Midday Meander - Kealakekua Bay Kayak And Snorkel Adventure

This is a very good small group tour. You kayak a bit out to a snorkeling spot and then learn about the area and the history before snorkeling back. Our guide was very good and we had a great time.

We went as a family, my 2 adult children and their families. The fitting at Kona Boys office was pretty easy and the equipment selected worked very well and fit everyone. We drove to the bay and met our wonderful guides who made the trip easy and fun. It all worked out well kayaking across the bay and snorkeling. The grandkids (12 & 9) had a great time, first time for them kayaking and snorkeling. It was a beautiful location and the guides helped make it easy and fun.

My husband and I had another kayak tour booked for the morning that got cancelled at the last minute. We reached out to Kona Boys and fortunately secured a spot on their midday adventure. Wow are we glad that our original trip didn’t go as planned. We had an incredible time with Evan out on the open water! He shared so many great stories about Hawaiian history and the wildlife beneath the bay. The snorkeling was a once in a lifetime adventure we won’t soon forget.

We went on this Kayak/Snorkel tour of Kealakekua Bay with Kona Boys years ago & loved it so much that we went again on this trip and took our kids with us. It's seriously one of the very best experiences we've had on the Big Island & the best snorkeling we've done anywhere so far. We were given a warm welcome & great instruction before heading down to the bay. At the bay, Evan was our guide...and he was excellent! He was friendly, gave great instruction, and made us all feel comfortable. Don't miss this one...and definitely book it with the Kona Boys...they are the BEST!

This was an incredible experience. We were just in a group of 4, so we add plenty of time for snorkelling and to hear stories about the Hawaiian fauna and stories !! I really recommend

Great experience! This was a highlight of our trip. Went with my husband and 4 friends, and we all had a great time. There were 6 other people on our tour, so 12 guests total, plus a main guide and an assistant. Evan was a great guide, providing thoughtful and interesting information and fantastic storytelling. Definitely recommend!

The entire process from booking, pre-tour instructions, check-in and the tour itself was excellent. Our orientation was great and the tour itself was fantastic! Our guide Evan was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and awesome!

We booked with Kona Boys for the second time in a row. Frank at the store and Grant (this year) and Bam (two years ago) have a consummate in depth knowledge of Hawaii and Kealakekua. They conduct a superb adventure, getting everyone to the Captain Cook monument area for a fantastic snorkel adventure. Don’t pass it up.

It was really an once in a life time experience! Beautiful natural settings, also with historical and religious importance for local people, really impressed me a lot. This was our first visit to Big Island, and this kayak tour made the most of island's splendid natural beauty. I would never forget I snorkeled with 20 to 30 Spinner Dolphins swimming around us just 50 feet away at incredible Kealakekua Bay. It was such a touching experience for me. Also our guide Evan was a great guy, nice and helpful, and he was very informative. I learned a lot about history of the place and the end of life of Captain Cook. Though I said 'once in a life time', I would definitely want to try this again. Thank you, Kona Boys!

We had a wonderful experience snorkeling and kayaking in the beautiful waters. Our guide Evan was very knowledgeable about the area and Captain Cook. We had a wonderful time and would book again.

Very clear directions on meet location and overall itinerary! Extremely knowledgeable guys who have a ton of overall area knowledge and experience. Frank at the shop was very accommodating and welcoming, while Evan was great guide! Snorkeling was awesome- lots of very diverse fish and we even were blessed to see bottle-nosed dolphins! Highly recommend! Can’t go wrong!!

Our guide Evan was very good. He had a lot of information about history and sea life. He worked to make sure we were all able to get in and out of kayaks. The bay is beautiful and well worth the excursion.

Evan was an outstanding guide: friendly and helpful, very knowledgeable about the environment, marine life, and history of the bay, and full of love for Hawaii. He also made us a dinner recommendation that turned out to be the best meal of our trip. Thank you!

This was our second time kayaking out to the Captain Cook memorial and snorkeling with Kona Boys, in addition to various rentals at the Beach Shack. It’s a well run business with competent staff and good equipment. The team is very service oriented and environmentally conscious. Today, our guide Steve took good care of us and we learned a lot about Hawaiian history, particularly with regard to the Polynesian influence. We definitely look forward to our next trip.

