Afternoon Sail, Light Snacks

3-hour afternoon snorkel

Overview

The Hoku Nui, a 50-foot sailing catamaran, leaves Keauhou Bay at 2:00 PM for a three-hour afternoon trip to the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay. The bay has been a Marine Life Conservation District since 1969, with no fishing and no anchoring allowed, which is why the reef here supports denser marine life than general-access snorkel spots. Sea Paradise has been running these sails since 1985.

A marine naturalist on the crew gives a full reef briefing before anyone gets in the water. In the bay you may encounter spinner dolphins near the entrance, spotted eagle rays, yellow tang, Moorish idols, moray eels, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and the humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Hawaii's state fish. The catamaran carries up to 49 guests, and the listing describes the load as spacious.

On the way back, the afternoon trade winds usually make for proper sailing, and the listing calls the return leg to Keauhou Bay consistently one of the highlights of the afternoon. The boat returns around 5:00 PM and does not stop at the Red Hill Area. First-time snorkelers and children fit well here: reviewers mention flotation help, boogie boards with viewing windows for young kids, and crew who look after non-swimmers.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Keauhou Bay PierFind the vessel Hoku Nui at the Keauhou Bay Pier. The crew wear grey shirts.
2. Afternoon departureThe catamaran departs Keauhou Bay at 2:00 PM and sails along the Kona Coast toward Kealakekua Bay.
3. Snorkel at Captain Cook MonumentTime in the water at the Captain Cook Monument inside the protected Marine Life Conservation District, after a reef briefing from the marine naturalist crew.
4. Trade-wind sail backThe return passage rides the afternoon trade winds, one of the consistent highlights of this tour, arriving back at Keauhou Bay around 5:00 PM.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you plan the afternoon.

• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup, so you make your own way to the Keauhou Bay Pier and look for the crew in grey shirts beside the Hoku Nui. Shoes are not allowed on the vessel, so wear something easy to slip off.
• Food and drink. Light snacks are provided, including Maui-style chips and tropical fruit, plus non-alcoholic beverages. Cocktails are not included, and gratuities are separate.
• Gear on board. Mask, fins, snorkel and flotation noodles are all included, and reef-safe sunscreen is available on the boat. Full face masks are not permitted for safety reasons.
• Who it suits. Non-swimmers and families do well on this trip. One reviewer said the crew took particular care of nervous swimmers, and another family noted special boogie boards with view holes so young kids could see the fish.
• Keep it dry. Dry storage on board is limited, so leave anything that must stay dry at your accommodation and bring only what you need. A camera, towel, hat and sunglasses round out the list.
• Weather and pace. The whole tour runs about three hours at an easy pace. The trade winds that shape the return sail are part of the plan, not a disruption.

Common issues. There is no transportation to the pier, so you need your own arrangement to reach Keauhou Bay, and there is a 24-hour cutoff for a full refund if plans change. Shoes cannot be worn on the catamaran and full face masks are banned. Dry storage is limited, and cocktails, gratuities and merchandise cost extra. The tour does not visit the Red Hill Area, so anyone expecting that stop should pick a different sailing.

Choosing A Tour