Kauai ATV, one of only two ATV tour companies on Kauai, is closing effective January 31st, 2025 according to posts made on their Instagram and Facebook accounts. The news has left both locals and tourists alike heartbroken, as the company was known for providing unforgettable off-road tours through Kauai’s lush landscapes and rugged terrain. Kauai ATV issued the following statement on their social media:
“As the company officially packs up shop effective January 31, We would like to thank everyone who followed along and enjoyed the ride with us. We would also like to thank the community for embracing us for the past 25 years, its been a blast! Farewell!”
While the exact reason for the closure hasn’t been disclosed, the company operates on the same Grove Farm land as the Makauwahi Cave Reserve, which closed late last year over a lease dispute with Grove Farm.
Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tommy Lundberg
For over two decades, Kauai ATV offered an exciting and unique way to explore the island’s natural beauty. Their signature ATV tours took visitors deep into the wilds of southern Kauai, on land in the vicinity of the abandoned Old Koloa Sugar Mill outside Old Koloa Town. Notable destinations on Kauai ATV tours included the sugar mill, the Waita Reservoir (Hawaii’s largest inland body of water), and the historic Wilcox Tunnel. The half a mile long tunnel (measuring 20 x 20 feet) was built after World War 2 as a transportation route for sugar cane trains. Though no longer in use, the tunnel has been preserved as a historic site and was an interesting and unique stop on ATV tours.
Wilcox Tunnel. Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tommy Lundberg
As Kauai ATV closes its doors, it’s clear that the company’s legacy will not be easily forgotten. Though the island has lost a treasured piece of its adventure tourism, one thing is for sure – Kauai’s spirit of exploration and natural beauty will continue to inspire visitors for generations to come.
