Island Ebook 2024-2025

Tom Barefoot owned a large tour and activity brokerage in the Hawaiian Islands starting in 1975. Over his 45 years in operation, he witnessed the growth of the activity business from its early days.

Traveling extensively between the islands, Tom became well-versed in all aspects of the industry, from individual activity companies to visitor publications and the agencies representing these tours.

His extensive experience led to the creation of this directory, which for the first time presents your tour choices in a straightforward and unbiased format.

All tour company options are presented, updated, and rated annually, regardless of their size or tenure, allowing visitors to make informed choices based on the tour characteristics, descriptions, and reviews from previous guests.

TThe island of Kauai is the oldest of the major islands in the Hawaiian chain. Kauai’s volcano has been extinct for over 5 million years. It is also the northernmost island and generally the first island to receive “weather” generated from the huge body of water north and west of Hawaii.

Rain clouds are attracted by land mass and the first spot many of the north Pacific weather patterns are drawn to is Kauai and in fact so much rain is attracted to the island that its summit of Mount Waialeale is the wettest spot on the planet with an average yearly rainfall of 420”.

The extreme rainfall, pounding surf and constant trade wind breezes have contoured the island into a series of sculpted peeks with razor edge ridges which are laden with dripping green jungles and immense waterfalls. On the eastern portion of Kauai can be found an alluvial plain of relatively flat topography that is detailed with gently flowing serpentine shaped navigable rivers suitable for kayaking and other river going vessels.

The extreme geological conditions, weather and rainfall found on Kauai have produced a unique landscape suitable for a multitude of different types of activities.