On the Water
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
R 3 621
per adult
Kona Boys
Kona Boys
5
Speciality & Gift ShopsSurfing & WindsurfingEquipment HireStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Full view
About
Kona's original, award winning kayak shop, serving the Big Island and specializing in Kealakekua Bay since 1995. We are a small, laid back, island style surf, kayak, and paddle board shop located on the Big Island's Kona Coast above Kealakekua Bay. Helping locals and visitors alike enjoy Hawaii's waters and providing gear for island life. Kona Activities: Kayak Rentals, Kayak Tours, Historical Canoe Rides, Surf Lessons, Stand-up-paddleboards (rentals, lessons, tours), Snorkel Gear Rentals, Bodyboards, Surfboards (rentals and sales). With over 20 years of local service, Kona Boys is your trusted source for discovering the best restaurants, accommodations, and points of interest. Let us guide you through the local scene, ensuring you make the most of your time in paradise. Join us at Kona Boys, where the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness, and the spirit of aloha welcomes you to a world of ocean adventures and cultural connections. Book your water experience today!
Kealakekua, United States
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Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Kona Boys
On the Water
5 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
R 4 644
per adult
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1 583 reviews
Excellent
1 494
Very good
59
Average
16
Poor
4
Terrible
11
SacFamily2015
Sacramento, CA5 contributions
Feb 2020
My review is about their great customer service! I am extremely near sighted and my husband and I booked a tour to swim with dolphins. It was suggested that I check out Kona Boys for an optical mask. Their fee for daily and weekly rental was amazing, and easily beat out the other shops I called. Beyond that, the gentleman who helped me find just the right strength was incredibly patient and understanding. Returning the mask was also quick and efficient. I would highly recommend Kona Boys if you are in need of a good optical mask for a great rental price with no pressure at all. Because I had the best possible strength for my eyes, I was able to enjoy seeing all of the dolphins above and in the water, a sandbar shark, and tons of beautiful fish along the reef!
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndreaKvam
Trondheim, Norway8 contributions
Dec 2019
We visited Kona boys (or Kona girls as it should also be called, as there were only girls there!) during our honeymoon to rent snorkelling gear. First we tried a place in Kailua-Kona who wanted 89$ for a weeks rental. Kona boys had better quality gear, and also only charged 58$ for a week! We also got lots of tips from the Kona girls about where to go to have the best snorkelling experience. Highly recommended for everyone wanting to go snorkelling on the Big Island!
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
b0nv0yage4u
Vancouver, WA2 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Morning Kealakekua Bay kayaking and snorkeling tour with T! An opportunity to enjoy a peaceful kayak across the Bay, saw some manta rays jumping/breaching on the way over, and day was enriched by hearing some of the fascinating history of the area. Enjoyed snorkeling at Kealakekua with hardly any other snorkelers, watching an octopus “swim” and show off its camouflage skills was a highlight. Big difference when the boats showed up, having to watch out for kayaks and dodge other snorkelers, we were thankful for our arrival time virtually alone on the reef! Delicious filling sandwich and juice provided after snorkeling. Exit from kayak back to dock was difficult for me, otherwise we had a phenomenal time. Our guide T was excellent!
Mahalo Kona Boys and we would highly recommend them as the best way to visit Kealakekua Bay!
Mahalo Kona Boys and we would highly recommend them as the best way to visit Kealakekua Bay!
Written 5 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
casmd
Nashville, TN7 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
We had an amazing morning kayak & snorkel trip led by Chris and Eden today. The 7am morning orientation up on the hill at the Kona Boys store front was brief and informative, and was very helpful making sure we had all the gear needed for our family of five. The short drive down into Kealakekua Bay to meet up with Chris and Eden was easy. We were able to park close to the public restroom and shower just a short walk from the launch pier. Chris and Eden were phenomenal guides! The curtesy and friendliness were genuine. Their professionalism on and off the water left us at ease to focus on enjoying the moment. When our youngest two (8 & 10) wanted to take a break early, we felt comfortable continuing to explore while the boys hung out near the Cook monument with Chris and Eden near by. The included water bottles, lunches, and chocolate chip Mac nut cookies were a perfect compliment, post snorkel, as Eden and Chris shared stories of the circumstances that led to Capt Cook’s demise. If you enjoy water play, I HIGHLY recommend connecting with Kona Boys for a guided kayak and snorkel trip in Kealakekua Bay led by Eden and Chris. Take water shoes.
