Morning Sail, Breakfast And Lunch

4.5 hours, from $179 each

Overview

This four-and-a-half hour morning trip boards the Hoku Nui, a 50-foot sailing catamaran laid out for up to 49 guests, at the Keauhou Bay finger pier in Kailua-Kona. From there the boat sails south along the Kona Coast to the Captain Cook Monument inside Kealakekua Bay, a Marine Life Conservation District covering 315 acres and protected since 1969. The operator, Sea Paradise, has been running trips to this site since 1985, making it one of the original companies sailing there.

A continental breakfast is served on the outbound leg. Once at the bay, a marine naturalist gives a full reef briefing before anyone gets in the water. Snorkelers can expect clear conditions, with visibility in the 60 to 80 foot range, and a reef where the listing says you may see yellow tang, Moorish idols, humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, moray eels, Hawaiian green sea turtles and, at the bay entrance, spinner dolphins. When the ocean allows, the boat continues to the Red Hill Area, a volcanic headland reachable only by boat, where lava arches and tubes sit at snorkeling depth. A deli-style buffet lunch is served on the sail back.

The trip suits confident swimmers best. The listing is firm that non-swimmers may not enter the water, and full-face masks are banned. Reviewers frequently describe a clean, comfortable boat, plentiful food and a crew that mixes safety with storytelling about Captain Cook and the bay.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Keauhou BayMeet at the finger pier at the end of 78-7130 Kaleiopapa Street, Kailua-Kona. Note that shoes come off, as this is a shoe-less boat.
2. Sail south to Kealakekua BayContinental breakfast is served during the outbound sail toward Captain Cook Monument.
3. Snorkel at Captain Cook MonumentAfter a marine naturalist reef briefing, snorkel the reef inside the 315-acre Marine Life Conservation District.
4. Second snorkel at Red Hill AreaOptional stop, conditions permitting. This volcanic headland has lava arches and tubes at snorkeling depth and is reachable only by boat.
5. Lunch and return sailA deli-style buffet lunch is served on the way back to Keauhou Bay.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from repeated reviewer comments help set expectations before booking.

• Swimming ability. Every snorkeler must know how to swim. Non-swimmers stay on the boat, so anyone booking for the water time should be comfortable in the open sea.
• Barefoot boat. Sea Paradise runs a shoe-less vessel. Wear sandals or slip-ons that come off easily at the pier, and pack swimwear and a towel, which is the short list the listing gives.
• Food and drink. One reviewer noted that alcoholic drinks cost extra, so budget for those separately.
• Gear provided. Mask, fins, snorkel and flotation noodles are all on board, and reef-safe sunscreen is available too. Full-face masks are not permitted.
• Group feel. The boat takes up to 49 people, and reviewers describe it as spacious and comfortable.
• Wildlife is wild. Spinner dolphins at the bay entrance, turtles, eagle rays and reef fish are among the species the listing says you may see, and reviewers have reported whales and dolphins from the boat. Nothing is guaranteed, and the Red Hill second stop depends entirely on sea conditions.

Common issues. The Red Hill lava-arch snorkel only happens when conditions allow, so some departures get one site instead of two. Non-swimmers cannot enter the water, which limits the trip for mixed-ability groups. One reviewer was caught out by alcoholic drinks not being included in the price, and gratuities are also excluded. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers make their own way to Keauhou Bay.

Choosing A Tour