, a historic cattle ranch established in 1872.
Since 1999, they've been sharing the island's rich history, vibrant ecology, and legendary tales with travellers. You'll traverse movie-famous landscapes (think Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones) while learning about Hawaiian culture from passionate guides. It’s adventure, with a side of storytelling.
NATURE
Limahuli Garden & Reserve
Nestled in Kaua‘i’s verdant North Shore, Limahuli Garden & Preserve is a living mosaic of Hawaiian heritage and biodiversity.
Wander through terraced gardens once cultivated by ancestors, marvel at native plants found nowhere else, and feel the mana (spiritual energy) that permeates this sacred valley. While this place might feel like a garden, it’s actually a journey through time, where nature and culture intertwine, offering a serene escape and a deeper connection to the island's soul.
NATURE
Kauaʻi Safaris
Hop aboard the Kauaʻi Rum Safari for a two-hour tropical adventure through the lush 105-acre Kilohana Plantation.
This open-air tour offers a delightful mix of rum tastings, farm-to-glass cocktails crafted from fresh plantation produce, and encounters with friendly farm animals. Guided by charismatic hosts, you'll explore exotic orchards, learn about Hawaiʻi's rum history, and enjoy signature mai tais in serene jungle settings. It's a spirited journey blending nature, culture, and a splash of fun.
» TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
ADVENTURE
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
Float, zip, and laugh your way through Kauaʻi’s lush interior with a one-of-a-kind adventure that mixes island history with pure fun.
At Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures, you’ll cruise through 150-year-old irrigation canals on a tubing ride like no other, or soar above the treetops on scenic ziplines. With exclusive access to 17,000 acres of former plantation land, these eco-friendly tours provide an unforgettable way to experience Kaua'i's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
CULTURE
Luʻau Kalamaku
Luʻau Kalamaku brings Hawaiian history to life with a captivating evening of storytelling, dance, and food at Kilohana Plantation in Līhuʻe.
The night begins with an artisan market and optional train ride through orchards and pastures, followed by a traditional imu ceremony and a buffet packed with local favourites. Then it’s showtime - a high-energy performance tracing the journey of Polynesian voyagers from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi, complete with hula, fire-knife dancing, and bold visuals. For a more intimate experience, the Manor House Package includes a four-course dinner at Gaylord Restaurant with premium luʻau seating.
ADVENTURE
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
Float, zip, and laugh your way through Kauaʻi’s lush interior with a one-of-a-kind adventure that mixes island history with pure fun.
At Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures, you’ll cruise through 150-year-old irrigation canals on a tubing ride like no other, or soar above the treetops on scenic ziplines. With exclusive access to 17,000 acres of former plantation land, these eco-friendly tours provide an unforgettable way to experience Kaua'i's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
CULTURE
Luʻau Kalamaku
Luʻau Kalamaku brings Hawaiian history to life with a captivating evening of storytelling, dance, and food at Kilohana Plantation in Līhuʻe.
The night begins with an artisan market and optional train ride through orchards and pastures, followed by a traditional imu ceremony and a buffet packed with local favourites. Then it’s showtime - a high-energy performance tracing the journey of Polynesian voyagers from Tahiti to Hawaiʻi, complete with hula, fire-knife dancing, and bold visuals. For a more intimate experience, the Manor House Package includes a four-course dinner at Gaylord Restaurant with premium luʻau seating.
NATURE
McBryde Garden
Tucked into Kaua‘i’s Lāwa‘i Valley, McBryde Garden is a 200-acre living canvas where rare Hawaiian flora and tropical wonders thrive.
Stroll through vibrant collections of palms, orchids, and heliconias, and discover plants found nowhere else on Earth. This botanical sanctuary isn't just a feast for the senses, it’s a testament to conservation and the enduring bond between people and plants. Come wander, wonder, and reconnect with nature’s timeless beauty.
© 2025 Hawai’i Tourism Authority