Evan is passionate about teaching the culture and history of the area. The snorkeling area is pristine. The company works with locals to keep the area clean. We were excited to learn more about Captain Cook as he was part of Alaska and had no idea of the burial sites. I am thankful to experience my first ocean kayaking and snorkeling with Evan and Kona Boys! Check in was easy. Everyone was friendly and helpful!

This was a great way to enjoy the bay at a leisurely pace. Frank and Grant in the shop answered all my questions. Our guide Evan was terrific, knowledgeable, skilled, and friendly. Kayaks were in good shape. As new residents, we appreciate Kona Boys' personal approach and commitment to the community. Skip the crowds, go out with them instead!

This was amazing. Evan was our guide and we loved him! Snorkeling was the best we have done in a while. Evan has a thorough knowledge of the history and his passion for preserving the bay was evident.

Very accommodating. Clear instructions. Very relaxing trip. Grant was very knowledgeable and friendly. Great tour. Saw tons of fish.

A very nice tour. The site is amazing and one of the best we have ever snorkeled. All of my family truly enjoyed it. The guide is friendly and informative.

Great experience! Our tour guide was informative and helpful, with some interesting stories about the history of the area. The kayak trip across the bay was really beautiful, and the snorkeling experience was fantastic with lots of sealife to observe. I highly recommend this trip and company!

First, I wanted to thank Evan and Grant for being such an amazing guides. They were super knowledgeable about the island and fish! (Grant’s got some great cheesy dad jokes too) They were very helpful and chill throughout the whole experience and I’m glad we chose Kona boys to do kayaking/ snorkeling. We will be back!

Great experience. Guides were excellent. Steve was a wonderful source of information on the history of Kealakekua Bay and Michael was fantastic helping our 7 year old have a successful experience.

Fantastic sea-kayaking adventure with able guides Grant and Michael. We shared stories, kayaking, snorkeling, and the occasional spinner dolphin. We always felt safe and cared for.

I planned to rent a kayak for a solo paddle across the bay but ended up taking the midday tour with guide Grant. It was very well worth it not only for the ability to land a kayak at the Cook Monument (only possible with a licensed guide) but especially for the discussion of the marine life and history of the region. Frank at the shop/office was exceptionally kind and helpful, and Grant deeply invested in learning about and sustaining Hawaiian culture. A thoroughly enjoyable excursion, highly recommended!

Evan our guide was excellent. His knowledge of local history and the ocean was top notch. The outing itself was very good, kayaking and snorkeling. I had never seen the variety of fish at any other snorkeling place. I recommend having a towel to dry off at the outing.

Our guides Evan and Michael were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. We had a wonderful time kayaking to an amazing snorkeling spot.

Everything was amazing. The scenery, the snorkeling, the snacks! Kealakekua bay is superb for snorkeling. We had a cool and well informed tour guide. Truly one of the best experiences we’ve had. Highly recommend.

What a wonderful afternoon on the bay! Kona Boys was so professional from beginning to end and communicated well. Kayaking across the bay and snorkeling straight from the kayak was great, best snorkeling spot, and a great way to learn about the history of the bay. Evan did an excellent job talking story, and I came away with a solid understanding of Captain Cook and the Hawaiian people past and present.

We went to the Kona Boys shed to get some equipment for snorkeling that was included in our hotel stay. When we were there we met the purported owner of Kona Boys who - instead of simply helping us with the snorkel gear - strong-armed us and guilted us into purchasing something from him. He was direct in telling us that he obviously couldn't make a living passing out snorkel gear to hotel people. (He probably does some version of this to everyone in our situation.) We didn't really want to continue having a huge discussion with him about his business model, so I diffused the situation by agreeing to pay for an expensive, 1-hour tour in a big canoe. He promised us that the tour would be really fun and that the guide was excellent. The only thing that was true about the tour was that the canoe was big. The guide was not excellent - he was fine. But he was super nice - in a very aloha kind of way. He told us many stories that we already knew because we had done the free cultural tour provided by the hotel. The canoe was very heavy, and we were asked to help carry it up and down the beach. The owner should be ashamed, and I wish the guide would learn to tell more interesting, less well known stories about the area. Kona Boys needs to hear this feedback.

