Marsha C
Kauai’s Wailua River is a special place as it was once the home of ancient Hawaiian royalty. Today it is an adventurer’s playground, snaking through waterfalls, a lava rock grotto and lush jungle forests. The river itself is wide and calm except the occassional boat wake.
The Park, just off Kuhio highway on 580 hiway, has public restroom and lots of space to set things up for your adventure.
We reccommend a dry bag to carry your belongings in to take along with on the board.
If you plan to hike to Secret Falls, you may also want to bring hiking shoes.
Here is a quick video for setting up your equipment < https://vimeo.com/864236630/a3ab881ff8 >
A ways into your ride, the river forks. The north fork (to the right) will take you to the trail head for Uluwehi Falls <aka Secret Falls>. The south fork (to the left) will take you to the Fern Grotto trail and just beyond that, the Swimming Hole. It is possible to visit all of these sites in one day, or pick and choose one or two of them. Keep in mind that the battery life is most optimal when running between 24-48% speed. Keep an eye on it and conserve at least 50% for the return trip since tides and winds can make the down river a bit more power consuming. If you run out of battery power, it will be more difficult because you will be paddling and fighting any winds without a fin/rudder.
The hike to Secret Falls <a 100-foot waterfall set in a tranquil, jungle-like landscape > is a flat and relatively easy one-mile jaunt along a beautiful stream. Depending on the trail conditions, it will take about 30 minutes until you arrive at the waterfall. The trail has recently been upgraded with a boardwalk for an even easier and cleaner journey.
Should you choose to explore the south (left) fork in the river, you will find yourself in a more quiet and peaceful environment due to being the road less travelled. Fern Grotto is a lava rock cave that’s overgrown with lush foliage. Unfortunately you can not enter the dry cave anymore. Park your board at the sign that reads, “kayak parking,” and tie your leash onto one of the exposed tree roots. There is a paved walkway that will bring you to the grotto in less than two minutes.
Just past the Fern Grotto, The Swimming Hole is located about a 3-minute ride motoring upstream through a low jungle canopy. Enjoy the serentiy, swimming, basking or jumping off the 15-foot cliff. Before you jump, be sure to check that the coast is clear of shallow boulders and other jumpers.
On your return journey, you will likely be paddling against the winds and sometimes tides too. Be sure to conserve enough energy for an enjoyable glide and some top speed tests on the way back to the boat ramp. Remember that you can always kneel or sit down on your board as you motor (and paddle) back toward the rivermouth. Remember to stay on the north side of the river. If you took us up on our full service, give us a heads up when we start heading down river and we will meet you at the boat ramp to pickup all the gear.
If you took us up on our full service package, give us a heads up when we start heading down river and we will meet you at the boat ramp to pickup all the gear. If you are doing a self serve rental or rental of just motors, then pack the gear in your car or truck and we will be waiting for you at the shop to unload. We will take care of any cleanup needs. Be sure and let us know if there are any issues when anything.
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