Find Out Why We are the #1 Adventure Tour Company in Kauai
About Outfitters Kauai
Outfitters Kauai has been creating unforgettable island adventures since 1988. What started as a small family operation has grown into one of the most trusted and loved adventure companies in Hawaii. From soaring ziplines to peaceful river paddles, every tour is designed to share the magic, beauty, and spirit of Kauai.
Our Home on Kipu Ranch
Our home base sits on the legendary Kipu Ranch, one of the most scenic and historic places on Kauai. This private paradise stretches across rolling valleys, lush jungle, and river corridors that have appeared in iconic films like Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It is a backdrop that feels both cinematic and untouched.
Towering above it all is Mount Hāʻupu, the dramatic peak at the center of the island. Most guests see it from the plane as soon as they land, instantly noticing its massive shape and mysterious beauty. Hāʻupu has been part of Kauai’s legends for generations, and its presence gives Kipu Ranch an unforgettable sense of adventure. The base of Mount Hāʻupu can only be explored with guided access, and our tours take you into the folds of this mountain where waterfalls, cliffs, and birdsong make the landscape feel ancient.
Because Kipu Ranch is privately owned, guests enjoy rare private access to hidden trails, quiet freshwater pools, scenic river bends, and jungle valleys that most visitors never get to see. Nearly all our Kauai zipline and river tours begin here. Our Wailua Waterfall Kayak Tour departs from a separate launch site on the east side.
Signature Kauai Adventure Tours
We offer a full lineup of Kauai outdoor activities designed to match every style of adventure. Each tour has its own personality and its own way of showing you the island.
Nui Kauai Zipline Adventure
Our signature zipline experience and the most airtime you will find on Kauai. This tour blends smooth cruising lines, wide open valley glides, and an epic finale on the FlyLine, our 4000-foot zipline. The FlyLine is the longest zipline in Hawaii and delivers unmatched airtime all on its own. Combined with the rest of the course, the full Nui Kauai Zipline gives guests more total time in the air than any other zipline tour on the island. It is versatile, scenic, and packed with soaring fun from start to finish.
Adrenaline Kauai Zipline Tour
This one is built for pure thrill. The Adrenaline Zipline Tour includes the FlyLine, our 4000-foot zipline and the longest in Hawaii, along with a series of fast flying, high energy lines that keep the excitement going. The grand highlight is the only water zipline of its kind on Kauai, where you zip and drop straight into an ancient lava tube pool for a super-fun, refreshing and unforgettable splash landing.
Kipu Zipline Safari
A true Kauai sampler, combining our kayak, hiking, and zipline adventures. You’ll fly like a bird as you zip across lush valleys, paddle downwind through the waterbird sanctuary of Hule’ia National Wildlife Refuge, hike private jungle paths, and swim in fresh mountain pools. The adventure finishes with an easy, scenic ride back on our Hawaiian twin-hull motorized canoe. Kick back and listen to the legends of the valley as your guide shares the stories, history, and hidden details that make this place so special. It is the perfect way to experience the beauty and spirit of Kauaʻi all in one unforgettable tour.
Hidden Valley Falls Kayak Adventure
A peaceful downwind paddle on the Hule’ia River through the Hule’ia National Wildlife Refuge leads you into a quiet valley filled with jungle greenery and freshwater pools. Along the way you can swim and try our rope swing into Pirate Pool, a favorite of the infamous Jack Sparrow, featured in Pirates of the Caribbean. After exploring the area on foot, you return by Hawaiian twin-hull motorized canoe, making this unique kayak, hike, and charter boat tour Perfect for the whole family, from mo’opuna (grandchildren) to kūpuna (elders).
Wailua Waterfall Kayak Adventure
A guided paddle through Wailua River State Park that ends with a visit to one of Kauai’s most famous waterfalls, Secret Falls, also known as Uluwehi Falls. This lush jungle trail and towering cascade make the entire journey feel magical. It is calm, scenic, and a showcase for our guide’s storytelling of the legends and history of Kauai. With its 1.5 mile riverside jungle hike and waterfall destination, this tour is also a great choice for those looking for a more vigorous adventure.
FlyLine Zipline— Hawai’i’s Biggest Zipline!
One giant line and one giant rush. Fly Superman style across magnificent private access Kipu Ranch in the shadow of the mysterious Ha’upu Mountain Range on the longest zipline in Hawaii. It is just about the most excitement you can get in an hour on Kauai.
Why Choose Outfitters Kauai
Guests choose us because we offer experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in Hawaii. With us, you get:
- Exclusive access to private land on Kipu Ranch
- The longest zipline in Hawaii
- The most airtime of any zipline tour on Kauai
- Hawaiian twin-hull motorized canoe experiences that make river adventures easier and enjoyable for all skill levels
- Knowledgeable guides who share legends, history, and culture
- Small group outings that highlight real, natural Kauai
- Adventures perfect for families, couples, and first-time visitors
These are not tours you can do on your own. They are special because of the land we work on, the guides who lead them, and the stories that live in each valley.
