Kaimana Ocean Safari, 4 Hours

4-hour ocean safari off Kona

Overview

Kaimana Ocean Safari runs a four hour boat trip out of Honokohau Harbor in Kailua-Kona, and the premise is simple: go find whatever marine life is around that day and, where it is appropriate, get in the water with it. The crew works from what is showing up rather than a fixed route. Encounters reported by past travellers include manta rays, spinner and bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, humpback whales, oceanic white tip sharks and turtles, sometimes with a stop at the reef near Captain Cook for calmer snorkeling.

The tour is capped at six travellers. Gear, snacks and filtered water are provided, since the operator avoids single use plastic. Guides are described by many reviewers as knowledgeable, and one reviewer noted the crew keeps a respectful distance from wildlife, even collecting trash from the water.

Reviewers say the crew is gracious to a range of comfort levels in the group, and one strong swimmer with no snorkeling experience reported feeling safe the entire time. A moderate fitness level is expected, and guests need to be able to climb the boat ladder. Families do ride, with children required to be at least four feet tall.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Honokohau HarborArrive at the parking lot at 74 Kealakehe Pkwy, on the north side bathrooms by the harbor, fifteen minutes before departure. From Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy, enter Kealakehe Parkway, take the first right, then turn left after the gas station and park at the bathroom pavilion.
2. Depart at 08:00The boat leaves the harbor at the stated start time of 08:00 for a four hour trip along the Kona coast.
3. Search for marine lifeThe crew looks for whatever animals are present that day, which past travellers say has included manta rays, dolphins, pilot whales, humpback whales, sharks and turtles. Where conditions and the animals allow, guests can enter the water to observe them.
4. Reef snorkeling stopDepending on conditions and the group, the trip may include a calmer reef snorkel, which one reviewer described at Captain Cook, so that guests less comfortable in the open ocean can still snorkel.
5. Snacks and water on boardSnacks and filtered water are provided during the trip. Guests are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottle.
6. Return to the harborThe activity ends back at the original meeting point at Honokohau Harbor after four hours on the water.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make this trip go more smoothly, based on the listing and on what past travellers have written.

• Bring your own. Towels, rash guards and sun protection are not provided, so pack them yourself. The operator asks for reef safe sunscreen containing zinc only. Bring a reusable bottle if you have one, since filtered water is supplied on the boat rather than single use plastic bottles.
• Fitness and ladder. A moderate level of physical fitness is expected, and guests must be able to climb the boat ladder, with an in-water weight limit of 300 lbs. The listing also advises against the trip for travellers with back problems or serious heart conditions. One reviewer, a strong swimmer with no snorkeling experience, reported feeling safe throughout.
• Small group feel. The trip takes a maximum of six travellers, and reviewers describe the staff as friendly and professional. One reviewer called it a small, comfortable boat. Several reviewers also say the crew is gracious to a range of comfort levels in the group.
• Food and drink. Snacks and filtered water are included, along with use of snorkeling gear. Nothing else is provided, so bring anything else you might want for four hours on the water.
• Wildlife is wild. Nothing is guaranteed, since sightings depend entirely on what the ocean offers that day. That said, many reviewers report multiple encounters on a single trip, and several credit the crew's local knowledge for how much they saw.
• Weather flexibility. The trip requires good weather, and if it is cancelled for poor conditions guests are offered a different date or a full refund. One reviewer described being offered a free cancellation and full refund when a tropical storm approached rather than being pushed to sail anyway.

Common issues. The practical limits are real: the boat is not wheelchair accessible, children must be at least four feet tall, and the trip needs a moderate fitness level plus the ability to climb a ladder. Weather can cancel a departure, and a minimum number of travellers is required, so a low turnout can also end in cancellation, though in either case the operator offers an alternative date or a full refund. Wildlife sightings vary and cannot be promised. Towels, rash guards and sun protection are not included.

Choosing A Tour