Things to do on President's Day in Kauai (Updated 2026)

Our private doors-off helicopter tour with Aliʻi Air Tours was easily one of the highlights of our time on Kauaʻi, and the entire experience was excellent from check-in through landing.Kendra handled our check-in, and everything was prompt, organized, and easy to understand. She gave us some great advice about what to wear for a doors-off flight and made sure we understood the safety requirements before heading out to the helicopter.Our pilot, Will, was outstanding. Before takeoff, he thoroughly walked us through the aircraft, safety procedures, what to expect once we were in the air, and the itinerary for the flight. In the air, he struck exactly the right balance—very professional and knowledgeable, but also relaxed and conversational. It never felt like he was simply reciting the standard tourist-guide script.Our visit came shortly after Hurricane Lowell, so some of the tour naturally included discussion of the storm damage and what Kauaʻi and its residents had been through. I especially appreciated the way Will handled that part of the flight. He discussed what we were seeing with genuine empathy and respect, rather than treating the damage as another sightseeing attraction.That attitude carried through the entire Aliʻi team. Everyone repeatedly thanked us for coming to Kauaʻi and supporting local businesses during the island's recovery. Considering everything they had recently experienced, their hospitality and enthusiasm were remarkable.And, of course, seeing Kauaʻi from a doors-off helicopter is spectacular. The scenery is incredible, but having a great crew makes the experience that much better.I couldn't recommend Aliʻi Air Tours more highly. Kendra and Will were fantastic, everything ran smoothly, and we would absolutely fly with them again on a future trip to Kauaʻi. 🚁🌺

We had an absolutely amazing experience with Ali’i Air Tours! We did the private doors-off helicopter tour over Kauai, and it was easily one of the highlights of our honeymoon in Hawaii.The views were breathtaking — seeing Kauai’s mountains, waterfalls, valleys, coastline, and the Nā Pali Coast from the air was unforgettable. The doors-off experience made it even more exciting and gave us incredible unobstructed views throughout the flight.Everything felt professional and well organized, and our pilot made us feel comfortable and safe from start to finish. It was such a special experience for us as a couple and something we will remember for a very long time.If you’re visiting Kauai, we definitely recommend doing a doors-off helicopter tour with Ali’i Air Tours. Worth every penny!

It’s so much more than a chocolate tour! We had tropical fruit tastings, learned about the ecosystem and different varietals of cacao, and grew a larger appreciation for chocolate and how small batch chocolate differs from mass production. Basically, what REAL chocolate is supposed to taste like.From the moment our tour started, it was evident that our guide Henry was not only extremely knowledgeable about the farm and the chocolate but his enthusiasm and passion poured out during the entire three hour tour. Henry absolutely loves his job and it shows. It makes such a big difference when someone like Henry is running the show. Lydgate is lucky to have him :)

My wife and I had a blast! Private chopper flight in Kauai is the way to go. Our pilot, Matt, was a good young man, took us to sights we would not have been able to see on our own, and gave us good info as he circled/hovered around the interesting points. They also provided a phone holder for your phone during flight. We took some memorable photos and videos. It wasn’t cheap but soooo worth it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

The gardens, farm, is obviously loved & well cared for by the crew that work there …. this is just two weeks after Hurricane Lowell. The organization and preparations for each and every presentation were flawless. It is immediately obvious that all the people who work there know how to pay attention to every detail (& any possible need a guest may have). They all had sincere super smiles to share. They were all caring and engaging… truly exuding”Island Style” hospitality . Our guide, Sheri, is the epitome of a truly amazing Teacher. Absolutely Excellent delivery , her voice, her smile, her enthusiasm, exacting details, incredible knowledge of History, Botanicals, of deliberate exact tasting. She engaged and entertained and taught. I think other business’s would like to clone her. It was all driven by her lovely “joie de vive”. Then there is the Chocolate….. like no other… Fact: it is award winning!! This adventure will treat your taste buds like never before and teach you more than you expect. Need to get your spirits lifted? Chocolate can do that! Excellent , Award Winning Chocolate does it better. Want to learn some intricate and little known details about the island, about plants, about CHOCOLATE …..go to Lydgate Farms ! Take the tour!

Would definitely recommend! This was an amazing experience. I was a bit nervous but was feeling totally safe the all flight.

What a blast! Just a gorgeous adventure. Just do it, highlight of our trip by far.

The weather really impacts this experience. It was a rainy day, so we had a challenging paddle up stream, then had to turn around in the middle of the hike, and then a challenging paddle back with the wind. We were issued a partial refund, so that was great. While the hike was too dangerous to continue, I never felt like I was in an unsafe position. Our guide was very knowledgeable and kind. We loved her!

Fantastic sunset cruise with a wonderful captain and crew! The open bar and snacks were lovely, and we really enjoyed learning about the island’s history along the way. We would absolutely do this again!

The flight was really great. The pilot and rest of the staff very professional and friendly. You go All around the island and get to see the wild nature sprawling underneath.

Would not be disappointed! The thrill of having the doors off and the great views of the island where normally you can’t see make it worth it. Very fun and felt safe from start to finish. Chrissy was an amazing pilot. 10/10 excursion!

So amazing. Since we got there the crew was so nice and so kind. The flight with Wayne was great... The highlight from our trip to the Islands of Hawaii.

The Makana Charter Company is a class act - highly recommend. We took this half-day boat tour + snorkelling with our group of six, including four people ages 16 to 24. We felt welcomed and very taken care of by the friendly and knowledgeable captain and crew. It was a splurge cost-wise for us, but totally worth it. A highlight of our exceptional first visit to Kauai!

The coast is BEAUTIFUL. The staff was exceptional. The food and drinks were yummy. FYI make sure you have transportation figured out! We tried to get an UBER for an hour before we finally got someone to pick us up. No taxis and the little town closes down after dark. 😩

Excellent crew, informative, friendly, and fun. We had a great time! Would do it again!

Our Nā Pali Coast sunset dinner cruise was absolutely incredible. The scenery is breathtaking and truly something you have to experience in person. Pictures simply cannot capture how beautiful the Nā Pali Coast is from the water.What made the experience even more special was the amazing crew. Captain Glenn, Noah, and Selma made us feel like family from the moment we were on board. They were constantly checking on us, keeping our drinks filled, preparing and setting out the food, and making sure everyone was comfortable and having a great time. Their hospitality was outstanding.And the food was delicious! Between the incredible scenery, great food and drinks, and such a wonderful crew, it was a fantastic way to experience the Nā Pali Coast.We were visiting Kauaʻi from a cruise ship and had to figure out transportation to and from the dinner cruise. If you’re in the same situation and having trouble arranging transportation, I recommend trying Dianne’s Taxi. She was very friendly, stayed in communication with us, and coordinated our pickup and drop off, which made things much easier.The Nā Pali Coast is spectacular on its own, but Captain Glenn, Noah, and Selma made the experience even more memorable. We felt genuinely taken care of, had a wonderful time, and left with memories we will treasure forever. I would absolutely recommend this sunset dinner cruise!