Outrigger Canoe Surfing

Outrigger Canoe Surfing at Kalapaki Beach runs through Kauai Beach Boys. Rated 4.9 across 87 reviews. Runs 1 hour (approx.). From $72.25.

Overview

Kalapaki Beach in Lihue is where this hour on the water starts and ends. You meet the crew from Kauai Beach Boys at their concession next to Duke's Restaurant, then load into the outrigger canoe with your guide. The core of the experience is catching waves and riding them to shore, over and over.

The experience lasts about an hour. A guide sits in the boat, calls the strokes, times the waves and adjusts to the ability of the crew, so no surfing or paddling background is needed. Life vests are provided if needed. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as the fun of surfing without having to balance on a board, and one reviewer reported seeing sea turtles swimming near the canoe.

It suits travellers with moderate fitness who want a short, high-energy activity near Lihue. One pair of seniors noted the beach was within walking distance of their cruise ship. It is not wheelchair accessible, and the listing advises against it for people with back problems, pregnancy or serious heart conditions.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Kalapaki BeachCheck in at the Kauai Beach Boys concession at Kalapaki Beach, next to Duke's Restaurant at 3500 Rice St, Lihue. No hotel pickup is included.
2. Safety and paddle briefingReviewers describe clear instruction from the guide before and during the session, covering what to do and when.
3. Paddle outThe crew paddles the outrigger canoe out from the beach together, following the guide's calls.
4. Ride the wavesThe guide reads the sea and times each run. Multiple reviewers describe riding several waves during the session.
5. Return to the beachThe activity ends back at the same meeting point on Kalapaki Beach, roughly an hour after it began.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you decide whether this fits your group and your day.

• Fitness and effort. The listing asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. Paddling is the main effort, and reviewers describe the session as energetic.
• Group size. The boat carries a maximum of four travellers plus the guide, and at least two people must book. Reviewers described going out with small parties alongside the guide.
• Getting there. No hotel pickup is included, so plan your own transport to Kalapaki Beach in Lihue. One reviewer staying on a cruise ship found the beach an easy walk from the port.
• What to wear. You will be paddling and getting splashed riding waves, so swimwear or quick-drying clothes make sense. The listing does not specify a gear list, and life vests are provided if needed.
• No experience needed. Multiple reviewers with no surfing background said the guide taught the paddling technique and called every command. If you are nervous, reviewers who felt the same said the guide put them at ease.
• Wildlife and pace. One reviewer reported sea turtles swimming near the canoe. The pace mixes paddling with waiting for the right wave, and the guide reads the sea to time each run.

Common issues. The listing rules out wheelchair users and does not recommend the activity for travellers with back problems, pregnancy or serious heart conditions. Good weather is required, and poor-weather cancellations come with a different date or a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time get no refund. The minimum of two travellers per booking also means solo visitors cannot go out alone.

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