While on Kauai, we stayed on the North Shore and chose to paddle the Hanalei River on a cloudy, warm day.   We rented boats from Kayak Hanalei and launched into the river.   These were 11 foot sit-on-top kayaks.   Rudderless, tubby, buoyant, and slow.

We turned upstream and paddled for about 2.2 miles into the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.   With a constant downstream flow, the kayaks stopped and turned if we stopped paddling, difficult for photography.

The shoreline was all flowering shrubs, vines, and tropical trees.   The upper part of the river became narrow and shallower.  In the Refuge, we spotted many birds, turtles, and fish.

We turned and paddled downstream for 3 miles to the mouth of the river where it emptied into the surf at Hanalei Bay.   Entry into the ocean would be difficult, better suited to surfboards than tubby kayaks.

The final leg of 6 miles of paddling was upstream and into the wind.   These types of kayaks are neither efficient, nor comfortable, but the effort is worth the experience on the river.

Kauai has the only navigable rivers in the Hawaiian Islands.   The Hanalei River is the second longest.   We hope to paddle the Wailua River next time.

Although we really enjoyed the river, we found the boats to be klunky, wandering, and uncomfortable.   We know that rental companies buy them because novices can get back in if they spill, the boats can take a beating, and they are inexpensive but it is like playing tennis with a pickleball racquet.   Next time we will paddleboard on the river.