Our Guides and Our Spirit
Our guides are passionate outdoor pros trained in safety, natural history, cultural knowledge, and environmental care. Many grew up on Kauai and love sharing the island through local eyes. Their curiosity, humor, and aloha set the tone for every adventure.
Continuing the Legacy
Founders Rick and Julie Haviland built Outfitters Kauai on a simple idea. Show people the best parts of the island and treat every guest with genuine aloha. Today their daughter Nalani and son in law Michael Hunsaker are stepping into leadership roles and helping guide the next chapter of the company. The heart of Outfitters Kauai remains the same. Family owned, locally rooted, and committed to unforgettable adventures.
Plan Your Kauai Adventure
Whether you want to fly across open valleys, paddle through peaceful rivers, or explore jungle trails at the base of Mount Ha’upu, we have the perfect experience waiting. Join us and see why Outfitters Kauai has been one of the top things to do on Kauai for more than 30 years.
Meet the Team:
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The Haviland’s at Kalalau
Rick and Julie Haviland came to Kauaʻi in the early 1980s with a shared love for the ocean, the outdoors, and exploring every hidden corner of the island. Rick grew up sailing and skiing in Wisconsin before becoming a lineman, and Julie grew up waterskiing and riding anything with an engine in Northern California. A blind date brought them together, and soon they were windsurfing, kayaking, and mountain biking across the island long before adventure tours on Kauaʻi were common.
In 1988 they opened Outfitters Kauaʻi after receiving the first state permit for guided sea kayak tours. They continued to create new ways for visitors to explore the island’s rivers, valleys, and movie locations, eventually pioneering the island’s first commercial zipline on private access Kipu Ranch. That early innovation set the stage for what would later become some of Kauaʻi’s most iconic adventure experiences, including the FlyLine, now recognized as the longest zipline in Hawaiʻi.
Today, Rick and Julie still call Omaʻo home and enjoy the island life they fell in love with decades ago. Their daughter Nalani returned to Kauaʻi in 2022 with her husband Michael and their twins, and their youngest child was born here on island. Michael’s years of guiding and his land surveying background, combined with Nalani’s lifelong connection to the company, make them a natural fit to carry Outfitters Kauaʻi into its next chapter.
The company remains family owned and rooted in the same spirit that started it all: a deep love for Kauaʻi, respect for its landscapes, and a passion for sharing unforgettable Kauaʻi zipline tours, Kauaʻi kayak tours, and outdoor adventures through exclusive access to Kipu Ranch. Visitors looking for the best things to do on Kauaʻi will still find the same heart, creativity, and local connection that Rick and Julie built from the very beginning.
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Peggy Sowl has been part of the Kauaʻi adventure world since the late 1980s. She grew up on a small farm in the Bay Area, moved to Kauaʻi in 1988, and built a career in scuba diving and water sports before joining the Outfitters Kauaʻi ʻohana. After traveling across all the Hawaiian Islands as a scuba sales rep, she always knew Kauaʻi was where she belonged.
As Ticket Sales Manager, Peggy helps guests choose the perfect Kauaʻi adventure tour, whether it is the Nui Kauaʻi Zipline, the 4,000 foot FlyLine, or one of our waterfall and river kayaking experiences. She loves matching visitors with the right tour and is known for her friendly honesty and quick sense of humor.
Peggy believes Outfitters Kauaʻi is the best place to find real island fun, and she takes pride in helping guests discover unforgettable things to do on Kauaʻi.
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Muppy has lived on Kauaʻi since 2009 and brought her lifelong love of the outdoors with her. Raised at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in northern Utah, she grew up camping, hiking, river rafting, and eventually fell in love with rock climbing and adventure sports.
After visiting Kauaʻi and taking a tour with Outfitters Kauaʻi, she knew she wanted to be part of the ʻohana. She moved to the island soon after and started as a guide before stepping into her role as Box Office Manager. Today she helps guests choose the perfect Kauaʻi adventure, from the Nui Kauaʻi Zipline and the FlyLine to our river kayaking and waterfall tours.
During her years on island, Muppy met her husband and now has a beautiful young son. She still loves welcoming visitors, sharing her favorite island experiences, and helping guests discover the best things to do on Kauaʻi.
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Operations Manager, Tony Kerber
Tony Kerber is the guy who keeps the adventure rolling at Outfitters Kauaʻi. With years of exploring Kipu Ranch, paddling the Huleʻia River, and zipping guests through the treetops, he knows our tours better than just about anyone. Before landing on Kauaʻi, Tony sailed oceans, climbed mountains, and guided his way through some of the wildest places on earth, which makes him the perfect fit for our island crew.
As Operations Manager, Tony makes sure every Kauaʻi adventure tour runs safe, smooth, and full of good vibes. From the Nui Kauaʻi Zipline and the 4,000 foot FlyLine to our waterfall hikes and river kayaking, he keeps the fun going from start to finish.
Off the clock, you can usually find Tony hiking with his wife and son, scouting new trails, or searching for yet another waterfall to add to his list. His love for Kauaʻi and calm leadership help make Outfitters Kauaʻi one of the top things to do on the island.