Waipa Foundation

★★★★★Sissi Hünseler

We recently joined the Waipā Food & Farm Tour in Hanalei, and it was an absolutely transformative experience! The Waipā Foundation does incredible work stewarding the 1,600-acre Ahupuaʻa, restoring taro fields, gardens, and natural resources while sharing authentic Hawaiian culture. From learning about Mālama ʻĀina (caring for the land) and enjoying a delicious farm-to-table lunch, every moment deepened my connection to Kauaʻi’s heritage and community spirit. Thank you, Waipā team, especially to Chelsea, Emma and Seneca from the bottom of my heart, for your passion, education, and aloha – you’ve made our visit unforgettable and inspired us to support your vital mission. Mahalo nui loa!

★★★★★Joseph Chalom

Our tour guide Emma and the team at the Waipa Foundation provided a fabulous experience during our Waipa Cultural Food and Farm Tour. We gained valuable insights on Hawaiian traditions, the challenges some Kauai residents face and how the Waipa Foundation is helping. We really enjoyed the farm to table food served during our tour. This experience was the highlight of our visit to Kauai. We encourage everyone to take the food and farm tour.

★★★★★debra sue Kelvin

Welina me Aloha .. We've been familiar with Waipa Traditional Farm over several years and attended public special presentations and seasonal celebrations, all of which have been warmly and wonderfully engaging. Waipa's mission and function flower in remarkable and exemplary ways. Farm and Foodways Tours are a latest verdant, vibrant example. We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to accompany the recently implemented and evolving Waipa Cultural Foodways Tour. Our tour was welcomed and guided in turns by gracious Waipa staff members Olivia, Emma, Mikeala, and Executive Director Stacy. We began with a map overview of the ahupua'a, nibbling assorted fresh breakfast delights and sipping cool, slightly sweet and soothing mamaki tea. Over a few precious hours staff describe the cultural and agri~dynamics of this truly remarkable modern restoration of the knowledge and practice of a traditional Hawai'i ahupua'a, from the mountain, streams, to fish pond, sea and rains. The educational Q+ A experience while seated, strolling, or riding along is interactive and fun, with surprise tastes and a planting along the way throughout the morning. The foodways tour is crowned by a shared buffet table lunch, rather a Feast, in a rainbow of freshest locally 'aina and kai sourced foods in a palette of delightful textures and tastes, circled together with staff and new friends. Any "rating" stars seem cliche or will likely just fall short. This tour, its hosts palpably relate, connect and blend deep cultural and modern knowledge of 'aina , wai, the LIFE therein~Waiwai ALOHA, into a personal edventure, which will surely, gently, deliciously impart a deep and memorable impression. Thus, a constellation of gently shimmering stars. Happily echoing the website's description: This experience will change the way you view Hawai`i natural landscapes and environment, knowing the cultural features and significance that lie within them. Corey and Debra Sue Pinole, CA

★★★★★Cory Zue

We had an awesome experience on the tour here! Our kids (5 and 7) loved feeding the pigs, helping prepare the taro, and riding around in the vehicles. The adults loved learning more about the local Hawaiian culture and history, and learning about how everything works on the farm. The day was capped by a wonderful and unique lunch full of yummy fruits and vegetables grown on the property with delicious and unique sauces as well as amazing poi cheesecake. Would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about sustainable agriculture and Hawaiian culture.

★★★★★Rae-Marie May

I would highly recommend the Waipa Foundation Food and Farm Tour happening on Tuesdays. It was a delightful and informative 3 hours filled with impressive work that the Foundation is doing to inspire people to care for the land which feeds us. The bonus lunch was absolutely delicious. I'm proud of what they are doing for the community and would love more people to support them. It's not your average tourist tour. But, for people who care, it's perfect.