Written 23 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PhilFrazier
6 contributions
Mar 2021
We did the self-guided kayak rental in Captain Cook bay (not a tour). We had a great time and the Kona Boys staff were very helpful in explaining directions and helping us get the kayak loaded onto our car. However the reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is that I later learned that another company (Bay Side Adventure) actually rents kayaks for cheaper, and does it right from the dock at the water's edge so you don't have to bother with going to the Kona Boys office, loading the kayak onto your rental car, and transporting it down to the waterfront area. There are apparently only 3 companies that are licensed/permitted to rent out self-guided kayaks that go out to Captain Cook Monument. One is Kona Boys and one is Bay Side Adventure and I don't remember the other company name. By the time I learned about the other option it was too late to cancel the reservation. Anyway all that said, it was still a really good experience, and the snorkeling at the Captain Cook Monument was great and we got to see dolphins! I would caution that by the afternoon the kayak ride back from the snorkeling area to the dock, riding into the wind, isn't easy. For a reasonably fit adult it is fine, but just be prepared for a bit of a workout. It was gorgeous!
Written 29 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
facerock
1 contribution
Jan 2022
I'm a female in my mid 60's. I called ahead to check out how difficult the morning kayak/snorkel trip would be to Captan Cook Monument. I was never told we would launch from a high cement wall into the kayak. I was told they were the only outfit that has a permit to land at Captain Cook Monument with an easy in and out for snorkeling. Well, when you get there the guide says, "If you want to snorkel without all the hundreds of people we can get in now before the other big boats arrive. Otherwise we can land and we can all haul our boats up the hill and lose our snorkeling time. So, we ended up going in off the kayaks, and having to pull ourselves from the water into the kayaks at the end of our snorkel which takes a lot of arm strength. Later when we came back to the entry wall, we had to stand in the kayak and pull ourselves up from the kayak onto the wall which was high. I had difficulties. There was no help. Just letting older people know what they are in for. I did not see anything new at this snorkel location that I did not see the day before at the 2 Step location for free. This was not a good experience for me.
Written 17 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ramona F
Waimea, HI1 contribution
Dec 2021
Tour guide Ray Rivera of Kona Boys proved his skill during my water venture. Not only did he enjoy answering any and all questions, he offered tips and necessary recommendations to ensure protection of the coral bed we paddled or snorkeled over. Equally important, he remained calm when a lighting storm arose including impressive clapping thunder. Acting quickly, he and Jeff the second resourceful guide, used ropes to give six kayaks a head start in the direction we needed to go, despite wind, choppy water, rain and lightening to return safely to the dock we had departed, which we did. We were all better for the memorable experience and the absence of panic. Thank you, Kona Boys for your can-do approach.
Written 13 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lwes
Brighton, MI55 contributions
Jan 2022
My husband and I did the Morning Magic" tour guide with Evan. Our tour was delayed by a day due to the swells from the Tsunami but we were able to reschedule for the next day. I was impressed that the guides had gone out that morning to assess the water and decided that that they were not comfortable with taking us out on kayaks. I give Kona Boys credit for making our safety a priority. The next day we had absolutely perfect weather for our kayak trip with Evan over to the Captain Cook monument to snorkel. Our guide got us safely into our kayaks, provided us with very informative historical facts during the kayak paddle to the snorkeling site and when we were enjoying lunch next to the Captain Cook monument. Evan did a fantastic job explaining how to safely get in and out of the water for snorkeling. Our lunch provided by The Coffee Shack was delicious and much appreciated after some great snorkeling. Arriving to the snorkel site early was truly an advantage as we had time to enjoy the experience before most of the bigger groups showed up. We were also saw a few whales in the bay on our kayak trip back. I would highly recommend this Kona Boys experience!
