A Snorkeling + Kayaking experience by Kona Boys. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: The sleep-in, lower-priced way to reach the Captain Cook Monument. Self-guided rentals can't land at Kaʻawaloa; this guided tour does. Paddle across Kealakekua Bay, walk to the monument, and snorkel a Marine Life Conservation District.
Landing at Kaʻawaloa, the shoreline self-guided rentals are not allowed to reach. 
The paddle back across the bay, roughly a mile of open water each way. Onshore at Kaʻawaloa for snacks and history, the part of the bay rentals can't reach. An easy, family-friendly paddle at a kinder hour than the dawn departure. One of the many Pristine coral formations within Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Sarah Lee on Unsplash The water over the Kaʻawaloa drop-off is some of the clearest on the Kona side. Spinner dolphins (naiʻa) rest in the bay by day; viewing is from a distance under the 50-yard federal rule. he reef at Kaʻawaloa holds more than 200 species of fish in clear, protected water.
4 Tour Highlights:
- Land at Kaʻawaloa and stand at the monument, something self-guided rentals are barred from doing
- A late-morning start and a lower price than the dawn departure
- Snorkel above coral and a deep drop-off inside a Marine Life Conservation District
- Cross Kealakekua Bay by kayak from the Nāpōʻopoʻo landing
Important: The crossing of Kealakekua Bay is a real paddle in open, deep water in both directions, so book this knowing you will be doing physical work the whole way.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth |
|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $169.99 | $129.99 |
Tour Provider: Kona Boys
Activity: Snorkeling + Kayaking
Tour start time: 11:30 AM
Duration: 4 hours
Location: Kealakekua Bay
Pick-up available? No
Included: Kayaks and equipment, snorkel gear, certified guide, light snacks and drinks onshore, cultural and historical narration
Cancellations: Kona Boys reserves the right to charge the full amount with less than 48 hours notice of cancellation. Any cancellations before 48 hours will have a full refund. Customers will receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact Kona Boys by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
Read more: about snorkeling in our Big Island snorkeling guide.
Tour details
If you would rather not set an alarm, this is the Kealakekua Bay tour for you. It launches in the late morning, costs less than the dawn departure, and still gets you the one thing a rental never can: your feet on the ground at the Captain Cook monument. After check-in at the Kona Boys base in Kealakekua at 11:30 AM, you set up your snorkel gear and get a historical overview from a certified guide before driving down to launch from the Nāpōʻopoʻo landing.
Landing at Kaʻawaloa, the shoreline self-guided rentals are not allowed to reach.
Why a rental can’t do what this tour does
Kealakekua Bay runs on a strict permit system. A self-guided rental can paddle across the bay, but state rules prohibit those vessels from landing at Kaʻawaloa, the shoreline below the monument. On your own you tie the kayaks off in the water and snorkel from there. You never step onto the flat. The only ways to actually stand at the monument are to hike the steep Kaʻawaloa Trail down from the highway or to book one of the few permitted commercial guided tours. Kona Boys is one of those operators, and on this trip you land the kayaks at Kaʻawaloa and walk over to the monument. That is the part no boat tour and no rental can match.
Onshore at Kaʻawaloa for snacks and history, the part of the bay rentals can’t reach.
The paddle across Kealakekua Bay to Kaʻawaloa is the part most people underestimate. This is a real crossing of open, deep water, roughly a mile each way. Expect to put in physical work both directions. The bay sits inside a Marine Life Conservation District, which is why the coral and fish are in the shape they are. Parking at the Nāpōʻopoʻo launch is tight and fills on weekend mornings, so the 11:30 check-in helps you miss the worst of it.
The honest tradeoff of the later start
The thing to know going in: Kona-coast breezes tend to build through the day and chop up the surface by midday, so the water on this departure is usually less glassy and less clear than it is at dawn. Spinner dolphins, which move into the bay to rest, are also easier to catch on the early paddle. None of that ruins the day. The snorkeling here is still some of the better water on the Kona side, over coral and a deep drop-off, and once you reach Kaʻawaloa you come ashore for light snacks, drinks, and hydration while the guides tell stories about Captain Cook’s visits to the bay. The onshore stop is paced slowly. Nobody rushes you back into the boat. If glass-flat water and the best dolphin odds matter more to you than the lie-in, look at the morning departure instead.
The water over the Kaʻawaloa drop-off is some of the clearest on the Kona side.
What the guides do
Getting in and out of a sit-on-top kayak is the awkward moment of any tour like this, and the Kona Boys guides handle it hands-on, steadying the boat and helping you load and unload. Guides like Evan, Grant, and Bamm get named by guests for knowing the bay’s history and marine life cold. At $169.99 for adults and $129.99 for ages 18 and under, the price buys kayaks and equipment, snorkel gear, the certified guide, and the snacks and drinks onshore. This one runs well for families: a group with kids aged 6 and 11 counted it as the high point of their trip.
What we think
What carries this tour is the pairing of guides who know the bay and a monument landing no boat tour or rental can match, at a lower price and a kinder start time than the dawn trip. The honest tradeoffs are three. The water is usually less clear than the morning departure. The crossing is real work, so book it knowing you are paddling. And one guest felt some pressure around an optional paid canoe add-on offered on-site, so decide on that before you arrive rather than in the moment. Choose this one for the price and the sleep-in; choose the morning trip for the clearest water and the best shot at dolphins.
[Video] Watch a video about the Kayak & Snorkel Tour in Kealakekua Bay
About Kona Boys
This is the relaxed, value pick of Kona Boys’ two Kealakekua Bay tours: a late-morning start and a lower price than the dawn departure. Self-guided rentals are barred from landing at Kaʻawaloa, so the only ways to stand at the Captain Cook monument are the steep hike or a guided tour with one of the few permitted operators, and Kona Boys is one of them.
The certified guides get named by guests for knowing the bay’s history and marine life in detail. The tour suits families and anyone who wants the monument without an early alarm. The honest tradeoff is water clarity: midday breezes mean it is usually less glassy than the morning, and dolphins are easier to catch early. If conditions matter more than the lie-in, see the morning departure.
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