Not knowing what to expect was a little anxiety producing, I need knot have feared, Kona Boys and especially Bamm had everything under control and my family was able to enjoy the trip because we felt safe. Bamm was very knowledgeable, engaging and especially attentive to one of our party who needed extra encouragement . The Kayak trip over to the snorkel destination was amazing, the snorkeling itself was other worldly. Skip the motor boats , kayaking is the best way to experience nature and have your soul refreshed! This was not the morning meander but the Morning Magic tour.

We booked the Midday Meander: Kealakekua Bay Kayak and Snorkel Tour for myself, husband, and 2 sons (11 years and 6 years). It was one of our favorite afternoons on Big Island! Evan, our tour guide, was absolutely amazing. He was kind, extremely knowledgeable about Big Island and the Kealakekua Bay, and wonderful with our boys. The snorkeling is incredible in Kealakekua Bay. We would highly recommend this tour!

We went on a kayaking and snorkeling tour with Grant, and it was absolutely fantastic! He was incredibly kind and made sure we were all having fun and feeling safe throughout the entire trip. He constantly checked in on everyone and created a really relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Grant also shared fascinating local stories and insights that truly enriched the experience. We absolutely loved every minute—thank you, Grant, for making it so memorable!

It is totally worth it! Evan is an excellent guide, very patient and helpful. Byo water bottle & snack. Don’t forget underwater camera or case for your phone.

The Kona Boys are an amazing company to go kayaking and snorkeling with. Bamm and Michael told us about the history of Captain Cook and we got to see a lot of fish while snorkeling. I would recommend their company for ANY adventure! We also got fresh pineapple as a snack and drinks! We saw a pod of spinner dolphins as we kayaked to the snorkeling spot! I can’t wait to go back! Mahalo!!

Great time snorkeling and kayaking! Bamm, our guide, was informative and so helpful. He was patient with one of children, who is fearful of snorkeling in deep water. He allowed her to ride with him, while the rest of our party enjoyed snorkeling. Highly recommend this tour/guide!

We were lucky enough to spend the afternoon (Midday Meander) with Evan kayaking and snorkeling. We were a party of 4- parents and 2 young adult children. We went to the store first to check in and get snorkeling equipment. Then we had a 20 minute ride to our meeting spot by the water. Evan enthusiastically greeted us and got everything ready while we waited for one other couple. We kayaked to the snorkeling spot, and my family jumped in the water while I opted to stay in the kayak since I don't snorkel. I contacted Kona Boys before I booked this to make sure it was ok if I didn't snorkel which they said was totally fine. (Also, as a family, this was only our second time kayaking and we were able to handle it fine.) Evan did a great job keeping an eye on everyone while taking me around the bay to experience the sights and sounds from above the water which was wonderful! The bay was not crowded at all and my family thoroughly enjoyed the snorkeling part. After everyone got back in the kayaks (entry in and out of the kayaks is done in the water), Evan passed around snacks and gave us an amazing history of the bay and the Big Island- all while hanging out in the kayaks! His knowledge and genuine love and respect of the island really came through. That might be my favorite part of the experience! After that, we kayaked back in and that was it. A very lovely afternoon! I highly recomend Kona Boys for any excursion you are thinking of doing. They are easy to work with, very responsive to emails, have incredible staff, and their equipment is in great shape. They are also huge with giving back to the community and take this responsibility seriously. And I can't recommend Evan enough! It was great to hear about his experience moving to and staying in Hawaii, especially since my family and Evan are all from Massachusetts! Really is a small world.

We had a great time , such a beautiful tour , loved our instructor Bamm! Highly recommend ! Thanks for great memories and awesome time

The highlight of our trip! The variety of fish and sea creatures is amazing. Our guide, Bamm, is passionate about coral reef conservation and we appreciate the reef restoration project Kona Boys is spearheading to further the health of the reef. We learned a lot and had fabulous time. The small group size was also a bonus.