Written 17 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daren S
1 contribution
Dec 2021
The BEST way to experience Kealakekua Bay, one of the highlights on the Big Island. We have made this trip independently many times, renting our our kayak etc. But the State's restrictions now are such that going with a licensed guide, with permits to land at the site of the monument is now the best, most hassle-free option. The guides schlep the kayaks for you, provide snorkel gear and also lunch. Evan and Izzy were great guides, with lots of interesting geological and historical info. The lunch exceeded all expectations. As always the snorkeling here is fantastic, one of the best locations we have experienced on any of the islands. We did the morning excursion, which is preferable because you get there before all the charter boats arrive and unload hundreds of snorkelers. Also, the water tends to be calmer in the mornings, and you are more likely to see dolphins. It's about a mile across the bay, takes 20-30 mins of moderate paddling. We are in our sixties, in good health and it felt like an easy workout.
Written 3 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KarenHEncinitas
Encinitas40 contributions
Sept 2022
We loved our kayak and snorkeling adventure with Kona Boys. From check-in at their shop throughout the entire trip, every detail was handled with care and professionalism. The equipment they provide is great.
Our guide, Grant was fantastic. He made sure everyone was safe and got in and out of the kayaks with ease at every stop. He had great stories to tell about Hawaiian culture and history, as well as many great details about the beautiful marine life we saw. He was funny, thoughtful, and helpful in every way.
Lunch was very good- including homemade cookies.
Most of all, being in the beautiful, protected lagoon and snorkeling for nearly 90 minutes was a true highlight. The Kona Boys tour gets you into the lagoon very early, ahead of many of the larger tour boats. That makes it so much better, quieter, and more special. I would recommend this to anyone! Just fantastic.
Our guide, Grant was fantastic. He made sure everyone was safe and got in and out of the kayaks with ease at every stop. He had great stories to tell about Hawaiian culture and history, as well as many great details about the beautiful marine life we saw. He was funny, thoughtful, and helpful in every way.
Lunch was very good- including homemade cookies.
Most of all, being in the beautiful, protected lagoon and snorkeling for nearly 90 minutes was a true highlight. The Kona Boys tour gets you into the lagoon very early, ahead of many of the larger tour boats. That makes it so much better, quieter, and more special. I would recommend this to anyone! Just fantastic.
Written 16 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha and mahalo for the message. There are two trails that come to mind near Kealakekua Bay. The first is the hiking trail that accesses the Bay. The trailhead is a t the top of Napoopoo Rd. The second trail goes south from the City if Refuge within the state park.
Written 4 January 2020
We are experienced but not advanced kayakers. Do you think that simply renting the kayaks from Kona Boys is fine, instead of joining the tour? Or are there some nuisances to the trip that would require a guide?
Also, how crowded does the snorkeling get in the meandering afternoon kayak /Snorkel tour? If we did book one, we were thinking of that, and not the morning tour.
Written 4 February 2018
There's nothing tricky about the trip to the Captain Cook Monument except the landing area. It's small and hard to notice as you approach. We were on the morning tour and as the day progresses, more people and boats showed up for snorkeling. Also the wind started to pick up in the afternoon. Our guides from Kona Boys were very knowledgeable and helpful. They shared a lot of local history during the trip.
Written 4 February 2018
Is this a tour that is suitable for grandparents with some cardiovascular issues? We would love to share this experience with our
grands, but don't want to slow them down. Also, what is the travel time from Kawaihae area to Kona Boys tours for Kealakekua Bay?
Written 13 March 2017
Mahalo for reaching out. We can't recommend the tour for someone with cardiovascular concerns. I can tell you that the paddle is about 2 miles round trip and we go at a relatively easy pace. The drive from Kawaihae to our shop in Kealakekua is just over an hour. We hope this helps, please feel free to give us a call at the shop if you would like to talk more in detail. Aloha.
Written 13 March 2017
JKBGilbert
Gilbert, Arizona
Does the wa'a charter option include a guide to accompany/instruct us?
Written 10 October 2016
Aloha and mahalo for your question. A Kona Boys steersman is included with all wa'a (canoe) rides. They will help with fundamentals and share all kinds of interesting info while you paddle.
Aloha
Kona Boys.
Written 10 October 2016
We're an older couple in our 60s in good health ( we walk at least 5 miles a day) but no experience in kayaking. Is this a tour for us?
Written 24 April 2016
We had no previous experience and it get well. However, we had wind on our way back and thus it was more sporty. An older couple had difficult time but because the husband couldn't paddle properly; but the staff support and help them.
Do not hesitate to do it, the bay worth it!
Written 28 April 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.