Power Catamaran, Lunch Included

4 hours with lunch included

Overview

This four-hour run with Hang Loose Boat Tours departs from Honokohau Marina, just north of Kailua-Kona, and heads down the Kona coast to the Captain Cook snorkel area in Kealakekua Bay. The boat is a power catamaran, which reviews describe as comfortable and, in one traveller's words, a bit weathered but well equipped. It carries up to 48 guests with a captain and crew who run the commentary, food and snorkel logistics.

The shape of the day is straightforward. You get a safety briefing and schedule before departure, a coastal ride with stops for stories about the island, then a long stretch of snorkel time in the bay. Reviewers repeatedly mention two hours in the water, with lots of reef fish, and some travellers report dolphins seen from the boat. One reviewer also describes a water slide and a jump platform the crew sets up after snorkeling, and a ride back with stops for sea caves along the coast.

Food is part of the deal. Lunch means premade sandwiches, chips and fresh fruit, with snacks, light refreshments and bottled water through the day. One reviewer praised the crew for looking after a non-snorkelling parent on board with food and drinks while the rest of the family was in the water. The tour suits families, beginners and confident swimmers alike, with a ride-along option for non-swimmers and flotation available. It does not suit wheelchair users, and anyone with recent back or neck injuries or serious heart conditions should pick something else.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Honokohau MarinaMeet the Hang Loose crew under the pavilion at the boat ramp on Kealakehe Parkway. Arrive with time to park; reviewers mention free parking at the harbor, and the listing gives specific turn directions after entering.
2. Safety briefingBefore departure the crew explains the boat's safety features and the schedule for the day, as reviewers describe.
3. Coastal cruise southThe power catamaran runs down the Kona coast with short stops where the captain shares history and commentary on the island.
4. Snorkel at Captain CookSnorkel time in Kealakekua Bay, with gear and flotation provided. Reviewers report around two hours in the water over reef fish; you swim to the area and cannot walk on the monument.
5. Slide and jump platformOne reviewer describes a water slide and a jump platform the crew sets up off the boat after snorkeling, which that traveller's family enjoyed.
6. Lunch on boardSandwiches, chips and fresh fruit are served, with snacks and drinks available through the day. Bring your own food if you have dietary restrictions.
7. Return cruiseThe ride back to the marina includes coastline sightseeing, and some travellers mention stops for sea caves and dolphins.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape how this day goes, from the self-drive check-in to the physical demands of getting in and out of the water.

• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup, so you drive yourself to Honokohau Marina north of Kailua-Kona. Reviewers mention free parking at the harbor, and the listing gives specific directions: take the first right after entering, pass the marina and the gas station, then turn left to the small brown-roof building and meet under the pavilion.
• Fitness and mobility. The listing asks for moderate fitness, comfort in the water, and the ability to climb a short ladder to reboard. Not wheelchair accessible. One reviewer reported older parents in their eighties managed entry and exit fine, but anyone with recent back or neck injuries is advised against the tour.
• The boat. One reviewer found the catamaran rougher looking than it is, comfortable and well equipped inside. Capacity is capped at 48 travellers, so expect a group atmosphere rather than a private outing.
• Food and drink. Sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit, snacks, light refreshments and bottled water are included, and several reviewers call the lunch good. Anyone with diet restrictions should bring their own food, as the listing states the crew cannot cater to specific needs.
• Bring your own. Snorkel gear and flotation are provided for the snorkel option, but a GoPro rental is an extra and subject to availability, requiring a call to reserve. Gratuities are not included.
• Conditions and timing. The listing requires good weather, and poor conditions mean a new date or a full refund. Some reviewers report seeing dolphins from the boat, while another noted no turtles on their day, so marine sightings vary.

Common issues. The tour runs on weather and on minimum numbers: if either fails, you are offered a different date or a full refund rather than a forced rebooking. Group size can reach 48 travellers, so it is a shared, busy boat rather than an intimate outing. No hotel pickup means you must arrange your own transport to Honokohau Marina. One reviewer cautioned that kayaks share the snorkel area and can appear unexpectedly while you are swimming. The listing also reserves the right to refuse intoxicated passengers with no refund, and the boat is not wheelchair accessible.

Choosing A Tour