Archive for the ‘Big Island Ocean Activities’ Category

The humpback whales are back to the Big Island of Hawaii to enjoy the warm waters for the winter.  These fascenating creatures are a must see if you have not seen them before.

Every year they show up to the Hawaiian Islands around December and stay until March for mating season.  If you stay at any of the oceanfront or beachfront properties you can typically see them from your lanai with binoculars.  There are some oceanfront villas at Hali’i Kai that offer some great whale watching.  You can spend hours sitting on your lanai and watching then play in the blue waters of the Pacific.

There are several whale watch tours offered on the island that take you up close with the mammels.  OceanSports is the most conveniently located at A’Bay at Waikoloa Beach Resort.  Many of the whale watches guarantee seeing a whale.  When there are a lot of whales many of the snorkeling tours turn into whale watches as you pass so many on your way to the snorkeling destination.

If you stay at Kolea at Waikoloa or Halii Kai at Waikoloa you can see the whales just off the lanais of your vacation rentals.         

Next time you are on the Big Island of Hawaii in the winter months take time to enjoy these beautiful mammels.

Kona Boys can help you with all your water sport needs. From kayaking to Stand Up Paddle Boarding and surfing, Kona Boys does it all. Kona Boys has two locations; “The Shop” is conveniently located near Kealakekua Bay, which is one of the best places for water activities on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the “Beach Shack” which is located in Kamakahonu Bay, next to Kailua Pier in the heart of Kailua-Kona.

Although Kona Boys offer a variety of services, their award winning shop is known for providing kayak tour and rentals. They offer several kayak/snorkel tours to Pawai Bay or other locations and they can customize a tour to meet your desires. If you are the adventurous type, you can rent a kayak and tour Kealakekua Bay on your own. Your rental includes a dry bag, soft cooler, backrests, life jacket, and paddles as well as the rack and straps to transport the kayak.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world and it originated right here in Hawaii. Join Kona Boys for a SUP lesson and find out what all the excitement is about. Kona Boys also has a great variety of rental boards and if you’re in the market they have the largest selection of new boards on the island. Delivery is available, so no matter where you are on the Kona Coast you’ll be able to “paddle out”.

It is almost impossible to think about Hawaii without thinking of its native sport, surfing. Whether you are a first timer looking for a lesson, a beginner who needs a rental and some tips on where they can surf without getting hassled, or an experienced surfer who needs current information on swell size and direction in order to make educated decisions on where to surf, drop in to Kona Boys for all of your surf needs.

You can reach Kona Boys at (808) 328-1234 or info@konaboys.com for more information and rates.  You can also check them out online at www.konaboys.com.

Click here for a map to Kona Boys from Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Ocean Sports provides the water activities in the Waikoloa Beach Resort.  With their boat at A’Bay, you will find them easily accessible from all locations and just a short walk from Kolea and the Marriott.  They offer all the main water activities throughout the day and at competitive rates giving you no reason to leave the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Children 6-12 are 1/2 of the adult rate on all ocean adventures.

Black Sand Snorkel Sail
Enjoy snorkeling with some of the amazing sea life Hawaii has to offer at a beautiful black sand beach.  On the way back you will enjoy a picnic lunch as well as an open bar.

Rate: $132.09
Inquire for availability

Champagne Sunset Sail
Enjoy an evening just off of the Kohala Coast.  Enjoy an open bar as you travel along the smooth waters until you reach to destination to stop and enjoy a beautiful Hawaiian sunset as you enjoy a wonderful buffet.  I hope you find the buffet as pleasant as I did.

Rate: $110
Departure time: 4:30

Whale Watch
Daily whale watch cruises operate December through April when the spectacular humpback whale sightings are in full swing.  These magnificent creatures migrate from Alaska an astonishing 3600 miles to Hawaii to mate and give birth in the warm tropical seas.  Their breaching activities create an exciting spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors each winter season.  While aboard the Alala, you will enjoy beverages and snacks on this two hour tour.
You are guaranteed to see whales or you get to go again for FREE!

Rate:  $93.32
Departure Times: 8 am, 10 am

Whales and Cocktails
If the morning whale watch does not work for you, there is an afternoon whale watch which offers everything the morning whale watch does plus more.  Enjoy an open bar  as well as dancers doing traditional Fiji whale dances.

Rate: $104
Please inquire for availability

Scuba Diving
2 Tank Dive: $176.66; w/intro $211.10

Private charters are available.  The Seasmoke holds up to 49 passengers and the Alala holds up to 76 passengers.
Seasmoke: 2 hours- $3499.65; 3 hours- $4666.20; 4 hours- $5832.75
Alala: 2 hours- $4444.00; 3 hours- $6110.50; 4 hours- $7777.00

The Lava Boat Tour offers a great way to get to see lava without having to pay for a helicopter tour or having to take a hike.  Although those are the two most popular ways to view the lava, at times they do not suite peoples needs.

On the lava boat tour, you will take a “ferry style”  24 passenger boat from a town near Hilo called Pahoa along the volcanic coastline to Volcano National Park.

