The Kauai Rum Safari Tour offers an experience uniquely tailored to the “Garden Isle,” blending agricultural history, wildlife encounters, and high-quality local libations into one two-hour adult-only adventure. Hosted at the expansive Kilohana Plantation in Lihue, the tour is less a traditional safari and more a fun, interactive journey aboard an open-air vehicle. It’s built on a simple recipe for a good time: beautiful setting, knowledgeable and humorous guides, and the lubrication provided by award-winning local rum. This combination creates a “special vibe” that allows guests to relax, laugh, and gain an appreciation for Kauai’s lush landscape, farming heritage, and the island’s celebrated small-batch spirits.
The Safari Route: History and the Tropical Landscape
The two-hour Rum Safari is an adults-only experience that begins with guests hopping into a one-of-a-kind, open-air safari truck, often covered for shade, guided by a pair of knowledgeable and entertaining hosts. The journey commences with a drive through the sprawling 105-acre Kilohana Plantation, offering panoramic views of the vibrant tropical environment.
During this initial drive, the guides provide a foundational history of both the plantation and Kauai’s broader agricultural significance. Guests are treated to sights of exotic plants, flowers, and fruit orchards, including trees bearing lychees, longans, cashews, and mangos. This educational component sets the stage for the rest of the tour, highlighting the deep agricultural roots of the island, particularly the importance of sugarcane—the very crop that makes rum production possible. This blend of sightseeing and local history creates an immersive, educational backdrop for the indulgences to follow.
The Rum Stops: Tasting Local, Farm-to-Glass Cocktails
At the heart of the tour is the partnership with the Koloa Rum Co., Kauai’s renowned small-batch producer based in Lihue. The safari includes two distinct tasting stops, each offering a unique atmosphere and a different rum experience.
The first tasting takes place at a “jungle bungalow,” a private oasis set within a tropical rainforest, often reached via a short boardwalk stroll. Here, guests are treated to a guided sampling of various Koloa Rums—typically four different varieties such as white, dark, coconut, and the highly praised chocolate rum. Guides offer a history of rum production and provide tips on how to best utilize each variety. Following the tasting, a bartender mixes and pours the first full cocktail: the signature Mai Tai, prepared with premium local rum. The second and final stop is typically at the Loi Lanai (Taro Porch) overlooking a taro patch or a reflective pond. This stop culminates in a unique “farm-to-glass” cocktail, shaken and poured using local fruits, herbs, or citrus rinds harvested directly from the plantation’s orchards and fields. Guests are encouraged to mingle and enjoy their fresh drink before the trip concludes, often being provided with the cocktail recipes to take home.
Interactive Wildlife and Cultural Insights
Adding an unexpected element of fun and interaction, the tour includes a wildlife safari component, allowing guests to engage directly with the plantation’s four-legged inhabitants. This segment often occurs while guests are enjoying their Mai Tais, enhancing the relaxed and festive mood.
The safari truck drives through the animal pastures, where guests encounter horses, cows, goats, a donkey, and, most famously, the Kilohana Plantation’s herd of wild pigs. The guides hand out food—such as tortillas—that guests can toss to the animals from the safety of the open-air truck. This hands-on feeding experience is a source of great amusement and laughter. Furthermore, the guides use these encounters to provide cultural insights, discussing the historical and contemporary significance of pigs in Hawaiian culture and sharing information about the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture that arose from the introduction of cattle ranching and horses.
Overall Experience: Fun, Knowledge, and the Finishing Touches
The tour is consistently reviewed as a “must-do” experience on Kauai, primarily due to the engaging nature of the guides and the unique setting. Owner Nick Atkins credits the blend of a beautiful setting, historical narrative, and the “lubricating” effect of the alcohol for creating a universally positive experience where guests are left “laughing.”
In addition to the drinks and animal interactions, the guides are praised for being super knowledgeable, funny, and great at sparking conversation about island life. The inclusive offerings typically cover four rum tastings, one signature Mai Tai, one Farm-to-Glass cocktail, and light snacks (like Maui onion chips). With a duration of approximately two hours and an ages 21+ restriction, the Kauai Rum Safari Tour is celebrated for being an entertaining, memorable, and unique way to explore the Kilohana Plantation and taste the spirit of the Garden Isle.