This was a fun professionally guided tour. Bamm was the perfect guide...couldn't have been a better experience. I highly recommend you ask for him. Just a great experience from start to finish.

5-Star Experience with Kona Boys! From the moment we arrived, Kona Boys went above and beyond to ensure we had an unforgettable experience. They provided all the necessary gear and made us feel supported from start to finish. Evan, in particular, was incredible. He made sure we felt safe, respected, and welcomed throughout our time with them. Evan led us to the best snorkeling spots, and his knowledge of the area and marine life was impressive. He shared amazing stories, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We truly felt like we were in good hands the entire time. I highly recommend Kona Boys for anyone looking to explore the beautiful waters of Hawaii. Their service, expertise, and hospitality are top-notch!

It’s hard to express just how great this tour was. From the instructions to fitting our gear to kayaking and snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay, everything was top notch. Evan, our tour guide, was both an excellent coach for us inexperienced kayakers and snorkelers as well as entertaining and informing us with his enormous knowledge of the marine life, coral conservation efforts and history of the area. As a terrific bonus to the snorkeling, we got a show from a pod of spinner dolphins partway across the bay. It’s apparently unusual for them to be so active mid-day, and we were fortunate to see them. You’re not allowed to approach them closely, but if they decide to swim by, as they did with us, then you just get to sit and watch.

The check in was simple but they gave us the wrong QR code. Both QR codes for directions to diferent kayak tours were side by side when the girl held then in her hand and told us to scan. She should not have had QR codes with diferent directions side by side. We went to the wrong place. In addition it would be nice to know that it's not around the corner but 20 minutes away! Maybe a handout with the correct info would be way more helpful. This critiquing is for them to solve this very solvable hickup. They do have something special here and I want them to do well. The rest of the tour once we got to the correct place was perfect. The two guides were beyond excellent. They explained everything well. The story of Captain Cook and the Hawaiian descendants he told was true, relevant and well verbalized. ( I did my own research after) The fish we saw while snorkeling were fabulous. Highly reccomend this tour. The tour guides had your best intentions the whole time. It was CLEARLY not a job but a passion.

Really cool tour. Had lots of elements including education about the bay itself and the significance to the eco system, the cultural/historical significance, and the conservation efforts going on. There was kayaking, snorkeling, and snacks as well. The kayak ride is a bit demanding but pretty doable for most people. We saw tons of fish, coral, and sea urchins. We saw dolphins jumping in the distance. Above all, our tour guide Bamm made the experience great and he was very friendly and knowledgeable. The cost for this feels a bit high but I still say it was worth it.

This was a fabulous snorkel and kayaking adventure. The guide helped everyone get in and out of their kayak. We had a delicious lunch at the statue. The snorkeling was wonderful.

I love Kona Boys! I used them for a kayak tour 19 years ago and was anxious to come back. Steve was super friendly and helped my younger daughter paddle in the kayak and was super customer service focused. He was very informative about the island and marine life and made sure everyone was comfortable and taken care of. We found a great spot to snorkel and saw a ton of marine life. Steve made the trip fun and educational and I highly recommend!

This is our 5th kayak and snorkel tour with Kona Boys. They are fabulous. Bamm (yes that is his great name!) Was our guide. Knowledge and very helpful. We kayaked across the bay and had the most splendid snorkel experience. Tue clearest water anywhere. 100's of different kinds of fish and coral. We also learned about replanting of coral. Great collaboration of the State of Hawaii, federal waters and local native peoples. Go kayak and snorkel with Kona Boys!

This kayak and snorkel adventure is one of our very favorite things to do on the Island. Bamm was a fantastic guide and all of the staff are friendly and helpful. Great conditions and the personal attention is so much nicer than those "big boat" tours.

Our tour with Kona Boys was great! We were a small group of two, and our guide, Evan, was friendly, helpful and has a wealth of local knowledge.

Incredible trip. From reservations at the Courtyard hotel to checking in to the actual trip itself the entire Kona Boys experience was awesome. Our guide, Bam, was really great, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable. Was a very educational trip. We were blessed to have seen a mother whale and her calf only yards away making it very memorable. I would recommend this trip to anyone that visits the area.