Along this tour you will have the opportunity to enjoy the waters off of the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii along with getting to see lava up close (as close as 20 yards).

My recommendations is spend the day enjoying Volcano National Park and then take the sunset tour.  The Big Island is well known for the volcano and you can easily spend a day taking everything in.

The tour is approximately 2-2.5 hours in duration.

Cost
Adult: $180
Children: $125

Please contact us at (808) 987-4519 or waikoloavrm@aol.com to book your Lava Tour.

The Big Island of Hawaii offers some of the best snorkeling in the world.  The waters of the entire Kohala Coast are filled with tropical fish, sea turtles, and much more.  While you can snorkel just off the beaches, you can not get the full experience unless you take one of the snorkeling tours.

Ocean Sports is the most convenient company, which offers tours that depart from A’Bay at Waikoloa Beach Resort, which is within walking distance from most vacation rentals in the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Kealekekua Bay offers the best location for snorkeling in the area.  Kealekekua Bay is located in Captain Cook where the Big Island of Hawaii was first discovered.  Kealekekua Bay is one of the largest bays on the island and is a marine sanctuary.  There is an abundance of tropical fish and at times a pod of spinner dolphins will stop by.  Not only does Kealekekua Bay offer wonderful snorkeling, but the scenery is also amazing.

Body Glove and Captain Zodiac offer snorkeling tours to Kealekekua Bay.

Please contact us at (808) 987-4519 or waikoloavrm@aol.com to help you arrange your snorkeling tour.

Body Glove Snorkel Cruises

Body Glove takes you to one of the most popular areas on the Big Island of Hawaii, Pawai Bay.  Here you will find a marine sactuary filled of sea life.  Not only will you enjoy great snorkeling, you will also have a fun time on the boat.  Enjoy a continental breakfast, open bar, deli style lunch, restrooms, and a 15 foot water slide.  The boat departs in Kona and on your way to Pawai Bay you will also see spinner dolphins along with other marine life.

Deluxe Morning Snorkel Cruise
Duration: 4.5 hours
Adult: $120
Youth (6-17): $78

Afternoon Snorkel Cruise
Duration: 3 hours
Adult: $78
Youth (6-17): $58

You can upgrade to SNUBA or SCUBA for an additional fee.

Contact Body Glove Hawaii at (808) 326-7122 to help you set up your snorkel tour.

Body Glove Whale Watch Tours
(December through April)

During the winter months the most popular activity is go and see the amazing humpback whales up close.  On the tour you will be taken of the coasts of the Big Island to get up close sightings of these amazing creatures along with dolphins and other marine life.  There is nothing like getting to see one of these creatures breach out of the water or to see a mother and her baby traveling along together in the waters.
While on the tour you will enjoy an open bar along with snacks and refreshments.

Morning Whale Watch
Duration: 3 hours
Adult: $78
Youth (6-17): $58

Afternoon Whale Watch
Duration: 3hours
Adult: $78
Youth (6-17): $58

Captain Zodiac offers one of the most personalized and adventurous tours of all the snorkeling tours. With Captain Zodiac, you enjoy all the Kona Coast waters in a zodiac raft!  The crews are very personable and go the distance to insure your tour is an unforgettable one.

As you leave Honokohau Harbor, destined for Kealekekua Bay, a marine sanctuary, you will encounter spinner dolphins, sea caves, and much more.  Once you reach Kealekekua Bay, you will enjoy amazing snorkeling and beautiful scenery.

Each tour is four fun filled hours out on the ocean. 

Contact Captain Zodiac at (808) 329-3199 to book your adventure.

More Information on Captain Zodiac

Captain Zodiac Featured on the ABC hit show The Bachelorette

Captain Zodiac, of Kailua Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, will be featured on ABC’s hit romance reality show, “The Bachelorette,” from Warner Horizon Television. Jillian Harris and one of her “final two” bachelors, will experience the adventure of a lifetime on Captain Zodiac for a thrilling and romantic exotic date before the final “rose ceremony”!  An exhilarating, high speed ocean rafting ride on Captain Zodiac will take Jillian and her “date” along the Gold Coast of the Big Island, bringing them to a virtually inaccessible and remote, black sand beach. There, the adventurous Bachelorette, Jillian, and her companion will enjoy the extremely popular sport of paddle boarding, followed by a romantic beach picnic for two. 

Established in 1974, Captain Zodiac is the original ocean rafting company in the state of Hawaii. Captain Zodiac operates sixteen passenger military Zodiac Hurricane 733’s, the same vessels used by the U.S.Navy SEALS.

Awarded the title of “Princess CRUISE Tour of the Year Award, Best Tour in Kona” for the Kealakekua Bay snorkel adventure, Captain Zodiac is also proud to offer exclusive and personalized tours to fulfill your wildest dreams and provide a memory that will last a lifetime! With the largest and newest fleet of vessels, Captain Zodiac has the flexibility to take out individuals or large groups for a completely private adventure.